War Memorial

Born: 8 December 1897

Died: 24 June 1918 - France KIA

Burial: Riverside Memorial Park Spokane, Washington, USA

Residence: Beldenville, Wisconsin

Enlisted in the Marine Corps in May, 1917. Trained at Mare Island, CA., and Quantico, VA. Sent overseas in Feb. 1918. 

From: The Spokane Chronicle (Spokane, WA) Sept. 3, 1921 Sat

BURY CURLEW HERO MONDAY AFTERNOON

Private Erickson enlisted when war was declared and was trained with the marines at Mare Island, and later at Quantico, Va. He landed in France with the 6th regiment of marines and shortly afterward wrote home of the great victory at Chateau Thierry, in which he was engaged.

He received his education in Spokane and at college at Beldenville, Wis., where he graduated just before entering the service. 

He was the son of Mrs. J.E. Lancaster of Curlew, and is also survived by a brother, Everett Erickson of Spokane, and a sister, Mrs. M.C. Bucako of Portland. 

The 6th Marine Regiment participated in the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918, a key World War I victory for the Allies. Part of the German spring offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle has become a key component of United States Marine Corps history. Russia had the Bolshevik revolution and left the war, freeing fifty German divisions to move from the Eastern Front and turn against France. After years of deadlock, Germany launched their last desperate spring offensive, annihilating the British 5th Army and getting within 40 miles of Paris.

The battle lasted a month and was fought often times with bayonets. Advancing against well-emplaced German machine gun positions and suffering heavy losses, the Marines managed to push the Germans back and take their objectives. 

The USMC got their nickname "Devil Dogs" from official German reports of the battle. It has been said that this nickname came about from Marines being ordered to take a hill occupied by German forces while wearing gas masks as a precaution against German mustard gas. From the Germans' vantage point, they witnessed a pack of tenacious, growling figures wearing gas masks, with bloodshot eyes, advancing up the hill, sometimes on all fours. As the legend goes, the German soldiers, upon seeing this spectacle, began to yell that they were being attacked by "dogs from hell."

Born: 30 Jun 1889 - Martell, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Died: 6 Oct 1918 (aged 29) Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA

Burial: Woodside Cemetery, Baldwin, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, USA

Civilian Profession - Painter

Born in Martell, Pierce County, Wisconsin, to Olaf Forsythe and Anne Pauline Petersen.

Tragically Pvt. Forsythe died of pneumonia during the 1918 epidemic.

Born: 28 Jul 1895

Died: 28 Nov 1918 (aged 23) France Killed in Action (KIA)

Burial: Gilman Lutheran Cemetery - Spring Valley, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Civilian Profession: Farm Laborer

"Edwin Jahr joined the colors July 23, 1918 at Ellsworth, WI. Assigned to Co. 31, 161st Deport Brigade at Camp Grant. Ill. Sent overseas on Sept. 18th, 1918, with Co. I, 342nd Inf., 86th Div. 

Killed in action in the Argonne forest by a machine gun bullet" (July 14, 1921 Spring Valley Sun).

The Meuse–Argonne forest offensive was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. The Meuse–Argonne offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million French, Siamese, and American soldiers, sailors and marines. It is also the deadliest campaign in the history of the United States Army.

The offensive was the principal engagement of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I. It was one of a series of Allied attacks, known as the Hundred Days Offensive, which brought the war to an end. It was the largest and bloodiest operation of the entire war for the AEF even though, given the scale of other battles on the Western Front, its size was limited and the operation itself secondary, being far from the main offensive axis. 

Born: Apr. 10, 1898 

Died: July 19, 1918

From: Spring Valley, Wisconsin

Unit/Group: 1st Division, 16th Infantry Regiment (known as the "Big Red One")

Burial: Tablets of the Missing at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, France

Enlisted on June 25th, 1917 with Co. C, 3rd Wisconsin National Guard, at Hudson, WI. Trained at Camp Douglas and Camp NacArthur, Texas. Sent overseas with the 32nd Div., serving with Co. C, 128th Inf., and with Co. I 16th Inf, 1st Div. 

