WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Staff Sergeant William R. K. Schudel

 

Staff Sergeant William R. K. Schudel

With four brothers and three sisters, William came from a large family in Defiance headed by his father, William John and mother, Mary Elizabeth (Beck) Schudel.  At one time, the family lived at 825 Jackson Street. Born on May 30, 1922, William attended school in Defiance, and he completed 8th grade in 1937.

His first job was at the Borden's Ice Cream Depot, followed by a time at Rymer's Bowling Alley, both in Defiance. In October 1940, he enlisted into the Army at Fort Hayes, Columbus. Much of his training took place at Fort Custer, Michigan.

On October 20, 1941, the Crescent-News reported on page 1 that he was in Iceland.

"WILLIAM SCHUDEL SERVES IN ICELAND

Pvt. 1st Cl. William Schudel now is stationed in Iceland with the U.S. Army, it was learned today through a letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schudel. He has been in the Army a year, most of the time at Fort Custer and last wrote from New York seven weeks ago.  His Iceland letter, postmarked Oct. 1, had been opened for examination by U. S. Army officers and bore an inspection stamp."

Fifth Infantry Division Insignia

With the promotion to Staff Sergeant, William was with Patton's Third Army as it broke through Normandy and marched through France.  They took out many enemy forces who were weak and broken after defending the Normandy beaches.

Patton had called in tanks and the army air force to help.

Beginning in September, the Army began their mission to cross the Moselle River in France. Long ago fortresses, gun turrents and other fortifications had been built in the city they needed to conquer - Metz.  Air assaults and tanks were not getting the job done.

The fortresses of Metz

In mid-November they finally broke through and were able to cross the Moselle River when the Germans ran out of ammunition.

The World War II author, Eric S. Margolis, wrote: 

"The gallant defense of Metz by far outnumbered and outgunned German forces delayed the U.S. Allies in Germany and covered the withdrawal from France and retreating German forces...which reminds us of Churchill's famous dictum,

"You will never know war until you fight the Germans!"

The Fifth Army was able to secure the city, given that the enemy troops inside the city had discarded their weapons and surrendered.  In the midst of this, on November 14, 1944, William Schudel was MIA.  The Crescent-News of December 8 reported on the front page:

"WILLIAM SCHUDEL MISSING IN ACTION SINCE NOV. 14

S/Sgt. William R. K. Schudel, 22, has been missing in action in France since Nov. 14, a telegram from the War Department today informed his father, Henry Schudel, of Defiance. The communication promised further information as soon as available.

Staff Sergeant Schudel is an infantryman and has been in the Army since January 1940. He was in Iceland 28 months, and served in Ireland and England before going to France."

*His mother died in January 1944.

It was a week later, on December 21, 1944, that the family found out that he was killed in action. From the Crescent-News:

" WM. SCHUDEL DIES IN ACTION.

STAFF SERGEANT IN ARMY SINCE OCTOBER 1940, IS 52ND COUNTY DEATH

A telegram from the War Department today announced that S/Sgt William R. K. Schudel, 22, son of Henry Schudel of Defiance, was killed in action in France on Nov. 20.

S/Sgt Schudel previously had been reported missing in action. He had been in the Army since October, 1940, training at Fort Custer, Mich. before going overseas. He served in Iceland 28 months, then in Ireland and England before going into France with invasion forces.

After attending Defiance schools, S/Sgt Schudel was employed at Borden's Ice Cream depot and later at the Rymer's bowling alley here prior to entering the Army.

Two brothers are in the Army, S/Sgt Clarence at Coffeyville, Kan. and Pvt. Charles in Belgium when last heard from. He is survived also by three sisters - Margaret, Gertrude and Mary, of Defiance and two older brothers: George, Deshler, and John, Toledo. His mother died last January.

In the Crescent-News  tabulation, S/Sgt Schudel was the 52nd war casualty from this county. The 51st was T-Sgt John R. Bassler of Rt 3, Hicksville, whose death was reported Monday, and who was inducted from Mansfield at age 18. The Crescent-News list also includes the Stitsel brothers, killed in the Merchant Marine, early in the war."

