1941

Summer 1941, "Orville Cooper's built a barn this summer." [Fern's diary]

24 Nov 1941, LeMars Globe-Post::

WITT RITES ARE HELD MONDAY
Mrs. August Witt Died Friday at Sacred Heart Hospital

Mrs. August Witt, a well known resident of the community passed away at the Sacred Heart Hospital Friday (November 21, 1941) following a brief sickness. She was 66 years old.

Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon at two o'clock from Mauer's funeral home with Rev. S. A. Jones officiating. Interment was in the city cemetery under the direction of Mauer's funeral home.

Nellie Ewin was born at Rutland, Illinois, Nov 8, 1875. She moved with her parents 51 years ago from Sterling, Colo., to Seney, Iowa and in 1892 was united in marriage to August Witt. To this union two children were born; a daughter, Minnie, who died at the age of 21 and a son, Lester, who resides in LeMars.

She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, August Witt, her son, Lester, one grandson, Eldred Morrissey and two great grand children, all of Mt. Vernon; two sisters, Mrs. Ralph Obermire and Mrs. Iona Clark, both of LeMars; three brothers, Wm. A. of Austin Minn, Arthur H. of Des Moines, and Charles E. of LeMars. One brother, Albert, preceded her in death.

Mrs Witt was a loving wife, mother and neighbor and was a member of the Methodist Church and the Happy Hour club.

1943

19 Mar 1943, Pvt. Vernon Ewin, 501 7th Ave,. S.W., LeMars, Iowa, age 19. Entered on March 19, 1943, Co. I, 311th Infantry, Camp Butner, North Carolina, 78th Fighting Division of the Second United States Army. "I entered the army the 19th of March 1943. Got in the Infantry at Camp Butner, N.C. I made marks man with the M-1 rifle and sharpshooter with the machine gun. The different weapons we have is the 60 mm mortar, machine gun, M-1 rifles, 45 caliber pistol, 30 caliber carbine rifle. My platoon leader is Lt. Pochastaitus; Platoon Sargeant is S/Sgt Harmon. I am the first ammunition bearer in the 2nd squad of the machine gun section." [Vernon's writings]

23 Mar 1943, From the LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, Page 1, Column 4:

More Men Leave Friday For Army

Were Accepted For Service Week Earlier

Twenty-four Plymouth county young men who were accepted for army service March 12 left Friday by bus for Fort Crook , Nebraska , to start their military service. Six men who had been accepted for the navy and marines at the time these men were examined report as called for those branches and some were already in service. The group leaving Friday included the following:

Raymond E. Fredricksen , Akron

Edward M. Marso , LeMars

Errol L. McCarty , Sioux Falls, S. D.

Harley R. Hiemstra , Philadelphia , Pa.

Arthur G. Kellen , LeMars

John L. Conover , LeMars

Ronald J. Meyers , Herrold

Henry W. Ommen , LeMars

Clarence J. Miller , Merrill

Daniel E. Raub , Portland , Ore.

Virgil E. Campbell , Sioux City

Richard E. Albert , LeMars

Robert E. Keene , Remsen

Virgil L. Knorr , LeMars

Roman L. Kosse , Remsen

Ross H. King , LeMars

Robert J. Glaser , LeMars

James C. Miller , Jr. , Merrill

Carroll S. Davis , Everett , Wash.

Elwyn D. Woodley, Seattle , Wash.

Anselm N. Scholer , Remsen

Vernon C. Ewin , LeMars

Arden W. Reemts, Sioux City

Kenneth W. Schweitzberger , Kingsley

New orders received by the selective service board restrict release for publication of men called during any quota period and names of men cannot be given out by the board until they have been accepted for service. Dates of induction, induction center and mode of travel are also considered secret military information.

18 Jun 1943, LeMars Sentinel:

Mother of Rev. S. A. Jones Dies In Texas

Word was received of the death of Mrs. Annie Jones, 82, who died Wednesday evening in Abilene, Texas. Mrs. Jones was the mother of Rev. S.A. Jones and made her home with him for two years. She left here in the summer of 1942 to live in Texas. She is survived by two daughters and two sons. Rev. Jones left Tuesday morning to be with his mother, but arrived in Abilene after her death.

25 Jun 1943

PASTOR ATTENDS LAST RITES AT STITH, TEXAS
Rev. S. A. Jones, pastor of the First Baptist church, returned Tuesday from Merkel, Texas, where he was called by the death of his mother, Mrs. Annie Jones.

Mrs. Jones made her home here for two years and became well known to a number of LeMars people.

The funeral services were held June 18 at the Stith Baptist church.

