The Independent-News, Volume 121, Number 13, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 10 August 1995 — Page 8

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- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - AUGUST 10, 1995

Veterans Recall World War II 50 Years Later (Editor’s Note: The series of articles that have appeared in “The Independent-News" from area veterans began on June 2, 1994 of their recollections of their days in the military including D-Day (June 6, 1944), VJ Day (August 14, 1944) and beyond. Articles that have appeared over this time period were gathered and submitted by Mrs. James (Helen) Verkier, of Walkerton. The following is a list of veterans who have had their articles printed prior to this issue. There will be more articles in the next several weeks, as space permits.) Articles published prior to this week were from Earl “Buster" Lindsley, Stanley Betz, Eugene Baughman, John Ullery, Robert Schaeffer, James Verkier, Walter J. Hiler, Floyd Dipert, William Heim, Oliver Jay Downs, Irma Rasmussen, Charles Coppens, Ralph Dixon, George Matz, Robert Awald, Myron Mullet, Leon McKesson, Edward Klopfenstein, Leigh Roy Hahn, Joseph Waranowski, Warner Clark, Morris Searfoss, Levi Kemp, Branson Hiatt, James Daley, J. Richard Verkier, Martha Gingenpeel and Charles McKesson. Articles from deceased veterans were submitted on behalf of family members. fl& •. HHgr T Ji i JKSKja i H LESTER A. THEIS UNITED STATES ARMY 20th ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION CO. A-TECHNICIAN sth GRADE Lester Theis was inducted into the Army on June 15, 1942 at Indianapolis, Indiana. He took his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, from September until December 1942. He took additional training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, from January until June 1943. His military occupational specialty was Field Lineman 641. His unit was sent by train through Canada on a secret mission (unknown even at this time) and back down to New York Harbor. Here they boarded a troop ship bound for Oran, North Africia. After a considerable length of time in North Africa, they crossed the Mediterranean. The battalion went into action in November 1943 near the town of Pietravairano and supported the subsequent drive up the boot of Italy. Later the unit was called out of action and shipped to the Anzio Beachhead. Landing at Anzio, Italy, in January 1944, they moved into position on the following day to begin a four month’s duel with the German Army and the redoubtable “Anzio Annie,” a propaganda radio voice. When the Nazi ring of steel was finally broker, the drive to Rome began. After crossing the Tiber, a succession of one night stands brought the unit to Tarquinia, where they were again called out of action. The battalion next joined the battle in a D-Day landing in southern France and began the hectic pursuit of the fleeing Nazi to the Belfort Gap. There the guns of the unit supported the French Army who had been there fighting

