Born: 14 Feb 1821 Died: 20 Jan 1875 Service: Mexican War Co. C 2d Dragoons Burial:Der Stadt Friedhof Plot: B, 13, 02
Pfiester, Walter Benno, Sr.
Born: 6 Mar 1918 Died: 2 Mar 1990 Service: Cpl. U.S. Army WW II 194th Field Artillery in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany; served 15 Nov 1941 - 1945; 400 days in front line combat Burial:Der Stadt Friedhof Plot: J, 02, 03
Michael Pfister enlisted Nov. 21, 1844, at New Orleans, La, and was assigned to Co. C 2d Dragoons. Transferred to Band, 2d Dragoons Aug. 30, 1845. Discharged Nov. 20, 1849, at Austin, Texas by reason of expiration of term of service, a private. Stations of the soldier from Nov. 21, 1844 to Nov. 20, 1849, as follows: Enlisted at New Orleans, La & joined Co. Nov. or Dec. 1844, at Fort Jesup, La. and remained at Fort Jesup, La. to July 25, 1845. Enroute to at Corpus Christi, Texas from July 25, 1845, to March 8, '45. Enroute to and at Camp near Matamoras from March 8, '45 to Jul 27, '46. Enroute to and at Camp Butler, Mexico from July 27, '46, to Sept or Oct. '46 & remained in Mexico to January 27, 1847. Brazos Station, Texas January 27, '47, to March, '47. In Mexico March, '47, to July or Aug. '48. Pascagoula, Miss. July or Aug '48 to Dec. '48. Enroute to and at Austin, Texas Dec. '48, to Nov. 20, 1949.
Cpl. Walter Pfiester Gets Star For Major Battle Action In Italy
Cpl. Walter Pfiester in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Pfiester, this week wrote that he had been awarded a little golden star for his first major battle. Got it about a month ago, we were on the front about ten weeks when we received them.
I am living in an old shot down house- hardly anything left of it but makes a good place to hide.
I get the Standard regularly, receiving two every other week .I really look forward to them.
I hear we are going to get some cokes in our rations the next time I think three for every man, which will be the first we've tasted since we left the state.
Ship's Service Officer from October 19, 1943 to September 23, 1946
Phelps, Stanley Edward
Born: 14 Oct 1931 Died: 1 Jul 2011 Service: SSGT U.S. Air Force Korea Burial:Harper Community Cemetery
Phelps, William Page
Born: 20 Jun 1918 Died: 5 Dec 1986 Service: Lieutenant, US Naval Reserve, WW II served 19 Aug 1941 - 21 Nov 1945 Burial:Not stated / Unknown
Phillips, Ira Bennett, Jr.
Born: 5 Jun 1917 Died: 13 Mar 1973 Service: U.S. Navy Seabee WW II Pacific; Purple Heart Burial:Greenwood Cemetery Plot: 1 005 002
Flew pioneering night operations with squadron VT(n) - 41
aboard the USS Independence CVL- 22
Born: 24 Nov 1928 Died: 20 Nov 2014 Service: U.S. Army Korean Conflict, served 1950 - 1951 Burial:Not stated / Unknown
Gillespie GI Stevedore Helps Set Records
AFGH, Mediterranean Theater-- Sgt. John Phillips, son of Mrs. G. Phillips of Route 1, Fredericksburg is one of the GI stevedores of the U. S. Army port battalion in North Africa who hold the fate of a ship and its troops in their hands. The manner of loading and disposition of equipment on both freighters and troop ships is the responsibility of these soldiers.
If the cargo of a ship should shift when at sea, it is doomed. Gasoline, shells, wheat and flour--- all have to be loaded in a special manner to insure security from explosions or combustion. That is why the work of this battalion is one calling for care and knowledge.
