Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 131
Rex V. Fuller Major, U.S. Air Force 1943-1964 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. Rex Fuller was in California in late 1941 when Pearl Harbor was struck. Immediately, he wanted to go to war like the rest of his generation. He returned to his hometown area in Iowa. He soon went to Des Moines, Iowa, and...
Donald C. Larson Staff Sergeant U.S. Army 1942-1945 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. As was the case much of the time, the Cheyenne County Selective Service System was doing its job, drafting young men to help fill the ranks of the Army, mainly. After the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, the manpower...
Billy D. Rush RM 2nd Class U.S. Navy 1948-1952 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 mid-1948, World War II had been fought. Not so many years before, tens of thousands of our nation's sons and daughters had fought and supported the effort valiantly. Most came home and went about their lives. Some didn't...
Marion L. Ellsworth U.S. Navy 1940-1946 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. Marion Ellsworth served in the U.S. Navy for six years. In his time, the Navy was organized into three operational fleets – the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Asiatic fleets. He served in each of them. Marion is from the Sidney A...
Richard F. Ament Machinist Mate 2nd Class U.S. Navy 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 Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Richard "Dick" Ament was on the verge of high school graduation in Marcus, Iowa. He knew the country was at war in several different parts of the world. He also knew that once he left school, the Selective...
Dear Editor: I want to speak of some items concerning Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson’s treatment and situation at the hands of the city manager and almost, by the members of the city council, which meets Tuesday evening. The director of Public Works broke the law and was issued a citation to appear in court by the Police Department. By city policy, he (John Hehnke) had to report what happened to his boss, the City Manager (Gary Person). The two of them must have talked the situation over and came up with an action plan (what to do). One o...
Robert R. Balfour U.S. Marine Corps USMC Reserve Nebraska National Guard 1953-1974 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In 1953, Robert "Bob" Balfour worked in Omaha for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. He was 20. At this point in his young life, he felt that it was his obligation to serve his country....
Vickie L. Morlock Corporal U.S. Marine Corps 1980-1985 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. It is a rare thing for a young woman to want to join the Marine Corps. When their advertisements appear on various media, finding a female in the coverage takes some work. But they are there. They trained and worked...
Billy D. Hammond Chief U.S. Navy 1942-1945 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. When he was 23, Bill "Billy" D. Hammond worked at the Great Western Sugar plant in Sterling, Colo. He had been married about six weeks. He had gotten a call from the local draft office. The caller suggested that Bill take...
Dear Editor: The headline in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph read “Chief gets jail time.” The Chief of Police. Who would make such a complaint that would result in such a sentence? Was it the city of Sidney official who was out of control? I doubt it. Was it the city manager who wanted this energetic man to be gone in such a short time? I doubt this too. When all this took place, Chief Wilkinson had been on the “job” for a little over six months when one of his officers responded to a call about suspicious activity. The officer did the best he coul...
Everett L. Kelley Private First Class 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 Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Everett L. Kelley did his part in the effort to help bring down the Nazi regime in World War II. At the tender age of 18, he knew the Selective Service would be after him. He made his way to the U.S. Army...
Melvin E. Kella Electricians Mate 2nd class U.S. Navy 1944 - '47 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In late summer 1944, all the people in all countries must have known about or were involved in the wars ... World War II. Certainly, the American people were fully involved. Our "boys" were fighting...
Dean J. Hecker First Sergeant, U.S. Army (retired) July 1942 to January 1946 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. The 80th Infantry Division was first organized for duty in World War I. During that war, the 80th Division was a factor in the French sector and did significant work. This was a Division of "Uni...
Lloyd Kermit Nelson Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corp (ret.) February 1942 to December 1945 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Kermit Nelson was raised on a farm southwest of Potter, born into a large family. From ages 10 to 24, he was a worker on the farm too. His primary summer job was doing the work involvi...
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 Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. William "Bill" Tracy Jr. was 21 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 in Alaska and...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In all fairness, the members of the Selective Service (Draft) Board might have had a bad "rap." They were merely doing their job by naming and notifying young men that they were going to be serving their country in the war. For the most part, those being notified were...
James A. Detrick 2nd Class Petty Officer U.S. Navy 1950-1962 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. James A. Detrick enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April 1950 at Cheyenne, Wyo. He was selected to serve in the Navy because he wanted something different from what he had. He wanted to be a Sea-bee, but served on a...
Leslie E. Larsen Master Sergeant U.S. Army 1972-2002 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. In the fall of 2012, an American Legion District 4 meeting was held in Sidney. There were lots of topics that had to be covered in this meeting. Toward the end an item on the agenda was about recognizing people who...
Eugene H. Hume PFC U.S. Marine Corps 1944-1946 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Eugene "Gene" Hume was two weeks into his 16th year of life when the warriors of the Japanese Emperor's Air and Navy forces struck Pearl Harbor. Like just about all Americans, he was more than a little agitated that we had...
Clark E. Wicks Sergeant U.S. Army Air Corps 1943-1945 EDITOR'S NOTE: Veteran's History Project author Larry Nelson is taking a few weeks off. During that time, we'll re-run previously published features about local veterans. The following story about Keith R. Rieken first appeared in the Sun-Telegraph on June 23, 2012. Clark Wicks was barely sixteen years old when World War II began. Much before that, he was helping work the family farm near Colome, South Dakota. He knew first-hand about the...
Paul F. Sheaman Master Sergeant U.S. Army 1943-1946 1950-1951 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Paul Sheaman got quite an introduction to the real world as seen by the U.S. Army. Here's a young man from just west of small-town Wyoming, fresh out of high school, and now, recently contacted by the...
Dean E. Starr Petty Officer 2nd Class U.S. Navy 1950-1954 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. This article originally pubished on June 16, 2012. Dean Starr was 11 when the Japanese attacked our Naval forces at Pearl Harbor. From the concern in his dad's voice, he knew something dreadful had happened....
John D. Shaffner Lance Corporal U.S. Marine Corps 1971-1973 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. At 18, John Shaffner joined the United States Marine Corps. It was an easy decision for him, but one that probably caused some consternation in his family. On his father's side, there were many, including his...
Alvin H. Bruns Corporal U.S. Army Air Force U.S. Army 1943 – 1946 EDITOR'S NOTE: Veteran's History Project author Larry Nelson is taking a few weeks off. During that time, we'll re-run previously published features about local veterans. The following story about Alvin H. Bruns first appeared in the Sun-Telegraph on June 9, 2012. Between late 1941 and 1946, the Department of Defense was in quite a situation. There was so much going on with fighting the German war machine and stopping the s...
James L. Schilling Staff Sergeant U.S. Army 1964-1966 1974-1995 EDITOR'S NOTE: Veteran's History Project author Larry Nelson is taking a few weeks off. During that time, we'll re-run previously published features about local veterans. The following story about James L. Schilling first appeared in the Sun-Telegraph on May 26, 2012. Jim Schilling knew he was going to be drafted in early 1964. In Sidney, he prepared for it by putting his car in storage, leaving his job, saying goodbye, and steeling...
