Marathon County Wisconsin 1883 Pensioners on the
Roll
Spanish-American War
Heroes
----Source: newspaper and date unknown
The following is a list of the deceased veterans of the
Spanish-American war who are buried in the local cemeteries:
Frank G. Dana
Frank Gauger
Frank E. Albee
Bernhard Goers
Albert Gasy
Charles N. Goerling
Herman O. Miller Jr.
William Laatsch
William Bolger
T. W. Swan
Chem Roe
Thomas Fitzgerald
Source: Wisconsin's Gold Star List Soldiers, sailors,
marines and nurses casualties for WWI
Army
Ahrendt, Herbert, 22, Hamburg ; pvt mgTC, Camp Hancock ; U. S.;
dd (pneu) Oct 8, '18.
Allbaugh, Emery W., 24, Spencer;
pvt 343inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct
12, '18.
Andres, Carl August, 20,
Wausau; pvt 128inf; U. S.; dd (diph)
Apr 7, '18.
Bisheau, Oakley, 22,
Marathon ; pvt 355inf; w Aug 31; kia
Nov 4, '18.
Bonkoski, Frank, 24, Mosinee; pvt
341inf; dw
Oct 15, '18.
Broetzman, Arthur W., 23,
Wausau; pvt 341inf; U. S.; dd (pneu)
Dec 27, '18.
Brown, Dwight L., 22,
Wausau ; 2Lt 136mgbn; dw Nov 29, '18.
Bruess, Helmuth,
Wausau
; WNG ; pvt 6inf ; w Jy 19; dd (perito) May 7, '19.
Burns, James A., 26,
Wausau ; pvt 28inf; Cantigny, Amiens
; kia May 28, '18.
Burns, John E., 19,
Wausau; pvt 1cl 128inf; dw Jy 23,
'18.
Busche, Chris A., 27, March; pvt
Schl for Bkrs and Cks,
Camp
Hancock; U. S.; dd (pneu) Oct 23, '18.
Bychinski, Nich. Joseph, 23,
Wausau; pvt 1cl 128inf; Alsace,
AisneMarne; kia Aug 3, '18.
Cannon, James H., 25, Dancy; pvt
1cl 39inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
May
24, '18.
Case, Fred Thomas, 22, Brockaw;
WNG; pvt 1cl 128inf; Alsace, 2Marne, Soissons, Champagne,
Montfaucon; kia Oct 4, '18.
Cayo, Edward J.,
22, m,
Schofield; WNG; Mex Bdr; sgt 128inf; Alsace, Champagne; kia Oct
17,'18.
Chapman, George W., 27, Edgar;
corp 127inf; kia
Aug 4, '18. Feck, Ernest, 28, Wausau;
pvt 353inf; Argonne-Meuse; dw Nov 3, '18.
Gappa, Joseph Walter, 22,
Wausau; WNG; pvt 1cl 128inf;
Montdidier-Noyon, Aisne-Marne; kia Aug 3, '18.
Gebelein, William, 26,
Rozellville; pvt 28inf;
Argonne; dw Oct 19, '18.
Gerhartz, Peter, 25,
Marathon; pvt 354inf; kia Oct 21,
'18.
Gossage,
Roy,
22, Wausau; pvt 38inf; St. Mihiel, Champagne; dw Oct 12, '18.
Gregware, Henry, 25, Mosinee; pvt
338inf; St. Mihiel drive; kia
Nov 5,
'18.
Greiner, Anton A4 22,
Athens; pvt inf Camp Hancock Sept
rpldrft; overseas; dd (pneu) Oct 18,'18.
Hart, George L., 21,
Athens; pvt MC 58rplunit; U. S.; dd (pneu)
Oct 12, '18.
Heidemann, Emil,
25, m,
Wausau; pvt rctcmp, Camp MacArthur; U. S.; dd (pneu) Oct 12,'18.
Heisler, Albert, Jr., 21,
Wausau; pvt SATC, Beloit College; U.
S.; dd (pneu) Oct 31,'18.
Hekedesh, Andrew Thomas, 23,
Stratford; pvt 4inf ; dw Oct 26, '18.
Hlava, Ladislaus G., 23,
Wausau; pvt 355inf; dw Oct 2, '18.
Hoernke, Carl Ernest, 22, Edgar;
pvt SATC,
Kansas City; U. S.; dd (pneu) Oct 12,
'18.
Hoffer, Frank, 24, Halsey ; pvt
4inf ;
Argonne ; kia Oct 22, '18.
Horak, Norbert J., 21,
Wausau; wag supco 70fa; U. S.; dd (pneu)
Oct 26, '18.
Johnas, Frank F., 26,
Athens; pvt 339mgbn; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct 6, '18.
Johnson, Hjalmar G., 22,
Wausau; pvt 341ambco 311sntn;
overseas; dd (pneu) Oct 1, '18.
Kaser, Peter H., 24,
Stratford; pvt 39inf; Allied offnsve,
2Marne; dd (pneu) Oct 29, '18.
