THE GREATEST GENERATION
This is Andrew Peterson's Story
Las Vegas Sun: Obituary Wednesday, August 2009
Andrew Roy Peterson, 89, of Boulder City died August 13, 2009. He was born April 17, 1920, in Anoka County, Minn., to Fred and Gina Peterson. He was raised on the family farm and completed high school in Red Wing, Minn., in the class of 1938.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943 and flew 51 B-24 combat missions in the European theater in 1944, including the oil fields of Ploesti, Romania. His next assignment was in the USA Air Transport Command, from which he was discharged in 1947. Peterson was recalled from the Air Force Reserves for two years of stateside duty during the Korean War, flying B-36 reconnaissance.
Peterson was a professional photographer until hired as a co-pilot for PSA. In 1955 he moved his family to Las Vegas to fly for Bonanza Air Lines. He retired after 21 years as a DC9 Captain. He was a 13-year resident of Boulder City, where he was active volunteer in the Senior Center of Boulder City and Community club. He was a charter member of the VFW Post in Boulder City.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sharon Peterson of Boulder City; daughters, Nancy Vetrano of Sacramento, California and Sandra Bacon of Henderson, son Drew Peterson and wife Amy of Aztec, N.M.; grandchildren, Gina Vetrano and Joseph Vetrano of Sacramento, California; and sister-in-law, Florence Peterson of Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Arvid, Hjalmer, George, Floyd and Edgar, sister, Gerda Borgen, and first wife, Bess (Larsen) Peterson, mother of his 3 children. A memorial service was held at August 19 at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, followed by a luncheon at Bethany Baptist Church.
Lt. Peterson Pilots B-24 on 51 missions First Lt. Andrew Peterson enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1943. He did his basic training and flight training in Texas. His B-24 crew roster was Pete Peterson, Pilot; Mac McNeff, Co-Pilot; Chris Christian, Navigator; Marv Schirmacher, Bombardier; Smitty Smith, Aerial Engineer; P.W. Crawford, Radio Op; W.T. Rankin, Nose Gunner; E. W. Evans, Waist Gunner; H.R. Billadeau, Ball Gunner; and W.E. Shrum, Tail Gunner. They left Topeka, Kansas on April 1, 1944 on their first leg to combat.
He was part of the 15th Air Force and assigned to 450 Bomb Group and the 722nd Squadron. They flew over the Atlantic for Trinidad, then to Belem, to Natal, to Dakar, to Marrakech and then across the Mediterranean to Manduria, Italy. “Within 40 miles of destination, when a freek wind hit us, blew us off course and over the coast of Yugoslavia. We got the hell shot out of us. Three of the crew were wounded and we limped back to Manduria.” Of the 14 ships that started out that morning, 8 ships landed at the destination, 3 landed someplace else, 3 ships were shot down by Germans over Yugoslavia. Pete said “We were lucky”. They were now in combat.
Pete went on 4 missions in 9 days - to Ploesti twice, to Varese, and to Toulon. On April 30, they flew their first mission as a crew in their own ship. They had a relatively easy mission when they bombed Allessandra marshalling yards that had 2500 r.r. cars in it. “No enemy fighters, no flak... piece of cake.”
Days in the life of Lt. Peterson's B-24 crew
As recorded in the diary of his navigator, Bill Christian May 5, 1944:
Briefed at 9 a.m. For raid on Plosti at 2 p.m. We dropped ten 500 lb. bombs on the refinery. Smoke was seen to rise to 12,000 feet. Jumped by fighters as soon as we left flak area. No damage by fighters...3 holes caused by flak.
May 6-11: Practice Missions - went to Bari
May 12: Today was a rough one. Big push started in Italy and we were supposed to fly 2 missions to northern Italy. We took off at 5:30 and flew towards our target via front lines to boost morale of ground troops. We arrived over our target of Porto San Stefano at 0900, dropped our bombs, and then flak let loose. Word's ship had it's tail blown off by a direct hit, and started down out of control. 7 chutes were seen. At same time, Chriestia veered out of Word's way and hit Smith's plane, knocking entire tail off. Smith went straight down and no one got out. While all this was happening, we got flak hit in #3 engine, leaving a hole in the prop hub. We're losing oil fast, so feathered # 3 and came home without further difficulty on 3 engines. We're about to take off on a second mission in the afternoon, but it was cancelled - just in time. We sure will miss Smith, Crave, Vorneluis and Farra. Only yesterday we all went to Bari together. Only consolation is that we sure plastered the target.
May 13: Back up in northern Italy for a raid on Placenza M/Y. Went over at 21,000 ft. and for once encountered no flak. Target completely destroyed. No trouble on way home
May 24: Up at 3:30 and briefed for aerodrome at Weiner Neustadt. 20 miles north of Graz. 50 ME-109's attacked our group, which was without escort. Had a rough time but shot down 18 of them, losing 8 B-24's. After being under attack for 15 minutes, some P-38's showed up and the 109's took off for home. Remainder of group continued on and bombed, but not too good results. No further trouble on the way home, but 4 ships cracked up on the runway. Our squadron had lost Chrestia and crew, and 984 had a 20 mm hole in the nose wheel doors. Also flak holes from the worst flak we had ever flown through. “We were lucky.”