Annie Rebecca Reams was born August 21, 1860, in Tallapoosa county, Alabama, and was married to Rev. J. L. Jones.  He died in 1898 and with her family she settled near DeLeon, Comanche county, Texas.  She is survived by two sons and two daughters, Rev. S. A. Jones, LeMars; Fletcher Jones, Stith; Mrs. M. B. Watson, of Tye; and Mrs. R. H. Carr, of Angleton; fifteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

3 - 7 Jul 1943, "We went on a trip up to Beckley, West Virginia, on July 3rd and put on a parade on July 5th and returned to camp on July 7th. We stopped at Mount Airy on the way up and on the way back and slept in the County Fair barns and in Beckley we slept in the armory and incidently we slept on the floor. Nice beds, I thought." [Vernon's writings]

11 Jul 1943, "On July 11th I fired the carbine rifle for record and I made a score of 164 out of a possible 200. Sharpshooter. I am now Assistant Gunner in the 2nd Machine Gun Squad." [Vernon's writings]

02 Aug 1943, LeMars Globe-Post: 

Pvt. Vernon Ewin is spending his 13-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin. Pvt. Ewin has been stationed at Camp Butner, N. C.

21 -29 Dec 1943, LeMars Sentinel: Vernon Ewin, now stationed at Camp Butner, N.C., arrived on Thursday for a short visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin. On Christmas Day Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin entertained Rev. and Mrs. S.A. Jones and daughter, Irene, and Vernon Ewin of Camp Butner, N.C.. At a dinner on Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Ewin had as their dinner guests, Richard Albert, Irene Jones and their son, Vernon. Later in the day Vernon left for Camp Butner to rejoin his unit.

28 Dec 1943, LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel:

Pvt. Vernon Ewin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin spent the Christmas holidays here. He arrived last Thursday and left Sunday night. He is in the 311th Infantry at Camp Butner, North Carolina.

1944

Early 1944, LeMars Sentinel:After about a month of anxious waiting, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin have received a letter from their son, Pvt. Vernon Ewin saying that he has arrived in a north African port, and that he has had a pleasant trip over.

16 Feb 1944, "The Anzio beach head, I was there after Feb. 16th, 1944." [Vernon's writings]

21 Mar 1944, LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel:

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin have received word from their son, Pvt. Vernon Ewin, that he has arrived at a port in North Africa.

13 Apr 1944, LeMars Globe-Post:

The Chas. Ewin family had a letter from their son, Vernon Ewin, writing on March 20. In the letter he wrote that he is now stationed on the Anzio beachhead. He also wrote that he had been assigned to the same company as Gene Keihn, but he hadn’t seen Gene. Gene Keihn was reported missing on March 16.

24 Jul 1944, LeMars Globe-Post:

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin received word from their son, Cpl. Vernon Ewin, that he was operated on about 2:30 o’clock in the morning on July 8. He was feeling fine but homesick when he wrote. The last word from him prior to this letter, told them that he was near Rome. [Family note by transcriber: Vernon underwent a successful appendicitis operation.]

15 Aug 1944, "And I did land in southern France on Aug. 15th, 1944. And we walked about every inch of that 70 miles. I was part of the 3rd bat. 157th reg. Co. L of that Bat." [Vernon's writings]

Sioux County Capital, 12 Oct 1944

Frances Ewin, of LeMars, spent the weekend at the Jack and Walker Bushby homes.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bushby and Jimmy and George and Miss Frances Ewin, of LeMars, were the guests at the Walker Bushby home Sunday.

LeMars Globe-Post, 23 Nov 1944

(excerpt) .....Clark baby boy of Cherokee, born October 28, 1944.

15 Dec 1944, "I was wounded in the right shoulder and was taken out of the company for almost two months. We were just south of Lembauk, France, when all of this happened. We were standing around the CP getting instructions as to how to take this town of Lembauk. Mortar shells started to rain in on us and I was hit by a mortar shell." [Vernon's writings]

25 Dec 1944, "I was taken back to the rear and ended up in Paris, France, in a hospital where I underwent three operations. The third operation taking place on Christmas Day of 1944." [Vernon's writings]

1945

LeMars Globe-Post, 01 Jan 1945

Sgt. Vernon Ewin Hurt in Action Second Time He Received Wounds—Hoped It's Not Serious

Mrs. Charles Ewin received word from her son, Sgt. Vernon C. Ewin, that he was “slightly wounded in action� in France , the second time he has been wounded as he received a slight wound in October for which he was hospitalized about a week. This was a slight leg wound.

Shortly after Mrs. Ewin learned of her son's injury, she received a telephone call from his girlfriend, Miss Irene Jones, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. S.A. Jones, formerly of LeMars, now of Independence, Iowa. Miss Jones had received a letter written by Sgt. Ewin himself, though in a rather cramped handwriting, in which he said he had been shot through the shoulder. According to his letter, the wound was not complicated and he expected to be back in action in a few weeks. The wound was received Dec. 15, 1944 .

Mrs. Ewin had received the last letter from her son, written Dec. 7, a week before he was wounded. (Note: The earlier wound in October was not in the leg, but was a wound from broken glass to Vernon's head.)