At the time of his death, 1st Div., 16th infantry was engaged in The Battle of Soissons. This battle was fought on the Western Front during World War I. Waged from 18 to 22 July 1918 between the French (with American and British assistance) and the German armies, the battle was part of the much larger Allied Aisne-Marne counter-offensive. This would be the regiment's first major attack of the war. The 16th, Along with the rest of the Big Red One, relentlessly attacked until a key German rail line was severed forcing a major withdrawal of the enemy's forces.

Born: 13 January 1895   

Died: 3 October 1918 - Champagne-Ardenne, France

From: Beldenville, Pierce County, Wisconsin

PVT Edgar Lawrence Linder was born in 1895, in Pierce, Wisconsin, his father, Roland Linder, and his mother, Sarah Dorcas “Dora” Plumley. He lived in Gilman and worked as a farmer for about 10 years.

Service Branch: Army

Rank: Private

Unit/Group: 1st Division, 28th Infantry Regiment

Casualty Type: Killed in Action

Burial: Plot B Row 44 Grave 27, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France

While serving with the 28th INF, PVT Linder would have been part of the The Battle of Cantigny. 

On May 28, 1918, American soldiers of the 28th Infantry Regiment left their trenches following an hour-long artillery preparation. This was a rolling barrage, advancing 100 meters every two minutes, to give the attacking troops time to keep up with it. The 28th Infantry Regiment, plus two companies of the 18th Infantry (3,564 men), captured Cantigny from units of the German Eighteenth Army. The 28th Infantry took the village in 30 minutes. It then continued on to its final objective roughly a half kilometer beyond the village.

At the time of his death 1st Division was engaged in the battle of Meuse-Argonne. 1st Division came under heavy gas attacks on the four succeeding nights after their arrival in the sector on October 1st, while awaiting orders to advance. The 1st Division suffered more than 900 gas casualties during the battle. Many of the 480 additional gas casualties incurred during the week of operations that followed appear to represent delayed cases or new casualties as a result of occupying previously contaminated terrain.

Alias: Willie

Born: 07 Jan 1896 Gilman, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Died: 25 Oct 1918 France, Argonne Front

From: Martell, Wisconsin, United States of America

Burial: Rush River Lutheran Church Cemetery

Civilian Profession: Farmer

Joined the colors on July 23rd, 1918, at Hudson, WI. Trained with the 29th Co., 161st Depot Brigade at Camp Grant, IL. Went to France in Sept. 1918, with Co. B, 353rd Inf. 

At the time of his death PVT Mattison's company took part in the Meuse-Argonne Forrest offensive. In an official report of the regimental staff, Colonel Reeves who was in command of the 353rd on October 25th, 1918 wrote "In addition, the constant sniping and busts of machine gun fire, together with the reports of our patrols, announced that the enemy still occupied in considerable force the northern half of the Bois de Banthville". 

"Immediately on leaving our positions were harassed by enemy snipers using machine guns.

Lieutenant V. D. Hunter, C. 0. Company C."

Taken from "History of the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, National Army, September, 1917-June 1919". 

The Meuse–Argonne Forrest offensive was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. 

Born: Date Unavailable

Died: 13 Oct 1918 Overseas influ

From: Spring Valley WI

Joined the colors May 28th, 1918 at Ellsworth, WI. Trained at Camp Grant, IL. and at Camp Lee, VA. Sent overseas in July, 1918 with Veterinary Hosp. No. 10. He Died on Oct. 13, 1918 at Bourbonne les Baines of influenza.

Born: Date Unavailable

Died: July 19, 1918

From: Spring Valley, Pierce County, Wisconsin

Burial Plot C Row 23 Grave 25, Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France

The First Spring Valley man to enlist. He joined Co. H., 3rd Wisconsin Infantry, on March 26th, 1917, at Menomonie, Wisconsin. Trained at Waco, Texas. Sent overseas with Co. I, 28th Infantry, 32nd Division. 

The 28th Infantry Regiment, was part of the Battle of Soissons at the time of PFC Rickards death. 

