First Lieutenant Carl R. Feldmann, U. S. Army Air Corps was promoted to captain on May 8. He has served 10 years at Selridge Field, Mich., Randolph Field, Texas, Chanute Field, Ill, March Field, Calif and is now stationed at Hickman Field, Hawaii. Two bombardment groups, consisting of three squadrons each of big Army bombers are located at Hickman, which has about 12 miles from Honolulu. It is the larges air field in the Army, and one barracks alone one the field will house 3,000 soldiers.
Captain Feldmann is base engineering officer of Hickam Field being on the special staff of the post commander, ol. S. w. Fitzgerald. He probably will be returned to the United States next February, in a group of 20 officers from Hawaii who will take the tactical course at Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Ala. — The Horton Headlight.
Capt. Feldmann is a former Sabetha young man. His wife is a daughter of Col. Chas. H. Browne of the Horton Headlight.
His Brother in Swiss Army Emil Paul, who is employed at Moser Brothers, received a letter from his mother in Switzerland, saying his half brother is in the Swiss army and another half brother will also be in the army. Mr. Paul says the boys spend two months in the army and then are given two weeks in which they can spend in their homes. Mr. Paul says if he was in Switzerland he would be in the army.
Bern Alvin Gugelman left Tuesday for San Diego, where he will take up his new duties in the navy.
Centralia Grant Andrick who joined the navy two months ago and has been in training near Chicago was given a furlought for a visit home with his mother and other relatives. Grant will return Thursday and go to Norfolk Vt for continued training.
Courier Tribune 29 Jan 1940 page 6
News of Neighbors
Centralia Gerald Moore — grandson of Mrs. Elizabeth Dorman, has been here for a short visit with his relatives. Gerald has completed one term of service in the Navy and is re-enlisting. He will go to San Diego when his vacation is over.
Courier Tribune 26 Feb 1940
“Bern” Donald Croffoot, who enlisted in the navy Feb. 6, was transferred to the U.S. Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Ill., for an eight-week training period prior to being transferred to a ship in the fleet or a navy trade school. Donald is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Croffoot.
Courier Tribune 11 March 1940
“Domer District”
Harold Wiseman, formerly of Domer district, is now stationed in South American waters. Since Harold, joined the navy he has had five promotions and is now second gunner and may soon be first gunner which means he will have supervision of all the guns of the ship. We are certainly proud of him.
Courier Tribune 25 March 1940
“Aviator Jesse Wilcox Located at Norfolk”
Jesse Wilcox, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Wilcox of [south] of Goff, aviator in the U.S. Navy, is now stationed at Norfolk, Va., after two months at the naval base in Cuba. His parents enjoyed a holiday trip of 11 day to California and went through the ship Jesse flew to Cuba. Mrs. Jesse Wilcox is with her parents at Mullinville, but they hope to be located back in Sand Diego in the spring. Goff Advance.
The Navy department has approved the application of LeRoy Floyd Armstrong, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Armstrong, Seneca, for Naval Reserve flight training in the class commencing Feb. 15, it was announced today by the commanding officer of the Naval Reserve Aviation Base At Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, Mo. He will report at the Kansas City base Feb. 15 for 30 day’s training which includes 10 hours of flight instruction. Upon successful completion of this course he will be ordered to the U.S. Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Florida where he will be given the complete course in flight training required of all Naval aviators. Upon completion of this course he will be commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve and may be ordered to one of the aircraft squadrons of the fleet for active duty with full pay and allowances of his rank. Applicants for this flight training curse, which convenes monthly, must have at least two years of university or college education and be a citizen of the United States between the ages of 20 and 27. Men who take the course receive a substantial monthly salary during the entire period and a cash bonus of $500.00 upon the completion of four years’ duty.
Dwight Rickman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rickman, leaves today for Kansas City where he will complete arrangements to go to San Diego for enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps. Dwight’s examining physician, Dr. H. G. Snyder, pronounced him a perfect specimen of physical manhood.. He weighs about 205 pounds. Two other boys have taken preliminary steps to enlistment in the U.S. Navy.
The Courier Tribune, June 27, 1940, page 2
Letters Home
Dwight Rickman, with the Marines, writes his parents he has completed the preliminary training and was returning to the base at San Diego yesterday. He is eligible to the marine school, has received a medal for efficiency.
