The U.S. War Department on Saturday notified Mrs. Harold E. Ahrens, that her husband, a staff sergeant in the U. S. Army Air Corps, has been reported as missing in action over Europe. Staff Sgt. Ahrens was a gunner and radio operator on a 4 motor heavy bomber, presumably a B-17, Flying Fortress. He was at home the early part of July and left Fredericksburg after spending a six day furlough here with wife and parents on July 6th. The message on Saturday stated that he was reported missing as of August 5th., less than a month after he had visited here.

St. Sgt. Ahrens, age 21 is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ahrens of Cave Creek Community. He was married to Miss Viola Sagebiel of the Crabapple Community, May 31st., this year near his Army Air Base at Rapid City, S. D.

The young man attended the Rheingold School and up until the time he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in August, 1942, he assisted his father on their farm in the Cave Creek community. He received his training in Panama City Florida; Chicago Ill.; Salt Lake City Utah; Blythe California; and Grand Island, Nebraska army air bases. The last letter received from him was dated July 30th.

The War Department believed that he perished along with other crew members in the crash of a plane into the ocean near the coast of England. The fatal accident is determined by eye-witness accounts as related by members of an English Patrol Launch who saw a plane crash into the sea within a few miles of the English coast, the plane evidently having been the one on which Staff Sgt. Ahrens is reported to have been an occupant and which was on its way from America to England.

Private Rubin Althaus, age 37, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Althaus of Rheingold community, is reported by the Japanese Government, through the International Red Cross, to have died in a Japanese Prison Camp (Hoten Prisoner of war camp) at Munden Manchukuo (of acute entireties, after being transferred from the Philippine Islands.) Althaus was captured early in the war, shortly after Pearl Harbor, early in 1942, on Corregidor Island, in the Philippines. His last letter home was written shortly before that time. He had not been heard from since but was reported a prisoner of war by the American Red Cross some time last year. (June 1942)

Pvt. Althaus consequently becomes the seventh (or ninth - one paper has seventh and the other paper has ninth) Gillespie County service man to die in this World War II.

Pvt. Althaus was inducted into the U. S. Army on April 3, 1941.

He received his training at Camp Wallace, near Galveston, and at Fort Bliss, near El Paso. At the time he was taken prisoner he was fighting with a New Mexico Artillery unit. He had been sent overseas sometime in the fall of 1941.

Rubin was born at Cave Creek in Gillespie County in 1906, he secured his education in Gold school and was occupied as a stone crusher, for the Llano Mines, until his induction in the Army 1941. He was also confirmed at Cave Creek on April 9, 1922.

Exact date of the hero's death in the Japanese prison camp was not made known in the message received last Saturday from the War Department. However, this fact and other details may be made known in a letter which is to follow. (The letter from the War Department said he died December 4, 1942 it was sent by Robert H. Dumlays, Brigadier General, it made apologies for the delay in the death message.) Althaus had attained the age of 37 years, having been born December 2, 1906.

Surviving Pvt. Althaus are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Althaus; one grandmother, Mrs. Henry Herbort; four sisters and two brothers: Staff Sergeant Harvey Althaus who is in the U.S. Army and believed to be on his way "overseas" at this time; Lee Althaus who reside with his parents; Mrs. Gus (Nelda) Wahrmund of Rheingold, Mrs. Milton (Dora Lou) Ottmers, residing with her parents; Mrs. Herman (Lola) Klinksiek of the Grapetown community; and Miss Josephine Althaus, also residing at home. In addition a large host of relatives and friends mourn his patriotic sacrifice.

James V. Baethge volunteered for the Army and was inducted into the service on May 13, 1955. Reported to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, and from there was shipped to Ft. Ord, Ca. for first 8 weeks of basic training. He spent his second 8 weeks of training at Ft. Carson, Colorado Springs, Co. In October of 1955 was sent to Ft. Lewis in Tacoma, Wa. where he was readied for departure to Korea. He spent a month on the ocean and finally reached his destination-Inchon, Korea. He was assigned to Company F, 31st. Regiment APO 7 and was stationed near the 38th parallel. He went to Radio School and learned to be a radio operator. He was ordered to report to headquarter of the First Corp., which was headquarters for the entire Army operations in Korea. Was assigned to the General Mess, a unit which specialized in taking care of the Military Brass and important guests. He waited tables and made the guests comfortable. After 16 months in Korea, he returned by boat to Ft. Lewis an was Honorable Discharge on 2/20/1957. He returned home to Doss, Texas but was obligated to serve with the local reserves unit in Fredericksburg for the next 5 years. He was dismissed from the Reserves 5/12/1963, attaining the rank of Corporal.

Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Becker of Doss on Friday received a message from the War Department at Washington stating that their son, Private First Class Elgin E. Becker, had been killed inaction in France as of June 10, 1944. PFC. Becker is the first Gillespie County Casualty reported from the new invasion war zones established by the Allies in France since June 6.

The deceased war hero had attained the age of 28 years, 1 month and 25 days at the time of his death. He was born on April 25, 1926, in Fredericksburg. After attending school he assisted his parents on their farm and ranch until he was inducted into the army on March 16, 1942. His training was received at Fort Sam Houston, Camp Berkeley in Louisiana, Camp Granite, Calif. and Fort Dix, N.J , from where he was sent overseas to England in March of this year.

Surviving him are his father and mother, nee Cornelia Hoff and 11 brothers and sisters: Elizabeth, Mrs. Edgar Itz; Norma, Mrs. Louis Kraus; Malcolm Becker; Ruth Becker; Walten Becker( Stationed in the Hawaiian Islands); Dorothy Becker ( in Dallas); John Becker; Beatrice Becker; Almeta Becker; Vernell Becker; and one half-sister; Annida, Mrs. Bruno Jenschke; and a large number of friends.

Service # 38094781
358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division
Entered the Service from: Texas
Died: June 10, 1944
Buried at: Plot F Row 21 Grave 37
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Purple Heart
World War II Honor Roll

Master Sergeant Guenther Burrer was a member of Headquarters Company, 38th Infantry regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy in South Korea on February 12, 1951 and died while a prisoner on May 15, 1951. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Master Sergeant Burrer was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Sergeant Wilburn Dechert, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dechert, was killed in an accidental plane crash at South Hadley, Massachusetts, on Saturday just before midnight. Sgt, Dechert was one of a crew of ten men who were killed when a heavy 4 engine bomber crashed into the side of Mount Holyoke, near South Hadley, Mass. Sgt. Dechert was listed in the dispatch as having been an engineer, or crew chief, for the big plane. The crash is reported to have occurred a few minutes after the plane took off from Westover Field, Mass., on a routine night combat training mission. The tail of the plane is reported to have caught on a ledge between half house and the summit house on Mt. Holyoke.

Sgt. Dechert is survived by his wife, the former Miss Lillie Gerloff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Gerloff of Doss, whom he married on Aug. 30,1942, and a three and one-half months old baby son born Feb.16, 1944 at which time he was home on furlough. In addition, there survive his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dechert, one brother; Marvin Dechert of Kerrville; one sister: Lillie, Mrs. J. D. Crum; a grandmother, Mrs. Katie Patton of Cain City, numerous relatives and a host of friends who mourn his untimely departure.

The young man, who gave his life in the service of his Country, attended Fredericksburg High Scholl through the eighth grade. He then accepted work as a truck driver for the Cosden Oil Co. and at the time he went into the service, he was employed at Handy Andy here. He entered the U.S. Army Air Force on Feb. 2, 1943, and received his training at Keesler Field Mississippi; Tyndall Field, Florida and at Westover Field Mass., where he was stationed at the time of the fatal crash.

Pfc. Wilburn Durst, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Durst and husband of the former Miss Esther Kott, daughter of Mrs. Louis Kott, has been listed by the War Department as killed in action,somewhere in Belgium on January 18, 1945.

Pfc. Durst entered the army from San Antonio on March 14, 1944. He had been employed in the Alamo City for several years by the San Antonio Transit Company, driving one of their buses in the city.

After several months of training at Camp Blanding, Florida, he was at home in Fredericksburg for a short furlough the latter part of July. In August he left for overseas and was with the fighting forces on the front lines since last fall. He had previously been in France, then Germany, and at the time he has been reported as Killed in Action, he was somewhere in Belgium.

Deceased is survived by his wife, whom he married on Jan. 1, 1940, his parents, and a sister, Miss Myrtle Durst, of Fredericksburg. He is a graduate of Fredericksburg High School, class of 1934. He would have observed his 27th. birthday on Feb. 26, this month.

Pfc. Wilburn Durst is the 17th. Gillespie County man to have paid the supreme sacrifice while in the service of his Country during the present World War II.