Kelnhofer, Louis, 23, Rozellville;
pvt 127inf;
Alsace, Fismes, Soissons, Verdun; w
Oct 8; dd (diph) Oct 26, '18.
Kiefer, Walter C., 18,
Wausau; pvt ambco MOTC; U. S.; dd (mening)
Mch 11,'18.
Kissinger, Roland P., 21,
Spencer; pvt 344inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct
16, '18.
Koppa, Joseph H., 21, Wausau; WNG;
pvt 28inf; Cantigny, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Argonne; kia Oct 1,
'18.
Kops, Otto H., 26, Unity; corp
107suptn; overseas; d (accidental injury)
Oct 3,
'18.
Kordus, Paul Felix, 23,
Marathon; WNG; pvt 128inf; Alsace,
2Marne; dw Aug 24,'18.
Kregel, Edward, 25,
Wausau ; pvt 28inf; Cantigny,
Soissons ; kia Jy 18, '18.
Kroening, Emil C., 23,
Wausau; corp fatngbn, Camp Taylor; U.
S.; dd (pneu) Feb 4, '19.
Krueger, Arthur W.,
27, m, Wausau; pvt 9inf; Argonne; kia
Nov 4, '18.
Lewandowsky, Leo J., 21,
Wausau; sgt 128inf; Alsace, 2Marne,
Soissons ; dw Sept 1, '18.
Luchterhand, Paul Emil, 25,
Spencer; pvt 314remsq QMC; MeuseArgonne; k (rr accident)
Sept 29, '19.
Luedtke, George Herman, 23,
Wausau; pvt 311engnrs; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct 6, '18.
Maguire, James, 25, Dancy ; pvt
354inf; kia
Nov 1, '18.
Marquardt, Frank W., 23,
Wausau; pvt 1cl 28inf; kia Oct 3,
'18.
Matysik, Alex. J., 25,
Athens; pvt 7inf; Argonne; dd (pneu)
Oct 8, '18.
Mauritz, George, 27,
Athens ; pvt 59inf; Marne ; kia Jy
18, '18.
Melang, Otto C., 28, Wausau; WNG;
pvt 28inf; Soissons, Cantigny; kia Jy 23, '18.
Meyer, Benjamin G., 24, Colby;
pvt 342inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct
11, '18.
Miller, John F., 30,
Wausau; pvt 28inf; St. Mihiel,
Argonne; dw Oct 5, '18.
Monien, Leo M., 24, Moon ; WNG ;
pvt 28inf; kia
May 28,'18.
Montgomery, Frank T., 25,
Wausau; 2Lt 305inf; Meuse-Argonne; dw
Oct 3, '18.
Myers, Frank J., 22, Mosinee ; b
Carson, Portage Co.; pvt 130inf ; kia
Aug
18, '18. Cited for bravery.
Nehrbass, Henry, 22,
Athens ; pvt 127inf; kia Jy 31, '18.
Nelson, Earl, 27,
Wausau; WNG; pvt 28inf; dw Jy 19, '18.
Nest, August H., 25, Mosinee; pvt
309inf; w Oct 16; dw
Nov 6,
'18.
Ninneman, John, 27,
Wausau; wag supco 128inf; 2Marne,
Soissons, see; kia Aug 29, '18.
Oertel, Arthur Arnold, 23,
Wausau; pvt 161depbrig; U. S.; dd (pneu)
Oct 2, '18.
Oertel, Emil Lewis, 24,
Rozellville; pvt 127inf; kia
Aug 4,
'18.
Passow, Ferdinand, 23, Mosinee;
pvt 339inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Sept
11, '18.
Paszek, Stanislaus, 29, Edgar ;
pvt 129inf ; overseas ; dd (pneu)
Dec
14, '18.
Pearson, Ernest W., 19,
Wausau; sgt 128inf; overseas; dd
(leukemia) June 22, '18.
Peckham, Guy Elven, 26,
Dorchester; pvt 161depbrig; overseas;
dd (pneu) Oct 7,'18.
Petri, William S., 23,
Rozellville ; corp 127inf; near Fismes ; kia
Aug
5,'18.
Pickett, Lee, 24, Spencer; 2Lt
102inf; Aisne-Marne; kia
Oct
30,'18.
Prochnow, Reinhold G., 27,
Wausau; pvt 311engnrs; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct 7,'18.
Punk, Frank E., 23,
Wausau; pvt 28inf; kia Oct 6, '18.
Radant, Arthur E., 26,
Wausau; pvt 118engnrs; U. S.; dd (pneu)
Oct 9"18.
Raduechel, Walter, 22,
South Wausau; pvt 355inf; overseas;
dd (pneu) Oct 17, '18.
Rahn, Emil Max, 24,
Wausau; pvt 311engnrs; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct 6,'18.
Roll, William A., 26,
Wausau ; pvt 4inf ; kia Oct 4, '18.
Rose, Henry M., 32,
Wausau; pvt 1cl 4inf; kia Oct 1, '18.
Sawyer, Edward A., 23, Fenwood;
pvt 341inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Sept
30,'18.
Schmitt, John S., 32,
Athens; pvt 1cl prvnlmgbn; overseas;
dd (pneu) Oct 8, '18.
