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| Biography | 971 |
After entering the Air Corps in 1942, Lieutenant Kelly received his training at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and at the following air fields: San Antonio, Texas; Sikeston, Missouri; Winfield, Kansas; Abilene, Texas; Woodward, Oklahoma; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He finished his advanced flight training at Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was graduated on May 23, 1944. At that time, he received his wings, was commissioned a second lieutenant, and assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force as a P-5, Mustang Fighter pilot. First Lieutenant Emmett J. Kelly left the United States for foreign service in December, 1944, and flew combat missions over Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Italy. Most of these aerial operations in which he participated were high altitude, heavy bombing escort missions. He lost his life while on an authorized dive bombing mission when his plane went down in the Adriatic Sea fifteen miles off the coast of Italy, May 1, 1945. He was awarded the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters for meritorious service against the enemy.
Memorial services were held for First Lieutenant Emmett J. Kelly at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey, Nebraska, on the morning of June 7, 1945, with the pastor, Reverend Albert Limacher, as celebrant of the Requiem Mass, and the Foltz-Zuerlein Post of the Humphrey American Legion in charge of the military rite.
Staff Sergeant Allen R. Kluck was born November 22, 1920, in Colfax County, near Richland, Nebraska, and was killed in action over Germany on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kluck of Colfax County, and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Kluck, pioneer residents of Colfax and Platte Counties, who later lived in Columbus. He had one brother, Glen Kluck of Richland, Nebraska, and one sister, Mrs. Harvey Loseke, of Columbus, Nebraska.
On June 25, 1942, Sergeant Allen Kluck was married to Miss Mary Ann Lightner, the daughter of Judge and Mrs. Louis Lightner of Columbus, Nebraska.
As a boy, Allen lived at the farm home of his parents in Colfax County, and attended the district school there. He enrolled in Kramer High School in Columbus in the fall of 1935, and was graduated with the class of 1939. At the completion of his high school course, he became associated with his father in farming. He remained on the farm until he enlisted in the air force on August 27, 1942.
After his basic training, he graduated from the airplane mechanics course at Keesler Field, Mississippi, and the specialized course at Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan. which he completed on July 14, 1943. He received his silver wings as an aerial gunner at Harlingen Field, Texas, on September 11, 1943, and was promoted to a staff sergeant. He went overseas in January, 1944, and was in the European Theatre of Operations. He was a front turret gunner on a B-24. Sergeant Kluck was killed in action April 9, 1944, on the way to a target in northern Germany. He received an Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, and Citation of Honor awarded posthumously.
Staff Sergeant Allen R. Kluck was a member of the Federated Church in Columbus, Nebraska, where memorial services were held for him at 3:00 p.m., on June 2, 1945, with Reverend E. G. Brinkmeyer, pastor, officiating, and Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion, conducting the military service.
Staff Sergeant Richard F. Kolm was born in Columbus, Nebraska, on March 16, 1922, and died March 18, 1945, from wounds suffered in action on Luzon.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Kolm of Columbus, Nebraska. He had three brothers, Raymond KoIm and Paul KoIm, both in the service in the Philippines during World War II, and Virgil Kolm of Columbus, and three sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Borchert, Florence and Lucille Kolm.
Richard attended grade school in Columbus, and graduated from Kramer High School in the class of 1942. He was employed at the Reece Shoe Factory until he entered the service on September 10, 1942.
Staff Sergeant Richard F. Kolm went overseas in the spring of 1943, and served in Australia and New Guinea before going to Luzon, where he was wounded in action. He died March 18, 1945, and was buried overseas.
Memorial services were held for him April 23, 1945, at 9:00 a.m. at the St. Bonaventure Church, Columbus, Nebraska, with Reverend John Joseph Brogger, O.F.M., the pastor, officiating at the Requiem Mass. Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion, with Commander E. G. Hadley in charge, conducted the military services.
Private First Class Allen E. Korte was born in Sherman Township, Platte County, Nebraska, on July 26, 1924, and was killed in action near Neuendorf, Germany, on February 28, 1945. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Korte, and had four brothers, Edgar, Elmer, Norman and Harry Korte, and two sisters, Evelyn and Dorothy Korte.