Hospital admissions records

Metz, France - the 10th Infantry Regt. on a cold, rainy, muddy 
mission

indicated that Schudel was admitted in October 1944 for

scabies. Then the next month,

he was brought there, having

taken a bullet in the eyeball 

when he died.

He was buried in the Lorraine

Cemetery and Memorial in

St. Avoid, France. His sister,

Mary, requested the 

cross for him. 

Lorraine Cemetery and Memorial, St. Avoid, France

"S. Sgt. Schudel's Memorial Rites Sunday 3 P.M.

Memorial service for S/Sgt William R. K Schudel will be held in St. John's Reformed church Sunday at 3 p.m.

Rev. Alfred Grether, the pastor, will conduct the service and members of Herbert E. Anderson post, American Legion, will participate. Ora Symonds, Legion Commander, today requested members of the post to be present, and urged attendance of all veterans of World Wars I and II and servicemen at home on furlough.

Sgt. Schudel, an infantryman, was killed in action in France, Nov. 20 at age 22. He is survived by his father, Henry Schudel of Defiance, four brothers and three sisters. Two of his brothers are in the Army:

S/Sgt Clarence, stationed at Coffeyville, Kan, but now home for the memorial service, and Pvt. Charles in Belgium.

Defiance Crescent-News, December 28, 1944

He was also awarded the Silver Star "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepity in action against the enemy while serving in the 5th Infantry."

Robert Carpenter, Researcher

This poem was written by a friend, George Z. Keller, Florida, and published in the Crescent-News in memory of Sgt. William Schudel on November 21, 1947, on the third anniversary of his death in northern France.

"In Memoriam

He lies today in a simple grave,

In a place devoid of common beauty.

His previous life he gave through acts

Above and beyond the call of duty.

So far from homeland, friends and kin,

So far from loved one's fond embrace,

He traveled war's uncertain path

And found his final resting place.

No 'reveille' startles him at morn

No 'taps' announces close of day;

No noise disturbs his soundproof vault

Where struggles cease and clay meets clay.

This life cut short by ruthless war

Has given what each hero gives,

And though he sleeps on foreign soil,

His priceless, dauntless spirit lives.

Sadly missed by his brothers and sisters.

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Thomas M. Scherger

 

Private First Class

Thomas Moore Scherger

Insignia of the 7th Infantry
Volens et Potens
"Willing and Able"

Born in Defiance, Ohio, in 1922, Thomas made his home with Leo Constantine and Mattie Belle (Boroff) Scherger. Leo was a monuments salesman, according to the 1940 census, and Thomas, 17, worked for him as an unpaid driver.

In this document, Thomas was listed as being a pastor's son, and in some military documents, he is listed as the foster son of Mrs. Leo Scherger and her next of kin. Later, he was referred to as her adopted son.

Thomas finished two years of high school and enlisted into the Army National Guard Infantry on October 15, 1940. His residence was at 408 East High Street. On that date, 44 men enlisted in Defiance into an anti-tank platoon, including Thomas. He trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, and was assigned to the 7th Infantry, 3rd Army Division.

On a quick military leave, he married on September 2, 1943. The Piqua Daily Call reported this on September 14, 1943, on page 3:

"Married Sept. 2

BRADFORD - A very pretty wedding was solemnized Sept. 2 at the home of Rev. Paul Gehm in Piqua uniting Miss Marcreda Grise and Thomas M. Scherger of Defiance, O. They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kline of Piqua.

Mr. Scherger is in the service and returned to his station in New York following the ceremony. The bride will remain with her mother, Mrs. Noah Brown, for the duration."

Private Scherger arrived in Rome, Italy, on June 6, 1944, and at Cavalaire, France, on August 15, 1944, as the 7th Regiment, 3rd Division worked its way into Germany. In August, they landed on the warm beaches of southern France, and by September, the group was in the cold, rainy area of northern France and the Moselle River.

On September 20, they launched an early morning attack toward the northeast, forced to go through a valley with hills on both sides occupied by the German enemy.  It was slow progress as the hills were full of enemy snipers, concealed machine guns and mortars. "During this period, September 20-26, the (group) engaged in some of the most bitter and exhausting fighting in its entire history..."

(History of the Third Army Infantry Division, U.S. Army)

Heavy rains made the roads impassable, along with minefields, and roadblocks.