Schoepke, August F., 22, Ringle;
pvt 341inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Jan 3,
'18.
Schremp, Walter Henry, 22,
Athens; pvt SATC, Kansas City; . U.
S.; dd (pneu) Oct 4, '18.
Schultz, Robert W., 23,
Schofield; pvt 355inf; St. Mihiel; dd (pneu)
Sept
23, '18.
Sell, Edward R., 29,
Wausau; pvt 341inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct 2, '18.
Silbereisen, George Theodore, 21,
Unity ; Yet unasgnd ;
U. S.;
dd (pneu) Nov 4, '18.
Smith, Frank, 27, Halder; pvt
163depbrig;
U. S.; dd (pneu) Oct 11"18.
Smith, Peter C., 26, Colby; pvt
503engnrs resbn; overseas; dd (mening)
May 4,
'18.
Spitzenberger, Herman J.,
22, m, Colby; pvt Auto Schl tngdet,
Kansas City; U. S.; dd. (influ) Oct 4, '18.
Stojentin, William von, 25,
Unity; pvt 343inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Nov 6,
'18.
Strachota, Albert A.,
22, m, Wausau; WNG; pvt 28inf; kia Jy
19, '18.
Sutter, George J., 30,
Athens ; pvt 37medrplunit ; overseas
; dd (pneu) Oct 4, '18.
Tischendorf, Carl, 22,
Dorchester; pvt MD; U. S.; dd (pneu)
Oct 20, '18.
Umhoefer, Anton L., 22,
Wausau; pvt 161depbrig; U. S.; dd (pneu)
Oct 6, '18.
Veitenhaus, Joseph F., 23,
Athens; pvt 311engnrs; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct 3, '18.
Weigel, Nick A., 24, McMillan ;
pvt 354inf ;
Verdun ; kia Nov 5, '18.
Werner, Bernhard, Jr., 32, Edgar;
pvt 47inf; kia
Aug 10, '18.
Wilichowski, Joseph William, 22,
Marathon; pvt 354inf; Verdun; kia Nov
1, '18.
Willner, Edwin Frederick, 22,
Edgar; pvt Auto Schl,
Kansas
City; U. S.; dd (pneu) Oct 7, '18.
Wirkus, Daniel J., 24, Edgar; pvt
341inf; overseas; dd (pneu)
Oct
20, '18.
Witte, Fred J., 27, Colby; pvt
341inf;
U. S.; dd (pneu) Jan 2,'18.
Zastrow, Fred G., 29,
Wausau; pvt 318fremsq QMC; overseas;
dd (append) Nov 7, '18.
Zettler, Paul,
29, m,
Stratford; hqgr mgtngc, Camp Hancock; U. S.; dd (influ) Oct 19,
'18.
Zochert, Oscar, 28,
Wausau; pvt 353inf; overseas; dd (tuberc)
Oct 27, '18.
Navy
Ahart, Joe, 22, Wausau; fireman
3cl; d USS Solace, Base No. 2, Yorktown, Pa., Mch 28, '18.
Bohnsdahl, Sigurd Leopold, 20,
Mosinee; app seaman; dd (influ) Naval Hospital, Great Lakes,
Ill., Oct 5, '18.
Colombo, John Arthur Joseph, 22,
Wausau; seaman 2c1; d Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, Ill., Dec 30,
'17.
Geisler, Arnold Julius, Wausau;
seaman 2cl; d Naval Hospital, Annapolis, Md., Oct 9, '18.
Moore, Levi Blanchard, 23,
Galloway; ldsm for elec radio; dd (meas) Naval Hospital, Great
Lakes, Ill., May 17, '18.
Witta, Jacob, 25, Ringle; fireman
3cl; d Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., Sept 24, '18.
Marines
Eggleston, Claude Leroy, 29,
Unity; rplbn; overseas; d (drowning) Mch 27, '20.
Veterans buried in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery
- Cassel
|
Cemetery List |
Source: Cassel Centennial Booklet |
|
WORLD WAR I
Gregor J Budzinski - from town of Marathon (1969)
Joseph P Cichon - from town of Marathon (1976)
John R Dalsky
Alex B Dalsky
John M. Dalsky
Joe Greismer
Peter Jakubowski
Frank A. Knetter (1925)
John Knetter (1952)
Lawrence Kordus
*Paul F Kordus
Harry Lang
Phillip G. Lang
John Nowak (1931)
Joseph Pospychalla
Alex Pospychalla
George Seliger
Fred Semski - from town of Emmet (1957)
Anton C. Skrzypchak (1979)
Joseph Stencil
Frank Szuminski (1959)
Anton T. Wenzel (1981)
August Wilichowski,
Frank Wilichowski (1975)
*Joseph Wilichowski
Frank Zemski
WORLD WAR II
Anton Adamski
Victor E. Adamski (1966)
Alex Andreshak
Clarence Berens
Lamont Berens
Adam L. Brzezinski (1981)
Anselm Ceranski
Michael Ceranski
Myron Cramer
Philip Dalsky
Harvey Drengler
*Alois Dreikosen
Gerald Dreikosen
Joseph A. Feltzkowski (1987)
Alfred Gruny
Anton Hornung Jr.