Allen attended the Christ Lutheran Parochial School in Bismark Township, where he finished grammar school. He was confirmed in the Christ Lutheran Church on May s, 1938, by the Reverend H. L. Bornemann. Following that period of time, he was associated with his father on the farm until he was inducted into the service of his country on July 19, 1944.
| 972 | The History of Platte County Nebraska |
Private First Class Allen E. Korte received his basic training at Camp Hood, Texas, where he was in the Infantry Replacement Training Center, and at Fort Meade, Maryland. He went overseas in January of 1945, and served with Company "E," Three Hundred Forty-fifth Infantry, of the Third Army, under the direction of General George S. Patton. In February, 1945, while Company "E" of the Three Hundred Forty-fifth Infantry was defending the high ground near Neuendorf, Germany, the enemy counter-attacked with infantry and artillery; and during the ensuing fight, Private First Class Allen E. Korte met death on February 28, 1945. Interment was made in the United States Military Cemetery, No. 1, at Foy, Belgium.
Memorial services were held for Private First Class Allen E. Korte on Sunday morning, April 8, 1945, at the Christ Lutheran Church with Reverend Martin A. Bornemann officiating. E. G. Hadley, commander of Hartman Post No. 84 American Legion, was in charge of the military services; and District Commander Frank Tooley presented the United States Flag to Mrs. Ernest Korte.
Staff Sergeant Emil F. Koziol was born in Burrows Township, near Tarnov, Nebraska, on October 4, 1915. He was killed in action in France on July 12, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Koziol of Tarnov, Nebraska, now deceased. He had seven brothers, three of whom served in World War II. They are Ray Koziol, P.O. 1/c, who served in the South Pacific; Jerome Koziol, a sergeant, who served in France; Mike Koziol, F. 1/c, who was in the Coast Guard stationed at New Orleans, Louisiana; Clifford Koziol of Genoa, Nebraska; Joe Koziol of Genoa, Nebraska; Andrew Koziol of New York City; and Gerhard Koziol of Humphrey, Nebraska.
Emil F. Koziol attended the Platte County District School and St. Michael's Parochial School at Tarnov, Nebraska. He was employed on a farm in Burrows Township until he entered the service on February 13, 1941.
Staff Sergeant Emil F. Koziol went overseas with the Thirty-fifth Division of the One Hundred Thirty-fourth Infantry in April of 1944, and was killed in action in France on July 12, 1944. He was buried overseas.
Memorial services were held for him at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, August 12, 1944, at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Genoa, Nebraska, with the Reverend Father Zukowski officiating at the Requiem High Mass.
Corporal Philip Kudron was born in Burrows Township, near Tarnov, Nebraska, on February 14, 1917, and was killed in action September 27, 1944, in Germany.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kudron of Tarnov, Nebraska, Philip Kudron was one of a family of fourteen children. His brothers are: Mike and Adolph Kudron of Tarnov; Joseph Kudron of Portland, Oregon; John Kudron of Omaha, Nebraska; Henry Kudron of Beatrice, Nebraska; and Edwin Kudron, also a corporal in the service in World War II. His sisters are: Mrs. Conrad McGrath of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Joe Mruk, Miss Celia Kudron, Miss Stella Kudron, and Miss Ethel Kudron of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. George Hansen of Fremont, Nebraska; and a sister who died in infancy. His mother, Mrs. John Kudron, died in 1918.
Philip attended St. Michael's School in Tarnov, Nebraska, and after the completion of grammar school there, was engaged in farming at Silver Creek, Nebraska, and in Burrows Township, near Tarnov.
In November, 1940, Philip Kudron enlisted in the army, in the tank battalion, and went overseas in the fall of 1943 to the European Theatre of Operations. He saw duty in England, Italy, France, Belgium, and last in Germany, where he was killed in action, September 27, 1944. He was buried overseas.
Memorial services were held for Corporal Philip Kudron on October 30, 1944, at St. Michael's Church at Tarnov, Nebraska, with Reverend Knute Lobinski, pastor, officiating at the Requiem Mass. The Humphrey American Legion was in charge of the military services.
Private Michael F. Kula was born in 1919 on a farm in Columbus Township, and died March 4, 1943, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanislaus Kula. His father is deceased. He had two sisters and three brothers. They are: Miss Eleanor Kula and Mrs. James LaPorte of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Wallace Kula of Omaha, Nebraska; Richard Kula of Columbus, Nebraska; and Stanley Kula of Columbus, who died in February, 1948.
Michael attended grade school at the St. Bonaventure Catholic School, and at District 3 in Columbus Township. After finishing grammar school, he worked on the farm in Columbus Township.
