Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 15, Number 29, DeMotte, Jasper County, 1 June 1945 — NEWS OF OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN [ARTICLE]

NEWS OF OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN

With the Fifth Army, Italy— Corporal Harry Boer of DeMotte, recently joined the 91st “Powder River” Division in Italy. The 91st, an infantry division, was alerted for overseas service January 20, 1944. Having been given amphibious training in North Africa, the outfit sailed to Italy, where one regiment was organized in a combat team and committed to action June 3, south of Rome, for the drive to the Arno River. The entire division fought alongside other Fifth Army units from the Arno to the Alps Mountains. Cpl. Boer is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Boer of DeMotte. Pfc. Paul Sekema stationed in Florida, was here for a few hours Sunday. Lt. Russell Clarke, stationed in Lousianna, stopped over here Saturday night while on a cross country flight. He visited Lt. Art Grube, who just returned from overseas after completing 35 missions over enemy territory. Lt. Bruce Todd, returned to the hospital in Indianapolis Sunday for further treatment. Feine, Germany May 14, 1945. Hello, Received my first copy of the F P since I’ve been overseas — it as dated Farch 23, but was gl- to get it. wsa with the Ninth Army, oi outfit directed construction o ? bridges across the Rhine R _>r at Wesel, and I’ve gone through Munster, Hanover, Braunschweig and I got as far as Magdeburg on the Elbe River. Out of space. T/5 Chas. Stephens. A-S Julian Peter Melberg, Jr., grandson of P. L. Melberg of DeMotte, now in recruit training at the U. S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, 111., has been chosen to sing with the “Meet Your Navy” choir heard every Saturday evening when this all-Navy air show is broadcast over the Blue network. Music, songs, opinions, news from overseas Navy bases, and personal stories of Navy men and women from 48 states are featured on “Meet Your Navy”—presenting a cross section o Navy life. The purpose o “Feet A our Navy” is to weld a closer bond between families and friends on the home front and their men and women in blue. This is done by showing both the serious side of naval warfare and the othex’ side—the relaxation and sence of fun which gives Navy men and women the spirit of wisecracking and good humor that they take with them wherever they go. Before entering the Navy, Seaman Melberg was a partner in the printing firm bearing his name. His wife and their two children, Diane Kay, 4, and two-months old Marc Jerome, now are living in Fargo, N. Dakota.