Maurice Hughes
Anton Imhoff
Alfred Joswiak
John Joswiak
Joseph Karlen
Norton Kempf
John Klosinski (1981)
Joseph Klosinski
David Knoeck
Gilbert Knoeck
Alfred Kohler
Richard Kohler
George Kordus
Valerian Kordus
Adam Krause
Anton Krause
Arthur Lang
*Alex O. Lang
Erhart Lang
Harold Lang
Leo Lang
Richard Lang
Rueben Lang
Clemens Lepak
Isadore S. Lepak (1966)
Lawrence Lepak
Raymond Lepak
Alois Lemanski,
Andrew Lemanski|
David Marzynski
Valentine Marzynski
David Murkowski
Harry Muelbeck
Adolph R. Pospyhalla - killed in action Aseatic area, WWII 1944 Son of Louis &
Anna Pospychalla
Edward Pospychalla
Erwin Rader
Hugo Rader
Francis Schilling
John Skrypchak Jr.
Stanley Starzynski
Clarence Sturgul
Alex Szymanski
Edwin Szymanski
Joseph Szymanski
Wallace Szymanski
Adam E. Wadzinski (1988)
Adolph Wadzinski
Anton L. Wadzinski (1982)
Clemens Wadzinski
Frank Wadzinski
Harry Wadzinski
*Raymond A. Wadzinski - killed in action in France WWII 1944 Son of Frank
&Jennie Wadzinski
Aloysius Wilichowski
Alfred Wilichowski
|
KOREAN
WAR
Philip Adamski
LeRoy Adamski
Wilbert Bantes
Richard Imhoff
Adolph J. Jakubowski (1986)
Ronald Kirstein
Elroy Lang
Orville Lang
Leandor Lepak
Robert Schneeburger
Myron Lepak
Arnold Seliger
Cyril Seliger
Melvin Seliger
John Szuminski
Anthony Trawickie
Marvin Wadzinski
Clarence Wenzel
Joe Wesolowski
Arthur Wilichowski
Henry J. Zemski from town of Marathon (1973)
V1ETNAM WAR
Donald Adamski
David Ceranski
Steve Burger
Fidelis Ceranski
Arnold Heil
Dennis Heil
James Heil
Richard Heil
Donald Imhoff
Henry Imhoff Jr.
Mike Joswiak
David Karlen
Gerald Karlen
John Kirstein
Jerome Koppa
Landelin Koppa
David Huebsch
Michael Huebsch
Tom Huebsch
Arthur Lang
Gary Lang
Derrell Lang
Kenneth Lang
Leonard Lang
Charles Lemmer
Ralph Lemmer
Robert Lemmer
Joseph Lepak
Leander Lepak
Marlin Lepak
James Lemanski
Thomas Milbeck
George Pesanka
Thomas Pesanka
Ronald Rajek
Kenneth Schuster
Terrance Szymanski
George Wadzinski
Jeffrey Wadzinski
Robert Wadzinski
Clarence Werner
David Wielock
Dennis Wielock
Marcel Wielock
Martin Wielock
[*Denotes Killed in Action]
|
Spencer's Men in the Military
Source: Spencer Centennial Book (1874 - 1974) pages
89-94
Second Lieutenant Lee F. Pickett
Lee Francis Pickett was born and reared in Spencer and
completed ninth grade at Spencer Public Schools. Following his
graduation from Rice Lake High School in 1912, he taught rural
schools in North Dakota for some time. From September 1915 to
May 1917 he was a student at Oshkosh Normal School, specializing
in Industrial Arts. Being an accomplished musician, he was
assistant director of the student band while there. A call came
in May 1917 for college men to go into Officers Candidate School
at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, and although he was due to graduate
in the summer, he left school to report to Ft. Sheridan for
training. About November 30, 1917, he was commissioned Second
Lieutenant and left Spencer January 10, 1918, to sail for
France, he left the United States with four fellow R.O.T.C.
lieutenants and was assigned to the Yankee Division. In May he
received a citation for having led a group of men on a
successful night raid of the German lines. During the second
battle of the Marine he was wounded and again cited for bravery.
He was the only Company Officer still able to maneuver and,
although shot in the leg, continued to lead his men. His
citation reads in part, “For your gallant conduct and devotion
to duty in the field on July 20 to 25, 1918, although wounded
continued to lead your platoon under fire…” After
hospitalization he rejected an offer of a “behind the lines”
job, having an urgent desire to return to his men at the front
where he arrived October 25. He was killed in the Argonne
October 30, 1918.
Depot Agent John Mais, with the telegram in hand, started to the
Post Office on what he would afterward describe as the longest
walk he would ever take. He stopped enroute at the garage (now
Jensen’s Motors) where Polly Parrette Vanderhoof was working as
a mechanic. She drove at once to the Parrette farm to break the
news to her mother, Lt. Pickett’s grandmother.