Chester Ervay Evans, ARM 2/c, missing in action since Jan. 17, 1945 presumably met death following action on that day according to information received on Feb. 8, 1946 from the War Department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs S. B. Evans of Eckert community.

Chester was radioman and tail gunner on a Hellcat Dive Bomber with the Aircraft Service unit on the Carrier USS Lexington. On Jan. 17, 1945 the bomber he was aboard took off with twofighter planes in a long distance search flight in the South China Sea. The weather was diverse with high winds, low overcast and rain squalls. When the planes failed to return to the base all efforts were made to contact them. Some communications were established but even this was poor due to bad atmosphere conditions. The last time the team came on the air they were presumably near the Lingayen Gulf Area and precariously low on fuel. They were given instructions to proceed on to Lingayen in Luzon and land, this port being newly occupied by U. S. Troops.The plane acknowledged this message but never reached the port and was not seen nor heard from again to the present time. It is believed by Navy Department that the plane was forced to make a water landing and that Chester lost his life as a result thereof.

He volunteered for the Navy, on Oct. 26, 1942 and received his training in San Diego, San Francisco, Memphis, Pensacola, and North Island, Calif. before entraining for overseas service on April 12,1944 which happened to be his 21st. birthday.

On Nov. 12, 1945 the Distinguished Flying Cross and a citation was sent to his parents for heroic services and extraordinary achievement performed on Oct. 12, 1944 while flying on a bomber attack mission against an enemy Task Force near the Philippine Islands, the attack being made in face of fire from the main batteries of the heavy enemy units and an intense barrage of anticraft fire of all calibers. his courage was inspiring and his coolness and skill were of great assistance and materially aided in the success of the attack which resulted in great damage to enemy ships.

Chester was born in Eckert community on April 12, 1923, attended the rural school at this place and completed High School at F. H. S. in 1941. He united with the Methodist Church at Willow City in Sept. 1935. At the time of his enlistment he was employed with the Fehr Maid Baking Co. in San Antonio. His reported death would place his age at that time as 21 years, 9 months and 5 days.

Immediate survivors include, in addition to his parents, his sister Sidney Mae, and brother, Melvin.

The War Department at Washington notified Mr. and Mrs. Emil Frantzen their son, Pfc. Andrew R. Frantzen, had been killed in action in the Southwest Pacific area on July 30th 1943. Frantzen age 24, is the first officially reported 2nd World War casualty of Gillespie County to have died in overseas combat duty. Andrew was inducted into the army at Fort Sam Houston on July 9th, 1941 and received training at Camp Wolters, Texas, Camp Shelby, Mass., at Indiantown Gap, PA., and prior to his transfer overseas on May 10th. 1942 and since that time is believed to have been in the Southwest Pacific area, presumably in the Solomon Islands, where fighting has been in progress between American and Jap forces this summer.

The deceased soldier was born Nov. 24, 1918 at Fredericksburg. At the time he died for his Country he had attained the age of 24 years, 8 months, and 6 days. He was baptized and confirmed at Fredericksburg by Rev. Konzak. He attended school at Lower South Grape Creek and after leaving school assisted his parents on the farm. On May 24, 1942 he left the States and was stationed for about a year in the Fiji Islands. Since then he was in active service in the Pacific war area where he made the supreme sacrifice for his Country. Surviving are his grief stricken parents, three sisters and one brother: Elise, Mrs. Frank Oatman, Clifton E. Frantzen, Elenora, Mrs. Eddie Pressler, and Miss Paula Frantzen, and Other relatives.

For destroying an enemy machine gun and crew, Pfc. Andrew R. Frantzen, Route 1, Fredericksburg, Tex. has been awarded the Bronze star Medal posthumously. The medal was presented to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Frantzen by Brig. Gen. Charles K. Nulsen at Fort Sam Houston Thursday, December 14, 1944. Private Frantzen, 24 years old, was killed in action in the Southwest Pacific July 30,1943. The Purple Heart Medal has been received by his parents.

"Private First Class Frantzen stood up, undaunted by enemy fire and destroyed an enemy machine gun and crew. this prompt act prevented the enemy from inflicting serious casualties on our troops," the citation accompanying the medal reads. "In heroically disregarding his own personal safety in the face of enemy fire, he displayed outstanding courage, initiative and gallantry," the citation says. PFC. Frantzen joined the Army July 9, 1941 at Dodd Field. he trained and went overseas with the 37th. Infantry Division.