May 25: Pulled a raid on oil storage and refinery at Venice, Italy. Bombs hit right on target and it was demolished. Smoke and fire up to 18,000 foot. Enemy shot rockets and considerable flak at us, but it was quite inaccurate and we were undamaged.
May 26: Up at 3:30 to brief for Nice, France raid. Over target and bombed at 10:33. One of the best jobs we have done - target demolished. Flak was moderate and not too accurate. No ships lost, but we are all dead tired from 5 straight days flying. So it was ... day after day... dropping bombs ... getting hit by flak ... wind conditions causing problems ... ME 109's were German fighter planes and they caused a lot of problems. Some days were days of rest, but most were days of combat. From April 18t, 1944 when he said “We were now in combat in a big way” to August 10, 1944 their ship with others in their squadron bombed Romania, Italy, Yugoslavia, France, and Germany. Sometimes the flak was heavy and sometimes the enemy fighters were too much, but the crew of Lt. Peterson's B-24 contributed a great deal to the outcome of the war. We owe Lt. Peterson and his crew so much. They were heroes and a large part of the Greatest Generation that we salute. Thanks guys ... we owe you!
Las Vegas Sun: Obituary Wednesday, August 2009
Andrew Roy Peterson, 89, of Boulder City died August 13, 2009. He was born April 17, 1920, in Anoka County, Minn., to Fred and Gina Peterson. He was raised on the family farm and completed high school in Red Wing, Minn., in the class of 1938.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943 and flew 51 B-24 combat missions in the European theater in 1944, including the oil fields of Ploesti, Romania. His next assignment was in the USA Air Transport Command, from which he was discharged in 1947. Peterson was recalled from the Air Force Reserves for two years of stateside duty during the Korean War, flying B-36 reconnaissance.
Peterson was a professional photographer until hired as a co-pilot for PSA. In 1955 he moved his family to Las Vegas to fly for Bonanza Air Lines. He retired after 21 years as a DC9 Captain. He was a 13-year resident of Boulder City, where he was active volunteer in the Senior Center of Boulder City and Community club. He was a charter member of the VFW Post in Boulder City.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sharon Peterson of Boulder City; daughters, Nancy Vetrano of Sacramento, California and Sandra Bacon of Henderson, son Drew Peterson and wife Amy of Aztec, N.M.; grandchildren, Gina Vetrano and Joseph Vetrano of Sacramento, California; and sister-in-law, Florence Peterson of Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Arvid, Hjalmer, George, Floyd and Edgar, sister, Gerda Borgen, and first wife, Bess (Larsen) Peterson, mother of his 3 children. A memorial service was held at August 19 at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, followed by a luncheon at Bethany Baptist Church.
Lt. Peterson Pilots B-24 on 51 missions First Lt. Andrew Peterson enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1943. He did his basic training and flight training in Texas. His B-24 crew roster was Pete Peterson, Pilot; Mac McNeff, Co-Pilot; Chris Christian, Navigator; Marv Schirmacher, Bombardier; Smitty Smith, Aerial Engineer; P.W. Crawford, Radio Op; W.T. Rankin, Nose Gunner; E. W. Evans, Waist Gunner; H.R. Billadeau, Ball Gunner; and W.E. Shrum, Tail Gunner. They left Topeka, Kansas on April 1, 1944 on their first leg to combat.
He was part of the 15th Air Force and assigned to 450 Bomb Group and the 722nd Squadron. They flew over the Atlantic for Trinidad, then to Belem, to Natal, to Dakar, to Marrakech and then across the Mediterranean to Manduria, Italy. “Within 40 miles of destination, when a freek wind hit us, blew us off course and over the coast of Yugoslavia. We got the hell shot out of us. Three of the crew were wounded and we limped back to Manduria.” Of the 14 ships that started out that morning, 8 ships landed at the destination, 3 landed someplace else, 3 ships were shot down by Germans over Yugoslavia. Pete said “We were lucky”. They were now in combat.
Pete went on 4 missions in 9 days - to Ploesti twice, to Varese, and to Toulon. On April 30, they flew their first mission as a crew in their own ship. They had a relatively easy mission when they bombed Allessandra marshalling yards that had 2500 r.r. cars in it. “No enemy fighters, no flak... piece of cake.”
Days in the life of Lt. Peterson's B-24 crew
As recorded in the diary of his navigator, Bill Christian May 5, 1944:
Briefed at 9 a.m. For raid on Plosti at 2 p.m. We dropped ten 500 lb. bombs on the refinery. Smoke was seen to rise to 12,000 feet. Jumped by fighters as soon as we left flak area. No damage by fighters...3 holes caused by flak.
May 6-11: Practice Missions - went to Bari
May 12: Today was a rough one. Big push started in Italy and we were supposed to fly 2 missions to northern Italy. We took off at 5:30 and flew towards our target via front lines to boost morale of ground troops. We arrived over our target of Porto San Stefano at 0900, dropped our bombs, and then flak let loose. Word's ship had it's tail blown off by a direct hit, and started down out of control. 7 chutes were seen. At same time, Chriestia veered out of Word's way and hit Smith's plane, knocking entire tail off. Smith went straight down and no one got out. While all this was happening, we got flak hit in #3 engine, leaving a hole in the prop hub. We're losing oil fast, so feathered # 3 and came home without further difficulty on 3 engines. We're about to take off on a second mission in the afternoon, but it was cancelled - just in time. We sure will miss Smith, Crave, Vorneluis and Farra. Only yesterday we all went to Bari together. Only consolation is that we sure plastered the target.