Later there would be letters of tribute and high praise written
by his commanding officer and other fellow officers. A street in
Ft. Sheridan would be named in his honor and the Legion Post in
his home town would bear his name. But now a jubilant town that
had but a short time ago rejoiced with merrymaking over the end
of the war, was plunged into sadness as they mourned with their
highly respected and well loved Postmistress, the loss of her
only son.
Vernald Graves McIlhattan
That summer Saturday of July 28, 1945, would have been no
different than any other Saturday in a thriving busy rural town
had it not been for a telegram delivered by depot agent Herman
Metzger to Foster McIlhattan, a member of Graves Mercantile Co.,
at his place of business. The telegram began with the
conventional words, “We regret to inform you” and went on to
tell him of the death of his only son, Capt. Vernald Graves
McIlhattan, on board a Japanese vessel enroute from the
Phillippines to a prison in Japan.
Capt. McIlhattan became a member of the ROTC while a student at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison from which he graduated.
Following Pearl Harbor, he was ordered to the Phillippines where
he was later imprisoned by the Japanese. He suffered chest
wounds during a bombing of the first ship on which he had been
placed, was transferred to another vessel where he died of
wounds aggravated by unsanitary conditions and malnutrition just
two days before reaching Japan, January 28, 1945. He was buried
at sea.
That Saturday evening there was the usual number of country folk
who had come to town to do their weekly shopping and the usual
number of villagers who had gone down town to do some last
minute shopping, as no stores were open on Sunday. Anyone
stepping from his car to the street could sense an unusual
atmosphere of quietness, intermingled with sadness and
reverence. There was no hand waving or cheery greetings being
called across the street, no lively conversation and loud
guffaws on the street corners; the tones were subdued and the
laughter absent. In the various stores to which one went to make
purchases, the greetings were kind and courteous, the service
efficient, but no one lingered to pass the time of day. The long
awaited, yet dreaded, word had come, confirming everyone’s worst
fears. Methodically shoppers loaded their purchases into their
cars and left a quieted shopping center. Another son had given
his “last full measure of devotion” in another World War.
Later in the fall there would be a Service of Commemoration in
the Municipal Hall conducted by the Rev. Arthur Oates of the
Presbyterian Church of Marshfield speaking words of comfort and
encouragement from the last half of John 5:4 “and this is the
victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” There
would be a male choir of eight men from his church singing, “The
City Foursquare.” There would be a moving and eloquent tribute
written and read by Commander R. L. Parrette of the Lee F.
Pickett American Legion Post. There would be a presentation by
the Post Chaplain of a United States flag to the widow with all
due form and ceremony, a widow who had already received the
Purple Heart from the War Department, a citation from the
President of the United States, and an honor certificate from
the University of Wisconsin, but his finest tribute would remain
the stillness of his home town one summer Saturday evening.
Private Fred Vought, soldier of the Spanish American War, was
killed in action August 12, 1898 in a charge made on Albonita
Pass, Puerto Rico and was brought back here for burial April 12,
1899. His grave, with marker, is in the West Spencer Cemetery.
Other Spencer boys serving in the Spanish American War and who
were a part of Company A of Marshfield were Al Trumball, Eugene
McVean, William LaFever, Burt Whitmore, Noris Welch, Spencer
Graves, Earl Holmes, Sebastian Bord. George Cook, of Unity,
joined the Spencer group and became their morale booster by
providing them with laughter, daring, a solution to any problem
of the day, and a sure feeling of undefeat. Martin Engel, who
enlisted with a different unit, came to Spencer after the war.
He served as Chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, assisting
at the funerals of many comrades.
Three Spencer boys lost their lives in World War I. The records
of our local Legion Post are not available, and we have been
unable to obtain much information except on Lt. Lee F. Pickett.
We have learned that Paul Luchterhand lost his life in a railway
accident in Germany. Several Spencer veterans know there was a
third soldier killed but cannot recall his name. We regret not
having more information on these two soldiers.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bruesewitz, Route 1, Spencer, were called upon
to make a double sacrifice and endured the heartbreak of having
two sons sent home for burial. Private Raymond (Johnny)
Bruesewitz, a Spencer High School graduate, was killed in Italy
August 17, 1946, and buried in West Spencer Cemetery November
26, 1946.
Sergeant Harold (Breezy) Bruesewitz was the first Spencer boy to
be killed in World War II. He was a graduate of Spencer High
School and had been employed at the Roddis Veneer Plant before
enlisting in the Army on August 17, 1942. He received his basic
training at Camp Callan, California, and was in shipyard duty at
Bremerton and Port Orchard, Washington, before going overseas in
August of 1944. He was killed in action in Belgium on January
25, 1945, and was buried in the West Spencer Cemetery beside the
grave of his brother, Pvt. Raymond Bruesewitz.
S. Sgt. Stanley B. Wojcik, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley
Wojcik, Route 1, Spencer, entered the army in 1939, and after a
training period in the States was sent to Pearl Harbor. He was
stationed on one of the Philippine Islands when the Japanese
struck. He was killed in action while fighting on Luzon in the
Philippines February 2, 1945. He had been awarded the Bronze
Star and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry
in action against the Japanese. A brother, Peter, was wounded in
Belgium the same day Sgt. Wojcik was killed.
