News Of Ann Arbor And Washtenaw County Men In Service: August 9, 1943
News Of Ann Arbor And Washtenaw County Men In Service
Wounded
Lt Bernard W. Shaw, 27-year-old son of Mrs, Leveta Shaw of Catherine St., is at present in base hospital somewhere in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands, recuperating from a wound suffered sometime during recent encounters.
Lt. Shaw, who was commissioned slightly less than a year ago, after going through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., received his promotion to the rank of first lieutenant just before he left Fort Ord, Calif., for duty overseas.
Although the nature of Lt. Shaw's wound or illness has not been specifically revealed, he has written his mother that he is feeling safer and more rested than he has in the past eight months. He tells her not to worry, that he is coming along all right, but indicates that he is in the hospital recovering from something which he does not specify. He added in a recent letter that he was like an old, worn battery, and needed recharging.
The reason that Lt. Shaw’s mail is so fragmentary is partially because he must act as his own censor, and instead of having his mail looked over by anyone else, does his own scrutinizing. Therefore, it is probable that he is harder on himself than a regular censor would be.
Lt. Shaw has been away from civilization for about eight months, and although no details of his experiences are available, he reports that in the course of his travels he has lost all of his personal possessions except his shoes, a helmet and a compass.
Cited By President
The dive bomber squadron of which Melvin H. Becker, 22, is a member, is part of reinforcements of the first Marine division, which was included in the citation by the President for taking and holding Guadalcanal.
Melvin, who was promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Marine Corps Aviation Force on July 1, is stationed on an island out of the war zone, but in the south Pacific for a rest, after having served for seven months on New Caledonia, islands in the New Hebrides group, and Guadalcanal.
In a letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Becker, 1126 Hutchins Ave., Sgt. Becker says he is in good health and has mailed them a souvenir package including a Japanese battle flag.
Melvin's twin brother, Marvin, is an aviation cadet in advanced flying school at Spence Field, Ga., where he will receive his commission and wings the last of this month.
In Merchant Marine
Cadet Midshipman Richard A. Brooks, of the Merchant Marine, is now on his second trip somewhere In the Pacific.
His present trip is part of a 16 months’ training course given ashore and at sea for Merchant Marine officers' school at San Mateo, Calif.
Cadet Midshipman Brooks enlisted last October, and after training at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, N.Y. received his seaman's papers and left for officers training in February.
Richard, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer E. Brooks of Mary St. graduated from Ann Arbor High school in February of 1941, and was employed at the bomber plant before he enlisted.
Marine on Furlough
Pfc. Dale Stollsteimer, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Stollsteimer, 711 S. Division St., arrived Tuesday from the West Coast where he is training with the Marine Corps to spend a few days with his parents. He will return to duty Friday.
Born in Ann Arbor and a life-long resident of this city, Pfc. Stollsteimer was a member of the Ann Arbor High school football team and was graduated In June, 1942. Ha attended Western Michigan Collage of Education at Kalamazoo where he was a student at the time of his induction May 25.
After induction proceedings at Detroit, he was sent May 29 to San Diego, Calif., where he finished boot camp on June 21. From there he went to the Kearney Mesa aviation center just outside of San Diego for classification and later was given a 10-day furlough.
He was promoted to private, first class, June 21 and is at present awaiting assignment to a Marine Corps school.
Takes Medical Training
Seaman John N. Bertsos, 19, has reported to the field medical school at Camp Elliott, San Diego. Calif., after spending a short leave with his mother, Mrs. Bessie Bertsos of 143 Hill St.
Upon completing a six months training course at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Seaman Bertsos graduated from a medical corps school there, and will now continue his medical course in San Diego.
A graduate of Ann Arbor High school in 1942, he was on the football and basketball teams and also on the YMCA basketball team, and a member of the inter-city baseball teams.
Before enlisting on Jan 20, of this year, John was employed as mechanic at the bomber plant.
Aviation Cadet Fitch Tillotson, 25, son of Mrs. Harry A. Tillotson, 1120 White St., is studying maintenance engineering now at Yale University, where he is stationed with the Army Air Force.
Enlisting last September at Elmira Heights, N. Y., he took his basic training at Boca Raton, La.
Until his enlistment, he was employed at the bomber plant, and previous to that, he was ordinance inspector for the War department at Ward La France, N. Y.
Seaman George Donald Sokolosky, 22, of the Merchant Marine, a torpedo survivor in the Pacific, has been discharged from a Marine hospital and has left this country again for action.
