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| Biography | 961 |
Private George D. Applegate was born on September 30, 1923, in Fremont, Nebraska, and was killed in action in the Battle of Lederquin, in France, on November 12, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Applegate, who came to Columbus in 1935. He had one sister, Mrs. Robert Miller of Portland, Oregon, and one brother, Gene Applegate of Columbus, who served as a private first class with the marines in the Philippines in World War II.
George attended Kramer High School and was graduated in 1941. He then enrolled in the Frye Aircraft School in Omaha, Nebraska. At the completion of his course in Omaha, he entered the employ of the Lyman Richey Sand and Gravel Company, where he worked until he joined the army on January 6, 1944
George Applegate received his basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas, where he was stationed until May of 1944.
He was sent overseas a month later with the infantry, and was attached to the army intelligence and reconnaisance (sic) as an observer. He was killed in action in the Battle of Lederquin on November 12, 1944. He was buried overseas.
Private George D. Applegate was one of a group of seventy men from this territory who had been killed in action for whom an impressive military memorial service was held at the Grand Island Air Base chapel on February 11, 1945.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Columbus.
First Lieutenant Tony O. Bamberg, the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Bamberg of Columbus, was killed in action following an explosion April 8, 1945, near Hof in southwest Germany.
He was a member of the 836th Bombardment Squadron, 487th Bombardment Group, a crew member of a B-17, Fortress-type aircraft, and was participating in an operation mission over Hof, Germany, on April 8, 1945. A direct hit was received in one of the gas tanks while over a target setting the plane on fire. When the fire appeared to be uncontrollable the crew started to evacuate the ship which exploded in a matter of seconds after Lieutenant Bamberg had assisted the last known survivor through the hatch.
Lieutenant Bamberg was one of the original members of K Company of Columbus and went to Louisana (sic) with the Company for a year of training in January, 1941. He later transferred to the Air Corps and was commissioned a lieutenant and put in command of a bomber.
The United States Army paid high tribute to Lieutenant Bamberg for his devotion to duty, in remaining at the controls until the end in order to give his crew members the best possible chance for survival. Even after they had left the ship, he stayed at the controls to make sure the plane would not circle back and involve the slowly descending parachutes in the inevitable explosion. He was reported missing in action April 8, 1945, and was declared dead by the War Department May 1, 1946. At that time he was awarded the Air Medal and the Oak Leaf Cluster posthumously.
First Lieutenant Tony O. Bamberg was married to Doctor Jaret Ringham Bamberg, of the Passavant Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He had two sisters, Arlene, of Hawaii, and Beryl, of Columbus; and one brother, F. L. Bamberg, of California who also served as a lieutenant during the war.
Sergeant Carl Behle was born September 11, 1907, and was killed in action in France August 27, 1944. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Behle of Route No. 3, Columbus, Platte County. His father, Louis Behle, died in September, 1943, the month that Carl went overseas. He had four brothers and three sisters, namely: Fred, Wilbert, also sergeant during the war, Homer and Walter Behle, Mrs. Harry Heins, Mary and Nettie Behle.
Carl attended the Immanuel Lutheran Parochial School in Columbus. After finishing his grammar school work there, he enrolled at the Grand Island Business College for a one-year business course, at the completion of which he became associated with his father and brothers in farming on the Behle farm three miles north of Columbus. He remained there until he was inducted into the army on February 25, 1941.
During his training, Sergeant Behle was stationed at Camp Roberts, California; Camp Polk, Louisiana; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Camp Pickett, Virginia; Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania; and received his desert training at Rice, California. In September, 1943, he was sent to England. He participated in the invasion of France, serving as a tank commander in the armored division. He was killed in action in France on August 27, 1944, and was buried overseas.
A memorial service was held for Sergeant Carl Behle at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Columbus, Nebraska, on Sunday, November 26, 1944, at 10 :30 a.m., with Reverend A. H. Guettler officiating.