for quite some time. The battle moved rapidly until the troops they were supporting came up against the Siegfried Line in the vicinity of Wissenbourg. After battering at these defenses for almost four months, the battalion entered Germany in March of 1945, crossed the Rhine and participated in the bitter struggle for Heilbronn. Following a mission of shelling the Stuttgart pocket the unit rumbled across the Danube in April of 1945. Soon after that the fighting came to a halt as VE Day, May 8,1945 approached. “Les" returned to the States and was discharged at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, on October 18, 1945. Submitted By Catherine Theis On Behalf Os Lester A. Theis (Deceased 1984) There is no humor in war. Some Gls were resilient to the horrors of war and were able to create their own humor. Here is a part of a letter written to Catherine Theis upon hearing of her engagement to Lester: The Cozy Inn Women Invited April 30,1944 Dear Toots, I hope you don’t mind if I get friendly right off the bat and call you by the same nickname that Les uses when talking about you. He does talk about you now and then, you know. He is quite a boy, (even if we do call him “Gramps”) and I really have to keep an eagle eye on him to keep him under control. Such troubles I have with him. I should warn you about some of his bad habits.. .very bad, but you seem to be a sensible girl and should know what you are getting into. . .or do you? That fact has been bothering me for some time now. I don’t quite understand what a nice girl like you, (I arrived at that conclusion after a very scientific study of your photos) has to do with a big overgrown hunk of nothing like him. Especially when there are so many nice-looking young fellows like myself running around. Now don’t think that I am really recommending a fellow like that, because they have their drawbacks, too. It’s women trouble most of the time. Have to beat them off with clubs. (This is the voice of experience speaking). Maybe that is why you picked a fellow like him. H-m-m could be, yes, no? He isn’t too bad a looking fellow in a gruesome sort of way! That is why we are such good friends. You know how opposites attract each other. Well, that’s us. A beauty and the beast type of relationship. I believe that applies to you, too! From the undertone in this letter you have probably arrived at the conclusion that I am a pretty handsome sort of fellow. I hate to admit it but I’m the best-looking man in Btry. C. Now you will probably think that I am conceited, just because I said that. Really I’m not though. Can I help it if I was unfortunate enought to be bom a second Errol Flynn or Gark Gable!... Enough of this kind of chatter and flattery, I suppose you are wonering who is writing this poor excuse of a letter. Well, I happen to be the love of your life’s roommate at the Cozy Inn, Edward A. Nelson, himself! ... Well, I am rapidly running out of chatter, paper and candlelight so will close. Gramps desires that I send you his love so I shall send mine, too. Your conceited and future associate Edw. A. Nelson ROBERT H. WARDMAN UNITED STATES NAVY USS PENNSYLVANIA CHIEF PARACHUTE RIGGER • Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy on October 15, 1935 serving on the 1 battlewagon, USS Pennsylvania, : three years as a deck seaman. The

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Pennsylvania was the “Flagship of the Fleet," and was docked at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Later it was refitted and saw duty in World War 11. While Bob was on this ship, he had duty in Honolulu, Hawaii and Panama. His base pay was $54.00 monthly and he was discharged August 24,1939. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bob enlisted as a Seaman 1-C with one hash mark, in the regular Navy, February 20, 1942, for a period of four years. Going from Great Lakes, then to Norfolk, Virginia, he was then shipped to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, where he remained for the marjority of his enlistment. Among the various Air Squadrons on the base, were the squadrons VR-1, VR-8 and VR-9, where Bob served all three at various times. The Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) had the first regularly scheduled service between the

United States and the U.S. Fleet, wherever it would go. NATS planes flew to the fringes of battle zones, operated R4-D’s & R5-D’s through tropical storms and Arctic blizzards with emergency supplies and men to the Fleet. And this included the regular delivery of mail to Newfoundland, Africa and Europe. And there were always thousands of men and women behind the scenes. VR-1 was commissioned December 12, 1941 with one plane as total equipment. All planes naturally, had to be equipped with parachutes. This is where the Fabric Shop of the Parachute Loft was highly geared for the inspection, repairing and packing of the chutes for the air crafts of the Naval Air Transport Service. Quoting from a commendation, ’Wardman placed VR-9’s Fabric Shop in commission and was in charge until a senior rated man was assigned to the shop. While with VR-1, he was in charge of their

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Fabric Shop for two years. This man has been outstanding in his Lj work and leadership.’ For this, L Bob was rated, Qiief Parachute h Rigger. j Following his promotion to Qiief a( Parachute Rigger, Bob was trans- S. ferred to Oakland, California, on M( March 1945, and thence shipped M] out to Agana, Guam, Mariana II Island, to VR-10. Here he worked in the Aviation Supply Depot. On the island of Guam, there remained many Japanese soldiers holed up in caves, periodically firing upon the U.S. military. a A pleasant surprise for Bob was fl when he learned his brother-in-law ■ Lt. John R. Seitz was also on the M island. Even though enlisted men - were discharged from fraternizing with officers, Bob and Dick got together at least one time. One of Bob’s duties was to assist a in removing U.S. properties from ■ the island. Rather than ship gl material of any form, be it jeep or ■