A brother, Clifton E., 22 years old, is in the Navy. Sisters are Mrs. Frank Oatman, Kerrville; Mrs. Eddie Pressler, Boerne, and Miss Paula Olga Frantzen of Fredericksburg.

Sergeant Edwin Eddie Grienke was a member of the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on September 9, 1950.

Sergeant Grienke was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Craig David Hannum, 24 of Kyle and Fredericksburg, died Monday, May 31, 2010, in San Diego, Ca. as a result of a house fire.

Graveside services with full military honors and interment followed in the Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery at Cherry Spring.

Hannum was born June 7, 1985, in Corpus Christi, the son of Glenn Hannum and Carol Seat Hannum. He was a 2003 FHS graduate. Enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served active duty in Okinawa, Iraq, Korea and San Diego. He achieved the rank of Sergeant, and was a data network specialist, receiving numerous awards and citations for his service.

At the time of his death Hannum was in the Marine Corps Reserve (inactive), completing his eight-year commitment to the Corps. After leaving active duty, he moved to Kyle and was employed by Pedernales Electric Cooperative.

Hannum is survived by his father, Glenn and stepmother Margaret Hannum of Cherry Spring, and his mother Carol Seat of Angleton; one sister Kristy Hannum of Plano; also survivors include his grandparents, Frank Hannum of Cherry Spring and Gale and Grace Seat of Angleton.

Hannum was precede in death by his grandmother, Helen Hannum.

John Heinsohn, born in New York City on Sept. 27, 1968, rose to become a dedicated father and a decorated officer in the Unites States Merchant Marine,. he passed away April 27, 2010.

He was the adopted and adored son of Irene W. Konrad and John P. Heinsohn, and later the much loved stepson of Joseph Fuerst. He attended the East Williston schools on Long Island, and grew up in New Hyde Park graduating with honors from Chaminade High School in 1986.

A 1990 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at kings Point, He immediately sailed into the dangerous waters of the Persian Gulf, as third and second mate aboard the Cape Florida and Cape Rise in the first Gulf War known as Operation Desert Storm. He served with distinction as a skilled professional mariner.

He came to Fredericksburg in 2004 to help care for his aging mother and stayed by her bedside until death. He continued to care and live on his family estate.

He is survived by his father, his dedicated partner, Julee and his adorable girls, Jolee, Keilee, and Hannah.

Lt. Joseph Jenschke, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Jenschke, of the Luckenbach community, was killed in an accidental plane crash while on a routine training flight from Barksdale Field, La., on Monday, October 23, according to a message received by his parents Monday night. The plane in which Lt. Jenschke was a crew member is reported to have crashed about 50 miles north of Barksdale Field at Canfield, Arkansas.

Lt. Jenschke is Gillespie County's 20th. World War II casualty's, these including men killed while in action or while in training, four casualties reported "missing in action" and two prisoners of war.

1st. Lt. Ben C. Speer of the Barksdale Army Air Field, will accompany the remains to Fredericksburg and will attend the funeral here. The body was being sent via the Southern Pacific railroad and was scheduled to arrive in San Antonio Wednesday afternoon at 3:35 p.m. from where Schaetter Funeral Home were to take the remains to Fredericksburg.

The young man attained his 22nd. birthday on July 12, 1944, having volunteered his services in the Army Air Corps on October 21, 1943, at Brook Field. He received training as mechanic in Mississippi, Sheppard Field, Texas and in Oklahoma from where he was sent to Ellington Field, near Houston, where he received navigation training. Later he received his Gunners' Wings at the Laredo Army Air Field and on Sept. 2, 1944( only six weeks ago) he received his Bombardier Wings at the Big Springs Army Air Base where he was also commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. following his graduation at Big Springs he came home to spend four days with his parents, friends, relatives.

Lt. Jenschke reported to the Barksdale Field in Louisiana for further training in the B-26 two-motored bomber, considered one of the fastest planes in the air forces. Details of the crash which caused his sudden death had not been received at time of this writing.

Lt. Jenschke attended the Luckenbach and Stonewall community schools and took his senior year of high school training in Fredericksburg where he graduated and received his diploma in 1940. He continued to assist his parents on their farm in the Luckenbach area up until the time he volunteered in the Air Force.

