Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 15, Number 28, DeMotte, Jasper County, 25 May 1945 — NEWS OF OUR SERVICE'MEN AND WOMEN [ARTICLE]

NEWS OF OUR SERVICE'MEN AND WOMEN

Richard Henrichs, son of Mr. and Mrs. U. H. Henrichs, and a member of this year's graduating class, left Wednesday for Indian apolis where he will be inducted into Uncle Sam’s forces. This will make seven of the 1945 graduating class to be in service. The others are Roy Anderson, Bill Ely, Nelson Jabaay, Jim Fieldhouse, LaVern Marshall and John Walstra. George Nannenga, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nannenga also was among the Jasper County group who left Wednesday. An Eighth Air Force Service Command Station, France. Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle, Commanding General of the Eighth Air Force, has commended the officers and men of his only repair” depot on the Continent of Europe where Staff Sergeant Edwin C. Biema, son of Mr. .and Mrs. C. Bierma, Wheatfield, Indiana, is assigned as an airplane mechanic. In lauding their work, General Doolittle stated, “I personally appreciate the hardships and trying conditions under which our Eighth Air Force Service Command is operating at the present time on the Continent of Europe. In no small measure is your activity assisting in bringing to a victorious conclusion this great struggle.” Since shortly after D-Day more than 600 aircraft have been repaired or r^-sc--viced- and returned to the United Kindom from this depot command by Colonel Howard A. Moody, Santa Cruz, California. More than 1600 fighters and bombers have been refueled during the same period. Staff Sergeant Bierma was graduated from the Wheatfield High School in 1938. Prior to his entry into the army July 7, 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., he was employed by C. Bierma & Sons Hardware Store, Wheatfield. Staff Sergeant Bierma has been stationed in the European Theater of Operations 18 months. He has three brothers in the service. HiJust a line to let you know V-E Day finds me well and sober. I haven’t received a KVP as yet. Hitler and Mussolini are dead. Hirotito to go—Japan here I come—Say hello to everyone— As ever, Chas. Stephens Germany, May 4 Hiya Mary, I have a little spare time and was in the mood to write so I thought I would let you know where I am. I got out of the hospital at last and how I hated to leave those nice white sheets and soft beds. It was also rather tough to change from those good meals back to C & K rations, but I lived on them before so I can do it again. I had a pretty nice trip across France and into Germany even if it was in a box car. We lived in that same box car for four days and nights but it was fun. It is sure pretty over here, at this time of the year but of course I would rather be back in the good old U. S. A. We passed through several large cities such as Frankfurt and it looks like the boys reallly did a good job over here. I sure got a surprise when we crossed the Rhine river. It was nothing compared with the Mississiippi. I will probably see a lot more before it is all over so until such

a time as write again. I will say so long and the best of luck to everyon one.. Harry DeYoung A-C Bud Moolenaar is now stationed at Amarillo, Texas. A-S Elliott Huhn will return to ('amp Endicotte, Rhode Island where he is to take advanced training with the Sea Bees. Virgil Barker, has been advanced to T-Sgt. First Lieut. Arthur M. ’ube, son of Mr. and Mrs. reorge Grube of Wheatfield, i§ hoi e on a thirty day furlough having completed his tour of dut in Italy. He left the states for -verseas duty August 20, 1944. Lt. Grube has completed 35 sortise over enemy territory the majority of the targets being oil refineries and railway martialing yards in Prague, Czchoslavakia, Germany and Australia. He modestly wears the air medal, four battle stars, three oak leaf clusters, the persidential unit citation and is eligible for the distinguished flying cross.