May 13: Back up in northern Italy for a raid on Placenza M/Y. Went over at 21,000 ft. and for once encountered no flak. Target completely destroyed. No trouble on way home
May 24: Up at 3:30 and briefed for aerodrome at Weiner Neustadt. 20 miles north of Graz. 50 ME-109's attacked our group, which was without escort. Had a rough time but shot down 18 of them, losing 8 B-24's. After being under attack for 15 minutes, some P-38's showed up and the 109's took off for home. Remainder of group continued on and bombed, but not too good results. No further trouble on the way home, but 4 ships cracked up on the runway. Our squadron had lost Chrestia and crew, and 984 had a 20 mm hole in the nose wheel doors. Also flak holes from the worst flak we had ever flown through. “We were lucky.”
May 25: Pulled a raid on oil storage and refinery at Venice, Italy. Bombs hit right on target and it was demolished. Smoke and fire up to 18,000 foot. Enemy shot rockets and considerable flak at us, but it was quite inaccurate and we were undamaged.
May 26: Up at 3:30 to brief for Nice, France raid. Over target and bombed at 10:33. One of the best jobs we have done - target demolished. Flak was moderate and not too accurate. No ships lost, but we are all dead tired from 5 straight days flying. So it was ... day after day... dropping bombs ... getting hit by flak ... wind conditions causing problems ... ME 109's were German fighter planes and they caused a lot of problems. Some days were days of rest, but most were days of combat. From April 18t, 1944 when he said “We were now in combat in a big way” to August 10, 1944 their ship with others in their squadron bombed Romania, Italy, Yugoslavia, France, and Germany. Sometimes the flak was heavy and sometimes the enemy fighters were too much, but the crew of Lt. Peterson's B-24 contributed a great deal to the outcome of the war. We owe Lt. Peterson and his crew so much. They were heroes and a large part of the Greatest Generation that we salute. Thanks guys ... we owe you!
This is Cal Eastlund’s Story
Cal Eastlund enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on April 1, 1943, took his pre-flight training at Santa Anna, California; flight training at Thunderbird Field, Glendale, Arizona for primary. He received his basic training at Mintor Field, Bakersfield, California, Douglas Air Force Base, Douglas, Arizona for advanced training; then to Fresno, California to get his crew from a pool of trained personnel, and then to March Field, Riverside, California to train as a crew.
In his own words: When ready to go overseas, I got tonsillitis and was in the hospital and missed going with the original trained crew. I tried to catch up, but missed them by a day, so I was assigned a new crew. We flew our plane to our destination of Port Moresby, New Guinea, which was a transient camp where we were assigned to the 22nd Bomb Group, 2nd Bomb Squadron, 5th Air Force.
We joined our squadron at Nadzab, New Guinea and from there we started our journey north with Japan as our destination. Our first stop was Owi in the Dutch East Indies. Three months later we moved to Samar Island in the Philippines. Our next move was to be Leyte, Philippines but due to the ongoing battles on the ground and sea we were forced off the island and were moved to Anger in the Palau Islands.
We used air strips on these islands like a giant steel rug laid down in the jungle or strips made of coral. We would fly missions, bombing Japanese bases, oil fields and ships within range of our bombers. When the targets got beyond that, we would move again.
Three months later we moved to Clark Field on Luzon Island, outside Manila. I did 42 bombing missions and flew about 40 DC transport trips to bases to pick up supplies. I received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Did we have any close calls? Yes, every time we took off, flew and landed.
We hear a great deal about the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania in the European front and how many planes we lost and how dangerous it was. There were oil fields in Borneo held by the Japanese that was extremely well fortified. The flack was devastating and the fighters were vicious. We lost many bombers and many men in that conflict. However, we succeeded in cutting off the oil supply from Borneo and helped to end the war in the South Pacific.
I was discharged on December 13, 1945 as a First Lt.
Carroll O. “Cal” Eastlund is married to Berdell Zemke and they have one son, Lon, who is a retired Navy Officer, living in Honolulu, Hawaii. Cal has worked at the Red Wing Pottery and as a salesman for N.A.P.A, Red Wing Sewer Pipe and Hillyard. He also worked part time for Red Wing Shoe until June 2008. Cal and Berdell are active in the community and United Lutheran Church and both love to play golf. Berdell was recently in a serious automobile accident and Cal has had some major medical problems also, so they watch golf on the tube and wish they could be there.
Cal Eastlund enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on April 1, 1943, took his pre-flight training at Santa Anna, California; flight training at Thunderbird Field, Glendale, Arizona for primary. He received his basic training at Mintor Field, Bakersfield, California, Douglas Air Force Base, Douglas, Arizona for advanced training; then to Fresno, California to get his crew from a pool of trained personnel, and then to March Field, Riverside, California to train as a crew.