The Courier Tribune, August 19, 1940, page 3.
Dwight Rickman, in his weekly letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. N. Rickman, says that he received a first rating Sept. 21 and was enrolled in “C” School Marines Corps Base, San Diego. His address is Private Dwight C. Rickman, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, Calif.
The Courier Tribune, October 3, 1940, page 3.
Dwight H. Rickman, Private First Class, U.S. Marines has a new address. It is 5th Division, U.S.S. Astoria, Long Beach, California.
Nemaha County American Legion provides ‘send off’ for first draftees called into service in February 1941.
Legion to Honor Draftees at Bern Nemaha county Legionnaires will honor 1941 draftees just as the Old Soldiers of the Civil War honored the Boys of ’17 and ’18 That was decided at a meeting of the Legion at Centralia. Next county meeting will be held at Bern. The next contingent of the draft will be escorted to Bern by the ex-service men and there will be an appropriate program. Earle W. Taylor Post gave an oyster supper tot he Auxiliary at the club rooms here Thursday nigh, an informal and highly en- joyed evening. Legionnaires pre- pared the oysters and trimmings.
“Legion to Honor Draftees at Bern,” Courier Tribune. page 2, 27 Jan 1941. Available online.
Boys of ‘17; Boys of ‘41
United at Bern
The Legion in a Send- Off to Next Monday’s Selectees
The boys of ‘17 had a chance Monday night to see just how robust they were when Uncle Sam drafted them to go to the first World war. In comparison wit the huskies who leave early Monday morning to answer the call of the country, Old Elmer of the American Legion finds himself bog spavined and windbroken.
It all happened in Bern Monday night when 85 Legionnaires, who belong to six posts in this county, joined in wishing the recruits happy landings. If the real truth is known — and Acting County Commander Harley E. Wilcox expressed the thought the Old soldiers feel their noses are out of joint.
“We are envious of the youth that lets you go,” said Wilcox. “We sincerely hope that you will not be called into conflict but if it does come to that we want you to know we are behind you 100 per cent. There is something in army service that inspires a man — more than anything else on earth — to love of country and we know you too will feel the thrill of the Old Red, White and Blue.”
Only five of the 14 selectees were in Bern Monday night but it was explained that the demands on the time of the boys are so heavy this week that some found they could not fill all their dates, considering too, their datings.
Andy Strahm, Bern commander, who was a member of the first contingent of five men which went to Camp Funston on the first draft in ‘17, opened Monday night’s proceedings and ordered the flag advanced.
Scott Berridge, Holton, who is expected to be a candidate for Kansas department commander next fall, gave the principal address. After urging all ex-service men to register in next Saturday’s enrollment, Mr. Berridge, held close attention, by his eloquence. He feels the Legion has no apology to make for its 22 year contribution to American thought but he also thinks the organization should adapt itself to the rapidly changing events of the day.
“As a matter of fact,” he said, “The Legion is only at the threshold of its influence for Americans may soon be called up to make sober decisions which may profoundly affect what we are pleased to call the American way of life.”
Berridge traced the beginnings of the American way in the Declaration of Confederation, te Constitution and the Bill of Rights; called attention to freedom of assembly, speech and press and the right of petition and inquired where on the continent of Europe such privileges exist today. He thinks America again faces a crisis in the breaking of pledges and treaties. He believes the mission of the Legion is to cultivate a group mind among Americans that will stamp out subversive influences for all time.
“America,” he told the Legion, “stands as the last stronghold of human liberties. We have been too materialistic. We need to remind ourselves that the individual is more important than dividends.
“Our national debt is appalling,” he said, “and yet I am more afraid of bankrupt ideals than I am of bankrupt economy.”
Berridge cautioned the selectees not to allow themselves to be dismayed by the little hardships of army life. “Some of you will probably not care for it but others will come to love it. The public will be watching you,” he said, “and deeply concerned in your welfare. you are conditioning your minds and bodies for the preservation — if need be — of those things which re dearer than life itself.”
Harold Geiger, Sabetha, implored Legionnaires to buy uniforms. The Legion full dress outfit can not be obtained for 412.
