A century of sowers, a harvest of heritage

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library
• Subjects: Gertrude; Ida; Lone; Rockford; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/22798

had been receiving the letters. In January 1944 a group of Sheyenne citizens wrote its twelfth letter and sent it to 500 Eddy men and women in service. In the spring of 1945 a drastic cut was made in occupational deferments. They were to be granted only if men were "necessary" to an essential industry. Men age 30 to 33 faced the draft because of the heavy demand for combat replacements and the virtual exhaustion of physically fit men in the 18 to 29 age group. The Navy accepted 17-year-olds. The participants in the war were determined to win it as soon as possible, with the backing of their loved ones at home. For four years they fought bravely far from home, many suffering extreme hardships. They endured insects, mud, dust, cold, heat, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, fear, homesickness, despair, illness, pain, and imprisonment. They survived harrowing experiences, if their luck held out. Many received medals for gallantry in action, the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, and citations for bravery and meritorious service. It would not be possible to list here the awards received. In spite of the hardships, the letters sent home and to The Transcript were usually cheerful and optimistic. They made light of their sufferings and tried to boost the morale of those back home. They gave vivid accounts of military engagements and told of interesting sights. Most expressed their desire to be home again, in spite of beautiful places to which some were assigned or had an opportunity to see. Letters frequently ended with "I'm well and happy — don't worry." Meeting an old friend or relative far from home was a happy occasion. Medical personnel in station hospitals kept American service people in the best possible health and returned the ill and injured back to active duty in prime shape. Those who could not respond to treatment were sent home for further treatment. Agnes and Ida Allmaras from Eddy County served in the army nurse corps. At least five other women, Clarise Price, lone Hall, Mrs. Frances Hitz, Gertrude Hogan, and Mary Louise Plum were in service. Because so many of the men from Eddy County carried out heroic deeds and received commendations, it is difficult to start enumerating them. However, one was nationally publicized. Lt. Col. Albert V. Hartl commanded troops in the reconquest of the Aleutian Islands from the Japanese, thereby saving Alaska. The story was told in the book Bridge to Victory and a condensed version in the November 1943 Reader's Digest. In February of 1943 Eddy County people were elated by the news that the Japanese had evacuated Guadalcanal, as North Dakota soldiers had largely made up the first army contingent sent there. Several of the county's men gave up their lives in the invasion of Hitler's fortress Europe —"the greatest military undertaking in the history of the world." On May 8, 1945, the war ended in Europe. In New Rockford, stores closed to celebrate V-E Day. With the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, Russia's declaration of war against Japan, and continued air raids on that country brought a quick end to the war. On August 14,1945 the war was over! So after several years of service given to their country, men and women began to receive their discharges, to return to their waiting loved ones, and to become involved again in civilian life, that is, except those who made the supreme sacrifice for victory. All of the material on the preceding pages was taken from The Transcript. 320 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.