In his own words: When ready to go overseas, I got tonsillitis and was in the hospital and missed going with the original trained crew. I tried to catch up, but missed them by a day, so I was assigned a new crew. We flew our plane to our destination of Port Moresby, New Guinea, which was a transient camp where we were assigned to the 22nd Bomb Group, 2nd Bomb Squadron, 5th Air Force.
We joined our squadron at Nadzab, New Guinea and from there we started our journey north with Japan as our destination. Our first stop was Owi in the Dutch East Indies. Three months later we moved to Samar Island in the Philippines. Our next move was to be Leyte, Philippines but due to the ongoing battles on the ground and sea we were forced off the island and were moved to Anger in the Palau Islands.
We used air strips on these islands like a giant steel rug laid down in the jungle or strips made of coral. We would fly missions, bombing Japanese bases, oil fields and ships within range of our bombers. When the targets got beyond that, we would move again.
Three months later we moved to Clark Field on Luzon Island, outside Manila. I did 42 bombing missions and flew about 40 DC transport trips to bases to pick up supplies. I received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Did we have any close calls? Yes, every time we took off, flew and landed.
We hear a great deal about the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania in the European front and how many planes we lost and how dangerous it was. There were oil fields in Borneo held by the Japanese that was extremely well fortified. The flack was devastating and the fighters were vicious. We lost many bombers and many men in that conflict. However, we succeeded in cutting off the oil supply from Borneo and helped to end the war in the South Pacific.
I was discharged on December 13, 1945 as a First Lt.
Carroll O. “Cal” Eastlund is married to Berdell Zemke and they have one son, Lon, who is a retired Navy Officer, living in Honolulu, Hawaii. Cal has worked at the Red Wing Pottery and as a salesman for N.A.P.A, Red Wing Sewer Pipe and Hillyard. He also worked part time for Red Wing Shoe until June 2008. Cal and Berdell are active in the community and United Lutheran Church and both love to play golf. Berdell was recently in a serious automobile accident and Cal has had some major medical problems also, so they watch golf on the tube and wish they could be there.
This is the Gordon Krantz Story: An Ordinary GI
Gordon C. Krantz has described his WWII experiences in a volume titled Ordinary GI, and he insists his 2.5 years in the war were simply that-ordinary. But even an ordinary soldier serves in extraordinary ways. Krantz writes, “Duty was a powerful organizer of one’s thinking in those days. For some of us, it still is.” This is his story.
In 1943 Krantz quit college halfway through his freshman year to enlist. Instead, he was drafted in June of that year. Along with many other young men from Red Wing, he endured rigorous training and in 1944 was shipped to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth.
Private First Class Krantz was part of the 537th Engineer Light Ponton Company, which built temporary bridges and supplied assault boats and footbridges for infantry river crossings. They landed in Glasgow on D-Day, arriving in France 59 days later. Moving east across France, the men enabled the progress of the American troops toward Germany. In Fontainebleau, the 200 men rebuilt in one afternoon a bridge the Germans had destroyed. They rebuilt another bridge in one day, to prepare for the next day’s crossing of Generals Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, and Hodges; and Secretary of War Marshall.
One of Krantz’s duties was to check the readiness of the weapons, though he says, “I don’t remember ever being told to do that. In a team, you do what’s at hand.” He also rode shotgun in the trucks that traveled alone, guarding the heavily armed vehicles with his machine gun.
Moving through France, the company was greeted and cheered by the French for liberating them. As they crossed through Luxembourg and into Germany, they also liberated factories and concentration camps. Most factory workers celebrated with the soldiers, but Krantz remembers some of the camp inmates wouldn’t stay in the camp long enough even to eat. They walked out the gates, and kept walking as long as they were able.
In 1945, the day after the German surrender, Krantz was riding shotgun on the ration truck. The tanks of a German Panzer Division appeared from a side road. Since Krantz’s truck was the first American vehicle they saw that day, they surrendered to it.
After a brief station at Marseilles in 1946, Krantz was discharged. He returned home to the country he thought he would never see again.
Krantz brought a breadth of interests to his travels. He was the only one of his company to have heard of Stonehenge, and he took a taxi to the site when they were stationed near it. He also collected souvenirs throughout his time of service, including fossils, a German Luger pistol, and a Nazi Party membership pin. Soldiers weren’t supposed to collect such things, but Krantz explains, “I’m not a slave to rules.”
Above all, Krantz was devoted to his fellow soldiers. He showed his commitment to his company early on, when he turned down the opportunity to attend Officer Training School, and again when he stayed on in Luxembourg even though his father had died back in Minnesota. His devotion to his company has continued; until recently, Krantz kept the company roster up to date, and attended many of the biennial reunions.
Krantz holds four medals for his service, and a bookful of memories. He says every man in his company could have written a volume like Ordinary GI, but he was the only one who did. The book continues to serve his fellow soldiers, many of whom have passed away, by preserving their stories for their widows and children. In passing along these stories, Krantz has continued to do his duty, which turns out not to be so ordinary, after all.