The attack began with a rolling barrage, advancing at a rate of 328 ft (100 m) every two minutes, across the entire front with the infantry rushing forward to gain the barrage. Both the 26th and 28th Infantry Regiments went into the attack without grenades and their ammunition carriers were out of contact to the rear. For the initial assault, 2nd Battalion served as the 28th Infantry's assault battalion with 3rd Battalion following in support and 1st Battalion held in division reserve. Initially the attack was met with little resistance. However, 28th Infantry began taking heavy fire directed at its flanks as they approached Saint Amand Farm, a strong point in the French 153rd Division's zone to their north. A portion of 2nd Battalion veered northeast and the farm was taken by 7:00 am.

Born: 11 May 1895

Died: 14 October 1918 Jefferson barracks, Mo. (pneumonia)

From: Spring Valley, Wisconsin

Civilian Profession: Farming

Joined the colors Oct. 1, 1918, at Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Trained at Camp Grant IL. Assigned for training to Jefferson Barracks, MO. 

At the time of his death Pvt Stein was stationed at Jefferson barracks, Mo.

Jefferson Barracks, a military training camp approximately ten miles from the city. A few dozen men there had developed influenza by October 1, prompting the commander to discontinue all public entertainment and bar all gatherings, to prohibit visitors from entering buildings occupied by draftees and enlisted men, and revoking passes to travel outside the barracks. A few days later, the initial 40 mild cases had swelled to 500, overwhelming the small staff of nurses on base. Dr. C. E. Freeman, the chief surgeon at the barracks, issued an urgent plea for every nurse and nurse trainee from St. Louis he could get. 

information taken from influenza Archive

Born: 27 Feb 1897

Died: 05 Oct 1918 - Camp Hancock Augusta, Georgia (pneumonia)

From: Spring Lake, Wisconsin 

Burial: Spring Lake Lutheran Cemetery

Born to Adolph and Gertrude Stein. 

He joined the colors Sept. 4th, 1918, at Ellsworth, WI. 

Trained at Camp Grant, Ill., and at Camp Hancock, GA.

From the New Georgia Encyclopedia:  

In late September 1918, new draftee replacements for the Fort Screven Coast Artillery units began reporting to the infirmary seriously ill. Within a few days, it became clear that the men had contracted the dreaded Spanish flu. On October 1 the number of ill at Augusta’s Camp Hancock jumped from 2 to 716 in just a few hours. The next day, Camp Gordon near Atlanta reported that 138 soldiers had contracted the virus. On October 5 Camp Hancock was quarantined with 3,000 cases of flu, but the quarantine came too late, as 47 cases had already reached the nearby city; by evening, more than 50 soldiers were dead, while many more had contracted pneumonia. Though seriously affected by the Spanish flu epidemic, Georgia escaped the massive numbers of sick and dying counted in other states along the East Coast.

Born: 11 Apr 1890 Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Died: 21 Oct 1918 (aged 28) Camp Grant Rockford, Illinois, USA (pneumonia)

Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery, Plum City

At the time of his death Edward was in training at Camp Grant. A number of Spring Valley soldiers had passed through Camp Grant. Like fellow Spring Valley local, Robert Stein Pvt. Wurtz died due to the "Spanish Flu" outbreak that had quickly spread through Camp Grant.

In 1918, the Spanish Influenza Pandemic affected over 4,000 men at the camp, taking the lives of over 1,000 between 23 September and 1 October. Camp Grant was closed as an active U.S. Army facility by December 1923, but in January 1924, it was turned over to the Illinois National Guard.

Born: Jan 1898

Died: 22 Jul 1918 (aged 20) France

Burial: Brookville Cemetery

From: Spring Valley, WI

MS 16th Infantry Co. I

Killed in Action, France during World War I

Wellman R Hunter was born in January 1898, his father, Frederick Zeno Hunter, and his mother was Nefa Mumford. He lived in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, United States for about 10 years. 

He died on 22 July 1918, in France, at the age of 20, and was buried in Brookville Cemetery, Woodville.