Pvt. Frank Ertl, infantryman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ertl of
Spencer, embarked for the European theater of war in 1943. On
July 6, 1944, his parents received news from the War Department
that their son was missing in action as of May 10, 1944. It was
not until October 10, 1944 that the Secretary of War was able to
confirm that he had been killed on the date he had been reported
missing in action. He was buried in Italy.
Corp. Leroy Schultz of the Marine Corps, 3rd Division, was
killed in action on the island of Iwo Jima February 23, 1945,
his 23rd birthday. He was a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Elliot,
to them the son they had never had. He resided with them on
their farm south of town for 10 years, graduating from Spencer
High School in 1940.
Pvt. George J. Boehm of the Marine Corps, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Conrad Boehm, left for service January 3, 1943 and received his
basic training at Camp Elliot, San Diego, California. He
embarked for foreign duty in mid-summer without having an
opportunity to visit his home. He had been overseas more than
six months when his parents received a telegram signed by Gen.
Alexander Vandergrift, informing them that their son had been
killed in action in the Southwest Pacific Theater of War.
Corp. Steve G. Hofmann, a Town of Spencer soldier with the 2nd
Division of Infantry, was doing reconnaissance work and took
part in the invasion of Normandy, France in July 1944 and was
killed there on September 9, 1944.
Pfc. Marvin E. Domer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. C. Domer, entered
the service in June, 1944, and was with the HG & HG Det. 249th
ORD, BN. He was sent overseas in December – landing in Italy. On
October 3, 1945 he met with an unfortunate accident while
driving a one-quarter ton jeep in northern Italy and passed away
without regaining consciousness. He was placed in the Military
Cemetery in Northern Italy, then on July 1, 1949, he was
returned and laid to rest in St. John’s Cemetery in Riplinger,
Wisconsin.
Fireman Jimmy Ried Harries, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry
Harries, was a crew member aboard the L.C.M. Craft No. 6-34. The
craft was assigned to Naval support activity at DaNang, Republic
of Vietnam. On the morning of June 26, 1968 while providing
vital support to the Naval Support Activity at Cua, Vietnam, the
detachment began receiving enemy artillery fire when the nearby
concrete bunkers were being shelled. Jim attempted to get his
craft underway and out to sea when a round detonated in the
water about 20 yards astern of the craft. Fireman Harries
received shrapnel wounds causing almost instant death.
Navyman William Bruesewitz, son of Frank Bruesewitz, of Spencer,
was killed at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 while serving on
board the battleship Oklahoma.
Alfred Heath, son of Grant Heath, of Spencer, was serving on
board the U.S.S. Arizona when it was sunk by the enemy at Pearl
Harbor December 7, 1941. The ship was hit hard, rolled over and
sank and was not raised. The bodies of its crew are entombed
there. A National Shrine has now been built upon the hull of the
sunken ship. It is a beautiful shrine called the U.S.S. Memorial
whose inscription reads “To the brave men who made the ultimate
sacrifice on December 7, 1941.”
PRISONERS OF WAR
Four Spencer men have been prisoners of war. Capt. Vernald G.
McIlhattan and Staff Sergeant Heinz Ratsch of World War II, Sgt.
Reuben Fischer of the Korean War, and Commander William Metzger
of the Vietnam War.
Staff Sgt. Heinz Ratsch of the 228th Signal Company, U.S. Army,
was captured May 6, 1942, at Corregidor, Philippines. After
being moved from one prison to another (five in all), he was
taken to Japan and released there Sept. 5, 1945, having been
imprisoned for three years and four months. Referring to it now,
he remarks, “the Japanese gave me a tour of the Philippines and
Japan.” Heinz and his sister, Dorothy, made their home with
Mayme Suprey at her hotel for a number of years and to Heinz,
Spencer is his home town. He and his wife, Helen, live in
Greensboro, North Carolina where he is a Senior Development
Engineer with Western Electric, working with the design and
development of a surface to air missile system. His 22 year old
son is assistant manager at the K Mart there, and his 20 year
old daughter is a junior at the University of N.C., Chapel Hill,
majoring in psychology.
Lt. Valmore Schilleman (son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Ingham),
a bomber pilot, was shot down over Vienna September 26, 1944, on
his first mission and was captured. He was later freed from
Stalag Luft. No. 1 in Germany. His wife, Dorothy, mad her home
here with her parents during the war and, following his return,
they both resided here for a time.
Sgt. Reuben Fischer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Fischer, of
rural Spencer, went overseas January 15, 1953. He was forward
observer with the 555th Field Artillery Battalion when their
outfit was overrun by the North Korean Communists in a fierce
fight on July 12, 1953. Sgt. Fischer was reported missing in
action August 25, 1953. After six weeks of suspense, his parents
received a message that he had been released by the Communists
at Freedom Village in Korea.