These GI stevedores are specialists and technicians. They have all attended schools fitting them for their jobs. Formed in December 1942, the battalion learned its job from A to Z, in the words of Captain Sheldon C. Fullerton of East Cleveland, Ohio, battalion adjutant. They had practical training in their work at Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation loading, discharging and storing until May 1943, when they came overseas to North Africa.
At their overseas port they immediately started to function and have loaded and discharged thousands of tons since that time. They have tactically loading ships mounting out of this port for the invasion of Sicily and Italy.
The men work in sections of 21 soldiers, consisting of a non-commissioned officer as leader, watchmen, signalmen, and workers who handle the slings and grappling irons. Lieutenant Col. John E. Marriatt of Savannah, Georgia says of them "the men are real experts in their line and know all the tricks of the stevedore and a few of their own. They know how to use a pulley here and there to get added purchase and strength out of a boom and it is a revelation to see them handle those big five and ten ton booms as if they were playing with blocks."
Although working at the port all day, and even at night when needed, the personal of this outfit have built one of the most attractive camps in the area for themselves. Starting from scratch, they have created a modern tent city with landscaping, concrete floors, wiring water and sewerage facilities. They have a recreation building built of scrap lumber from the port which they highly prize. When the port traffics heavy, these GI stevedores are on the quays night and day loading and discharging vessels in record time.
Phillips, Maxine Emily (Evans)
Born: 23 May 1919 Died: 25 Nov 1988 Service: WW II Women Army Corps Burial:Willow City Plot: B, Row 06
Phillips, Paul, Jr., DVM
Born: 22 Dec 1922 Died: 29 Mar 2002 Service: SSgt. U.S. Army Air Corps WW II; enlisted 28 Oct 1942 Burial:Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery Plot: section 11 site 585
Phillips, Willard Weldon "Weldon"
Born: 24 Jun 1923 Died: 24 Nov 2001 Service: TEC 5 U.S. Army WW II, enlisted 5 Mar 1942; Purple Heart Burial:Lakeland Hills Memorial Cemetery
Gillespie WAC
Aux. Maxine E. Medlock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Evans, who is a member of the Women's Army Corps and is stationed at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. She received her training at Des Moines, Iowa and served for 8 weeks in Louisiana. Her husband, Aubra Medlock, is a First Class Seaman with Uncle Sam's Navy.
Phillips was a member of the Tuskegee Air Corps.
Pvt. Willard W. Phillips, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lesley Phillips, has reported for overseas duty. Pvt. Phillips enlisted on 3/5/1942 in San Antonio, Texas. After training at several camps he is now ready to deploy overseas. He told his parents that is about all he can tell them "overseas".
Pickens, Marvin Oscar
Born: 9 Nov 1924 Died: 11 Jul 2009 Service: U.S. Navy WW II; enlisted 1942 Burial:Garden of Memories
Pickett, Cassius Lysander
Born: 13 May 1847 Died: 16 Jun 1921 Service: Pvt. U.S. Army Company D, 93rd Regiment Indiana Infantry Civil War POW Burial:Woodland Memorial Park Cemetery
Pickett, Rubin Appleby
Born: 7 Oct 1919 Died: 1 Aug 1988 Service: SC 3 U.S. Navy WW II Burial:Hunt Japonica Cemetery
From 1890 Veterans Schedule for Gillespie County Texas District 3:
Name: Cassins (Cassius) Pickett, Rank Pvt. Comp. D Reg. 93 Ind. Vol. */1862–6/1865 Fredericksburg Tx. prisoner at Andersonville 10 months 18 days
Database 1890 Veteran Schedule Civil War:
Union / Comp. D Regiment 93
Infantry Private
Born: abt 1846
Age: 18
Enrollment date: 8/20/1862 Madison Indiana
Discharge 6/16/1862
Prisoner of War Records 1861-1865 Pickett Cassius L. / prisoner confined @ Andersonville, Ga. 1864-1865
Member of U.S. Navy
Rubin A. Pickett, age 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Pickett, of Harper, is a member of the U.S. Navy and believed to be in Pacific waters in the war against Japan. Rubin attended Bryan Consolidated School and Fredericksburg High School. On June13th 1941, he joined the Navy at the Houston Naval Recruiting Station. He is believed to be on the U.S.S. Gregory.