The county Legion will meet in Sabetha early in April, the March meeting to be skipped. The district convention will be held in Atchison May 4th and 5th.
“We’re a Little Envious,” They Say
Legionnaires of the associated Nemaha county posts, gave their younger buddies a “send off” in a meeting at Bern Monday night. Acting Commander Harley E. Wilcox, addressing the Boys of ‘41, confessed some degree of envy of their youth and their opportunity to defend the Old Flag.
Shown standing in this picture left to right, are five Nemaha county selectees. Four of the five are to report for duty at midnight Sunday, leaving at 2:00 a.m. eastbound for the reception center at Leavenworth. They are Robert G. Adriance, Seneca; Gerald Wempe, Seneca; Cyril Olberding, Baileyville; and Clarence Hazlett, Onaga. Homer Turner, Oneida, fifth in this row, probably will not get to go with this contingent, being at the foot of the list and displaced by volunteers.
The Legionnaires shown above are: second row, left to right: Edward R. Levick, post commander, Seneca; Scott Berridge, Holton, who stands a good show of being the next department commander of Kansas; Harley E. Wilcox, county adjutant. Bottom row, Ray Condit, post commander, Centralia; Andy Strahm, post commander, Bern.
“Boys of ’17. Boys of ’41, United at Bern,” The Courier Tribune, 20 Feb 1941, page 2. Available online.
County has 1696 Regular Numbers; Ment Taking Physical Exams
The Courier-Tribune has been printing the official draft order list of numbers and names, as a matter of public service, a limited section at a time. The list is completed in today’s paper. The county has 1696 names on its regular list. In the govern- ment’s drawing of lots, the last man in the county whose name will be called is Thomas Patrick Graney of northeast of Seneca. Since the regular numbers were drawn, two other men, Her- man John Sunneberg and Francis Paul Sunneberg have been trans- ferred to the Nemaha County list from Marshall county, since their legal residence is this county. Numbers were drawn for them. To save revision of the regular list, Herman Sunneberg is listed as No. 145A, his number to follow the regular No. 145; Francis Sun- neberg becomes No. 312A, next in order after the regular 312. Men listed in class NO. 1A are being given medical examination, in turn. The government is “pretty Fussy” in its standards and acting in accordance doctors found only 11 of the first 19 men ex- amined were completely fit. Six others were dropped to class 1-B as fit for limited service; two to class 4-F as physically disqualified. The draft order listing is com- pleted below: Draft Order (Official List Continued) 1611 Joe Join Heinen 1612 Walter Fredrick Ditzfield 1613 Virgil Lee Slack 1614 Joseph Andrew Gudenkauf 1615 Maurice Latimer Wheeler 1616 Anthony John Rethman 1617 Anthony Mathias Schmidt 1618 James Edward Bartrum 1619 Virgil Morris Vestal 1620 James Francis Kromer 1621 John Alvy Beer 1622 David James Ducy 1623 Lawrence Fred Tangeman 1624 Clarence Paul Huerter 1625 Benedict Laurence Holthaus 1626 Russell John Mishler 1627 Ernest Frederick Ulmer 1628 Aloysius Peter Kongs 1629 Leonard Edward Lauer 1630 Marvin Eugene Jellison 1631 Arthur Edwin Wempe 1632 John Raymond Giesel 1633 Joseph Wm Wardlow 1634 Arthur Theodore Lindeen 1635 Thomas Joseph Henry 1636 Rex Gordon Snyder 1637 Joseph William Stuke 1638 Raymond Leo Becker 1639 Melbourne Miller McAferty 1640 Alcide Albert Charbonneau 1641 Lawrence John Winkler 1642 Raymond Alfred Bucher 1643 Lynn Frederick Eisenbarth 1644 Lyman Max Lyon 1645 Leonard Henry Grollmes 1646 Oscar Clempton Warfel 1647 Paul Raymond Hiltibrand 1648 Leland Daniel Strahm 1649 Harlan Jacob Wittmer 1650 Francis Loyd Turner 1651 Wilbur Summer Spiker 1652 Henry Joseph Holthaus 1653 Henry Joseph Buessing 1654 Raphael Josesph Lackey 1655 Emery Chester Grove 1656 Peter Henry Haverkamp 1657 Alber S. Hay, Jr 1658 Leo Lawrence Crevier 1659 Glenn Edward Jerome 1660 Roy Howard Rake 1661 Harold John Snyder 1662 Wm. Henry Slack 1663 Charles Joseph Liening 1664 Lawrence Fredilon Tanking 1665 Barrett Afred Hamilton 1666 Sylvester Clarence Strathman 1667 Lloyd Hobert Nutter 1668 Hugh Ashley Mitchell