Unable to describe any of the details of the accident because of maritime regulations, Seaman Sokolosky was able and anxious to say that Red Cross blood plasma had saved his life and the lives of two of his buddies.
Seaman Sokolosky formerly lived In Cheboygan, where he attended high school. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sokolosky, reside on Route 2 Cheboygan.
Word has been received by the parents of Pfc. George Ingber, that George has gone overseas and is at present stationed in England. A short time ago George was a clerk and typist at Robins Field, Ga., as a ground crew member of the Army Air Forces.
In a letter which his family received from him George says that he likes England very much, but that it is very quiet, and it doesn't seem as if a war is going on at all. He also adds that it is so cold in England at present that they have to wear the regulation winter uniforms.
Brothers In Service
Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Stearns have two sons, and the two sons are both in service. One is serving in New Guinea with the Army reconnaissance troops, and the other is in the Army Air Forces, going through the long, involved process of becoming a pilot.
Pvt. Harry L. Stearns, jr., enlisted in the Army Nov. 24, 1941, on his 23rd birthday. He was sent to Fort Custer and then took his basic training, at Camp Wolters. Influenza put him into the hospital for three weeks, but didn't prevent him from sailing March 17, 1942.
On April 13 he arrived at New Guinea, but his family received no word of his arrival until Aug. 31. Harry is with the 41st division which General McArthur commended for gallant work in the Owen Stanley mountains a year ago.
During the past seventeen months in which he has been overseas Harry has had a lot of experience. His letters are quite reticent in relating episodes about the country. However, he has said that many of the men had not seen a white woman in over a year.
He has written that the natives are very helpful, in fact quite indispensable to our troops but that they are not beautiful. He had a short leave at Christmas time and went to Australia, which was a very welcome change.
Harry has just recently recovered from a seige of malaria for which he was treated in a field hospital. In his letters he has stressed the efficiency of these mobile field units and praises the excellent attention given the boys. In his company and nearby ones there has not been a single case of malaria which has proven fatal.
Harry speaks highly of the boys in his own group and also of the "Aussies" who apparently are very good soldiers and make excellent friends.
At present Harry is on light duty until he regains his strength. In one of his most recent letters he says that he hopes that he won’t be too old to join the Army Air Forces when he gets back home, which is his brother’s service.
Bill W. Stearns, 18, is an aviation cadet. At present he is stationed at Texas Technical College, Lubbock, Tex., from which training center he will he sent into pre-flight work.
Bill attended Ann Arbor High and was completing his junior year when he enlisted. He was interested in boxing and swimming and was an Eagle scout.
Bill was accepted for Aviation training by qualifying through the new screen test method that came into effect early in March.
He took his basic training at Sheppard Field, Tex., and was much impressed by the type of men he met in his training and by the way they treated him, since he was the youngest rookie in his group. While he served at Sheppard field he was appointed a drill master and also won a shooter’s medal.
Promoted
Lt. Walker graduated from the University of Vermont in 1934, where he took a degree in electrical engineering. He was employed by the Buhr Machine Tool Co., but was a reserve officer in the Signal Corps, so was recalled to active service In February, 1942. Following his induction he was sent to Fort Monmouth, N. J., and then to Harvard University and Fort Murphy. Fla., where he took specialized training courses.
Lt. Walker then went to New Orleans and from to the Canal Zone where he arrived in November, 1942, assuming his duties in a Signal Corps unit attached to the Sixth Air Force.
Lt. Walker was married in April 1941, to the former Muriel Elizabeth Waide, who remained at a time at 502 E. Huron St. with Lt. Walker's sister, but is now living in Greenfield, Mass., while Lt. Walker is in service.
Home On Leave
Home on a 9-day leave recently, Adolph L. Steinke, 27, returned to the U. S. Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Ill., Aug. 6, after spending the leave with his wife and parents.
Adolph just completed his boot training at Great Lakes. He was inducted May 31, and reported for active duty June 9. July 23 found him through with his training, and now that he has returned he will attend specialist’s school where he will prepare for a highly skilled job aboard ship.
Second Class Seaman Steinke is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis C. Steinke of 1701 Highland Dr. He attended Ann Arbor High school and was employed at Plant 2, International Industries as a machine operator prior to his induction.
Oscar M. Breining, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Breining, of Calvin Rd., was promoted to the grade of private first class last week at the Signal Corps depot in Fresno. Calif., where he is stationed with the Army Air Force.
Inducted on Feb. 20, Pfc. Breining took his basic training at Keesler Field, Miss., and from there was sent to Fort Warren Wyo. where he attended Quartermaster training regiment school for two months.
