Courier Tribune
July 1, 1940
page 1 and 2

They Serve the Flag

Many from Here

Country Not Unprepared If This Area is Representative

With th hubbub of war abroad and need for Uncle Sam to carry a good club, extremists have it that the United States now has practically no defense at all. But if this area is representative the country is not unprepared. There are perhaps more young men from this area serving their country’s flag today that at any other time of peace. When one begins to name over those of one’s acquaintance who are in the service or have had training and are in the reserve organization, it is found the list is surprising.
Following are some of the men serving from this area. It is not a government list, merely those thought of by persons in this office, and other persons with whom reporters came in contact. No doubt there will be additions.
Reuben Bieri and Harry Bieri, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Peta Bieri, Seneca, navy men, both first class petty officers. Reuben is at Lisbon, Portugal on the Dickerson, light cruiser expected to head soon for American waters; Harry is on the Hamman, new destroyer at San Diego.
Leo Wichman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clem Wichman, Seneca. Six years in federal service in the Hawaiian islands. He was at Baltimore, Maryland, two weeks ago, possibility he would be sent to South America. Leo does not discuss his work, leading to belief it is with the secret department of the service.
Bennie Koelzer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Koelzer, north of Seneca. In the navy, Washington state machinist and petty officer, completing four years service next October 20. Sons of Paul Luckeroth and Fred Hunninghake, Baileyville, recently joined the navy.
Russell C. Buehler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Buehler, Seneca. A lieutenant in the Reserve Officers Training Corps, commonly called the R.O.T.C., coast artillery, now in actie service at Miller’s field, Staten Island, New York.
Dwight Rickman, Seneca, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rickman, Seneca. Joining the marines at San Diego. Left here last week. Bernard Stein, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Stein and Arthur Sisco, other Seneca young men, have taken steps preliminary to enlistment in the navy.
Linus Karnowski, son of Mr.

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and Mrs. Joe Karnowski, is with the 18th Coast Artillery, at Ft. Stevens, Oregon.
David Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Mitchell. Joined the navy from Seneca a year or so ago when his parents lived here, his father an SCS foreman.
Leroy Armstrong, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Armstrong, Seneca. Preparing to be a navy flier. Has had his first training at Fairfax airport, Kansas City. Soon to be called to the naval air base at Pensacola, Florida to report.
Wilfred Fienhage, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Fienhage, Baileyville, army service, stationed at Ft. Leavenworth according to last information here.
Wilbert Schmits, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Schmits, Seneca. First class private, U.S. Army, Ft. Lewis, Wash.; two years service.
Cyril Kohake, son of Tony Kohake, Goff, three months in the navy.
Cyril Fleming, son of Joe Fleming, Kelly is in the navy.
Ralph V. Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Anderson, Oneida. Naval communications reserve active service a the present time, recruiting.
Harold Wiseman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wiseman, Axtell, formerly of Centralia, is a navy youth who wrote home interestingly several months ago when he was in South American waters and viewed the Grai Spee, packet battleship scuttled by the Germans after a sharp encounter with English ships.
Bern Joins the Navy
Information was available on a number of Bern youths who have joined the service Bern has gone to the navy. The town claims Rueben and Harry Bieri, who formerly lived there, and these additional.
Donald Croffot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Croffoot. In the navy about four months, on the Hammann, same destroyer Harry Bieri is on.
Alvin “Bud” Gugelman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gugelman, Also joined four months, on the Hammann.
George Brett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bern, on the USS Detroit at Honolulu.
Paul Wittwer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Wittwer, served a four year enlistment earlier, rejoined the nay recently on the west coast or in Pacific waters, with the fleet, location of which is now secret.
Bob Baugh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baugh. Three years service, submarine duty, was in San Diego two weeks ago.
Dustin and James Simon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Simon, who recently moved to Belleville. James has been in the navy approximately four years; Duane since last August. Both on same ship, name know known.
Ready to go Ira Bieri, another son of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bieri; Galen Haffner, son of Mrs. Alice Haffner. Another Bern naval youth James [Bryant]
Reserves Civilian Training
Scattered in various places are men who are not in active duty but have had recent training and are members of the reserves. There comes to mind Major Geo Springer, Seneca, Vincent Rethman, Seneca, leaving for employment in the east, whose R.O.T.C. work has been coupled with additional summer encampments in the chemical branch of the service; Arlie Higgins, Florence school superintendent, former Seneca young man, a reserve lieutenant with R.O.T.C. service and training in command of CCC; Rex Molineux, Seneca, reserve lieutenant and CCC administration; Charles Pence, Seneca, reserve lieutenants; Marvin Funk, Dallas, advanced R.O.T.C. training.
Civilian air training, sponsored by the government is adding to pilots with at least basic training who would be available in case of need. Lester Haug, Seneca, K.U. graduate, at Ft. Sheridan, near Chicago, has such training. Another Seneca connection is the Austin family, Mrs. Judd Austin Topeka, taking the CAA training. Women pilots may in time become instructors.
As indicated at the beginning of this article, this is probably but a part of those in this newspaper’s area who are in service or reserve. It will not be surprising if correspondents add many names.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 1 July 1940, page 1 and 2

The list of those in the service was continued in the next issue.

Also Serve Their Country

Mentioned as serving Uncle Sam since the list was published in the last paper are Harlan Becker, son of the late Roy Becker, navy; Richard Heideman, son of Fred Heideman, navy; Moses Tate, son of Charles Tate, just joined the army. Paul Gerber, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Gerber, is in the navy at present on U.S.S. Enterprise, Airplane carrier stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He enlisted last October.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, Kansas) 4 July 1940, page 5