The 16th Infantry Regiment, began training in July 1917 in the Gondrecourt area with the French 47th Division, Chasseaurs d’Alpines, nicknamed the “Blue Devils.” The regiment’s first major attack was made during the bloody three-day drive near Soissons in July 1918. Along with the rest of the Big Red One, it relentlessly attacked until the German rail line that supplied their front line troops was severed forcing a major withdrawal of the enemy’s forces. From 16th Infantry History

Birth Date 06 Feb 1921

Death Date 09 Jun 1944 Madang, Papua New Guinea

Event Place Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, United States of America

Cemetery Sacred Heart Cemetery

US Army Air Force - Killed In Action near Saidor, New Guinea

45th Infantry Division

20th Combat Mapping Squadron

Born to Dr. and Mrs. John Conway in Spring Valley. he spent his entire boyhood in the community. After graduation from High School he attended the University of Wisconsin. He volunteered for the US Army Air Corps on Jan. 21, 1942.He trained at Santa Ana., CA. He was given his pilot's wings in late November 1942 and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. Second Lieutenant Conway was deployed overseas and was assigned to the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron in the Pacific, where he flew on B-24s modified for reconnaissance. 

On June 9, 1944, he was flying in the F-7A "Wango Wango Bird" (s/n 42-73044) when it blew a tire during landing on Saidor. It slid into an embankment and burned, killing Conway and 7 of his crew-mates. Two crew members survived.

1st Lt. Roy A. Hunt, pilot

2nd Lt. Barry C. Conway, copilot

Sgt. Ernest Rushing, engineer

S/Sgt. William S. Willison, photographer

S/Sgt. Lawrence J. Winkel, radio operator

S/Sgt. Cecil Pearson, gunner

Sgt. James F. Whitmore, gunner

S/Sgt. Francis J. Reilly, gunner

From Pierce County, Wisconsin

Casualty Date June 8, 1942

Service Branch Army

Rank Corporal

Unit/Group 200th Coast Artillery Regiment

Casualty Type Died as Prisoner of War under Japanese control

Location Philippines

Burial Plot A Row 8 Grave 6, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines

Corporal Danielson was inducted into the Army On March 9, 1941 and sent to Camp Wallace, Texas, for basic training. He would later be assigned to the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment in the Philippine Islands. It was after the fall of Corregidor that he was listed as "Missing in action" and in may 1944 he was presumed dead by the war department. His family received his purple heart. Then, after the return of General MacArthur to the Philippines an official report was received in May, 1945. It gave the official statement that he had died of malaria on June 8th, 1942. At the time of his death he was held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in Luzon. 

He was the first known casualty from the Spring Valley area in World War II.

Cpl Dorance J Danielson was one of the many soldiers that died during the "Bataan Death March" (1942). This was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II.

The 128 km (80 mi) march was characterized by wide-ranging physical abuse and murder, and resulted in very high fatalities inflicted upon prisoners and civilians alike by the Japanese Army, and was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime. 

Notable Awards

★ Prisoner of War Medal

★ Purple Heart

Birth 29 Jul 1914 Wisconsin, USA

Death 6 May 1944 (aged 29) Italy

Burial Sacred Heart Cemetery

Elmwood, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Eldest child of Jørgen "John" Jensen and Alice Mae Carey.

He entered the service in early summer of 1942, was assigned to an infantry unit, and sent for training at Camp Shelby, Miss. According to a telegram received by his family, at the time of his death, he was in an observation post for artillery and mortar fire. 

The 337th Infantry had arrived in Naples, Italy on 27 March 1944. His unit participated in the Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and the Po Valley campaigns in the Mediterranean Theater as part of the Italian Campaign. The regiment usually fought as a Regimental Combat Team with the addition of the 328th Field Artillery Battalion, Company A, 310th Engineer Battalion and Company A, 310th Medical Battalion attached. It saw heavy combat attacking the German's Gustav and Gothic Lines as they moved north up the Italian Peninsula during Operation Diadem. The regiment initially held defensive positions north of the Garigliano River until it attacked and seized Castellonorato until it was stopped by German resistance south of Monte Campese on 16 May 1944

Birth Year 1918 Spring Valley WISCONSIN

Death 14 Aug 1943 (aged 24) Wyoming, USA

Gravesite Ft Snelling, Minnesota, United States

2nd Lieutenant Kirschner was the co-pilot

aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-24E Liberator

#41-29032, serving with the 735th Bomb

Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group.