He was then transferred to Reno, Nev. for three weeks before reaching his present post.
A life long resident of Ann Arbor, Pfc. Breining attended Ann Arbor High school and had been employed by the Staebler Coal Co. before entering service.
Four Have Served
All three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Rupert, of R. F. D. 7, are in active service, and Mr Rupert, himself, served in World war I.
Pvt. Archie Lewis Rupert, 25, has been stationed In Hawaii for 14 months, with the Coast Artillery. Paying homage to the girls back home, he says:
"The Hawaiian girls aren’t quite as pretty as those in the states.”
Inducted into the Army on April 29, 1941, he reported first to Davis, N. C., and Valejo, Calif.
Manley L. Rupert. 23, also in the Coast Artillery has been promoted to the grade of corporal, according to word received by his parents yesterday.
Stationed at Engelwood. N. J. with a signal section, Corp. Rupert is a radio and telephone operator. He was inducted on Jan. 13, of last year. Reporting to Camp Custer, Camp Wallace, Tex., and Fort Bliss, Tex., previous to his present post.
With a son entering service each year, Pvt. Lester M. Rupert, 19, was inducted into the Army Air Forces on Feb. 20, this year, and is now stationed at Great Falls, Mont. with the medical Corps.
Lester took his basic and preliminary training at Fort Custer and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Before entering the armed forces, Archie and Manley were working on their father's farm, and Lester was employed at the Washtenaw Country Club.
During World War I, Mr. Rupert spent 14 months in Archangel, Russia, in the Communications division of the Polar Bears.
Two boys from Ann Arbor and nearby, who have already seen action in earlier days of the war, are now attending the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center, where they are taking pre-flight training, prior to becoming pilots In the Army Air Forces.
Herman J. Steeb, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Steeb of 826 W. Washington St., left high school in June 1941, to enter the Royal Canadian Air Force. He took his training in the RCAF school in the province of Quebec, and then when the United States entered the war, applied for discharge from the RCAF in order to enlist over here.
Finally, late In January, he received his orders and reported to Miami, Fla., for basic training. From there he Went to Hiram, O., and then to San Antonio, and pre-fight training at Kelly Field.
Aviation Cadet Steeb worked for the Michigan Bell Telephone Co. prior to his induction.
Eugene E. Miller of Route 1, Merritt, Mich., went to the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center’s pre-flight school for pilots after serving as an enlisted man in the famous 19th Bombardment group in Australia and New Guinea.
Eugene is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elzy E. Merritt. He attended high school in Saline, and despite his record of duty in "hot” action centers he is only 19 years old.
Pvt. Leonard Gurk, 23, has sent word to his mother Mrs. Christobel Gurk, of 117 E. Summit St. that he has arrived safely in England, where he is stationed with an engineering division of the Army.
A former national guardsman, Leonard was called back into service on Jan. 25 of this year, reporting to Fort Custer. Then as a member of the heavy artillery branch of the Army, he was sent to Camp Wheeler. Ga., and from there to New York City.
After a five day furlough, which he spent at his home, Pvt. Gurk returned to New York and when next heard of, was overseas.
“The English are very nice people,” he says, "and the country as well as the ocean on the way over is beautiful."
In addition to traveling with the local National Guard unit to Wisconsin and Louisiana, Pvt. Gurk had been employed at Ford Rouge plant, and while living in Dearborn at that time, attended night classes at Fordson High school and served as assistant to the Scout master for a Dearborn troop.
A former student of Ann Arbor High school. Pvt. Gurk was born in Ann Arbor and has lived here most of his life.
Two brothers also in service are Pvt. Howard Steven Gurk, [???], with the anti-tank company in San Diego, Calif., and Corp. [???] Voss Gurk, 19, at , [???] Airfield. Tex.
Lt. Shaw
Melvin Becker
Richard Brooks
John Bertsos
Fitch Tillotson
Larry Stearns
Bill Stearns
Adolph Steinke
Archie Rupert
Manley Rupert
Article
Subjects
Armed Forces
Military Personnel
World War II
Old News
Ann Arbor News
Bernard W. Shaw
Melvin H. Becker
Richard A. Brooks
Dale Stollsteimer
George Ingber
George Donald Sokolosky
Fitch Tillotson
John N. Bertsos
Harry L. Stearns Jr.
Bill W. Stearns
Oscar M. Breining
Adolph L. Steinke
Archie Lewis Rupert
Manley L. Rupert
Lester M. Rupert
Eugene Miller
Herman Steeb Jr
Leonard Gurk
Howard Steven Gurk