The 555th Field Artillery Division was stationed on the eastern
tip of the Iron Triangle supporting the R.O.K. Division during
the Red’s last push of the Korean War. They launched their major
attack in the Kumhwa Valley at nine o’clock at night with 4000
troops and pushed right through. The R.O.K.’s could not hold
them and the South Koreans left, leaving the Artillery Battalion
of 800 men to block the assault. At 4 o’clock the next morning
they received orders to move out but were surrounded. Some
managed to escape over the hill, others were captured. The 158
men in Sgt. Fischer’s outfit were marched from Kumhwa to Chorwon,
on the westerly tip of the Iron Triangle, a gathering point for
prisoners and interrogation. They were later forced to march to
Cinnampo, a distance of 160 miles. Only 53 of the 158 survived
the ordeal of that march, many of them suffering from wounds
received in the battle.
When Sgt. Fischer went aboard the Phoenix enroute to San
Francisco, prison privation and brutality had cut his weight
down from 187 pounds to 127 pounds. He arrived at his parents;
home in Milwaukee September 19, 1953. He was later hospitalized
at Great Lakes Naval Hospital for the removal of some pieces of
shrapnel from his legs.
Lt. Commander Wm. J. Metzger Jr., son of Wm. Metzger and Myrtle
Morrow Metzger, both Spencer High School graduates, was born in
Spencer and spent most of his boyhood here. Later he moved with
his parents to Wisconsin Rapids, graduated from Lincoln High
School there, and in 1964 from the Wisconsin University, Stevens
Point. He entered O.C.S. at Pensacola, Florida in June 1964,
completed Jet Training and received his Naval wings at Chase
Field, Beeville, Texas April 1, 1966. He was then assigned to
Miramer Naval Air Station in San Diego, California, and in
January 1967 sailed on Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard
for Vietnam.
After flying 50 missions he was shot down near Hanoi May 19,
1967 and was taken prisoner. He suffered two broken legs and due
to inadequate medical treatment, one leg became shorter than the
other.
He was freed March 4, 1973 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base
in Washington D. C. March 6. He remained in Bethesda Naval
Hospital until April 1 and returned to Wisconsin Rapids for the
Welcome Home Celebration, which relatives and friends from
Spencer attended. On May 2 he was appointed to the rank of
Lieutenant Commander.
He re-entered Bethesda Naval Hospital on June 28 for surgery on
his legs. At present he is working with the Navy Harpoon Guided
Missile Project. He has recently been relieved of the heavy
braces used to stretch the shorter leg which is still in the
process of healing.
He and his wife, Bonnie, who were married in 1964, now reside at
Annandale, Virginia. Lt. Commander Metzger plans to attend
graduate school in Monterey, California this fall.
Everyone in this community rejoiced with his grandmother, Mrs.
Blanche Metzger, upon his release from prison and his safe
return home, and we share her hopes for a complete healing of
both legs.
Marathon County Korean War Inductees
Source: Wausau newspaper, Tuesday (possibly Mar. 1951)
contributed by Duane Mantick
Fifty-eight Men From County to Leave For Induction
Fifty-eight Marathon county men will leave here tomorrow noon by
bus for Milwaukee to be inducted into the armed services. The
Rotary club will serve the men a light lunch.
Leader of the group will be Karl V. Williams, 926 ½ Kichbusch
street, and his assistant will be William P. Cherek, Hatley
route 1.
Two men are volunteering for induction ahead of their call. They
are Leonard H. Frank, Schofield route 1, and Harvey H. Kufahl,
Athens, route 3.
Two men registered with the local board were transferred
elsewhere. Milton K. Denton, Mosinee, route 1, transferred to a
California board, and Keith McHugh, Edgar route 3, to an Iowa
board.
The next group will leave here April 11. There will be 13 for
preinduction examinations and 42 for induction. They will leave
on the same day at 12:30 p.m.
Others leaving tomorrow include Robert W. Flor, 1018 Sixth
street; Alois A. Krueger, 608 N. Second avenue; James E. Kuski,
414 West street; Jerome R. Nikolai, 701 Henrietta street; David
C. Petri, 1209 Cleveland avenue; Edwin J. Petroski Jr., 721 ½ S.
Third avenue; Donald A. Plautz, 801 Town Line road,
Norman R. Aanonsen, Eland route 1; Robert J. Barrick, Wausau
route 2; Dennis R. Bauman, Edgar route 4; Charles W. Baumann,
Wausau route 3; Douglas W. Berres, Schofield; Thomas P. Bishop,
Edgar route 4; Alfred Buelow, Dancy; Edward J. Dvorak, Athens
route 2; Richard Feit, Mosinee route 2; Howard R. Green,
Mosinee.
Jerome P. Greisch, Edgar; Alfred W. Gumz, Dorchester route 1;
Edgar A. Gunderson, Aniwa route 1; Trueman L. Habeck, Schofield;
Edmund A. Hart, Athens route1; Delmar A. Hintz, Wausau route 2;
Lee N. Johnson, Wausau route 1; Raymond C. Kondzels, Edgar;
Henry Kruit, Birnamwood route 3; Clarence F. Mallak, Athens
route 1; Alphones J. Mroczenski, Edgar route 5; Edwin H.