While on a training flight out of the

Pocatello Army Airfield, he was killed when

the bomber struck a mountainside thirteen

miles south of Dubois, Wyoming.

All eleven aboard perished

Consolidated B-24E Liberator Bomber, Number 41-29032 had been flying training missions in Nebraska where it had experienced several mechanical issues. 

At the time of its final flight the aircraft and engines had a total of 496.2 hours on them. It was carrying 2,200 gallons of fuel in it at the time of take off and held 120 quarts of oil in each of its four engines. 

The plane took off on August 14th, 1943 from Pocatello, Idaho. 

The crew consisted of: 2nd Lt. David MacGowan, 2nd Lt. Allan, Kerschner, 2nd Lt. Lyle Schroeer, 2nd Lt. Royce Davis, T/Sgt. Vernon Warner, S/Sgt. Granville Hampton, S/Sgt. Jesse Bradshaw, S/Sgt. Herbert Roberts, S/Sgt. William Parkey, S/Sgt. Chester Stock, and S/Sgt. Joseph Baiocchi. 

The bomber was cleared to fly for, “Local flight for the purpose of familiarization and photographing the bomb ranges which were to the southwest and west of the airbase.” The flight would end up crashing 110 miles east-northeast from the Pocatello Army Airforce Base. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the bomber flying low but not from any visible engine issues. The B-24 crashed at approximately 2:45 PM, smashing into the side of Middle Mountain. Debris would be found across several acres. The fuel exploded from the crash starting a forest fire that would burn over 200 acres. 

Birth Date 26 Sep 1915 Spring Lake, Pierce County

Death Date 15 Dec 1944 Luxembourg (Battle of the Bulge)

Burial Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, United States of America

Cemetery Saint John Cemetery

Born to Mr. William Larson and his wife Ida Linneberg

He was inducted into the Army on Sept. 12th, 1942. He left Ellsworth for Fort Sheridan. He would later train at Camp Livingston, LA. On October 7th, 1943 he embarked for England where he would be stationed for the next ten months. His unit would then be sent on to Luxemburg where he died.

At the time of his death his unit, the 2nd MCG (Mechanized Cavalry Group) had joined the 35th Infantry Division as it was assaulting the Siegfried Line. This was the opening days of "the Battle of the Bulge". 

Birth Year (Estimated) 1907 Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin

KIA Date January 15, 1944 War World War II Italy

Service Branch Army Rank Technician Fourth Class

Unit/Group 2nd Special Service Regiment

Casualty Type KIA - Killed in Action

Burial Plot I Row 11 Grave 3, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy

Born to Martin and Maria Larson, he was  the 4th of 5 children. 

He received his training at Fort Warren, WY. and Fort W. H. Harrison, Helena, MT. In the fall of 1942 he was put on a special service force training for strenuous work as a ski trooper. In October, 1943, he was transferred to New York. Although still part of the 1st Special Force he was transferred from Ski Troops to a Paratrooper division where he met his death somewhere in the Rapido River area of Italy.

Note from his obituary:

Rudolph M Larson was serving his country during World War II when he gave his all in the line of duty. He had enlisted in the United States Army. Larson had the rank of Technician Fourth Class.

Service number assignment was 36241047. Attached to 2nd Special Service Regiment.

Learn more about the First Special Service Force.

Birth Year (Estimated) 1917

Birthplace Wisconsin Eau Galle, St. Croix, Wisconsin, United States

Death 6 July 1943 Kapingamarangi, Pohnpei, Micronesia

Born to Charles and Katherine Linzmeyer. He was the youngest of four children.

Charles was acting as a Aviation Chief Ordnanceman under LCDR Bruce Van Voorhis in the US NAVY when his plane was shot down in Micronesia.

Bruce Van Voorhis would receive the Medal of Honor for actions taken during this last flight.

On 6 July 1943, while serving as VB-102's Squadron Commander and as Plane Commander of a PB4Y-1 Patrol Bomber during the Central Solomons campaign, LCdr. Van Voorhis courageously undertook a lone long-range mission to disrupt potential Japanese attacks. While striking enemy facilities and aircraft at Greenwich Island in the face of overwhelming aerial opposition, Van Voorhis' plane was caught in the blast of its own bombs and crashed into a nearby lagoon, killing those on board. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to Commander. Bruce A. Van Voorhis is buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. He also has an "In Memory Of" headstone marker at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. 