Thanks to Kristin Niehof, Author
Gordon C. Krantz has described his WWII experiences in a volume titled Ordinary GI, and he insists his 2.5 years in the war were simply that-ordinary. But even an ordinary soldier serves in extraordinary ways. Krantz writes, “Duty was a powerful organizer of one’s thinking in those days. For some of us, it still is.” This is his story.
In 1943 Krantz quit college halfway through his freshman year to enlist. Instead, he was drafted in June of that year. Along with many other young men from Red Wing, he endured rigorous training and in 1944 was shipped to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth.
Private First Class Krantz was part of the 537th Engineer Light Ponton Company, which built temporary bridges and supplied assault boats and footbridges for infantry river crossings. They landed in Glasgow on D-Day, arriving in France 59 days later. Moving east across France, the men enabled the progress of the American troops toward Germany. In Fontainebleau, the 200 men rebuilt in one afternoon a bridge the Germans had destroyed. They rebuilt another bridge in one day, to prepare for the next day’s crossing of Generals Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, and Hodges; and Secretary of War Marshall.
One of Krantz’s duties was to check the readiness of the weapons, though he says, “I don’t remember ever being told to do that. In a team, you do what’s at hand.” He also rode shotgun in the trucks that traveled alone, guarding the heavily armed vehicles with his machine gun.
Moving through France, the company was greeted and cheered by the French for liberating them. As they crossed through Luxembourg and into Germany, they also liberated factories and concentration camps. Most factory workers celebrated with the soldiers, but Krantz remembers some of the camp inmates wouldn’t stay in the camp long enough even to eat. They walked out the gates, and kept walking as long as they were able.
In 1945, the day after the German surrender, Krantz was riding shotgun on the ration truck. The tanks of a German Panzer Division appeared from a side road. Since Krantz’s truck was the first American vehicle they saw that day, they surrendered to it.
After a brief station at Marseilles in 1946, Krantz was discharged. He returned home to the country he thought he would never see again.
Krantz brought a breadth of interests to his travels. He was the only one of his company to have heard of Stonehenge, and he took a taxi to the site when they were stationed near it. He also collected souvenirs throughout his time of service, including fossils, a German Luger pistol, and a Nazi Party membership pin. Soldiers weren’t supposed to collect such things, but Krantz explains, “I’m not a slave to rules.”
Above all, Krantz was devoted to his fellow soldiers. He showed his commitment to his company early on, when he turned down the opportunity to attend Officer Training School, and again when he stayed on in Luxembourg even though his father had died back in Minnesota. His devotion to his company has continued; until recently, Krantz kept the company roster up to date, and attended many of the biennial reunions.
Krantz holds four medals for his service, and a bookful of memories. He says every man in his company could have written a volume like Ordinary GI, but he was the only one who did. The book continues to serve his fellow soldiers, many of whom have passed away, by preserving their stories for their widows and children. In passing along these stories, Krantz has continued to do his duty, which turns out not to be so ordinary, after all.
Thanks to Kristin Niehof, Author
Life after the War for Krantz
Before the war: Born in Red Wing, 1924; family farmed during the Depression; graduated from Red Wing High School 1942; began college. Then The War.
After the war came the resumption of the interrupted college education. One week after discharge in 1946, back to school at Bethel College. Then, 1947-1949, the University of Minnesota. All thanks to the GI Bill and to part-time employment as a pathology attendant at old Ancker Hospital in St. Paul.
1948: married Bernice Madsen; they had four children in the 1950s
1950: State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; 1955, District Supervisor
1953: Master’s Degree, Psychology; state Certified Psychologist, later a Licensed Consulting Psychologist
1958: psychologist at the Opportunity Workshop, facility for mentally retarded youth
1962: Case Manager, Minneapolis School-Rehabilitation Center; 1965, Director
1966: Assistant Director for Research and Development, in an inter-district school-rehabilitation center
1974: student, Educational Administration, U of M; Ph D 1976
1976:Scientist, University of Minnesota, Special Education
1980: community development specialist, State WelfareDepartment of
1985: expanded private consulting work, human services and systems development
1985: began extensive personal travel, every continent except Antarctica
1988: Bernice died
1991: Systems Director, EASE Inc.- software logic and content design
1995: married Ruth Martin Pikal
1995: minor consulting in retirement, and writing
A checkered career, mostly in jobs that are difficult to define and that are therefore open to development. This prompted a book, published 2009, “What Did You Do for a Living, Daddy?” to belatedly answer his children’s question.
Served on a number of commissions and committees, public and private, and on private boards such as the Minneapolis Association for Retarded Citizens (now ARC).
Active in church (Baptist), serving in every office except Pastor and Treasurer. Has led Swedish hymn sings, still sings in church and at funerals.
In addition to “Ordinary GI” and “What Did You do for a Living, Daddy?” has published books “Judges, Rulers and One Angry Levite” 2007, “Samuel, Seer” 2008, “The Times of the Judges” 2009 and “What Happened Between the Testaments” 2010.
Before the war: Born in Red Wing, 1924; family farmed during the Depression; graduated from Red Wing High School 1942; began college. Then The War.
After the war came the resumption of the interrupted college education. One week after discharge in 1946, back to school at Bethel College. Then, 1947-1949, the University of Minnesota. All thanks to the GI Bill and to part-time employment as a pathology attendant at old Ancker Hospital in St. Paul.