Private First Class Robert C. Bender, United States Marine Corps, was born at Petersburg, Nebraska, on October 7, 1917, and was killed in action on Peleliu, one of the Palau Islands in the Pacific, on September 16, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Bender of Cornlea, Nebraska. He had five brothers and three sisters, all of whom live at Cornlea, Nebraska, and a sister, Phyllis Bender, is deceased. His brothers are: Leonard Bender,
| 962 | The History of Platte County Nebraska |
who served in the United States army as a technician fifth grade during World War II; Donald Bender, who served in the United States Army as a private during World War II; Howard Bender, who was in the United States Navy in World War II and served as a machinist's mate third class; James and Kenneth Bender. His sisters are: Mrs. Arthur Ternus, Mrs. William Alexander, and Mrs. John Fisher.
Robert attended grade school at the Sacred Heart School at Cornlea, Nebraska, and was graduated from the St. Francis High School of Humphrey, Nebraska, in 1935. Prior to his enlistment, he was employed in Omaha, Nebraska.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 19, 1942, and received his training at San Diego, California.
On October 10, 1942, he went overseas where he served for the next two years with the First Marine Division of the First Marines as a machine gunner. He saw service in most of the Pacific, including Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, the Green Islands, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, the Philippine Islands, and the Palau Islands, where he was killed in action on the Island of Peleliu on September 16, 1944. He was buried overseas.
Memorial services were held for Private First Class Robert C. Bender on Monday morning, November 29, 1944, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cornlea, Nebraska, with Reverend Jarleth Sobczyk, O.F.M., pastor, as celebrant of the Requiem Mass, and Foltz-Zuerlein Post No. 80 of the American Legion of Humphrey, Nebraska, conducting the military rite, with Rotherham Post, American Legion of Lindsay, Nebraska, present.
Sergeant Ervin P. Bodewig, United States Marine Corps, was born in Humphrey, Nebraska, on December 13, 1914, and was killed in action in the initial invasion of Guam, one of the Mariana Islands, on July 21, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bodewig of Humphrey, Nebraska. His father, John Bodewig, died July 26, 1945.
One of a family of six children, he had two brothers and three sisters. They included: Edward J. Bodewig, of Denver, Colorado; Alfred J. Bodewig, formerly of Humphrey, Nebraska; Coletta, Mrs. Robert Brown, Denver, Colorado; Margaret, Mrs. Matthew Foxhoven, Proctor, Colorado; and Luella, Mrs. Wilfred Foxhoven, Sterling, Colorado.
Ervin attended St. Francis Grade School, and was graduated from the Humphrey High School in 1934. He was interested in athletics, and while in high school was a member of the basketball team. After graduation, he played baseball with the Humphrey team, and later played with the Schuyler team in the state league. While with the Schuyler team, he was chosen one of the All-American Amateur Baseball Players at Battle Creek, Michigan. He was employed at the Humphrey Mill, and in a Schuyler cafe.
Ervin Bodewig was married to Miss Genevieve McDermott on July 2, 1941.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 19, 1942, and was then stationed successively at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Whiby Island; and Oceanside, California. At the latter place, he received amphibious tank training.
Sergeant Ervin Bodewig went overseas with Company "B," First Armored Amphibious Battalion, First Marine Amphibious Corps, in December, 1943. He took part in the battle of Roi-Namur, Marshall Islands, and was in the initial invasion of Guam, one of the Mariana Islands, where he lost his life on July 21, 1944. He was buried in the National Cemetery near Agat, Guam. His awards for service included the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Memorial services were held for Sergeant Ervin Bodewig on August 28, 1944, at St. Francis Church in Humphrey, Nebraska, with the pastor, Reverend Albert Limacher, celebrant of the Requiem Mass, and Foltz-Zuerlein Post, Humphrey American Legion, in charge of the military rite.