Birth 31 Aug 1924 Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA

Death 12 Jan 1945 (aged 20)

Burial Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Missouri, USA

Herman entered the service in April, 1943. He trained at Greensboro, North Carolina, Scott Field, IL. Yuma, AZ. and Langley Field, VA. before getting flight orders for the South Pacific in December of 1944. He was a crew member of a Liberator bombing plane when they met disaster on a combat mission to the Sanga Sanga oil fields off the east coast of Borneo.

Herman is buried alongside the rest of the air crew he served with. Our searching shows that he was serving in a B-24J-195-CO Liberator Serial Number 44-41078  as a radio operator. 

Mission History

On January 12, 1945 they took off from Pitu Airfield on Morotai Island piloted by 2nd Lt. Gordon E. Brums on a mission against Sanga Sanga. In fact, this bomber crashed roughly six miles from Anggana on the eastern coast of Borneo. Seven of the crew died in the crash. When this bomber failed to return, the entire crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA) between Borneo and Morotai.

Herman was one of the seven that died in the crash.

Read more about this crew.

Birth 13 Nov 1912 Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Death 23 Oct 1944 (aged 31) Italy

Burial Martell Methodist Cemetery Martell, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Emanual Olson of Gilman Township. 

He joined the service early in 1942. He trained at Camp Shelby, Miss. and later received desert training near Los Angeles, CA. He was sent overseas in January 1944. His unit fought in Africa and later in Italy.

Erwin was a member of Co. F., 337th Infantry in the 85th division at the time of his death. He had received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for heroic action in battle, the former at the time he was wounded on September 24, 1944; the latter for action on May 23, 1944. He had returned to duty on October 13, 1944, after his discharge from the hospital and was killed on October 23.Erwin was 31 years old November 13

Read more about the 337th and their time during WW2.

Birth 31 Dec 1925 Wisconsin, USA

Death 17 Feb 1945 (aged 19) Alsace, France

Son of Martin & Opal Olson of El Paso township

Robert attended Spring Valley High School and graduated in 1944. He was inducted into the Army and was sent to Europe in early Jan. 1945. He arrived in France about January 15th and would later be killed in action in Alsace-Lorraine and was buried nearby in a military cemetery. 

The Seventh Army assaulted the German forces in the Vosges Mountains and broke into the Alsatian Plain. During the Battle of the Bulge in late December, it extended its flanks to take over much of the area that had been the responsibility of U.S. Third Army, then commanded by Patton. In mid-January 1945, the Seventh engaged in pitched battle seeking to regain ground lost to Germany's Operation Nordwind New Year's offensive. Along with the French First Army, the Seventh went on the offensive in February 1945 and eliminated the Colmar Pocket. After capturing the city of Strasbourg, the Seventh went into the Saar, assaulted the Siegfried Line, and reached the River Rhine during the first week of March, 1945.

Birth 1 Jan 1924

Death 2 Aug 1944 (aged 20) France

Burial Saint John Cemetery

Spring Valley, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Peterson. He joined the army and was assigned to Co. G. 166th Inf. at Camp Hood, TX. Then later to Co., A. 357th Infantry at Fort Dix, New Jersey where he was promoted to Sergeant. He would later be reported KIA in France on Aug. 2nd. 

While Duane was a member of the 357th infantry he would land in France on "D-Day" and come through that action without a scratch. It is presumed that he was with General Patton's 3rd Army at the time of his death. 

★ Bronze Star

★ Purple Heart

From Gilman Pierce County, Wisconsin

Casualty Date December 29, 1942

War World War II

Service Branch Army

Rank Private First Class

Unit/Group 32nd Infantry Division, 128th Infantry Regiment

Casualty Type KIA - Killed in Action

Burial Plot A Row 5 Grave 30, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Archie Powell. He joined the US national Guard at Menomonie, WI. on October 15th, 1940. He trained at Camp Livingston, LA. and at Camp Devers, Massachusetts. He traveled to California and entered the fighting in New Guinea. 