1948: married Bernice Madsen; they had four children in the 1950s
1950: State Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; 1955, District Supervisor
1953: Master’s Degree, Psychology; state Certified Psychologist, later a Licensed Consulting Psychologist
1958: psychologist at the Opportunity Workshop, facility for mentally retarded youth
1962: Case Manager, Minneapolis School-Rehabilitation Center; 1965, Director
1966: Assistant Director for Research and Development, in an inter-district school-rehabilitation center
1974: student, Educational Administration, U of M; Ph D 1976
1976:Scientist, University of Minnesota, Special Education
1980: community development specialist, State WelfareDepartment of
1985: expanded private consulting work, human services and systems development
1985: began extensive personal travel, every continent except Antarctica
1988: Bernice died
1991: Systems Director, EASE Inc.- software logic and content design
1995: married Ruth Martin Pikal
1995: minor consulting in retirement, and writing
A checkered career, mostly in jobs that are difficult to define and that are therefore open to development. This prompted a book, published 2009, “What Did You Do for a Living, Daddy?” to belatedly answer his children’s question.
Served on a number of commissions and committees, public and private, and on private boards such as the Minneapolis Association for Retarded Citizens (now ARC).
Active in church (Baptist), serving in every office except Pastor and Treasurer. Has led Swedish hymn sings, still sings in church and at funerals.
In addition to “Ordinary GI” and “What Did You do for a Living, Daddy?” has published books “Judges, Rulers and One Angry Levite” 2007, “Samuel, Seer” 2008, “The Times of the Judges” 2009 and “What Happened Between the Testaments” 2010.
This is the Paul Lawrence Story
It was July of 1940 and war with the Axis Powers was imminent. Paul Lawrence wanted to join the United States Navy when he was 17 but the requirements were “must be 18 years of age”. When Paul finally enlisted, he was 18. After enlisting, Paul was off to Great Lakes Naval Base for Boot Camp.
Basic training was the usual ... scrub the barracks with a toothbrush, march 'til you drop, learn your left from your right, wake up at 5 a.m. and go for a long hike. You learned to fire a rifle on the firing line and you learned that your drill Noncom was the king, the almighty ruler, the grand potentate.
Paul got the usual Boot Camp treatment and was assigned to the Destroyer Clark as a Deck Hand. He was designated “Sharp Shooter” on a 5 inch gun. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy, Paul was in San Francisco while they were repairing the Clark. They had traveled throughout the South Pacific to Australia, Samoa, the Hawaiian Islands, and Figi.
After the war began, Paul's ship carried him into battle and the Clark was in a convoy with an aircraft carrier, battleship, and 6 destroyers in the South Pacific. Their planes and ship's guns knocked down 21 Japanese planes in just a few hours. Paul went from Deck Hand to Deck Hand, 1st Class.
The Clark then went through the Panama Canal and up the east coast to Boston and their crew was assigned to a new destroyer, the Monohan. Back through the Panama Canal and up to the Aleutians. Paul was reassigned to a Cargo Ship that carried ammunition and oil to the fighting men in the South Pacific. He was promoted to Bosan Mate First Class.
His brother Howard was killed in action as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific and Paul went home for the funeral, returned to the ship and 30 days later received another letter from the war department about his other brother Vince who was now a POW in Europe. Vince was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and Paul was ordered home again. He was transferred to Chicago where he was assigned to small boats that trained Naval officers. The boats traveled from Chicago to Milwaukee. He was discharged in 1946 and went home for good ... a member of the Greatest Generation.
Paul Lawrence - Helped Build Red Wing...Home by Home
Paul Lawrence was born to Albert and Myrthe Lawrence in 1925 in Scobey, Montana. Scobey was a mixture of tumble weed and prairie grass - not the Pretty Scobey, like in Pretty Red Wing, but it was home. His dad was the sheriff for many years and a farmer to boot.
Paul was one of five offspring ... Vince, Tony, Margaret, Howard and Paul . Vince, Howard and Paul were in the World War II conflict and Tony had medical problems and could not enlist or be drafted because of a lung problem. Vince was captured by the Germans in the Battle of Bulge and was a Prisoner of War for nearly 6 months, when finally liberated when the war ended. Howard was a fighter pilot in the South Pacific and was killed in 1945 in enemy action.
The family left Scobey shortly after Paul was born and went back and forth to Red Wing and Scobey, finally settling in Red Wing. Paul met Laurie Von Bargen and they fell in love and were married on July 20, 1945. They had six boys, Mitch, John, Tom, David, Gary (Swede) and Don.
Paul started the Lawrence Real Estate and Construction and his company built many of the homes in south Red Wing after the war. Nearly half the homes built in Red Wing from 1945 to 1970 were built by Lawrence Construction. Paul and Laurie lived in their ranch home on Highway 61 at the Hastings Cut Off (Highway 316). They raised show horses and had the famous Sunny Champ for many years. Now a few of the boys raise the horses. Mitch Lawrence now runs the Lawrence Real Estate business in Red Wing and Paul and Laurie spend the winters in Mesa and summers in their home near Miesville and their favorite restaurant Wiederholts.