Pieper, Edward August
Born: 26 Apr 1934 Died: 10 Apr 1993 Service: U.S. Navy Burial:Garden of Memories
Pieper, Gerald Frederick "Gary"
Born: 16 Sep 1938 Died: 23 Jul 1969 Service: U.S. Navy TX FN; served 6 Apr 1956 - 23 Sep 1959 Burial:Garden of Memories
Pierce, John Ray
Born: 21 Jul 1923 Died: 6 Nov 2013 Service: TEC 4 U.S. Army WW II; served 5 Mar 1942 - 24 Feb 1946 Burial:Lakeland Hills Memorial Cemetery
Pieslak, Frank
Born: 5 Dec 1934 Died: 31 Jul 2019 Service: U.S. Navy Korean War Burial:St. Barnabas Columbarium
Born: 5 Jan 1924 Died: 10 Jan 1945 Service: PVT U.S. Army Air Corps WW II, Died on active duty; DNB (died non-battle) Burial:Greenwood Cemetery Plot: 303 SWQ
Podoll, William G.
Born: 7 Feb 1925 Died: 11 Jan 1990 Service: COL U.S. Air Force WW II / Korea / Vietnam Burial:Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery Plot: Section 16 site 1719
Pluenneke was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (US Army) in the field artillery. He served in the 273rd field artillery battalion in New Ulm, Bavaria, Germany until late 1955. After being released in 1955, he served in the Army Reserves until 1958.
Podoll servied in the Navy for four years and in the U.S. Air Force for 25 years and six months. He was stationed on Okinawa during World War II and in South Korea, Vietnam, England and throughout the United States. He retired in 1973 with the rank of Colonel, as as Director of Operations at Norton AFB, California.
He flew 119 combat missions in 253 combat flying hours in RF4-C jets, and held the following awards and decorations: Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Battle Stars; United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Battle Star, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Korean Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Pohler, Edward August "Eddie"
Born: 13 Oct 1901 Died: 18 Jan 1986 Service: WW I, U.S. Army WW II, enlisted 17 Sep 1942 Burial:Der Stadt Friedhof Plot: H, 05, 01
Born: 13 Aug 1928 Died: 15 Feb 2020 Service: U.S. Navy; served Jun 1952 - Jun 1956 Burial:Greenwood Cemetery
He was a veteran of the Korean War, receiving, Combat Infantryman badge, the Sygman Rhee citation, the
President citation, the United Nations Service Ribbon, Korean Campaign Ribbon with two battle stars and the Bronze Star.
Pooser, Raphael Alan
Born: 15 Jun 1938 Died: 11 Jan 2017 Service: HM2 U.S. Coast Guard Burial:Hobson Cemetery
Porterfield, Jack Roland
Born: 15 Feb 1937 Died: 20 Mar 2021 Service: U.S. Air Force; served 29 years from 1959 - ?; served 20 years Burial:Wilke Family Cemetery
Porterfield, James Dale
Born: 23 Feb 1942 Died: 2 Mar 2001 Service: Veteran; served 7 Jul 1959 - 31 Jul 1979 Burial:Harper Community Cemetery
Potter, Kenneth Frank
Born: 21 Jul 1923 Died: 9 Nov 2016 Service: U.S. Army Air Corp; Sr. Master Sergeant U.S. Air Force (Ret) WW II Korea Vietnam; retired 31 Jul 1964 Burial:Der Stadt Friedhof Plot: H, 18, 07
Powell, Earl Joe
Born: 3 Mar 1901 Died: 13 Sep 1981 Service: PVT U.S. Army WW I Burial:Greenwood Cemetery Plot: 6 005 066
Powell, Harry Alvin
Born: 19 Sep 1924 Died: 4 Oct 2004 Service: Sgt. U.S. Air Force WW II Burial:Nichols Cemetery
In Italy
Pfc. Harry Powell, son of Mrs. Sophie Baethge Powell of Kerrville, who is a truck driver in a 12th Air Force Service Command trucking company which is servicing a P-47 Thunderbolt group now flying with the Desert Air Force on the Adriatic side of Italy.