Private First Class Erhardt Boettcher was born in Kharkov, Russia, on October 25, 1916, and died on June 11, 1944, from wounds received in battle while serving with the United States Army in France.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. Boettcher of Newman Grove, Nebraska. He had two brothers and two sisters, Waldemar Boettcher of Newman Grove, Nebraska; Arthur Boettcher of Lindsay, Nebraska; Louise, Mrs. Lyle Stewart, of Lindsay, Nebraska; and Rachel, Mrs. Vernon Pearson, of Genoa, Nebraska.
Erhardt attended school in Russia for two years prior to his coming to America. In 1926, when he was ten years of age, he emigrated from Russia to Mexico with his parents. On landing in Mexico, the Boettcher family lived for a time in Vera Cruz, and then moved to Durango, where they spent four years while awaiting their visas to the United States.
On August 15, 1930, they came to Nebraska, and settled on a farm near Madison. While living there, Erhardt attended the St. John's Lutheran Parochial School at Green Garden. and in 1933 was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church there. The family moved to Platte County, and Erhardt attended school at District 51 in Joliet Township. After finishing school, he assisted his father on the farm until 1941, when he moved to a farm of his own in Walker Township, two and one-half miles southeast of Newman Grove.
He enlisted in the United States Army on April 2, 1942, and went to Camp Barkley, Texas, where he was sta-
| Biography | 963 |
tioned for a year. He then was stationed for short periods of time in Louisiana and California. In March, 1944,
Private First Class Erhardt Boettcher embarked from Fort Dix, New Jersey, for overseas. He landed in England where he served until June, 1944, when he went to France to participate in the invasion. He was wounded in action, and died on June 11, 1944. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, and the Purple Heart posthumously. His mother, Mrs. Ernest L. Boettcher, was the recipient of a cablegram sent to her by Erhardt from England on Mother's Day, May 15, 1944, and also of a letter written to her by him on May 14, 1944.
Memorial services were held for Private First Class Erhardt Boettcher at the Zion Lutheran Church in Newman Grove, Nebraska, on October 22, 1944, with the pastor, Reverend Clarence Anderson, officiating at the services, and the American Legion conducting the military rite. There were seventy-five members of the American Legion, War Dads, and members of the Armed Forces present at the services. The United States Flag was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. Boettcher by Doctor F. L. Frink.
Staff Sergeant Herbert S. Brinell was born in Newman Grove, Platte County, Nebraska, on February 23, 1920, and lost his life when his plane was shot down by enemy aircraft over Yugoslavia on July 15, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gust A. Brinell of Newman Grove, Nebraska. He had one sister, Edith Brinell, now Mrs. Everett G. Pearson of Rock Island, Illinois.
Herbert attended school in District 13, Madison County, in Newman Grove, and was graduated from the Newman Grove High School in 1937. After finishing high school, he worked as a carpenter for four years with his father. In October, 1941, he went to Los Angeles, California, where he was employed at the Lockheed Aircraft Company until he entered the United States Army Air Corps.
He enlisted on December 5, 1942, and received his first training at St. Petersburg, Florida. Following this, he spent four months at the Keesler Field B-24 Liberator Bomber School, near Biloxi, Mississippi. Upon the completion of his course at Keesler Field, he was sent to gunnery school at Laredo, Texas, where he was graduated on September 6, 1943, and received his wings and a sergeant's rating. He was then assigned successively for flight training to fields at Boise, Pocatello, and Mountain Home, Idaho, and for advanced flying at Muroc Field in California.
Staff Sergeant Brinell left for overseas duty in April of 1944. He was a ball turret gunner, and was stationed at an air base in Italy with his crew who had completed two hundred seventy-six flying hours after leaving the United States. His plane was shot down on its thirty-fifth mission by enemy aircraft fire over Yugoslavia on July 15, 1944. He died, with seven of his crew, and was buried in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Memorial services were held for Staff Sergeant Herbert S. Brinell at the Zion Lutheran Church in Newman Grove, Nebraska, at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 19, 1944, with Reverend Clarence Anderson officiating at the military service, and the American Legion and War Dads as a guard of honor.
