Military Monday - Edward John Lanctot

Edward John Lanctot 1921-2011

That's my Grampa.  Wasn't he handsome?  As I have previously mentioned in these posts, he served in the Army National Guard for South Dakota, 147th Field Artillery Battalion, Company E, during World War II.

In 1940, Ed enlisted in the 147th Field Artillery Battalion, South Dakota National Guard to become a “part of the greatest peacetime army in United States history.”  They received their basic training at Camp Ord, California.  In November 1940 the 147th Field Artillery Regiment of the South Dakota National Guard was called into Federal service. The 147th Field Artillery performed well at Fort Ord, prompting troops of the regular army 7th Infantry Division to talk about having the 147th assigned as the divisional artillery.

In November 1941, the 147th was ordered to overseas duty in the Philippines. The regiment was in Hawaii at the end of November. Members of the 147th enjoyed shore leave at Pearl Harbor just days before the Japanese assault. The regiment's convoy was a week west of Hawaii when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused the 147th's convoy to be rerouted to Australia. For a time during the end of 1941 and the early months of 1942, the 147th was the only major Allied unit stationed in the Darwin area.

Ed Lanctot with his buddies

By December 1941, the 2d Battalion joined the full 147th Field Artillery, a National Guard unit from South Dakota, and the two battalions of the 148th Field Artillery, a National Guard unit from Idaho. This filled out the six-battalion artillery brigade initially scheduled to reinforce General MacArthur's troops in the Philippines. Following the diversion to Australia in late 1941, the 147th Field Artillery had remained at Darwin to reinforce the northern defenses of Australia, while the 2d Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, boarded transports for Java, arriving at Surabaja on 11 January 1942.

The 147th was reorganized in 1943 into the 147th and 260th Field Artillery Battalions. The 147th was the last field artillery regiment to be reorganized by the Army. The 147th Battalion built a solid record of combat service in New Guinea and the Philippines as part of the 158th Regimental Combat Team. The 260th Battalion spent the rest of the war driving trucks. These two battalions were the only units of the South Dakota National Guard to maintain a specific South Dakota identity during the war.[1]

One of the jobs assigned to the Field Artillery Battalion, apparently, was driving trucks (which I assume carried munitions of some sort).  Here is Ed's license to drive Army vehicles.

... and a picture of one of the trucks (that's my granduncle in that photo, also a member of the 147th):

When Ed returned to the states, he got married, went on a honeymoon, and then he had to report to Ft. Sam Houston for reassignment.  From there, he was assigned to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and finally Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.  Ed eventually reached the rank of First Lieutenant and was discharged from the National Guard in 1944 after three years in the South Pacific.

Ed re-enlisted soon after discharge and was active during the Korean conflict.

More Letters Home (WWII)

In another article from the Yankton Press & Dakotan, date unknown (but presumably sometime in late 1942/early 1943), James Lanctot and Vernon "Bud" Slowey of Battery "E" of the 147th Field Artillery Battalion, Army National Guard, Yankton, South Dakota, write home to a friend, Walt Mueller.  Who knew my granduncle was such a scoundrel!

BOYS WRITE FORMER BATTERY MEMBER


August letters to Walt Mueller of Yankton, Yankton county register of deeds, are bright, nonsensical bits from three former local fellows, Jim Lanctot, "Bud" Slowey, and Don Modereger, known as "Little Moe."  [Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of the article with "Little Moe"'s letter]


Jim Lanctot writes:


"Dear Walt,


"Don't be too surprised, but here comes a letter -- the first since we left the States.  I've been going to write for a long time, but I've kept putting it off until tomorrow, and of course tomorrow never comes, so I think I'd better try today.


"It has been a long time since we sailed from a place that's worth going back to. x x x x 


Girls Go For Yanks


"We've been getting 7-day furloghs and weekend passes.  As soon as we have a couple days' leave, we head for the bright lights.  There are plenty of babes over here, and they really go for the Yanks.  The Yanks don't mind it though.


"All the fellows from Yankton are okay.  There aren't too many of the fellows with us anymore that went to Minnesota.  It is only a few days over two years ago that we got back from there.  Little did we realize that in a little over a year we would be in a war.


Will Celebrate


"You'd better draft plans to evacuate the police force when we hit Yankton again.  We'll be in a mood to do a little celebrating!


"Well, Walt, things are getting a little noisy here in the recreation hall, and I can't concentrate any longer.  I promise it won't be long before I write again.


"As ever,


"Jim."


Pfc. Jim Lanctot,
A.S.N. 20748121
Btry. "E", 147th F. A.
APO 924, care of Postmaster
San Francisco, Calif.


* * *

SLOWEY'S LETTER


Bud Slowey writes that the "whole gang is in good shape and full of pep."  He states that the boys are getting their mail in "pretty good time" and that it usually takes about a month.


