1945 . . .

LeMars Sentinel, September 18, 1945
Chief Gunner’s Mate Ed Crawford, stationed at Coronado, California, is visiting this week in the home of his mother and with his sister, Mrs. Randall Ivey, in LeMars.
Major Robert Tindall and Mrs. Tindall arrived Friday for a weekend visit in the parental J.D. Tindall home. Major Tindall is in the medical corps and is stationed in Rockford, Ill.
Pfc. Gordon Tentinger, who arrived home in August from a year’s duty in the European theater of war, is visiting for thirty days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Tentinger. He reports for further duty at Camp Hood, Texas, at the end of his furlough.
William B. Westerberg, boilermaker first class, who has been a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of Corregidor, has been liberated and is on his way home. He informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Westerberg, of Hinton, by cablegram from Guam.  He stated that he was well and would be home soon. His parents said that he was taken prisoner on Corregidor, and was later transferred to a prison work camp in the south part of Japan. In the navy for six and a half years, he has not been home since his enlistment. He has one brother in service, Cpl. Roger J. Westerberg, now stationed at Nyland, Calif., who served for 27 months with the marines in the South Pacific. Mr. and Mrs. Westerberg have three other sons and two daughters who are at home.
--In another section of this newspaper issue is found more information about Bill Westerberg: LeMars Sentinel, September 18, 1945
FREDONIA:  (Special Correspondence)
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Westerberg received a cablegram today, Thursday, from their son, Bill, who is now at Guam awaiting evacuation to the United States. He has more than seven years of naval experience to his credit, half of which he has been a prisoner of war of the Japs.
S/Sgt. Robert Thomas Kohout of 312 Central Ave. SE, LeMars, who served 14 months in the European theater of operations as an Armourer-Gunner, has arrived at the San Antonio District, AAF Personnel Distribution Command.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kohout and wears the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He was prisoner of war. He will spend approximately two weeks at the redistribution station undergoing records and physical processing in preparation for a discharge or reassignment to duty in this country.
History in the making was written by Chester J. (Chet) Hoorneman, 318 S. Turner street, Sioux City, when his ship was chosen to be among the first allied vessels to enter Tokyo Bay, August 28.  Hoorneman is an electrian’s mage third class and has been overseas about eight months. Before entering the service he was employed by the Sioux City Gas and Electric Company. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hoorneman who formerly lived in LeMars.
Among Iowans awarded the distinguished service cross for their part in the aerial offensive against the Japanese was Flight Officer, Joseph K. Krogman, bombardier, of Remsen. He is a member of the Sixth Bomb group, which had the lowest combat loss record in its wing, operating from Tinian with the 12th Air Force.
Another Kingsley soldier who has been discharged from the army and is now home is Robert Bissell, who has served four and a half years in the army. He served over two years at Attu, off the coast of Alaska, and was later transferred to duty in the European theater of operations, going through France, Germany and Belgium campaigns.
S/Sgt. Cecil J. Dunn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dunn, arrived in Marcus last week from Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where he received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army on August 28.  S/Sgt. Dunn entered service February 10, 1941, at LeMars and was a rifleman in the 133rd Infantry. After two years service in the U.S. he departed for overseas and on March 2, 1942, he arrived in Europe where he took part in the Tunisian, Naples-Foggia and Rome-Arno campaigns. He served overseas in the E.T.O. and A.M.E.T.O. theaters for 30 months. On April 27, 1944, in Italy he was wounded in action and after returning to the states was hospitalized for a time. He is entitled to wear the American Defense Service Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, five overseas bars and the Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded three Bronze Stars for the Tunisian Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno campaigns.  On May 28, 1944, he was awarded the Purple Heart and on April 13, 1944, was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge.
The following notes about Granville service men from the Alton Democrat will interest many Plymouth countyans:
Sgt. Vincent Ahlers is spending this week at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ahlers, enroute from Atlanta, Ga, to the west coast.
Pvt. Roland Thill visited friends here Wednesday. He spent his furlough at the home of his parents near Remsen.
S.K. 2/c Donald Neuroth departed for Great Lakes after spending a 15-day leave at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Neuroth.
Orville O’Conner, instructor in gunnery at Albuquerque, N.M. arrived Thursday to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. V.J. O’Connor, and sister, Rita.
Sgt. Kenneth Graff spent several days visiting at the home of his sister, Mrs. Bruce Vosburg.  He arrived last week from England on the SS Queen Mary.
Pfc. Magnus Goebel, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Goebel, was expected to arrive the first part of this week on the east coast on the Queen Mary.