From the history named above, "Numerous counterattacks were launched by fanatical Nazis who yelled allegiance to Hitler as they attacked."

On September 22, 1944, a platoon of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry made another crossing of the river at Maxonchamp, about one mile north of Rupt-sur-Moselle at noon.  The 15th and 7th Regiments attacked to protect the right flank during the river crossing

"Opposition was immediate, all roads in the rugged regimental sector were mined and blocked by trees. Fog and rain added to the difficulties. Every type of enemy fire was encountered. (History of the Third Army Infantry Division, pp 244-245)

On September 30, 1944, the day Pfc Scherger died, Germans led an all-out attack to infiltrate the regiments on the defensive line, using small arms, artillery and mortar.

A hospital admission card indicated that Scherger, age 22, was killed in action with a bullet in the neck at Rupt-sur-Moselle, Dept des Vosges, Lorraine, France.  Pvt. Scherger was awarded the Purple Heart.

An obituary appeared in the Crescent-News on November 7, 1944, on page 1:

"T.M SCHERGER DIES IN FRANCE

Adopted Son of Defiance Couple Killed in Action Sept. 30

Pfc Thomas M. Scherger, 22, adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Scherger, 936 Wilhelm Street, was killed in action in France Sept. 30, according to a War Department notification received today by his wife, the former Marcreda Grise, at her home in Bradford, Ohio.

He was the 44th Defiance County man to lose his life in World War II.

Previous notification had been that Private Scherger was missing in action.

Beside his foster parents here and his wife, he leaves a daughter, Sandra Kay, and a brother, George Pier, a paratrooper in New Guinea.

Private Scherger enlisted in the armed forces in 1940. He first served with the 37th division and later was transferred, serving with the infantry in Italy before going to France."

Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial
Epinal, Vosges, France

Dianne Kline, Researcher

World War II - A Soldier's Rations

 

When World War II began, and U.S. soldiers started pouring overseas, America had to get creative in making rations that would not spoil easily.  Food sent had to be shelf stable, appealing, and nutritious for the hardworking soldier.

Spam and Corned Beef Hash probably led the way

as staples that were sent. Both were canned and provided high protein and fat for energy. Spam consisted of pork shoulder and ham with salt and some potato starches. The hash was canned corn beef with bits of potatoes and carrots and other vegetables.

Both were very shelf stable and filled the need for meat.

Because of the war, the U.S. began to dehydrate foods to send over. Powdered eggs were developed in 1940, followed by instant mashed potatoes. Soldiers only had to add water and cook. The powdered eggs, especially, provided protein and both items lasted a long time on the shelf. Powdered milk was a source of calcium, protein and vitamins, and could be hydrated easily.

Instant coffee was developed in 1941 and added to the meal rations. Coffee was one of the first things rationed in the states and was very difficult to obtain. So the folks at home learned to make their coffee last and ran it through their percolators several times, even though it was much weaker and rather tasteless...but it was coffee. Soldiers could add hot water and enjoy the much desired coffee.

A shortage of real cheese was helped by the creation of Velveeta cheese, a processed cheese that made its way into rations. Originally, it was made up of scraps of various cheeses, whey, oil, pasteurized milk and other additives.

Butter was also hard to get, so margarine/oleo came into being as a fake butter. It started out white, but because of people's complaints, it was dyed yellow to resemble butter, but the texture was different because it was made with beef fats, lots of salt, and it was a bit slimy.  Both Velveeta and margarine could last in storage. 

One other item that rose in popularity during the war was the Chef Boyardee products. These canned Italian foods such as spaghetti and meatballs and beef ravioli not only found their way into ration boxes, but the Americans back home enjoyed them, too.  Campbell's condensed soups also hit the bowls at home and overseas. 

But every soldier enjoyed a treat for both morale and energy. A D-ration of chocolate was available - a special treat that melted slowly. It was at this time that M&Ms became available and very well-liked. They, too, melted slowly and had a very long shelf time. Originally called "Smarties," the soldiers loved them so much that they kept the brand going when they came home from war.