Mueller, Edgar route 1; George Oleinik, Hatley route 1; Alfred
E. Ostrowski, Hatley; Anthony L. Passehl, Athens route 2.
Richard G. Pokrant, Marshfield route 3; Donald R. Schmidt,
Wausau route 4; Walter L. Schoonover, Schofield route 1; Paul L.
Schulz, Wausau route 3; Harvey G. Strehlow, Ringle route 1;
James G. Switlick, Athens route 2; Delmar E. Telschow, Stratford
route 1; Harley M. Vanderkooy, Eland route 1; Clarence H. Zinkel
Jr., Marathon; Clarence M. Bruski, Wittenberg route 1, and
Lawrence F. Stenzel, Athens route 3.
Marathon County Korean War Casualties
(1951)
----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 8 Nov.
1951
Nine of 57 March Draft Men are Casualties
* The young men of Marathon county who went off to
serve their country last March 21 have already paid more than their share in
blood for the United Nations efforts for victory in Korea.
It was a typical March day – cool and windy – when 57 Marathon county young men,
all in their early twenties to late teens, reported to the ? service office in
the courthouse annex at Wausau and boarded Greyhound buses for the trip to
Milwaukee and induction into the armed forces.
Today, a little more than seven months later, nine of them have been battle
casualties in far-off Korea. Two have paid the price of liberty with their
lives, six have been wounded on the field of battle and one has been reported
missing in action.
Nearly every on of the battle victims received infantry basic training at Ft.
Leonard Wood, Mo., came home on furlough in July and arrived in Korea by
mid-August.
Those of the group who have made the supreme sacrifice were:
Pfc. Douglas W. Rose, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rose of Wausau, killed in
action Oct. 4.
Pfc. Lawrence F. Stenzel, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Stenzel, town of
Rietbrock, killed in action Sept. 21.
The GI missing in action is Pfc. Edwin Mueller, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John
Mueller, town of Wien. He has been missing since Sept. 25.
The roster of wounded includes the following:
Pvt. Harvey G. Strehlow, Ringle, route 1, wounded Aug. 30.
Pvt. Alphonse J. Mroczenski, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mroczenski, town of
Rib Falls, wounded Sept. 23.
Pfc. Walter Schoonover, Jr., 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schoonover, town of
Weston, and husband of Mrs. Lauerne Schoonover, Milwaukee, lost his right leg
early in October.
Pvt. Richard C. Feit, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Feit, town of Kroenwetter,
wounded Oct. 7.
Pvt. Jerome R. Nikolai, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nikolai, Wausau, wounded
Oct. 10.
Cpl. Delmar A. Hintz, 22, son of Mrs. Francis Hintz, Wausau, route 2, wounded
Oct. 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note from Duane Mantik:
Herbert W. Mantick
Drafted 22 Mar. 1951
Wounded 15 Jan. 1952; Northeast of Kumhwa, Korea
Company D, 3rd Combat Engineering Battalion, 24th Infantry Division
Died Apr. 2007
Vilas Ray Schmoekel
Killed 7 Jan. 1952
Pfc. Company D, 3rd Combat Engineering Battalion, 24th Infantry Division
Military Personnel from Wisconsin who Died
(Including Missing and Captured Declared Dead) as a Result of the Vietnam War,
1957–1995
----Source: U.S. National Archives
HDC = hostile, died while captured
HDM = hostile, died while missing
HDW= hostile, died of wounds
HK = hostile, killed
NHI = nonhostile, died of illness or injury
NDM = nonhostile, died while missing
NHO = nonhostile, died of other causes
† Body not recovered
ARMY
Richard D. Bartholomew Jr. Specialist Fourth Class Wausau HK February 12,
1969
Charles S. Beranek First Lieutenant Mosinee HK June 14, 1968
Ronald J. Hasko Private First Class Wausau HK March 27, 1968
Leroy D. Hoffman Private First Class Athens HK November 22, 1968
Terrence E. Kohlbeck Sergeant Stratford HK May 6, 1968
Marvin D. Kostroski Private First Class Schofield HK August 26, 1966
Wayne D. Krueger Private First Class Wausau HK March 26, 1968
Larry H. Oertel Specialist Fourth Class Stratford NHO December 25, 1967
Kenneth D. Roberts Staff Sergeant Wausau HK February 5, 1967
David L. Tessmer Corporal Wausau HK May 27, 1969
David J. Woznicki Specialist Fourth Class Hatley HDM December 7, 1967
MARINES
John E. Krzmarcik Private First Class Wausau HK June 7, 1969
Gary R. Miracle Lance Corporal Wausau HK February 23, 1969
Daniel J. Orlikowski Private First Class Athens HK March 7, 1967
James M. Ringle Private Wausau NHO March 31, 1967
Dale A. Schepp Lance Corporal Wausau NHI December 9, 1969
Michael J. Allard Lieutenant Schofield HK August 30, 1967
Jimmy R. Harries Fireman Spencer HK June 25, 1968
Jack H. Harris Commander Schofield NHO October 26, 1966
NAVY
none