Michael Kula enlisted in the United States Armed Forces on March 21, 1942, and took his training at Fort Crook, Nebraska; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Pine Camp, New York; and Camp Roberts, California. He died March 4, 1943, in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
Funeral services were held for Private Michael F. Kula at 10 a.m., March 10, 1943, at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Columbus, Nebraska, with the pastor, Reverend John Joseph Brogger, as celebrant of the Requiem Mass. Burial was in the St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion, with Commander Frank Tooley in charge, held the military services.
| Biography | 973 |
Private First Class John P. Langan, of the United States Marine Corps, was born on January 30, 1925, at Platte Center, Nebraska, and was killed while carrying water to trapped comrades in the Battle of Tarawa on November 23, 1943.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Langan, formerly of Platte Center, Nebraska. His father lived at Nanata, Idaho. His mother died February 12, 1936, and a sister, Martha, Mrs. Edward Rogan, died February 14, 1940. He had five brothers, three of whom served in World War II. They were: Arnold Langan, apprentice seaman, who was stationed at Farragut, Idaho; Private First Class Harvey Langan, who was also with the United States Marine Corps, stationed for a time in San Diego, California; Seaman First Class Alvin Langan, who served overseas; and Kenneth and Donald Langan. His sister, Dolores, is Mrs. Terence Lachnit of Columbus, Nebraska.
Jack attended St. Joseph's High School in Platte Center, Nebraska. When seventeen years old, he enlisted in the Marines on November 22, 1942. He received his training at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, and left the west coast in February, 1943, for combat duty in the South Pacific. He died during the Battle of Tarawa on November 23, 1943. He went ashore and landed safely. At noon, he answered the call for a volunteer to carry water to a group of his trapped comrades. While performing this heroic duty, he was fired on by a machine gun, and died instantly.
Private John P. Langan was buried overseas. The Gold Star and Purple Heart citations were awarded to him posthumously.
Memorial services were held for Private First Class John P. Langan, United States Marine Corps, at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Columbus in January, 1944, with Reverend John Joseph Brogger, O.F.M., pastor, celebrant at the Requiem Mass, and Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion, in charge of the military rite.
Private Kenneth K. Laudenklos, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Laudenklos, of Monroe, Nebraska, was born in Platte County on July 11, 1925, and was killed in action on Okinawa on May 10, 1945.
He received his formal education in the Monroe schools, and in 1943, during his junior year in high school, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. On October 20, 1943, Private Laudenklos went to Camp Ellis at San Diego, California, for his basic training, and was sent overseas to the Pacific Area in March, 1944. He took part in the invasion of Guam after which he was sent back to a rest camp where he received advanced training.
On Easter Sunday, 1945, the Sixth Marine Division of which he was a member, landed on Okinawa where he was killed in battle on May 10. Decorations earned by Private Kenneth Laudenklos included: The Presidential Unit Citation, with ribbon bar and one star, presented to the Sixth Marine Division Re-Enforced for service on Okinawa, Ryukyu Island, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal, the Victory medal, and the Purple Heart.
Private Kenneth K. Laudenklos had two sisters and three brothers: Ann, Mrs. Melvin Bullock; Katharine, Alex, Jr., Edward and Daniel Laudenklos. His brothers were all veterans of World War II.
Private Laudenklos was returned to the United States for burial. Services were held for him at the Union Church in Monroe, Nebraska, on May 6, 1949, when Reverend Benjamin Hillier officiated, assisted by the Reverend Wallace.
Private First Class Eugene H. Letterman was born at Lindsay, Nebraska, on May 3, 1919, and met death November 8, 1942, while landing in North Africa, near a Morocco port.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Letterman of Lindsay, Nebraska. Both of his parents were deceased. He had three brothers, Ernest L. Letterman of Lindsay, Nebraska; Cecil M. Letterman of Lindsay, Nebraska; and Rollyn Letterman of Kansas City, Missouri.
Eugene Letterman attended school in Spring Grove, Illinois; District 29, in Lindsay, Platte County, Nebraska; and was graduated from the Newman Grove High School in 1935. After graduation from high school, he was employed on the farm until he enlisted in the United States Armed Forces on July 29, 1941.
He received his military training at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Private First Class Eugene H. Letterman went overseas with the Sixtieth Infantry on the last of October, 1942. He met death on November 8, 1942, while landing in North Africa at Koska Mehdia, near a Morocco port. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.
Memorial services were held for him March 7, 1943, at the Methodist Church in Newman Grove, Nebraska, with the pastor of the church officiating at the services, and Rotherham Post, American Legion of Lindsay, Nebraska, in charge of the military rite.