Our soldiers were given C rations and K rations. K rations were intended to be used up in about 15 days. They contained lighter foods with fewer calories that were more portable, wrapped in a waxed paper box. C rations, however, were complete meals with more calories and more canned meat,

Americans did become more innovative as the war went along so our soldiers could get the necessary nutrients to fight and still have tasty food.  And just think how many of those brands and foods still exist today.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL -PFC Alvin R. Haver

 

Private First Class

Alvin Robert Haver

  

 Alvin Robert "Bob" Haver was born on   October 9, 1919, the second of twelve 
 children born to Jesse and Irma Mildred (Bernard) Haver. Bob was the oldest son, born in Delaware Township, but he was raised in Mark Center and educated in the Mark Township schools.

 He registered for the draft in Mark Township on October 16, 1940. With blue eyes and blonde hair he was 5'10" and 155 pounds. 

On March 5, 1941, he enlisted into

the Army in Toledo. Alvin had  

two years of high school, was single, and was assigned to the 26th infantry,

1st Infantry Division. 

His basic training took place in Camp Walter, Texas and Fort Devers, Massachusetts. On August 4, 1942, he was on a ship headed for England, and upon arrival, was assigned to units alerted for the invasion of North Africa. 

Tunisia

In November 1942, Pfc Bob Haver was deployed to North Africa as part of the Tunisian Campaign. He was a part of the Battle of El Guettar, March 16 - 23, 1943.  On the 17th of March, the United States First Infantry Division moved forward into the almost abandoned plains, taking the town of Gafsa and preparing it as a forward supply base for further operations. It was at Gafsa or near there where Pfc Haver met his death on March 21st, 1943. 

A fellow soldier relayed to the family that he was wounded by a mortar fragment and that both he and a medic attending to him were killed by a second mortar round. Hospital admission records at the time stated that he had obtained a penetrating wound in the flank from shrapnel, and they listed him as a battle casualty.

El Guetter Corridor Battle in Tunisia

From the Crescent-News, April 9, 1943, page 1:

"ALVIN R HAVER DIES IN ACTION

MARK CENTER PARENTS GIVEN NOTIFICATION BY WAR DEPARTMENT

Mark Center, April 9 - Pvt Alvin Robert Haver, 23, was killed in action March 21, presumably in the North African war theater, the war department notified the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jess Haver of Mark Center, in a telegram received late Thursday.

The war department's wire informed the Havers that a letter would follow

Pvt. Haver who was 23 years old last Oct. 9, had been in the U.S. Army after being drafter two years ago. Besides his parents, he leaves five sisters and six brothers."

S. S. Barney Kirschbaum

Pfc Haver was first buried in the U.S. Army Cemetery in Gafsa, Tunisia. Following the war, his remains were returned home. The Defiance Crescent-News reported on May 14, 1948:

"Remains of three more World War II soldiers from this area will be returned from overseas on the Army transport Barney Kirschbaum from Africa, the Army announced today...

Transport bears a total of 2,530 Americans, including 155 Ohioans from the temporary military cemeteries near the battlefields of North Africa. From ten days to three weeks will elapse after arrival of the transport in New York before next of kin are advised when they can expect the remains."

(The soldiers returned with Pfc Haver were Virgil Schubert, to Continental, and Ernest Badenhop, to Napoleon.)

Services were held for Pfc Haver at the Moats Funeral Home in Sherwood on June 19, 1948. Rev. J. True Yocom, pastor of the Mark Center and Sherwood Methodist churches, officiated the ceremony. He was buried with military honors in Lost Creek Cemetery, Farmer Township.

His Obituary

Alvin Robert Haver was born in Delaware Township on October 19 (9), 1919, and attended the Mark Township schools. He entered the Army on November 5, 1941, and received basic training at Camp Walters, Texas, and Fort Devers, Massachusetts. On August 4, 1942, he embarked to England, and thereafter participated in the invasion of North Africa, fighting in several of the major battles.

Surviving in addition to the parents are: sisters - Mrs. William Cline, Mark Center; Mrs. Lois Gump, Hicksville; Dorothy, Margaret, Caroline, at home; brothers- Richard and Bernard of Ft. Wayne; Donald with the Navy at Norfolk, Va., Charles, Max, Lynn at home. 

Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Friday. The body will be accompanied here from Columbus by a military escort.

Members of the Legion and VFW are to meet at the Town Hall Saturday afternoon at 1:30 to attend the funeral in a group."

