Fredericksburg Standard
May 8, 1945
The information and pictures were sent to me by Joreen Wehmeyer <[email protected]>
She looked at all available newspapers for the information below.
IN MEMORIAM To The Sons and Daughters of Gillespie County Who Have Paid The Supreme Sacrifice World War II It is heavy heart on this day of Peace in Europe that we pay tribute to our sons and daughters, pictured on this page, for the contribution they and their families have made in the cause of Freedom. May their sacrifices not have been made in vain. In addition to those pictured, we pay tribute also to Lt. Luther E. Stockard, Pvt. Ewald Novian, Apprentice Seaman Burmann Farris and T/Sgt. Edgar Leonhard whose photos are not available. |
Thirty-Five From Area Killed, Missing, Pow At Present A total of thirty-five from Gillespie County or the immediate vicinity have paid the supreme sacrifice, are prisoners of war or listed as missing in action on this day of peace in Europe. Twenty-five of the number have given their lives; six are prisoners of war in Germany; one is listed as missing in action in the Pacific area and two on the European continent. The first of the area to pay the supreme price was Lt. Luther B. Stockard, son of Mrs. Katie Stockard of Harper, who was killed in action in the Aleutian Islands, October 2, 1942. Pfc. Andrew R. Frantzen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Frantzen, gave his life in the Pacific Area on July 30, 1943. Staff Sgt. Harold E. Ahrens, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ahrens, was killed in Europe on August 5, 1943. Lt. William Dietel, Jr. son of Mr. and Mrs. William Dietel, was killed in action in Europe on July 28, 1943, while serving with the U S Air Corps. Lorenz Kirchhoff, son of Mr. and Mrs. August P. Kirchhoff, was killed in a plane crash last fall. Emil Schlaudt, Jr. of the U S Navy, was killed in action in December, 1942 and officially declared dead in December 1943. He was the son of Mrs. Emil Schlaudt and the late Mr. Emil Schlaudt. Pfc. Rubin M. Althaus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Althaus, one of the first Gillespians to be taken prisoner by the Japanese, died in a Japanese Prison Camp on a date unannounced. Cpl. Edgar Wittkohl was killed in action in Italy on June 3, 1944. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Wittkohl. Pfc. Elgin E. Becker was killed in action in France on June 10, 1944. He was the son of Mrs. Ad. Becker and the late Ad. Becker. Two Gillespians died in Army Camps. Pvt. Ewald Novian, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Novian, died at Camp Adair, Oregon on January 15, 1943. Pvt. Gladys Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lee, a member of the Women's Army Corps, died at Des Moines, Iowa on April 3, 1943. Burman Farris, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Farris died while enroute to a Seabees Training Camp on October 29, 1943. Pvt. Whitney D. Sellers, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Sellers, was killed in an explosion while serving at Camp Barkeley, Texas on April 15, 1944. Sgt. Wilburn Dechert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dechert, was killed in a plane crash at South Hadley, Mass., on April 27, 1944. 2nd. Lt. Joseph A. Jenschke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Jenschke was killed in an army plane crash near Canfield, Arkansas on October 23, 1944. Pfc. Calvin O. Saegeser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Saegeser was officially listed as dead by the War Department in November 1944, after having been listed as missing in the invasion of New Britain Island on December 15, 1943. Tech. Sgt. Edgar Leonhard, son of Rev. and Mrs. Paul Leonhard, killed in action over Linz, Austria, July 1944. Lt. Clemens Fiedler, Grandson of Mr. Bernhard Fiedler, who has been missing over France since April 10, 1944, has been presumed as dead by the War Department one year after first being reported missing. Lt. Clifford Hahn, son of Mr. And Mrs. W. R. Hahn, who has been missing over France since January 24, 1944, has been presumed dead by the War Department one year after first being reported missing. His parents still believe, however, that he is alive. Pfc. Wilburn Durst, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Durst, was killed in action on the Belgium front on January 18, 1945. Pfc. Curtis L. C. Griffin, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Griffin, was killed in action in Belgium on February 4, 1945. Pvt. Ernest Knoll, son of Mrs. Willie Schumann, was killed in action in France On February 6, 1945. Lt. (j.g.) Karl Kappus, son of