The is the Pete Amendolar Story
Peter P. Amendolar, Red Wing’s fireman for 26 years, left high school in Akron, Ohio and joined the Navy in 1940. His enlistment was for six years. It turned out to be an exciting but treacherous six years.
Pete was assigned to Training Station at Newport RI for basic training and to the U.S.S. Porter (DD-356) a destroyer in the Pacific fleet. On December 5, 1941 the Porter departed Pearl Harbor with Lexington Task Force 12 to deliver scout bombers to marines on Midway Island just two days before the Japanese surprise strike. After searching to intercept and destroy the enemy, Task Force 12 returned to Pearl six days later.
In June of 1942, the Porter returned to San Francisco and there Pete was introduced to his future wife Dorothy Duden from Red Wing, MN. That August the Porter returned to Pearl Harbor patrolling Hawaiian waters.
On October 16, the Porter escorted aircraft carriers to the Solomon Islands. Ten days later, planes from the U.S.S. Enterprise located a Japanese carrier force. In the Battle of Santa Cruz Island, opposing forces exchanged air attacks and the Porter was torpedoed, killing 29 sailors. Also, lost was the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet. For its service, the Porter earned one battle star.
In January of 1943, Pete was transferred to New Caledonia and promoted to coxman. Assigned to Amphibious Boat Pool #7, he trained for amphibious landings. Operating from New Caledonia, amphibious boat pools captured, secured and established island for advanced naval bases. In May, amphibious units under the command of U.S. Naval Base Leatherback secured Woodlark Island some 450 miles west of Guadalcanal.
Pete earned a rating change from coxman to boatswain’s mate second class. On November 12 Pete was transferred from U.S. Naval Base Woodlark to Navy 134 FFT, New Construction.
From R/S San Francisco, Pete was transferred to R/S Boston, MA for duty in connection with the fitting out and commissioning of the U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19), an aircraft carrier being built at Quincy, MA. In 1944 Pete was transferred to the Newport Training Station for fire fighting training. On January 24, the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Hancock was launched. The same day, Pete and Dorothy were married in Providence, RI.
After the commissioning of the Hancock, Pete accompanied Dorothy to Red Wing. Returning to the east coast alone, Pete aboard the Hancock sailed through the Panama Canal before porting at San Diego and Pearl Harbor.
Assigned to the Sixth Division, Pete served as lookout in addition to boatswain’s mate duties. After a stop in the Admiralty Islands, the Hancock got into the war. On November 6, Pete and Dorothy’s daughter was born in Red Wing. Pete would not see Paula until she was almost nine months old.
“THE FIGHTING HANNA” CAUGHT IN A TYPHOON
On December 17, 1944 the fleet ran into a typhoon. The next day winds were 100 miles per hour. The antiaircraft cruiser San Juan took a terrific beating and suffered great damage. Destroyers vanished from radar as the huge waves buried them. The Hull, Spence and Monagham rolled over and were lost. The next day 100 sailors were rescued but some 800 sailors of the three destroyers were lost.
A 500-POUND BOMB EXPLODES ON THE FLIGHT DECK
On January 21, 1945 a TBF Avenger returned from a bombing mission. The crew was unaware that the bomb had not released and was still in the belly of the plane. After landing and taxiing on the flight deck, the wings were folded and the bombay door opened. As the doors opened the bomb dropped to the deck and exploded. Planes and sailors were blown overboard. The blast killed the planes crew and 52 deckhands. Another 75 were injured.
TOP NAVAL OFFICERS CITE THE HANCOCK CREW FOR ACTIONS
In recognition of Hancock’s pilots and carrier personnel for outstanding service under fire the Admiral Halsey, Commander of the Third Fleet wrote, “We have driven the enemy off two seas and back to his inner defenses. Today, I am so proud of you that no words can express my feelings.”
HANCOCK HIT BY KAMIKAZI AFTER SIX MONTHS OF FIERCE COMBAT
On April 7, 1945 a kamikaze pilot in a Judy released a 550-pound bomb while the Hancock was launching planes. The bomb broke through the wooden flight deck ahead of the forward elevator and exploded in the hangar deck below while the plane crashed on the flight deck. During the suicide hit sixty-three sailors and pilots were killed and 82 wounded. The Hancock returned to Pearl Harbor for two months of repairs before returning to action. For its service, the Hancock earned five battle stars.
While at Pearl, Pete was transferred stateside to U.S. Naval Air Station, Bunker Hill, IN. Dorothy and Paula moved to Peru to be close. They would live there together until the end of the war.
One more transfer sent Pete to the U.S. Naval Air Station, Wold Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis, MN. The family again moved to #430 Belmont, Red Wing. A housing development for returning veterans, Belmont was located in east Red Wing next to the Correctional Facility. On July 9 Pete was honorably discharged at the Personnel Separation Center in Minneapolis.
After the war, Pete joined the Red Wing Fire Department in 1947. On January 20, 1949 the twins Michelle and Michael were born. After 26 years in the fire service, Pete and Dorothy retired to Lanark Beach, FL in 1973. Pete passed away in 1986 and Dorothy in 2008.