At Memorial Day services at Newman Grove on May 30, 1945, Colonel McCrimmon, executive director of the Grand Island Air Base, presented the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters awarded to Staff Sergeant Herbert S. Brinell for meritorious achievement while serving with the Fifteenth Air Force, to his father, Gust A. Brinell.
Robert John Brockman, Chief Torpedoman's Mate, United States Navy, was born in Leigh, Nebraska, on November 25, 1919, and met death aboard the submarine U.S.S. Trout when it was sunk in Pacific waters by the enemy in April, 1944.
Robert was the son of Ernest A. Brockman of Columbus, Nebraska, and Bess Klabens Brockman, deceased, and the grandson of Henry Brockman of Monroe, Nebraska. He had two brothers, Richard E. Brockman and Ralph Brockman, both in the United States Navy.
After the death of his mother, Robert John Brockman lived for a time near Monroe with his grandparents, and attended school there. He then transferred to the Omaha schools, where he was graduated from high school in 1938. After his graduation, he entered the United States Navy, and served for three years prior to World War II.
In cooperation with the crew of the submarine, U.S.S. Trout, during World War II, as chief torpedoman's mate, Robert J. Brockman rendered invaluable assistance to his commanding officer in the conduct of inshore attacks against the enemy. He was exceptionally skilled in maintaining torpedoes and torpedo tubes in a high state of readiness, and by his cool courage and aggressive determination, he contributed materially to the sinking of five enemy ships and the destruction of several thousand additional tons of enemy shipping, including a hostile aircraft carrier.
Chief Torpedoman's Mate Robert John Brockman lost his life aboard the submarine U.S.S. Trout, in April, 1944, when the submarine was sunk during battle in enemy-controlled waters of the Shino-Ashizuri Saki area.
His citations, awarded posthumously, included the Purple Heart, the facsimile and ribbon bar with star of the President's Unit Citation awarded to the submarine U.S.S. Trout for outstanding performance in combat during numerous highly successful patrols in enemy waters, and the Bronze Star medal.
Chief Torpedoman's Mate Robert John Brockman was a member of the Lutheran Church. He was baptized in Columbus by Reverend Richard Neumarker.
| 964 | The History of Platte County Nebraska |
Aviation Metalsmith Third Class Leland Thomas Christensen was born in Platte County, near Lindsay, Nebraska, on February 12, 1923, and lost his life aboard the aircraft carrier Liscomb Bay when it was sunk by a submarine close to Makin Island on November 24, 1943.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Christensen of the Monroe community. His father died June 27, 1933. Leland is one of a family of eight children. He had four sisters and three brothers. They are: Mrs. Ernest Christensen of Columbus, Nebraska; Mrs. Raymond Brandt of Monroe, Nebraska; Miss Doris Christensen and Mrs. Evelyn Reese of Omaha, Nebraska; Elmer Christensen of Platte Center, Nebraska; Carl Christensen of Humphrey, Nebraska; and Reynold Christensen of Monroe, Nebraska.
Leland attended school in District j in Burrows Township and District 20 in Lost Creek Township prior to March, 1933, when he moved to the Monroe community with his parents. He then enrolled at the Monroe School where he was graduated from High School in 1940.
Leland Thomas Christensen enlisted in the United States Navy in March, 1941, and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Chicago, Illinois. In the fall of 1941, he went to the Pensacola, Florida, Naval Aviation School where he learned the trade of aviation metalsmith and upon the completion of his course, was assigned to the large aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp. He went first to Malta and Scotland, and then to the Solomon Islands where their planes made the first attack on Guadalcanal. The Wasp was sunk by three Japanese torpedoes on September 15, 1942. Leland was in the water for an hour and a half until rescued by a destroyer and taken to New Caledonia. He then came to San Diego, California, and later spent a thirty-day leave in Monroe, Nebraska. He returned to Alameda, California, where he remained for several months, and then went to San Diego.