Mrs. Hedwig Kappus (San Antonio) was killed in action in the South Pacific when he went down with his ship on December 18, 1944. Pfc. Bruno Wunderlich, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Wunderlich, was killed in action in Germany on March 17, 1945. Technician Fifth Harry T. Klein, husband of Mrs. Rita Roeder Klein, and son of Christian Klein died of wounds in Germany on April 18, 1945. Pfc. Elgin Scharnhorst Dies Of Wounds on Okinawa, May 11, 1944 son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Scharnhorst, of the Post Oak Community. The four men who are prisoners of war of the Japanese Government, are: Willie Johanson, son of Mrs. Everett Alexandrer, a prisoner since May 28, 1942. Jimmie Schandua, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Schandua, prisoner since June 11, 1942. Alvin Moldenhauer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Moldenhauer taken prisoner early in 1942. Alvin Moldenhauer Died in Japanese Prison Camp January 9, 1945. Pvt. Moldenhauer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Moldenhauer. Pfc. Elgin Scharnhorst Dies Of Wounds on Okinawa, May 11, 1944 son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Scharnhorst, of the Post Oak Community. Raymond Wuest, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clemens Wuest, taken prisoner early 1942. Cpl. Raymond Wuest live and well in Japanese Camp. Two Gillespians are Prisoners of war in Germany, they are: Staff Sergeant Walter Reichenau, son of Mrs. Walter Reichneau who has been a prisoner of war in Germany since January 8, 1945. S-Sgt Walter Reichenau home after six months as German War prisoner Staff Sergeant Gilbert Schmidt, son of Alfred P. Schmidt, Hye, has been a prisoner of war in Germany since April 1945. Four Gillespians are missing in action, one of them in the Pacific and the other three in Germany. Staff Sergeant Elgin Luckenbach, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben B. Luckenbach, has been missing in action in the Pacific over New Guinea, since April 16, 1944 . Pvt. Sidney Grona, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Grona has been missing in action in Germany since March 17, 1945, Pvt Grona returned to U.S. Military control on April 20, 1945, according to a message received by his parents this week. Sgt. Thomas Jung, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Jung of Harper, was reported missing in action over Germany on February 25, 1945. Pvt. Edwin Grienke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Grienke of Boerne has been missing in action since March 17, 1945. TWINS SONS OF LOUIS ROEDERS PRESUMED LOST
PARENTS RECEIVE MESSAGE AT BOERNE THAT BOYS LOST LIFE IN
IWO JIMA INVASION MR. AND MRS. LOUIS P. ROEDER, BOTH NATIVES OF FREDERICKSBURG, BUT NOW RESIDENTS OF BOERNE, ON TUESDAY MORNING OF LAST WEEK RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT STATING THAT THEIR TWIN SONS, SEAMAN SECOND CLASS AARON AND SEAMAN SECOND CLASS ALLEN ROEDER, HAD PRESUMABLY BEEN LOST IN NAVAL ACTION DURING THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA. THE PARENTS HAD RECEIVED A MESSAGE EARLY IN MARCH THAT THEIR SONS WERE "MISSING IN ACTION". THE TWO YOUNG MEN BOTH SERVED ABOARD THE BISMARCK BAY, A SMALL CARRIER, THAT WAS SUNK DURING THE INVASION OF THE ISLAND OF IWO JIMA. PREVIOUS TO THIS ACTION, THE TWINS HAD TAKEN PART IN THE INVASION OF LEYTE AND LUZON ISLANDS IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE TWINS WERE BORN TO MR. LOUIS P. ROEDER AND HIS WIFE, MRS. OLGA FRANTZEN ROEDER ON OCTOBER 10, 1925 IN SAN ANTONIO, shortly THEREAFTER THE FAMILY MOVED TO BOERNE, WHERE THE BOYS ATTENDED SCHOOL, WERE MEMBERS OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND WERE GRADUATED. THEY ENTERED THE NAVAL SERVICE LAST JUNE AND HAD BEEN IN SERVICE EIGHT MONTHS. SURVIVORS, IN ADDITION TO THE PARENTS, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BROTHERS AND SISTERS: MRS. LOUIS KORDZIK, MRS. ERNEST HOHMANN, MRS. CLIFTON ARHELGER, FREDERICKSBURG; MRS. BENNO ECKERT, STONEWALL; MRS. HY. KILGORE, MRS. ED. SHIFFERS, AND MRS. HARRY STAATS, SAN ANTONIO; AND MRS. H. C. BLONDELL, OKLAHOMA CITY. ALSO SURVIVING ARE THE AGED GRANDMOTHERS, MRS. CHAS. FRANTZEN AND MRS. WM. ROEDER, BOTH OF FREDERICKSBURG. A BROTHER HARVEY STAATS, AS WELL AS THREE SMALL BROTHERS WHO DIED IN INFANCY, PRECEDED THEM IN DEATH. GIVE LIFE FOR COUNTRY
These are the twins sons of Mr. and Mrs.
Louis Roeder of Boerne who were presumably lost in the sinking of their
ship, the Bismarck Bay, in the invasion of Iwo Jima last February. At left
above is Aaron Roeder, Seaman 2/c and at right is Allen Roeder, Seaman 2/c.