Private First Class Arthur Melvin Loseke, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm Loseke, was born April 16, 1910, on a farm in Colfax County, near the Platte County line, and was killed in the battle for France on June 12, 1944.
He attended the Christ Lutheran School in Platte County, and then farmed until the time of his enlistment in the
| 974 | The History of Platte County Nebraska |
United States Armed Forces on March 19, 1942. Following that he was stationed at Camp Barkley, Texas, for eighteen months, and then went with his division to the Desert Training Center at Indio, California. On January 1, 1944, he went to Camp Dix, New Jersey, where, following a furlough, he embarked in March for overseas duty. He was killed in the battle for France on June 12, 1944, while serving with the Ninetieth Infantry Division.
Private First Class Arthur Melvin Loseke had six sisters and one brother: Erna, Dora, Della, Louise, Mrs. William Becker; Roseta, Ruth and Barnhard Loseke.
Memorial services were held for him on August 6, 1944, at the Christ Lutheran Church with the pastor, Reverend Martin Bornemann officiating. He was returned to Platte County for burial at the Christ Lutheran Cemetery in June, 1948.
Staff Sergeant Carroll Lusche was born on June 2, 1920, and was killed in the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1944. Carroll Lusche was a member of one of the oldest Platte County families, the great-grandson of Henry Lusche, one of the founders of Columbus who came here on May 29, 1856, the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. George Lusche, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lusche.
On September 6, 1941, Staff Sergeant Carroll Lusche was married to Marion Killion of Monroe, Nebraska, at San Francisco, California. They had one daughter, Janet Kay Lusche.
As a boy, Carroll lived with his parents on a farm in Columbus Township. He attended school in District 44, and finished grade school there. He entered Kramer High School in the fall of 1933, and was graduated with the class of 1937.
Carroll enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on December 7, 1939. He received his training in San Diego, and then was assigned to the battleship Oklahoma, where he had the distinction of being the youngest marine gun captain. He was a member of the Oklahoma crew when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Following the attack, he volunteered for the hauling of ammunition at Hawaii, and later was stationed at the base. In May, 1943, Staff Sergeant Carroll Lusche had his only furlough, and in July was assigned to a new post. He had received six months of schooling at Camp Pendleton prior to his overseas July assignment. He was killed in the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1944. Interment was made overseas.
Memorial services were held on Sunday, April 16, 1944, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bismark Township, with Reverend William Goede, pastor, officiating. Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion conducted the military service.
Corporal Dwight Marquiss was born in Columbus, Nebraska, December 10, 1923, and was killed in a plane crash on September 14, 1944, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, northeast of Peterson Field.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Marquiss. His mother died in December, 1946, and his father died in February, 1948. He was married to Miss Mary Ann Marohn, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Marohn of Columbus, Nebraska, on November 3, 1943, in Denver.
Dwight attended the Columbus grade schools and the Kramer High School, where he was graduated with the class of 1941. After graduation, he was employed for a time at the Martin bomber plant in Baltimore, Maryland.
Corporal Dwight Marquiss joined the Army Air Corps on July 29, 1943. He was stationed at the Army Air Field at Pueblo, Colorado, where he was a turret gunner on a B-24. He was killed in an accident five miles northeast of Peterson Field on September 14, 1944. The plane in which he and his crew members were killed was on a routine combat training mission at the time of the crash.
Military funeral services for Corporal Dwight Marquiss were held at the Grace Episcopal Church in Columbus, Nebraska, at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, September 18, 1944, with Reverend Mueller, pastor of the Episcopal Church at Fremont, officiating. Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion had charge of the military rite. Burial was in the Roselawn Cemetery near Columbus.
Staff Sergeant Eugene E. Messersmith was born in Humphrey, Nebraska, on July 11, 1919, and was killed in action in France on July 23, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Messersmith of Cheyenne, Wyoming, who lived at Humphrey, Nebraska, prior to 1942. He had four brothers, namely, Charles Messersmith, who served in England as a lieutenant during World War II; Bob and Dan Messersmith of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Bernard Messersmith of Humphrey, Nebraska; and three sisters, Mrs. Henry Bothe of Columbus, Nebraska; Mrs. George Leseman of Humphrey, Nebraska; and Mrs. Vincent Galley of Columbus, Nebraska.
| Biography | 975 |
Eugene attended St. Francis School in Humphrey through grade and high school. He was graduated in the class of 1937. Before entering the service in April, 1942, he was employed in the car depot at the Union Pacific shops in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Staff Sergeant Eugene Messersmith was stationed successively at Camp Barkley, Texas, and Fort Benning, Georgia. He served in the European Theatre of Operations. He was wounded in France shortly after D-Day, but after recuperation was returned to active service, and was awarded the Purple Heart for Military Merit, Staff Sergeant Eugene Messersmith was killed in action in France, July 23, 1944, and was buried overseas.
