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.

Were your eyes bigger than your stomach?

Remember that old saying?  I remember being told that after I had eaten about half of what was on my plate at dinner ... and thinking to myself: "but I didn't serve my plate!"


Well ... this time I did, and I think I may have bitten off more than I could chew.  It all started with some scanned photos from my vacation .............


[insert Scooby-Doo wavy screen effects here]


In the beginning, there was Family Tree Maker.  I had used FTM ever since I can remember, and back when I was a "name collector" (not to worry, I have learned the error of my ways!) I would find stuff on Ancestry.com, plug it into my little tree, and go merrily about my business.  So yeah, I have 3,000 or so names in my FTM tree.  Of course, I can only prove a small percentage of those relationships.


In the last year or so, I have become "enlightened" about citing my sources and all that.  Well, the citations in FTM don't play nicely with the way my brain works (citationally-challenged), so  after I attended the Family History Expo in Atlanta last November, I purchased and started transferring all of my data over to RootsMagic 4.  I am only transferring the people to whom I can prove a relationship, and adding sources and media to back it up.  I'm up to 149 people in my database.  It was running along so smoothly.  Apparently, I thought I needed a challenge.


During my vacation I scanned a few hundred photos and newspaper articles that my grandmother had in scrapbooks and photo albums.  In the process of trying to label and organize them all, I realized that I needed to completely re-do my digital filing system, and I needed to figure out the best way to do that.  So last week as I was catching up on my blog reading and I came across a post from GeneaPopPop explaining how to use a wiki as a research tool.  O.M.G.  My mind was officially blown.  It made perfect sense!  I could update it as I went, I could access it from anywhere, and I could invite people to put their 2 cents in if I wanted!  I. HAD. TO. HAVE. IT.


So I began researching wikis.  Apparently, I'm not as tech-savvy as I thought.  This was going to take some serious homework.  In any case, I went ahead and downloaded demos from a few different wiki providers (TiddlyWiki, WikiMedia, and Wikispaces) just to play around and see what felt comfortable to me.  I ultimately chose Wikispaces - mainly because it's free up to 2GB, and since I have all of my media saved in the cloud already I can just point the wiki to the files I've already organized.  Easy peasy, right?


I played around with it, trying to make a template for all of my people pages, adding people as I added information.  (By the way ... you have to upload media files to the wiki - you can't just point your link to them.  I already have 8GB worth of media, not including my new photos and articles.  This is already costing me money!)  Once I got up to about 6 pages, I thought ... "what the heck am I doing?!!?"  I remembered I already had a wiki on WikiTree!  And I've already uploaded my GEDCOM and everything.  Half the work is already done for me -- and it's FREE!  I stopped working on my new wiki and decided to take a break.  Something in my brain needed some rest apparently.


During our Success Team meeting on Saturday, Laura and I were talking about my forays into the world of wiki.  Being supportive like only Laura can, she confirmed my decision that I don't need another project to tackle right now and that I have other goals that need to be addressed first.  She reminded me that I had just mentioned that I'm not getting as much of my own research done as I would like, and that at least one of my goals needed to reflect that desire.  This is why I am so thankful for our weekly Success Team meetings - so I can bounce ideas off Laura and she can tell me whether it's a smart idea ... or just plain crazy!  I'd never be able to stay on track without her.


I have canceled my new wiki.  I am still working on a new filing system, but it's one that involves digital folders in Dropbox.  It will take a lot less time to create and maintain, so that is definitely a plus.


This episode has caused me to create a list of questions that I will ask myself the next time I think I need the "next big thing:"
1.  Does it help me accomplish one of my goals?
2.  Do I have the time to devote to it?
3.  Will my research benefit from it?


If the answer to one of these questions is 'no,' then I will likely abandon whatever it is.  In some cases, it might go on the "want" list, but probably near the bottom.  


GO TEAM!