Survivors include four sisters and two aged grandmothers in Gillespie County.
Allen And Aaron Roeder, both Seaman Second Class who are serving in the U. S. Navy, They are the Twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Roeder, who formerly were of here but now live in Boerne. The Twins are graduates of Boerne High School and were football stars at that school. Entering the service in June 1944 they are now serving somewhere in the Pacific. Mrs. Chas. Frantzen and Mrs. William Roeder of here are grandmothers of the boys. Killed in Pacific
Pfc. Willie Johanson of the U.S. Marines, who was
killed on October 24, 1944 when the Jap ship on which he was presumably being
evacuated from the Philippines, was sunk. he had been a Jap Prisoner of
war since may 12, 1942.PFC. ANDREW R. FRANTZEN HONORED WITH POSTHUMOUS
AWARD OF ARMY BRONZE STAR
MR. AND MRS. EMIL FRANTZEN ACCEPT AWARD SON EARNED
WHEN KILLED JULY 30..........Fort Sam Houston, Texas, December 16--- For
destroying an enemy machine gun and crew, Pfc. Andrew R, Frantzen, Route
1, Fredericksburg, Texas, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously.
The medal was presented to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Frantzen by Brig.
Gen. Charles K. Nulsen at Fort Sam Houston Thursday, December 14.Private Frantzen, 24 years old, was killed in action in the Southwest Pacific July 30, Last year. The Purple Heart Medal has been received by his parents. "Private First Class Frantzen stood up, undaunted by enemy fire and destroyed an enemy Machine gun and crew. This prompt act prevented the enemy from inflicting serious casualties on our troops," the citation accompanying the medal reads. "In heroically disregarding his own personal safety in the face of the enemy fire, he displayed out standing courage, initiative and gallantry," the citation says. Private Frantzen joined the Army July 9, 1941 at Dodd Field. He trained and went overseas with the 37th Infantry Division. A brother, Clifton E, 22 years old, is in the Navy. Sisters are Mrs. Frank Oatman, Kerrville; Mrs. Eddie Pressler, Boerne, and Miss Paula Olga Frantzen of Fredericksburg KILLED IN ACTION
PFC. ELGIN SCHARNHORST, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Edwin Scharnhorst of the Post Oak Community, who died of wounds received
in battle on Okinawa Island in the Pacific on May 11,1945. Memorial services
in his honor will be held in the Albert Lutheran Church. Pfc. Will G. Bird, killed in
action on Okinawa May 3,1945. Son of Mrs. Maude Bird, she received word
on Thursday morning. Pfc. Bird was the first Gillespie County Marine to
be killed
Staff Sgt. August Apelt Jr. was born in Gillespie County, son of Rev. and Mrs. August Apelt Sr, of Beaumont, born October 6, 1921, Fredericksburg. Mrs. Apelt is the former Selma Ellebracht of here. August Apelt Jr. was killed in action in the Philippines on November 12, 1944. Lt. Victor Haag killed in Burma Crash August 13, 1945 one day before war ends, he graduated 1936 Fredericksburg High School. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Theo M. Haag formerly of here but now in San Antonio DIES IN PRISON CAMP
PVT. ALVIN W. MOLDENHAUER, 35, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Willie Moldenhauer, who died of dysentery and malnutrition while
being held as a prisoner of war of the Japanese Government in Bilibid Prison,
Manila, Philippine Islands, on January 19, 1945. His supreme sacrifice,
together with the 25 others from his county who have gone before him, are
a constant reminder that the war in the Pacific is not over and that we must
continue to do our very best in the 7th War Loan Drive.Cpl. Raymond Wuest live and well in Japanese Camp. S-Sgt Walter Reichenau home after six months as German War prisoner. |
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| S/Sgt Harold E. Ahrens |
Pfc Rubin M. Althaus |
Pfc Elgin E.. Becker |
Sgt Willburn Dechert |
Lt. Wm. Dietel Jr. |
Pfc Wilburn Durst |
Lt Clemens Fiedler |
Pfc Andrew E Frantzen |
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| Pfc Curtis L Griffin |
Lt. Clifford Hahn |
2nd Lt Joseph A Jenscke |
Lt Karl Kappus |
Sgt Lorenz Kirchhoff |
T5 Harry Klein |
Pvt Ernst Knoll |
Gladys Lee |
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| Aaron Roeder (twin) |
Allen Roeder (twin) |
Pfc Calvin Sageser |
Pvt Whittney Seilers |
Cpl Edgar Wittkohl |
Pfc Bruno Wunderlich |