Memorial services were held for him in the St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey, Nebraska, of which he was a member, on Wednesday, October 18, 1944, at 8:30 a.m., with Reverend Albert Limacher, pastor, officiating at the Requiem Mass.
Private First Class Cyril A. Micek was born on October 1, 1907, on a farm in Polk County southeast of Duncan, Nebraska, and was killed in action in France q June 14, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Micekof Polk County, Nebraska. His parents have been deceased for the past several years. Cyril A. Micek was one of a family of seventeen children. He had nine brothers and seven sisters. A brother, Thomas Micek, died several years ago. The others living are: Reverend Raymond Micek of Bastrop, Louisiana; Joseph F. Micek of Omaha, Nebraska; John Micek of Pensacola, Florida; Henry Sylvester*, and Bernard Micek of Duncan, Nebraska; Alois Micek, Route No. 4, Columbus, Nebraska; Alvin Micek, Route No. 2, Columbus, Nebraska; Venerable Sister M. Corneliana of St. Joseph's Hospital of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Barney Stachura, Mrs. Frank Sus, Mrs. Joseph Badstieber, Jr., Mrs. Stanley Rosno, and Mrs. Alfred Warholoski of Columbus, Nebraska; and Mrs. Stanley Kuta of Tarnov, Nebraska.
Cyril A. Micek attended St. Stanislaus Parochial School in Duncan, and then farmed in the Duncan community. He made his home for several years at the farm home of his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Rosno, in Butler Township.
He entered the service in April, 1942, and spent two years in training, part of which time he spent at Camp Barkley, Texas. He went overseas to the European Theatre of Operations, and landed in England in April of 1944. He was a machine gunner with Company F, Three Hundred Fifty-ninth Infantry. Private First Class Cyril A. Micek was killed in action in the Normandy invasion in France on June 14, 1944.
Memorial services were held for him at 7:30 a.m., on July 4, 1944, in the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Duncan, Nebraska, with his brother, Reverend Raymond Micek, as celebrant of the Requiem High Mass, and Commander James L. Rich of Hartman Post No. 84 of the American Legion, in charge of the military rite.
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* Comma needed between Henry & Sylvester in the list of siblings. Previous book owner has added - "Martha" under Mrs. Stanley Rosno; and "Irene"under Mrs. Alfred Warholoski with "'1915" to the side of that name. Joseph Micek had 3 children by his second marriage, they are included in the list.
Master Sergeant Robert V. Moseley was born near Fremont, Nebraska, on May 12, 1916, and was killed in a plane crash in India on May 5, 1944.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Seth Moseley. Robert's mother, Mrs. Mary Moseley, now deceased, moved to Columbus after the death of her husband. He had a sister, Mrs. Wayne Merrill, and a brother, William Moseley, of Columbus. His other brothers, who also served in World War II, are Edward Moseley, a lieutenant in the armed forces, who was stationed in India; and Joseph Moseley, a private in the armed forces, who served in the South Pacific area.
Robert attended St. Bonaventure School in Columbus, following that worked as an ambulance driver, and was with the Union Pacific Railroad.
Robert V. Moseley was married. His wife, Helen V. Moseley, lived in Los Angeles, California.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940, before the war, and then received his training in Glendale, California. In November of 1941, he left the Pacific Coast for an unknown destination. Unable to reach their destination, the plane landed in Karachi, India, where he continued as a crew chief of a Flying Fortress.
He was killed in a plane crash on May 5, 1944, in India, and was buried overseas.
Memorial services were held for him in Los Angeles, California. He was a member of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Columbus.
Private Dominic J. Niedbalski was born at Fullerton, Nebraska, on September 27, 1923, and was killed in action in World War II at the Battle of Salerno, Italy, on September 18, 1943.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Niedbalski of Columbus, Nebraska, the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Niedbalski of Fullerton, Nebraska, and of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Liss of Silver Creek, Nebraska. His paternal grandmother and his maternal grandfather were deceased. At that time, Dominic was one of a family of twelve children. He had four sisters and seven brothers. They are: Mrs. E. A. Janulewicz, Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Anthony
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