In October, 1943, he was assigned to the Liscomb Bay, an aircraft carrier which was part of a convoy going to the Gilbert Islands.
Aviation Metalsmith Third Class Leland Christensen lost his life when the Liscomb Bay was sunk by a submarine close to Makin Island on November 24, 1943.
Memorial services were held for him on Sunday, February 11, 1945, at 2:30 p.m. at the Evangelical Church in Monroe, Nebraska, with Reverend Benjamin Hillier, the pastor, officiating at the service, and Hartman Post No. 84 American Legion, of Columbus, Nebraska, in charge of the military rite.
Second Lieutenant Anthony Francis Diederich was born near Lindsay, Nebraska, on April 54, 1921, and was killed in action during a mission to bomb Yap Atoll on July 15, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Diederich of Burrows Township, north of Monroe, Nebraska. He had four brothers and five sisters. His brothers are Mark of Monroe, Nebraska, who served as a pharmacist's mate second class in the United States Navy during World War II; Edward was in the United States Navy as a torpedo mate second class, stationed in Panama; Gregory, on the farm near Monroe; and Paul, who attended St. Bonaventure School in Columbus. His sisters are Veronica, Mrs. Dave Berg, of Waterloo, Iowa; Harrietta, Sister M. Antonitta, of Manitowac, Wisconsin; Lois, Sister M. Carrol, of Manitowac, Wisconsin; Cleo is an accountant at the Bell Telephone Company in Omaha; and Marylynn of Monroe.
Anthony attended grade school for three years at the Holy Family School in Lindsay, Nebraska. At the end of that time, he moved to a farm in Burrows Township with his parents and attended school in District 57, and the Platte Center High School, where he was graduated. After finishing High School, he enrolled in St. Paul's College, where he took a two-year course in business. He was employed for two years at the Firestone Service Station at Waterloo, Iowa. Early in 1942, he returned home to assist his father on the farm.
Anthony enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June, 1942, and was on the reserve list until November 15, 1942, when he was called into active service. He reported at San Antonio, Texas, where he remained for nine weeks. After his pre-flight training, he was stationed successively at the Park Air College, East St. Louis, Illinois, for nine weeks, Garden City, Kansas, for nine weeks, and Tampa, Florida, for six months. During this period, he finished his advanced flight training, and upon the completion of his work, received his wings and a commission as second lieutenant. Following this, he had a fifteen-day leave, and then spent short periods at air fields in Fort Worth, Texas, Tonopah, Nevada, and Fresno, California, from where he left for overseas duty on May 24, 1944. He was stationed at the Admiralty Islands, where he was a pilot on a B-24 plane.
On a bombing mission to Yap Atoll on July 15, 1944, Second Lieutenant Anthony F. Diederich lost his life when his plane collided with another plane, burst into flames, and crashed at sea. No trace of the wreckage was ever found. He was declared dead by the War Department on March 30, 1946.
Memorial services were held for him on June 10, 1945, in St. Anthony's Catholic Church, in St. Anthony's community, Burrows Township, with Reverend Ernest Halemba, pastor, officiating. Members of the Columbus and Humphrey American Legion were in charge of the military rite.
| Biography | 965 |
Private Clinton Robert Farrar was born in Monroe, Nebraska, on October 16, 1909, and died June 6, 1944, in the United States Army Hospital at Minter Field, near Bakersfield, California.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Farrar of Monroe, Nebraska, and had one brother, Harold Farrar, also of Monroe.
Clinton attended the Monroe Schools, and later was associated in business with his father, James Farrar, in the ownership and management of the Monroe Filling Station. He also operated a transport for the filling station.
He was twice married. On November 21, 1931, Clinton Farrar was married to Miss Irene Kelley of Monroe, Nebraska. They had one daughter, Marilyn Sue Farrar, of Omaha, Nebraska.
On July 3, 1937, Clinton married Miss LaVon Watts, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Watts of Monroe, Nebraska. They had two children, Robert Dean Farrar and Kaye Francis Farrar.