Greatest Generation seaman that fought to preserve our freedom.
Peter P. Amendolar, Red Wing’s fireman for 26 years, left high school in Akron, Ohio and joined the Navy in 1940. His enlistment was for six years. It turned out to be an exciting but treacherous six years.
Pete was assigned to Training Station at Newport RI for basic training and to the U.S.S. Porter (DD-356) a destroyer in the Pacific fleet. On December 5, 1941 the Porter departed Pearl Harbor with Lexington Task Force 12 to deliver scout bombers to marines on Midway Island just two days before the Japanese surprise strike. After searching to intercept and destroy the enemy, Task Force 12 returned to Pearl six days later.
In June of 1942, the Porter returned to San Francisco and there Pete was introduced to his future wife Dorothy Duden from Red Wing, MN. That August the Porter returned to Pearl Harbor patrolling Hawaiian waters.
On October 16, the Porter escorted aircraft carriers to the Solomon Islands. Ten days later, planes from the U.S.S. Enterprise located a Japanese carrier force. In the Battle of Santa Cruz Island, opposing forces exchanged air attacks and the Porter was torpedoed, killing 29 sailors. Also, lost was the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet. For its service, the Porter earned one battle star.
In January of 1943, Pete was transferred to New Caledonia and promoted to coxman. Assigned to Amphibious Boat Pool #7, he trained for amphibious landings. Operating from New Caledonia, amphibious boat pools captured, secured and established island for advanced naval bases. In May, amphibious units under the command of U.S. Naval Base Leatherback secured Woodlark Island some 450 miles west of Guadalcanal.
Pete earned a rating change from coxman to boatswain’s mate second class. On November 12 Pete was transferred from U.S. Naval Base Woodlark to Navy 134 FFT, New Construction.
From R/S San Francisco, Pete was transferred to R/S Boston, MA for duty in connection with the fitting out and commissioning of the U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19), an aircraft carrier being built at Quincy, MA. In 1944 Pete was transferred to the Newport Training Station for fire fighting training. On January 24, the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Hancock was launched. The same day, Pete and Dorothy were married in Providence, RI.
After the commissioning of the Hancock, Pete accompanied Dorothy to Red Wing. Returning to the east coast alone, Pete aboard the Hancock sailed through the Panama Canal before porting at San Diego and Pearl Harbor.
Assigned to the Sixth Division, Pete served as lookout in addition to boatswain’s mate duties. After a stop in the Admiralty Islands, the Hancock got into the war. On November 6, Pete and Dorothy’s daughter was born in Red Wing. Pete would not see Paula until she was almost nine months old.
“THE FIGHTING HANNA” CAUGHT IN A TYPHOON
On December 17, 1944 the fleet ran into a typhoon. The next day winds were 100 miles per hour. The antiaircraft cruiser San Juan took a terrific beating and suffered great damage. Destroyers vanished from radar as the huge waves buried them. The Hull, Spence and Monagham rolled over and were lost. The next day 100 sailors were rescued but some 800 sailors of the three destroyers were lost.
A 500-POUND BOMB EXPLODES ON THE FLIGHT DECK
On January 21, 1945 a TBF Avenger returned from a bombing mission. The crew was unaware that the bomb had not released and was still in the belly of the plane. After landing and taxiing on the flight deck, the wings were folded and the bombay door opened. As the doors opened the bomb dropped to the deck and exploded. Planes and sailors were blown overboard. The blast killed the planes crew and 52 deckhands. Another 75 were injured.
TOP NAVAL OFFICERS CITE THE HANCOCK CREW FOR ACTIONS
In recognition of Hancock’s pilots and carrier personnel for outstanding service under fire the Admiral Halsey, Commander of the Third Fleet wrote, “We have driven the enemy off two seas and back to his inner defenses. Today, I am so proud of you that no words can express my feelings.”
HANCOCK HIT BY KAMIKAZI AFTER SIX MONTHS OF FIERCE COMBAT
On April 7, 1945 a kamikaze pilot in a Judy released a 550-pound bomb while the Hancock was launching planes. The bomb broke through the wooden flight deck ahead of the forward elevator and exploded in the hangar deck below while the plane crashed on the flight deck. During the suicide hit sixty-three sailors and pilots were killed and 82 wounded. The Hancock returned to Pearl Harbor for two months of repairs before returning to action. For its service, the Hancock earned five battle stars.
While at Pearl, Pete was transferred stateside to U.S. Naval Air Station, Bunker Hill, IN. Dorothy and Paula moved to Peru to be close. They would live there together until the end of the war.
One more transfer sent Pete to the U.S. Naval Air Station, Wold Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis, MN. The family again moved to #430 Belmont, Red Wing. A housing development for returning veterans, Belmont was located in east Red Wing next to the Correctional Facility. On July 9 Pete was honorably discharged at the Personnel Separation Center in Minneapolis.
After the war, Pete joined the Red Wing Fire Department in 1947. On January 20, 1949 the twins Michelle and Michael were born. After 26 years in the fire service, Pete and Dorothy retired to Lanark Beach, FL in 1973. Pete passed away in 1986 and Dorothy in 2008.
Greatest Generation seaman that fought to preserve our freedom.