Indicating what his main interests are, Slowey comments on the local sports activities which he reads about in the Yankton papers, and longingly imagines what the pheasant season back home will be like this fall.  He asks:


"Remember Me"


"Just remember me when you get in a nice flock and bag a couple nice roosters.  Boy!  I sure hope I don't have to miss too many more seasons.


"I sure wish you could have been along hunting water buffalo.  I got quite a thrill when I knocked the first one down.  The calves were darn good eating.  I wish I could have sent some of the horns home.


"I went hunting crows one Sunday, but didn't even see one.


"Well, Walt, so much for now.


"Sincerely,


"Bud."


Pfc. VernonSlowey,
A.S.N. 20748105
Btry "E", 147th F. A.
APO 924, car of Postmaster,
San Francisco, Calif.


For the record, Uncle Bud was a very serious hunter.  Here are photos of him in his later years with some geese and a buffalo.

 

They're in the Army now ...

This is another newspaper article that was published in the Yankton Press & Dakotan, probably around mid-1940 (the 147th wasn't called into federal action until about November 1941).  I am transcribing all of these names in hopes that their names will pop up on an internet search if someone is looking for them.  I am happy to email a digital copy of this article to anyone who needs it.

Over 100 Local Officers And Men Leave Today With Guard


Here are the 101 officers and men who compose the roster of Battery "E," local National Guard unit, which is leaving today for Camp Ord, Calif., to become a part of the greatest peacetime army in United States history.


Captain
Chester A. Beaver, Commanding Officer


First Lieutenants
Ott Kabeiseman
Carl Youngworth


Second Lieutenants
Robert Seeley
Donald Perry (who would later marry my grandmother's sister, Elinor, becoming yet another granduncle)


First Sergeant
Earl G. Schlegelmilch, Tabor


Staff Sergeant
Lawrence Nelson


Sergeants
Arnold F. Albrecht, Mission Hill
Richard R. Cacek, Tabor
Lyle E. Hamner
Paul A. Jacobsen
Elwood G. Jorgensen, Irene
Harry J. King, Tabor
Lewis A. Van Osdel


Corporals
Thomas P. Binder, Tabor
William E. Brewer, Miranda
McKie Eastman
Robert F. Haney
Donald L. Jones
Lawrence H. Kaiser
Elmer L. Kamback
Harold B. Nelson
Edgar D. Ollermann
Dale W. Sly, Tabor
Ralph O. Stengle


Privates --- First Class
Francis J. Albrecht, Mission Hill
Ben J. Blazek, Tabor
Robert Blazek, Tabor
Elvin J. Hammeren
Thomas V. Rogers
Willard W. Welfl, Tabor


Privates
Harold J. Bahr
Robert F. Bartow
William J. Cacek, Tabor
Kenneth R. Canfield
Elwood H. Carlson, Alexandria
Kenneth E. Christensen, Mission Hill
Charles L. Cokeley, Tyndall
Donald J. Colgan, Tyndall
Clarence L. Cowman
Frank Den Ouden, Springfield
Grant Ferguson, Tyndall
George Giesen, Stickney
Paul A. Grosshuesch, Scotland
Clarence F. Haas
Ralph J. Haas
Frank G. Haberer
John R. Halla
Clifford H. Hicks
John H. Hoaglin, Springfield
Dural L. Hodge, Farmer
Carl J. Hohenthaner
Willard Holbrook
Gerhard J. Hunhoff, Utica
Robert H. Johnson
Albert A. Kaiser
David Kasdan
Fred J. Kessler
Theodore Q. Kessler, Springfield
Laddie F. Kucera, Tabor
James L. Lanctot (my granduncle)
Edward J. Lanctot (my grandfather)
Harvey J. Lokken
Lauren L. Lokken
John S. Lubbers
Charles K. Mahan
Bruce E. Mahr
Donald L. McCabe
Lester M. Mielke, Menno
Robert W. Mielenz
Harold J. Modereger
Donald G. Modereger
Howard W. Nelson
Robert E. Novotny, Tabor
Lyle F. Peterson, Rapid City
Clarence E. Pishek, Tabor
Alvin J. Reker, Lismore, Minn.
Robert R. Ritts
Raymond J. Rossman
John D. Sabatka, Tabor
Albert A. Sadler, Mission Hill
Norman J. Schuett, Tyndall
Kenneth J. Schulte
Leon T. Scoblic, Tyndall
Charles L. Showers, Mission Hill
Vernon G. Slowey, Utica (my granduncle)
Vernett S. Stortvedt, Volin
Harry R. Talbot
John W. Trierweiler
Norman A. Trotter, Scotland
Leland L. Truesdell, Burke
Wilmar E. VanderKooi, Springfield
Henry H. Voll, Mission Hill
John W. Vollmer
LeVerne Whiting
Harold F. Winters
Joe F. Wuestewald


All men whose addresses are not given are registered as residents of Yankton.