1551 Donald Kirk Piper 1552 Roy Lee Brannum 1553 James Allen Poore Sr 1554 Lynval Eugene Ball 1555 Robert Melvin Lowe 1556 Amos C Ulmer 1557 Earl Orrin Minturn 1558 Ben Henry Otting 1559 Clear Walters 1560 Clarence Bernard Hammes 1561 Alphonse Henry Enneking 1562 Paul Kenneth McNary 1563 Edwin Peter Rochel 1564 Darwin Ernest Neil `1565 Sylvester M. Ronnebaum 1566 Ben Plattner 1567 John Edward Sauer 1568 Willis Walter Schuneman 1569 Solomon Herman Meyer 1570 Elmer Edward Krebs 1571 Chas M. Vorhees Jr 1572 Marvin Lewis Katz 1573 Albert Benedict Hermesch 1574 Ural Vincent Davis 1575 Paul Benedict Schmitz 1576 Alvin Streit 1577 Merrill Melvin Wright 1578 Walter Albert Wichman 1579 Edwin Aloysius Ronnebaum 1580 Celestine Bernard Hulsing 1581 Raymond William Boltz 1582 Marcellus John Koch 1583 Harry Henry Johnstone 1584 Vincent Benedict Henry 1585 Isaac William Hidy 1586 Marcellus Edward Boeding 1587 Arthur R. Zimmerman 1588 LeRoy Glen Myers 1589 John Foster Quinn 1590 Louis Charles Enneking 1591 Roy Edgar Sewell 1592 Delmas Irvel Nusbaum 1593 Wm. H. Hilbert Jr 1594 Carl E. Baumgartner 1595 Paul A. Conner 1596 James Henry Boydston 1597 James Ivan Woolsoncroft 1598 Clifford Lue McKinsey 1599 Clarence Lafayete Ash 1600 Russell Albert Coe 1601 Albertle Thorne Miller 1602 Andrew Henry Grollmes 1603 Ralph Edward Kreiser 1604 Neil E. Bestcik 1605 Richard Gharst 1606 Joseph Henry Strathman 1607 Regis Francis Stallbaumer 1608 Loren Wayne Bloom 1609 Paul Peter Koch 1610 Merrill Orlin Wood
Quota for Nemaha County is Part of State Total of 2,884 Men
Nemaha county’s quota of one many for the January draft is being filled today and a new quota has been announced for February. The February call is much larger. It is for 14 men. The exact date they will go is not certain. Reception center for Nemaha county men is Fort Leavenworth. Leavenworth will receive men from a large number of draft areas, on the period beginning February 10 and ending Feb. 28. Leavenworth will receive a total of 1,817 men, 884 will report to Wichita and 183 will go from Kansas to Omaha, to make up the state’s February total of 2,884 men. Arthur B. Harrter of Sabetha, who fills the county’s January quota, was given opportunity to go to Leavenworth by train, starting from Seneca tonight, but is planning to go today by car. Harrter works for Cook-Jones Motor Co., at Sabetha and will be taken to Leavenworth from there. Half Pass Physical Exams How far down the draft order list will Nemaha county’s quota of 14 for February reach? Your guess is as good as that of any one else. The answer is likely to No. 140 or 150. Of the first 340 men classified by the Nemaha county draft board 69 were placed in Class 1-A as being subject to immed- iate call, if found medically fit. This is a proportion of approxi- mately one out of five. However, about half of the men placed in 1-A are being rejected in the medical examination, making the proportion of those who are ready to go and fit as-well, ap- proximaately one man to every 10 registered. Selection of 14 men for February call may thus sift the lest as far as Order No. 140 or farther.
Heartland Genealogy 