At the time of his death 32nd Infantry was engaged in the Battle of Buna–Gona

The battle of Buna–Gona was part of the New Guinea campaign in the Pacific theater during World War II. It lasted from 16 November 1942 until 22 January 1943.

American forces entered Buna village on 14 December but a virtual stalemate developed on the eastern flank. This was relieved by the arrival of the Australian 18th Brigade and Stuart tanks of 2/6th Armoured Regiment. With an attack on 18 December, steady progress thereafter followed. By 3 January, the Buna area, as far as the Girua River, had been cleared.

Notable Awards    

★ Purple Heart

Civilian Occupation Shoemakers and shoe repairmen, not in factory

Birth 23 December 1922 Elmwood, Pierce, Wisconsin, United States

Death 23 May 1944 while over Rome, Italy

Unit/Group 456th Bomber Group, Heavy, 744th Bomber Squadron

Burial Plot G Row 5 Grave 31, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy

He graduated from Spring Valley high school before moving to Cady. He then enlisted in the Army during July of 1940 and transferred into the Army Air Corp and became a pilot.

Gale was co-pilot on 42-94752 (nickname: Jean). On May 23rd, 1944 they were returning from a mission in Cerignola, Italy when their aircraft was struck in the tail by another plane in their unit. Nine members of the crew died in the crash.

★ Air metal with cluster for 30 successful missions

Birth 22 May 1932 Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Death 3 Oct 1954 (aged 22) Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, USA

Burial Spring Lake Lutheran Cemetery Elmwood, Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Stein. John was killed in an auto accident near the air base. He died on the 3rd anniversary of his entrance into the service. He was a graduate of Spring Valley high school and previously worked for Sweeney Brothers Construction before enlisting in the Air Corp.

From: Spring Valley, Wisconsin

Birth: November 11, 1950

Death: May 5, 1970

Service Branch: Army

Rank: Corporal

Specialty: Helicopter Repairman

Unit/Group: 101st Airborne Division, 159th Aviation Battalion, B Company

Burial: Sacred Heart Cemetery, Spring Valley, Pierce County, Wisconsin

He was on the crew as Gunner of the US Army Chinook helicopter CH-47B #67-18435 when they were hit by a 37 mm anti aircraft round while flying with a sling load. They caught on fire and crashed nose down near Firebase O'Reilly. There were no survivors.

Born November 11th, 1950 in River Falls. He was baptized in the Catholic faith and was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, Spring Valley. At the age of 6 he came to Spring Valley where his parents operated a farm near Olivet.

He was part of the Spring Valley graduating class of 1969 and then on July 29, 1969 he entered the US Army to serve his country. He took basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, followed by specialist school at Fort Eustis, Va., On February 28, he went to Vietnam, serving with the 101st Airborn Division.

He was the seventh born of a family of twelve children. He was the second son of three. He was one of six who have served the United States in the Military, he was the first to be lost in war.

Birth 23 Feb 1989 (to Timothy and Judith Nolen)

Death 27 Jun 2011 (aged 22) Helmand, Afghanistan

Burial Fort Snelling National Cemetery

Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA

Assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Cpl. Michael C. Nolen was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Michael was a 2007 graduate of Spring Valley High School and active as a teenager, enjoying rock climbing, paintballing, motorcycle riding, playing in summer soccer leagues, and playing the role of sheriff for Spring Valley High School's performance of Honeymoon at Graveside Manor.

Michael entered the United States Marine Corps in November 2007

From the newspaper "Republican Eagle" 

MADISON - The Wisconsin State Legislature honored the life and service of U.S. Marine Corporal Michael Conrad Nolen of Spring Valley on Wednesday, April 16.

Corp. Conrad Nolen died on June 27, 2011, while leading a combat operation in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A memorial resolution was presented and conveyed to Michael's family following session of the State Senate and State Assembly on Wednesday.

Nolen was one of four fallen soldiers recognized with memorial resolutions by lawmakers Wednesday.

Others honored included U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joseph James Altmann of Marshfield, U.S. Army First Lt. David Andrew Johnson of Mayville and U.S. Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda of Black River Falls.