Surviving the young flying officer are his parents, two brothers, Alfons and Lawrence Jenschke, both of San Antonio, and two sisters; Elsie, Mrs. Wolfgang Weinheimer, and Ida, Mrs. Henry Pfeiffer, both of Fredericksburg, and his grandmother, Mrs. Peter Nebgen, as well as a host of other relatives and friends who mourn his early departure from this life and his supreme sacrifice for the country he loved.

The U.S. War Department on Friday evening notified Mrs. Emma Alexander that her son, PFC. Willie Johanson, U.S. Marines, lost his life on October 24, 1944, when the Jap ship on which he was being removed from a prison camp in the Philippines, presumably enroute to Japan, was sunk. The telegram further stated that Pfc. Johanson "is carried on the rolls of the Marine Corps as having been killed in action, in the performance of his duty and service of his country." The message was signed by A. A. Vandegrift, General U.S.M.C. commandant of the Marine Corps.

Pfc. Johanson was taken prisoner in the Philippines when Manila fell to the Japs. A cablegram to this effect was received by the mother on May 12, 1942, informing her that her son had been taken a prisoner and that he was performing his duty in Manila Bay area at that time. The Red Cross later announced that he was a prisoner of war in the Philippine Islands. Four cards were received from him during his more than two and one-half years of imprisonment in each of which he wrote that his health was fair.

The young Marine was born on May 9, 1920, in Llano County, the son of Pete Johanson (who died in the Willow City community on March 5, 1929), and Mrs. Emma Johanson Alexander. He attended and completed the Willow City rural community school and in May, 1938 he volunteered in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following his training at San Diego, he was stationed at that base until March 27,1940, when he left for China, via Honolulu, Guam, and Manila. He arrived in China on May 1, 1940 and was stationed at Shanghai. In June 1940 he visited Chingwangtao and Pieping, returning to Shanghai in July of that year. Later, he was transferred to the Philippines where he remained until he was captured by the Japs. His last letter was received in November, 1941, not very long before Pearl Harbor.

Surviving the young Marine who sacrificed his life for the sake of his Country, and who is now listed as the 28th Gillespie County World War II dead, are his mother, Mrs. E. Alexander of the Willow City community, four brothers and six sisters: T/Sgt. Lonnie Johanson, now back in this country in Missouri; Roberta, Mrs. V. L. Rossi of Corpus Christi; Margie, Mrs. B.N. Myers of San Antonio; Sgt. Marrel Johanson, with the U. S. forces in China; Ozella Johanson of Ft. Worth; Pvt. Nathan Johanson, overseas, address unknown; and Myrtle Johanson of San Antonio. [omitted were Albert, Vera and Wilma].

Lt. (J.G.) Karl Kappus, 27, son of Mrs. Hedwig A. Kappus of San Antonio and grandson of Mrs. George Eberle of Fredericksburg, has been listed as dead by Navy Department. (Son of Adolph Charles Kappus who died ( Jun 1927 Bexar Co. Tx. and Hedwig A. Eberle Kappus who died 5 Apr 1986 Bexar Co. Tx. They were married 9 Nov 1916 Gillespie; both buried in St. Mary's Cemetery Fredericksburg)

He had been reported missing in action by the Navy on December 18, 1944 when his ship cap sized during the Pacific typhoon of that date. The missing message was received by his mother on January 7, 1945.

Lt. Kappus entered the Navy in 1942 while employed by the U. S. Treasury Department in Houston, and received his training and was commissioned at the Notre Dame University Midshipman School, South Bend, Ind.

He had been on active sea duty in the Pacific since March 1943, and was a veteran of the Wake, Saipan, Marshall and Marians Islands Operations. He last visited his grandmother here in September 1944.

Lt. Kappus attended school in San Antonio, later attended St. Mary's school here and was a graduated from Fredericksburg High School with the class of 1935, living with his grandmother while attending local schools.

He was a star tackle and letterman on the Hillbilly football teams of 1934 and 1935; participated in track and baseball; was a member of the Future Farmers of America and the Dramatic Club.

He was a member of St. Mary's University, San Antonio, football team, an honor graduate of the University and a member of the Delta Epsilon Sigma and Phi Chi fraternities.

In Addition to hid mother, Lt. Kappus is survived by a brother, Lt. (J.G.) George A. Kappus, who is now home on leave after service in European area, a sister, Mrs. John Allen of San Antonio; his grandmother Mrs. George Eberle of here, and many other local relatives.