Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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Milt Hunholtz had graduated from Diggins, Missouri High School in 1951. Fairly soon there after, he went by car to California where he would work as a telephone lineman. While there, he heard from the Draft Board in Diggins, MO. They gave him a “heads up” that it was more than likely he was going to be drafted into one of the Branches of military service. There was a lot going on in the world at the time. He may soon be a part of it… Milt headed back to Missouri. Draft officials said he had t...
Paul Roberts was a college student at Wayne State University in Wayne, Nebraska. When not in classes, he would return home to Albion, Nebraska to help with his dad’s plumbing business. He was also an athlete who could run. At the end of three college semesters, he had sustained a knee injury which hampered his running ability. At about the same time, the Selective Service Board had sent him a draft notice. Before going right into the service, he was involved in an automobile injury accident. The Selective Service people allowed him 6 months t...
When America’s politicians and military leaders took a break between ending the war in Korea and officially admitting involvement in Vietnam, a good deal of military work continued around the world. Surely, many men began covert and assisting assignments in Southeast Asia. Others continued careers in the US and beyond. Steven A. Green spent his young and growing years in Aurora, Neb. In that there aren’t a lot of lakes around Aurora, he still liked being around water. He loved watching the air...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. A bundle of roofing shingles weighs 86 pounds. Clarence W.R. Mellott (Clarence) was working for a roofer and was carrying bundles of shingles over his shoulder up a long extension ladder. They needed to be placed at various spots on the roof of a three-story house. He...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. A father's advice is often very useful and timely. Veral Smedley (Smed) was a twenty year old man, working construction jobs in Utah. In the World War II time line, his life is going well. He's making money, has a roof over his head, there aren't many fast food places...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Soon after graduating high school, Paula Stevens was interested in doing something different, something exciting, and something like being away. She was in Lawrence, Mass. She had an aunt that she respected and looked up to. The aunt liked the Navy and Paula thought she...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In 1967, the Selective Service System was a major factor in the lives of many families. Young men had decisions to make. Before being drafted, one could have a choice of the branch of service. However, when the letter from the draft board arrived, and assuming a passing...
Raymond L. Davis Master Sergeant U.S. Army U.S. Air Force Reserve EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Life as it was known in the United States changed on Dec. 7, 1941. Our nation was struck by enemy forces. Some 2,500 people were killed in the attack at Pearl Harbor. The staggering amount of destruction,...
M. Winifred Johnston Nichols Lieutenant, U.S. Navy World War II 1942-1945 Korea 1951-1953 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In 1937 Winifred Johnston graduated from Beth El School of Nursing in Colorado Springs, Colo. The head of the school at that time insisted that the graduates give back to their...
James R. Haddix Petty Officer 3rd Class United States Navy 1968-1972 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. James "Jim" Haddix grew up in Oshkosh. His father served in the U.S. Marines – and fought on Iwo Jima – and was the Veterans Service Officer there. He had uncles who all served in the "Corps" as wel...
Robert J. Books PFC U.S. Army Pacific Theater WWII EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Robert J. Books (Bob) had received his draft notice just before graduating from high school. The Selective Service Board allowed him to finish his schooling, but within a week his parents took him to North Platte so he...
Donna K. Wiedeburg Sergeant, U.S. Army 1989 – 1995 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. After completing a year of college in Ohio, one young woman knew that it was going to be very difficult to continue on in college without substantial financial assistance. She was the youngest of five kids. Her parents h...
Leland V. Nelson Tech Sergeant WWII 1943-1945 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Leland V. Nelson spent his formative years in the area of Platte County. Like kids from western Nebraska, he walked the miles to school as well as getting to school by horsepower – one way or another. On more than one occasio...
Kenneth W. Mueller Staff Sergeant U. S. Army World War II EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Kenneth Mueller (Ken) has been a part of this community for nearly all his 92 years! He was born and raised on a farm north of Potter. He graduated high school. Right out of high school, he used the farm...
James L. McCaig SGT, C Co, 3/39th Inf, 9th Infantry Division Viet Nam U.S. ARMY 1966-1992 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. James McCaig was a Sidney resident in 1966, a 20-year old kid, really, working on a construction crew. The "Greetings..." letter from the Selective Service System advised him that...
J. Joseph Hargreaves Specialist 4 U.S. Army 1958-1961 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. For more than 60 years, the Selective Service System and its registration requirement for our country's young men have served as a backup system to provide manpower to U.S. Armed Forces. From 1948 until 1971, in peace...
Russell Brady Sergeant United States Army 1942 to 1945 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. From an early age, Russell Brady faced life challenges. His mother died of tuberculosis, his father was seriously injured in an accident, and he then lived in an orphanage. When America was attacked, he joined the U....
Donald L. Devine Chief Master Sergeant U.S. Air Force 1949 – 1979 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. After World War II, one learned to pay attention to what was going on around him or her. In 1949, this was true, and essentially, it marked wisdom...it is now termed "situational awareness." In the case o...
Harold A. Armstrong 1st Lieutenant U.S. Army Air Corps/ U.S. Air Force World War II/Korean War EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In the years 1941 through 1945, America's teenagers had serious decisions to make. America was engaged in war. The teens, mostly young men, could pick a branch of the U.S. mili...
John W. Bahr Corporal U.S. Army 1942 to 1945 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. john W. Bahr found work in Hawaii in late 1941. After the horrific bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was employed as a civilian working to repair the damage to the piers and docks that were destroyed as a result of the blasts by...
William P. Tracy Jr. Sergeant First Class U.S. Army-Air Corp World War II EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. William "Bill: Tracy Jr. was twenty one yrs old when the Selective Service System caught up with him. There was a war goin' on and they wanted him in it. He was a young man trying to find his was i...
George E. Fehringer U.S. Army 1942-1945 Corporal EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In late 1941, the Selective Service Board was looking for people to fill the thousands of positions and skill sets in all branches of the U.S. military. Japan had made its strike at Pearl Harbor and war had been declared....
Frederick H. "Fritz" Guenther U. S. Air Force 1958-1962 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. The U.S. Air Force is charged with many tasks. Some the taxpayers know about, some they don't. It's a very powerful entity among the branches of service. The U.S.A.F. offers training and actual work in quiet,...
Verlin E. Bruns Corporal U.S. Air Force 1951-1955 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. The United States Air Force came into being in September 1947. It evolved from the Army Air Forces a few years after the end of hostilities in World War II. Setting up a department or branch of the U.S. Armed Forces is...
Paul R. Kniss Seaman, U.S. Navy 1st Lieutenant U.S. Air Force EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Sidney, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In 1943, Paul Kniss was 16 years old. In the Monmouth, Ill., area, he was a "frequent flyer" at all the military recruiting offices. But, his country was at war and he wanted in the fight. He was afraid the wa...