After WWII, Harry stayed in the reserves and when Korea came along he was recalled and served one year at Hensley Field, Dallas, serving in the honor guard.
Powers, James Weldon "Jimmie"
Born: 28 Dec 1910 Died: 11 May 1990 Service: WW II; served three years in Philippines Burial:St. Mary's Garden Cemetery Plot: SMG I 01 003 C
Prater, John Richard "Dick"
Born: 14 Apr 1934 Died: 4 Oct 2012 Service: U.S. Army; served 1956-1958, Army Reserves until 1962 Burial:Houston National Cemetery
Prause, Lawrence Herbert
Born: 1 Oct 1931 Died: 29 Nov 1979 Service: Veteran Korean War; served 29 Aug 1951 - 28 Aug 1955 Burial:Greenwood Cemetery Plot: 6 005 026
Preas, Orville Francis
Born: 31 Dec 1916 Died: 9 Jun 1952 Service: CM 2 U.S. Navy WW II Burial:Trinity Lutheran Plot: N 06 16
Pressler, Arthur Harold
Born: 3 May 1921 Died: 25 Nov 1997 Service: 2nd LT U.S. Army Air Corps WW II, enlisted 4 Nov 1942 Burial:Greenwood Cemetery Plot: 7 014 019
Pressler, Eugene Edward
Born: 7 Aug 1893 Died: 28 Nov 1990 Service: U.S. Army WW I; discharged 4 Apr 1919 Burial:San Jose Burial Park
Gillespians Stationed At Oklahoma Air Field
Enid army Air Field, Oklahoma - Recent arrivals here for the nine-week basic flying course included Aviation Cadets: Robert F. Petermann 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Petermann and Arthur H. Pressler, son of K. F. Pressler.
Before coming to the Enid Army Air Field, they finished the primary flying training course. After completing basic flight training here, they will go to other air fields of the Army Air Force Training Command for advanced instructions.
Get Pilots Wings
Three Gillespians were commissioned Second Lieutenant in exercises at airfields in Oklahoma and Texas on June 27.
Lt. Robert Frank Petermann son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Petermann and 2nd. Lt. Arthur Harold Pressler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Pressler were graduated in impassive graduation ceremonies at the Frederick Army Air Field, Oklahoma, as bomber pilots.
2nd. Lt. Guenther Luckenbach, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Luckenbach, was graduated as a bomber pilot at the Lubbock Army Air Field, Lubbock Texas.
All three newly commissioned officers visited their parents and other relatives after graduation.
Source: Master Index of Veterans at the Gillespie Co. Courthouse, Book 1, p. 84
Pressler, Hilmar August
Born: 23 Jan 1919 Died: 4 Jan 2007 Service: WW II Burial:Garden of Memories
Pressler, Paul Carl, Jr.
Born: 25 Jun 1919 Died: 2 Dec 1987 Service: mechanic S SGT U.S. Army Air Corp WW II; enlisted 26 Jan 1942, four years service Burial:Resthaven Cemetery
Pressler, Ralph Reubin
Born: 5 May 1914 Died: 21 Aug 1995 Service: U.S. Army Air Corp WW II; U.S. Air Force Korea Burial:Stockdale Cemetery
Paul Pressler Jr. In Fighter Group Cited In Italy
AT A Advanced Italian Airbase- Paul C. Pressler, Jr. , son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pressler of here, is among the personnel of the 350th. Fighter-Group, which has just been cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations.