Lieutenant Carl Youngworth has now been officially attached to Battery "E."  Private George W. Coates of Vermillion is reported to be in Oregon and all attempts to notify him of the mobilization have failed up to the present time.  As soon as he is contacted he will join the Battery at Camp Ord.

Bronze Star Medal Awarded

As I mentioned in my previous post here, one of my goals this week was to read (and transcribe) two of the articles I scanned while vacationing at my grandmother's house this summer.  This is the second such article.


James Lanctot is my granduncle (my grandfather's brother), and Vernon G. Slowey is also my granduncle (my grandmother's brother).  They served together in the 147th Field Artillery Battalion, Army National Guard of Yankton, South Dakota .   This article was published in the Yankton Press & Dakotan sometime around August 1944.

SEVERAL OF 147TH CITED FOR SERVICE


Sgt. James Lanctot, son of Mrs. Alice Lanctot, Yankton, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal with the following citation:


"Sergeant James L. Lanctot, Field Artillery, U.S. Army.  For meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy near Maffin No. 1, Dutch New Guinea, from 22 May to 2 June 1944.


"Sgt. Lanctot established perimeter defenses for his organization in each of its five areas.  His careful reconnaissance, often under fire, and skillful planning, made possible effective resistance to repeated enemy attacks.  Sgt. Lanctot's efficiency, judgment and valor are of the greatest merit."


As a member of the South Dakota national guard unit, the 147th F.A., Sgt. Lanctot has been serving in the Southwest Pacific for about 32 months, and this is his second citation, the other having been for special volunteer duties in the Timor Islands (East Indies) during the early stages of the Pacific war.


====


Another of four Yankton young men of the 147th F.A. to receive the Bronze Star Medal and citation is Technician Fifth Grade Howard W. Nelson whose father, M.W. Nelson, and sister, Mrs. Woodrow Vollmer, now reside in Richmond, Calif.


Technician Nelson's citation reads:


"For meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy near Maffin No. , Dutch New Guinea, from 24 May to 27 May 1944.  As radio operator with a forward observation party, Technician Nelson maintained constant communications with direction center despite the innumerable difficulties of terrain and enemy fire.  In setting up and operating his radio, he was directly exposed to sniper fire, but never hesitated to select a position which would first of all assure communications.  Technician Nelson's valorous service is in keeping with the best traditions of the army."


Another already mentioned having received the Bronze Star Medal is T-5 John Trierweiler.  Sergeant Vernon G. Slowey is also listed with Yankton members of the 147th F.A., so honored.

Birthdays, a Poem and Commendation

One of my goals for this week was to read at least two articles that I scanned while visiting my grandmother this summer.  I added (in my own head) that I would also transcribe said articles.  This is the first one.  I don't know the date, but based on the content, I think it's from sometime during October 1942.  I think it's from the Yankton Press & Dakotan.


My granduncle James Lanctot, my grandfather Ed Lanctot, and my granduncle Vernon "Bud" Slowey all served together in the 147th Field Artillery Battalion of the South Dakota National Guard during World War II.  Letters home were few and far between, so whenever anyone received a letter they would take it to the newspaper so it could be published.  This is one such instance.  The comments in brackets[ ] are my own.

[The 'boys' were at Pearl Harbor at the end of November 1941. The regiment's convoy was a week west of Hawaii when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The attack caused the 147th's convoy to be rerouted to Australia. During the end of 1941 and the early months of 1942, the 147th was the only major Allied unit stationed in the Darwin, Australia area.]

BIRTHDAYS, A POEM AND COMMENDATION


Recent letters from men in Australia include several from Pfc. John Lubbers, Pfs. [sic] James Lanctot, Sgt. Eddie Lanctot and Pfc. Vernon Slowey.


All write in September, stating everyone there as being well.


Lubbers opens one letter with:


"The Yanktonians haven't anything on us just because they get letters from 'down under' because we get mail fairly regular from 'up above' and today was no exception.  I got two letters. x x x"


Most of the letters of recent date have been take [sic] up with description of activities "on leave" indicating the boys are being royally treated by civilians in the vicinity of the camp.


Birthday Party


In a second letter, Lubbers describes a birthday party given for him at the home of friends named Kinsey.  He begins with:


"Now I'll tell you what I did over the weekend.  We left Saturday noon and got to Kinseys about three.  At 5:30 we had supper with all the trimmings, including winde, and then they brought out the presents.  Here is what I got from them.  From Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey I got a silver cigarette lighter which had my initials on it.  Marge gave me a billfold also initialed, and Noelle gave me a set of brushes in a leather case which was also initialed.