The Sherwood Chronicle, Thursday, June 24, 1948, p. 5:

"CARD OF THANKS

We wish to thank our friends and neighbors for their kindness and help in the sad hour of the return and burial of our son and brother, Alvin R. Haver. Many thanks to the American Legion and Auxiliary of Sherwood, the V.F.W. of Sherwood, the Auxiliary of the V.F.W. of Hicksville, the WSCS of Mark Center, Mrs. Vera Core, Mrs. Mary Moats, Rev. Yocom, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Moats for their part in the services.

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Haver and family

In addition to Bob, Jesse and Irma had five more sons that served in the armed forces. Richard and Bernard also served during World War II. Don served in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, while Max and Lynn are both Korean War veterans. The Jesse and Irma Haver family is truly a testament to the "Greatest Generation."

Researcher - James Robert Haver, Alvin's nephew

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Charles W. Zachrich

 

PFC Charles William Zachrich

Charles "Red" Zachrich was born on February 16, 1921, and grew up in Highland Township, Defiance County with his parents, Charles C. and Lalah A. (Bordner) Zachrich. After attending Ayersville High School for one year, he decided to leave schooling behind for the working life.

In the 1940 census, he was living with his parents and was a farm laborer, working on the family farm.  On September 28, 1940, he married Frances Traxler of Defiance, daughter of Frank and Ina (Crist) Traxler. They were both 18.

The couple moved to Lenawee County, Michigan, where Charles took a job at M & S Manufacturing.

On his draft card, he named his only brother, LaVern Zachrich, as next of kin. With brown hair and eyes, Charles was 6'1" and 142 pounds.

In the meantime, Charles became a father with daughter, Dianna, born March 25, 1943, in Lenawee County, Michigan. A little more than a year later, Frances filed for divorce on May 10, 1944, claiming extreme and repeated cruelty. Charles enlisted in the Army in Adrian, Michigan, on June 20, 1944.

The divorce was not final until July 17, 1944, and in that time, Charles was busy in training at Camp Blanding, Florida. By November 23, 1944, he was traveling overseas as a part of Company E, 223rd Infantry Training Brigade (ITB), 68th regiment (sharpshooter), Seventh Army. At some point overseas, Charles was attached as a medic to Co. C, 6th Battalion, a replacement regiment that was a medical corps, attached to an infantry division in the Third Army.

359th Medical Corps Detachment

He was in Belgium for a while where he was reported missing on January 15, 1945, for less than a week, but then he rejoined his unit on January 21, 1945.  He was listed as killed in action on February 20, 1945, near Oder, Uttfeld, Germany. The Oder was a river in Germany at which the Germans launched an offensive. No detailed information could be located on PFC Zachrich's death.

Crescent-News, 07 March 1945, p. 1

Charles was originally buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery in Hamm, Luxenbourg, Plot K, Row 5, Grave 102.

His body was returned from overseas and reinterred in St. Stephen's Cemetery, Highland Township. The Crescent-News reported on July 10, 1948, on page 1:

"Chas. Zachrich Body Returned From Overseas

Body of Pfc Charles W. Zachrich of Defiance who lost his life while in Germany, Feb. 20, 1945, while with the 359th Infantry of the Third Army has been returned to the United States on its way to its final resting place at Defiance, the Department of the Army announced today.

Pfc Zachrich was the son of Mr. and Mrs Charles W. Zachrich, 500 Tiedeman St. He was inducted June 20, 1944, trained at Camp Blanding, Fla., and was overseas six weeks before he was killed. He was 24 years old...

The body was returned on the Army transport, Oglethorpe Victory, carrying remains of 4,383 Americans who lost their lives during World War II.  All had been interred originally in temporary military cemeteries in France and Belgium. Besides Pfc Zachrich, the 244 Ohioans on this transport included Pvt. Howard R. Day, Army, returned on request of Lucille B. Day of Edgerton as next of kin."

Note: By this time, his sister, Fae, had married Roger Lang.

In an interesting sidenote, an article appeared posted from Defiance in the Marysville Tribune on July 17, 1948 on page 1:

"Defiance,O. July 17 - To Open Casket.