The award of the streamer of a Distinguished Unit was made by Major General John K. Cannon. In company with the Group Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ariel W. Nielsen, Berkeley, California, and at the presence the officers and men of the Group drawn up in parade formation, General Cannon advanced to the Group's color guard and affixed the Distinguished Unit Streamer to the Group 's regimental colors.
The Group, which was formed in Great Britain in 1942, has been overseas for two years, and has taken part in every campaign in the Mediterranean Theatre. The citation read "The 350th. Fighter Group performed above and beyond the call of duty in rendering, unique and heroic service."
Lt. Ralph R. Pressler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Pressler who is serving with the US Army Air Force is stationed overseas. Pressler had been flying planes before he entered the service.
Ralph Pressler is Squadron Commander of the Civil Air Patrol at Kelly. [San Antonio Express Sept. 9, 1946]
At the time of death of Ralph's father, Kurt Pressler, of Fredericksburg, Ralph was in Korea with the Armed Forces. [Kerrville Times April 1952]
Pressler, Reubin Adolph
Born: 3 Sep 1921 Died: 24 Nov 1979 Service: U.S. Army WW II; enlisted 15 Jul 1942 Burial:Tool Cemetery
Preston, Donald Alan "Don"
Born: 5 Jun 1926 Died: 21 Dec 1999 Service: CPL U.S. Marine Corps WW II Burial:Kingston City Cemetery
Preston, Robert Harold "Harold"
Born: 6 Dec 1935 Died: 7 Jul 2019 Service: U.S. Army Korea Burial:Not stated / Unknown
Don joined the US Marines at a very young age -- as young as it was possible to do so -- and towards the end of World War II was in the Pacific theater, and in China. He was called upon to typeset the surrender document of the Japanese to the Americans in September, 1945 and had in his possession the only unsigned copy in existence. He was also part of the team of American military who oversaw the surrender of Japanese troops in northern China.
Preston served briefly on the South Korean side of the DMZ.
Price, Alvin Franklin
Born: 4 Nov 1917 Died: 5 Jun 2003 Service: U.S. Army Air Corps WW II; enlisted 5 Jul 1940 Burial:Sunset Memorial Park
Staff Sgt. Alvin F. Price, son of Mr. and Mrs. Luther F. Price of here, who has been serving with the US Army Air Corps, was here with his wife for a visit.
Staff Sgt. Thomas D. Price, son of Mr. and Mrs. Luther F. Price of here, who has been serving with the US Army Air Corps, was here for a visit this past week.
Price got the ships ready for service. "Ship outfitting, final completion, commissioning, and then he decommission the ships and put them in mothballs at the end of the war."
Priddy, Oscar Truitt, Jr.
Born: 21 Apr 1899 Died: 29 Nov 1979 Service: U. S. Navy WW I Burial:Memorial Park Cemetery
Priess, Alex Henry
Born: 25 Dec 1891 Died: 9 Jun 1972 Service: Pvt U.S. Army WW I; discharged 16 Apr 1919 Burial:Der Stadt Friedhof Plot: M, 06, 13
Priess, Charles F.
Born: 17 Nov 1848 Died: 24 May 1900 Service: Pvt.-Frontier Forces Burial:Der Stadt Friedhof Plot: D, 05, 01
Source: Master Index of Veterans at the Gillespie Co. Courthouse, Book 1 p. 237
Born: 15 Oct 1895 Died: 27 Jun 1950 Service: Pvt Co. D 9 MTR supply TN QMC WW I; served 27 Jun 1918 - 18 Feb 1919 Burial:Der Stadt Friedhof Plot: G, 23, 25
Priess, Edmund A.
Born: 23 Jan 1891 Died: 21 Nov 1959 Service: Sgt. U.S. Army Camp Veterinary Detachment Co. WW I; served 13 Sep 1918 - 21 Dec 1918 Burial:Greenwood Cemetery Plot: 205 SWQ
Source: Master Index of Veterans at the Gillespie Co. Courthouse, Book 1 p. 227