"About seven we left and went swimming.  The pool closed at 9:30 and we left for home right afterwards.  About 11 we had what they call lunch -- but to me it was a banquet.  Around 2 o'clock we went to bed.


"Along with the packages I received this week were P and D's mostly around the last of July and early August.


"Here are some of the hit tunes in Australia: In the Mood, Crosstown, The Aussies and the Yanks are Here, Elmer's Tune, and San Antonio Rose."


RECEIVES COMMENDATION


Jim Lanctot writes his mother, Mrs. Alice Lanctot, in Yankton with a note on the rainy weather, stating: "The Aussies have the same line the Californians had when we were there -- 'this is very extraordinary weather.'"


He encloses a copy of a letter he received the first of April, and states that 15 men in the regiment received similar letters -- all signed by the adjutant general.  It follows.


1/4 "Subject -- Commendation
"Through -- Commanding Officer, 147th F.A.
"To -- Pfc. James L. Lanctot, 20748121.
"The commanding general directs that I convey to you his commendation as a participant in the placing of (censored).
"In volunteering for this detail, you were confronted with an arduous and hazardous assignment.  The courage, devotion to duty and determination displayed by yourself and your comrades is highly commendatory in contributing to the successful accomplishment of an important military mission.
"By commend of Lieutenant General Brett.
"B.M. Fitch, Colonel A.G.D.
"Adjutant General."


In an earlier letter, Jim wrote his mother, stating in one section:


"Chuck Mahan got a box from home yesterday and it had a pound of coffee in it.  He made some this evening, and it was really good.  It was the first cup I've enjoyed for a long time.  This Aussie stuff takes a can of milk and a half pound of sugar to kill the bitter taste."


Mrs. Lanctot also received a letter from her son, Ed, in which he told of a birthday party also.  [Jim's birthday was May 21 and Ed's birthday was July 30]


"Dear Mother and All,


There isn't much to write about as news is awfully scarce.  Jim and I got the cigarettes and billfolds that you sent, and they came at a pretty good time, since the cigarette proposition wasn't too good at the time, and my old billfold had taken quite a beating."


I was invited out to tea last night, and it turned out to be kind of a birthday party.  I guess Harold (Modereger) told her I had one.  She made a nice birthday cake, and it had 'Birthday Greetings, Ed' and a small key with '21' on it.


"I'm enclosing a poem that Bud Slowey wrote.


A TRIBUTE TO OLD LEXINGTON


["Old Lexington" refers to the U.S.S. Lexington, an aircraft carrier which was sunk on May 8, 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea, when she was struck by two torpedoes and three bombs]


Out of the cloudy sky they came
Like vultures in search of crippled game
They swooped, and struck, and then turned and ran
Those sneaking sons of rotten Japan
She trembled, shook and began to list
And the order came down to abandon ship
As glorious a ship as rode the waves --
And kept abreast of the modern ways --
A noble ship with a deed well done
We're proud of you "Old Lexington"
      by Pfc. Vernon Slowey.

What I did for summer vacation

I mentioned earlier that I scanned a bunch of photos, newspaper clippings, and other stuff from my grandmother's photo albums and scrapbooks while I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago.  Well, one of my goals for this past two weeks was to sort and organize all of those items.  Epic failure.  I think I simply bit off more than I could chew.  All told, after I stitched and culled, I think I have somewhere around 250 images.  Nearly all of them have been labeled (the ones I can remember), but I still have to attach them to their namesakes in RootsMagic.  That is taking significantly longer than expected.  Let me explain why ...


I think I have contracted that not-so-rare disorder called Genea-ADD.  The way I have my files set up, in order to put images in RootsMagic, they all get dumped in one folder (the media folder from Family Tree Maker - since that's where they were when I transferred everything).  It turns out that if I dump them all in that folder at one time, I can't remember which photos I've done and which ones I haven't.  See the problem?


So in the process of trying to do the right thing, I've created a whole other set of tasks for myself - design a filing system for my images in RootsMagic, and create the folders to make that design a reality.  Sure.  Piece of cake.


Needless to say, I'm nowhere near done (sorry, Laura!).  However, I wanted to share one photo that I discovered that has become my absolute favorite of all the ones I scanned:

This is my grandmother and my late grandfather at a picnic around the time they were married (1944).  What I love is that this is a candid shot and shows how much fun they were when they were young (that really didn't change all that much as they got older), and how in love they were.  And check out gramma's gorgeous gams! 


There are a lot of photos that I am going to share over the next several weeks, including a surprise about my grandmother that I never knew until I went through those scrapbooks!


Stay tuned ...


Other things I DID manage to get accomplished over the past few weeks:
1.  Registered for the Family History Expo in Atlanta and reserved my hotel room;
2.  Ordered my first microfilm from the Family History Library;
3.  Prepared my presentation on Chapter 4 of The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy for the Genealogists in SecondLife Book Club.