Mrs. Layla Zachrich, Defiance yesterday, obtained Common Pleas Court permission to open the casket of her son, Pfc Charles W. Zachrich, who was reported killed in Germany in 1945. She told the court she doubts her son is dead because she saw a newspaper picture of him among a group of soldiers, disembarking in New York. The casket is to arrive here soon."

However, when the time for the funeral came on August 2, 1948, the Crescent News posted in two separate articles:

"Private funeral, 10:30 a.m., Mansfield Funeral Home. Burial at St. Stephen's Church.

Members of the family indicated they might not use a recent court order permitting opening the coffin for identification.

Pallbearers were Max Sayre, Alton McGehee, David Steinberger, Cletus Baker and Robert and James Ort."

 

"In Memoriam

In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pfc Charles Zachrich, who was reported killed in Germany, February 20th, 1945

The silent night is lonely and

There is no golden dawn

Because I must remember, son

That you are really done.

I must remember in my heart

The happiness we knew,

And that my only world was one

In which I lived with you

There is no breath of fragrance in

The flowers that I press

And if I call your name I hear

The sounds of emptiness

I roam the house from room to room,

I gaze beyond the sea

But there is nothing I can do

To bring you back to me

I have to tell myself again

That you are really gone.

And I can only ask the Lord

For strength to carry on.

But you're not alone in that grave o'er the sea,

For with you, there is a part of me.

Sadly missed by father and mother, brothers and sisters, Mr and Mrs. Charles Zachrich, LaVern Zachrich, Velma Bunke, Lillian Colwell, and Fae Lang

Crescent - News 10 Feb 1948

Rhonda Casler, Researcher

Salvaging and Recycling for the War Effort

 

It was 1942 before the United States really and suddenly felt the need to salvage waste materials for recycling into war materials. Drives were held to collect rubber, paper, waste fats from the kitchen, shellac, aluminum, steel and iron, among other things. Americans were told it took 15 tons of scrap metal to create a medium sized table and 3 tons to make a small anti-aircraft gun. Tons of scrap metal was needed, so in addition to collecting it, refrigerators, cars and cutlery were not available during the rest of the war years. Housewives donated old pots and pans, metal toys, broken tools and equipment. 

Some towns sent in their historic cannons or the metal in monuments, as well as old car parts, wrought iron fences and whatever else could be used. School children had their own drives and competitions.

Rubber became a real need, and in June 1942, the Rubber Roundups began. The U.S. knew how to make synthetic rubber, but there were few facilities that produced it, and it was very expensive.

Citizens were asked to donate rubber boots, old tires, life rafts, hot water bottles, garden hoses, and anything else appropriate. 

This recycled rubber was mostly used to retread tires, and the better quality was used for military needs. If a family had more than five tires at their residence, they were required to sell back the extras. Speed limits were lowered to reduce stress on the retreads.  By 1944, Firestone, B.F. Goodrich and a few others could produce enough synthetic rubber, so that rubber was no longer collected.

A shortage of fabric was also known, beginning in 1942, as more uniforms were required, as well as bedding and anything else using fabric. To help in saving, the government banned the making of suit vests and 2 piece bathing suits, for example.

Women of the day often had a tin ready under the sink to pour in extra fats, or they had a place in the basement to keep it cool. These would then be turned into the local butcher for a few pennies.  It was used for soap production and for explosives.

The business of the military used a great deal of paper, so paper recycling was already a thing during the war. Not only was it used for writing, but for packaging ammunition and for insulation. Paper recycling was a popular school project.

The people of the United States were eager to help win the war, and they did their part to skimp for themselves and donate what was needed.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Tech Sgt Charles E. Smith

 

Tech. Sergeant Charles Edward Smith

Born on September 10, 1923, in Lake City, Illinois, to parents, John Thomas "Jack" and Margaret Mary (Vollmer) Smith, Charles made connections with Defiance later in life. 

After finishing three years of high school, Charles joined the work force in Defiance with a job at the Defiance Automatic Screw Company. He lived, possibly as a boarder or with a relative, at 720 Holgate Street in Defiance. 

It was in Defiance that he registered for the draft.