Clinton Farrar enlisted in the United States Armed Forces on April 7, 1944, and was sent to Camp Roberts, California, for his basic training. He was critically injured in an automobile accident on June 4, 1944, while returning to his camp after spending the weekend with his family at Gardena, California. He died two days later, on June 6, 1944, in the United States Army Hospital at Minter Field, Bakersfield, California.
Military funeral services were held for Private Clinton Robert Farrar at the Evangelical Church in Monroe, Nebraska, with Reverend Benjamin Hillier officiating. The military services at the grave in the Friends Cemetery were conducted by Reverend M. L. Seybold, chaplain, and James L. Rich, commander of Hartrnan Post 84 of the American Legion of Columbus, Nebraska. Pallbearers were Hugo Fittje, Louis Engberg, Eric Fittje, John Ditter, Lowell Dubrava and Reynold Ditter.
Technical Sergeant Bernard B. Fletcher was born December 17, 1923, at Miller, in Buffalo County, Nebraska, and was killed in action on July 15, 1944, when his plane was shot down in Rumania.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Fletcher of Columbus, Nebraska, the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Fletcher of Rockville, Nebraska, and Mr. and Mrs. V. S. Kaminski of Elba, Nebraska. His paternal grandmother is deceased. He had one brother, S. W. Fletcher of Columbus, and one sister, Mrs. P. R. Krueger of Malin, Oregon.
When Bernard was in the third grade, his parents moved to Columbus. Nebraska, where he finished his grade school and high school work. He graduated from the St. Bonaventure High School with the class of 1941. He was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegraph operator until he joined the United States Army on January 11, 1943.
Bernard B. Fletcher received his training in radio at the Chicago Radio Technical School; in gunnery, at the El Paso, Texas, Gunners School; and his flying instructions and navigation at MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida. He was overseas in the European Theatre of Operations, where he was stationed with the Fifteenth Air Corps at Foggia, Italy. He received the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air Medal on July 10, 1944. Sergeant Fletcher was killed in a plane crash in Rumania after being shot down over the target which was the Ploesti Oil Fields on July IS, 1944. Interment was made in the United States Military Cemetery at Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Memorial services were held for Technical Sergeant Bernard B. Fletcher at 10:00 a.m. on December 7, 1944, at St. Bonaventure Church, Columbus, Nebraska, with Reverend John Joseph Brogger, O.F.M., pastor, officiating at the Requiem Mass, and Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion, in charge of the military rite.
Lieutenant Clifford R. Galley, Jr., was born August 19, 1922, in Columbus, and was killed in action on June 4, 1944, over England while on a bombing mission to San Gabriel, France. He was the son of Clifford R. and Helen Krause Galley.
Clifford, Jr., had two sisters: Gretchen, Mrs. Patrick Shea, of Long Island; and Margot, Mrs. Emanuel R. Alexander, of Atlanta, Georgia. He also had a step-brother and step-sister: William and Natalie Schroen, who reside in Omaha.
Clifford, Jr., was graduated from Kramer High School in 1940. On January 2, 1941, he became a member of the National Guards. He went to Camp Robinson at Little Rock, Arkansas, in January, 1942. He transferred to the Air Corps May 1, 1942. He then took his pre-flight training at Nashville, and Montgomery, Alabama; his primary training at Camden, South Carolina; his basic training at Macon, Georgia; and his advanced training at Moody Field, Valdosta, Florida, where he was graduated on May 28, 1943, and commissioned a second lieutenant. He took his pilot training in Liberators at Smyrna, Tennessee, and then went to Boise, Idaho, for combat training. He and his crew were stationed at Colorado Springs in January, 1943. On February 7, 1943, he and his crew went to Topeka, Kansas, for their airship.
Lieutenant Galley left the United States on February 7, 1943, and enroute to his destination went to Natal, Brazil; Dakar, West Africa; Casablanca; Wales, and landed his ship in England. He flew in the first two daylight
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