The holiday season was about to begin across much of the world. A time for joyous family dinners, platters of lovingly prepared holiday foods, including those ethnic delicacies often prepared and served only at this time of year.

At this same time, approximately 175 area women and men were thousands of miles from home for the holiday. World War II brought with it the separation of families scattered to previously unknown places in Europe and the Pacific. For them, the holidays were a time to reflect on Christmas’s past as they sweltered in the heat of the Pacific war front, and the deathly cold of the Battle of the Bulge.

The December 20, 1944, issue of the New Glarus Post carried the notes on local military personnel on the front page of the paper. “Cadet Richard Streiff, second year student at West Point Military Academy is expected home to spend the holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Streiff.”

Streiff, after graduation from West Point, went on to serve in Korea, where he was wounded. He also served at the White House during the Eisenhower and Nixon administrations. Streiff was one of four New Glarus men who reached the rank of Colonel. The four local colonels include Streiff, Gilbert Strickler, Ray Kundert, and Harold Zweifel, who served in three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Zweifel holds a world record of the longest non-stop flight. His men said of him, “Zweifel commanded both fear and respect.” In later years two other New Glarus men reached the rank of colonel, Dave Zweifel and John Jacobson.

One New Glarus man, Walter Schindler, attained the rank of Vice Commander, and was the first person to shoot down a Japanese A6M Zero during WWII.

Two Wounded Soldiers Return to United States

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gmur have been notified that their son, Pfc. Burton Dean Gmur, is at Shick General Hospital, Clinton, Iowa. He was injured near Aachen some months ago and has since been in a hospital in England. Dean is in a wheelchair most of the time but is able to get around on crutches. He does not expect to be home for some time, but will probably submit to surgery first.

Pfc. John Aebly, son of Mrs. Ernest Aebly, is in a hospital, Jellyroll General Hospital, Springfield, Mo. He was injured in France and has been at a hospital in England. He expects to be home to visit his mother at Christmas.

Pvt. Darrell Duerst, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Z. Duerst, has been released from the hospital and has returned to duty according to word received on Tuesday. He was slightly wounded in action in Germany the later part of November.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Arnes recently received a telegram from their son, Leroy, stationed with the Coast Guard at New Orleans, which said, “Betty and I are getting married today.” We hope to get further details soon!

Pvt. Herbert Knobel is a patient at a hospital in England for treatment of trench foot. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tobias Knobel.

Cpl. Louis Ubert is home after being honorably discharged from the Army. He served two years and one month and was stationed at Camp Chaffee, Ark., Camp Campbell, Ky., Camp Butler, N.C., Brooklyn Army Base and Camp Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. After a month’s vacation, he plans to resume the management of the D-X service station. He wants to thank all those who in any way remembered him while he was in service.

Pvt. Robert Alderman is here on furlough visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Alderman. Robert has won the right to wear “Wings and Boots” of the United States Army paratroops. He just completed four weeks of jump training during which time he made five jumps, the last a tactical jump at night involving a combat problem on landing.

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Thacker have a telegram from their son, Frederick, saying he is back in New York after a trip to Europe but that he would not be home for Christmas but was sailing again soon. He is a radio operator with the Merchant Marine Corp.

Sgt. Vivian Ingwell arrived here for a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Ingwell. He served 29 months with the Marines in the South Pacific and has been in service 35 months.

A hospital report has come to Mrs. Maynard Hustad, dated November 20, which said her husband has been brought to a hospital in the Philippines on Nov. 12 with a compound fractured hip and a wound in the right left leg but asked the folks not to worry as he was being given the best of care available. He was with the Army Air Force as a gunner and cannondier on a B-25. No letter has been received directly from him. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Hustad.

The Hustad’s younger son, James, is at Ft. Leonard Wood. Mo. He is going to school with an engineering unit.

Relatives at New Glarus have learned that Pfc. Fred Gmur Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Mrs. Fred Gmur Sr. of Pittsburgh, Pa., was killed in action in the battle for Metz.

Mrs. David Kundert Jr. has received the following clipping from her brother, Fred Zimmerman, Ft. Wayne, Ind. Telling about his son T/5 Jacob Zimmerman. The Zimmerman family formerly lived here. Their mother died and the children were taken to the Ft. Wayne Orphan’s Home. Young Zimmerman has been in the South Pacific for many months.

Rescued Swimmer

T/5 Zimmerman, whose father lives at 1223 Roy Street, won a medal recently for rescuing an exhausted swimmer from a dangerous undertow near a base of the 43rd Division in the Southwest Pacific.

A member of a quartermaster unit, Zimmerman was in his tent when the shouts of a group of men on the beach close by attracted his attention. He left his quarters to investigate and found an enlisted man had been caught by a large roller and was being carried out to sea.

Even though the likelihood was slim that he would be able to make his way back unaided, Zimmerman dove into the water and made his way to the floundering man. According to his official commendation, Zimmerman acted with “total disregard for his own safety. His quick thinking an extraordinary heroism saved the man’s life.”

Ration Reminder

Meats, Fats—Red stamps A8 through S5, good indefinitely. No new stamps until December 31.

Processed Foods—Blue stamps A8 through Z 8; A5 through Z5, A 2 and B2 remains valid indefinitely. No new blue stamps will be validated until the first of the next month.

Sugar Stamps, 30 31, 32, 33, 34, each good for five pounds indefinitely.

Sugar stamp 40, good for five pounds of canning sugar through February 28, 1945.

Gasoline—A-13 coupons in new “A” book, good through December 21.

A-14 coupons good for four gallons beginning December 22.

Shoes—Airplane stamps 1 and 2, and 3 in book three, good indefinitely.

New Glarus Over the Top in 6th Bond Drive

New Glarus village went over-the-top in the final days of the 6th War Bond Drive, including all credits. To date, $67,026.50 worth of bonds have been bought. The quota was $62,735.00.