On October 31, 1942, he traveled to Chicago, Illinois, to enlist in the Army Air Corps, and on November 13, he was inducted in as a private.  He would serve in the 8th Air Force, 700th Army Air Force Bomb Squad and the 445th AAF Bomb Operations.

He graduated from the radio school of the Air Force Technical Training Operations at Scott Field in Belleville, IL, qualifying for duty in a fighting bomber crew as a radio man.

In June, 1943, he also trained as a gunner. (Lovington Reporter, June 25, 1943)

"SGT CHAS E SMITH GRADUATES AS GUNNER

Sgt. Charles E. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Smith of near Lake City and graduate from Lovington township high school, was graduated Monday from the Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School at Ft. Myers Fla.

Now qualified as an aerial gunner, he will become a member of one of the thousands of bomber crews which will be sent overseas in a few weeks to battle the Nazis or the enemy somewhere 'over there.'  He will receive his crew training at an operational training field in the United States.

Hundreds of gunners are graduated each week from the school located near Fort Myers. The course lasts only six weeks and covers everything from BB and skeet shooting to firing from the power-operated turret of a large twin-engined bomber on special missions over the Gulf of Mexico.

Sgt. Smith has been in the Army seven months, having formerly been engaged in farming. He is a graduate of the radio specialist school at Scott Field, near Belleville, Ill."

His group went overseas first to the east coast of England to practice bombing procedures, radio procedures during missions, blind flying in case navigation systems went out and formation flying. On December 13, they began operations by attacking some boat installations, and from there moved on German airfields, ammunition plants, chemical works and other strategic targets.

Bomber crew on the B-24H Liberator, "Snow Goose" aka "Rambling Wreck." Charles is in the front row with the yellow X. He was listed as the Radio Operator.

On December 22, 1943, three bombing missions were sent out over Germany. In Mission One, the Snow Goose was sent to bomb the railway yards at Osnabruck, Germany. The Snow Goose came under heavy attack from German fighters, receiving a direct hit that set their aircraft on fire.  

However, they still had their heavy bomb load and, rather than drop them on civilians, they chose to crash with their bombs. On their way down, they shot down the German plane that had attacked them. They crashed about one kilometer southwest of Bolsward, Holland, of the province of Friesland. There were no survivors.

The mayor of Bolsward received the bodies from the Germans, and immediately the town donated the money to buy the plot and pay the funeral expenses and care for the graves of the deceased American soldiers. The funeral was attended by the whole town, and the graves were completely covered with many flowers. (www.honorstates.org)

Monument at the graves in Bolsward

Sgt. Charles E. Smith's body was sent home in August 1949.

The Decatur Daily Review, August 27, 1949 -

"SGT SMITH BODY ARRIVES IN DECATUR

Funeral services for Tech. Sgt. Charles E. Smith, 19, Lake City, will be at 9:30 A.M. Monday in St. Isadore's Catholic Church, Bethany. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The body of Sergeant Smith, killed in action over Holland in 1943, arrived in Decatur yesterday afternoon. The body was taken to the residence in Lake City today. J. J. Moran & Sons funeral home is in charge."

St. Isadore Cemetery, Bethany, Illinois

Lovington Reporter, August 26, 1949, p. 1 -

"LAST RITES FOR SGT CHAS. E. SMITH AT ST. ISADORE'S CHURCH

Funeral services for Technical Sergeant Charles E. Smith, 19, of Lake City, will be held Monday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Isadore's Catholic Church west of Lovington.         

The body will arrive in Decatur on Friday afternoon and on Saturday evening, will be taken to the family home northwest of Lake City.

Sgt. Smith, a radio operator of the Eighth Air Force was killed in action over Holland, December 22, 1943. He entered service November 13, 1942.

He was the son of Mr and Mrs. John T. Smith of near Lake City. He was born September 10, 1923, and is survived by his parents and brothers, Thomas of Decatur, and John, Leonard, Daniel and Donald, at home.

He was a graduate of Lovington township high school with the class of 1941 and was a member of St. Isadore Catholic Church.  Community Post No. 429, American Legion of Lovington will participate in military rites. The pall bearers will be Bill Smith, __ Frantz, John Foley, Bill _croft, Homer Rich, and Vincent Griffin. Burial will be in St. Isadore's Cemetery...

Robert Carpenter, Researcher