08 Jan 1945, LeMars Globe-Post: SENEY:

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin of LeMars received word last week that their son, Vernon Ewin, had been wounded in action overseas. Later they received word he had been shot in the shoulder, but not serious.

20 Jan 1945, "On January 20, 1945, our complete company and battalion was wiped out in the Battle of the Bulge. So when I got back to the company in February, there was not anybody that I knew. They were all replacements. Myself and a cook were two of the originals in the company when we left Italy." [Vernon's writings]

8 Feb 1945, "I stayed in the hospital until the 8th of February, 1945." [Vernon's writings]

Sioux Center News, 07 Jun 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin and daughters, Frances, Ruth and Ida of LeMars were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bushby, Memorial Day.

Aug 1945, "When the war ended, I was in Munich, Germany, and we were setting up occupation of that city. We were setting outposts all around the city and some within the city." [Vernon's writings]

26 Oct 1945: "But finally they came after the first of October and moved us into France. We went down to St. Maxime, France, in southern France to the very beaches that we had crossed some months earlier. We boarded a ship and were on our way home. I think it took us about 12 days to get home. We came back to Newport News, VA, and from there we went to Camp Grant, IL, which is just south of Chicago. On the 26th day of October 1945, I was discharged from the service. I boarded a train that night and the next morning I was home." [Vernon's writings]

LeMars Globe-Post
Thursday, November 15, 1945

DISCHARGES FILED.

The following men have registered at the courthouse as having received their discharges from the Armed Services:

Vernon Ewin, Francis L. Strihl, Clarence Cowan, Werner P. Hoffman, Wm. A. Delperdang, Earl G. Utesch, Albert S. Simon, Don Shearon, Matthew J. Welsch, Howard Stinger, Karl J. Elsen, William Picks, Merlin B. Woodley, Wesley Witt, Vincent Zimmer, Clyde C. Marx, Raymond W. Anderson, Kenneth G. Bentz, Glenn Nussbaum, Elmer Muth, Roman J. Mayrose, Edward E. Keihn, Anthony J. Vanderschaff, John Frerichs, Raymond J. Berkenpas, John H. Moller, Max F. Pehler, Ralph Sweitzberger, Charles A. Honnald jr., LeRoy W. Gries, L.E. Newman, James A. Martin, Walter S. Utecht, Ralph M. Schnepf, Alvin L. Oaks, Morris Mezvinsky, Howard S. Dobbett, Kenneth L. Burdette, Otto F. Bishop, Edward J. Sitzmann, Francis H. Condon, Don A Pratt.

LeMars Globe-Post, December 6, 1945

VERNON EWIN GETS CITATION
Receives Bronze Star For Services Rendered In France

Vernon Ewin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin, of LeMars, has been presented the Bronze Star citation, according to word received from the War Department. Vernon also wears the Purple Heart medal. The citation is as follows:

Vernon C. Ewin, 37476084, infantry, Sergeant (then corporal), Company L, 157th Infantry regiment, for heroic achievement in action of 25 September 1944, near a bridgehead just established across the Moselle river. Sgt. Ewin, disregarding intense automatic weapons and small arms fire, advanced to an expose4d position and placed his machine gun into action. Although the object of direct rifle fire, he held his position, inflicting heavy losses and finally disorganizing the enemy forces completely. His courage and initiative eliminated a serious threat to his company and reflect credit upon himself and his organization. Entered the military service from LeMars, Iowa.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
December 7, 1945

ARMY AWARDS BRONZE STAR TO VERNON C. EWIN
LeMars Boy Honored For Combat Bravery In World War II

The Bronze Star Medal for bravery was awarded to Vernon C. Ewin, of LeMars, November 29, by Headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division now stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas.

Sergeant Ewin was corporal at the time he earned the medal in action in France. The special order recognizing the achievement and giving the award states that Sergeant Ewin is awarded the medal for heroic achievement in action on September 24, 1944, near Igney France. During a counter attack, the order states, a numerically superior enemy force had established a bridgehead across the Moselle river and Sergeant Ewin, disregarding intense automatic and small arms fire, advanced to an exposed position and placed his machine gun in action and although he was the object of direct rifle fire, he held his position and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and finally disorganized them completely. His courage and initiative, the order continues, eliminated a serious threat to his company and reflected credit upon himself and his organization.

Sergeant Ewin entered the service at LeMars and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin of LeMars.

Sergeant Ewin attended LeMars high school and was inducted into the service on March 10, 1943, and went overseas in January, 1944. He was discharged from the Army at Camp Grant, Illinois, October 25, 1945.

When the Sentinel office contacted Mr. Ewin, he had not yet heard the news concerning the honor earned by him. The Bronze Medal is a high honor of the United States Army and ex-sergeant Ewin is highly complemented on his service to the country.

1946

22 Mar 1946, LeMars Sentinel: EWIN - BOS NUPTIALS ON FRIDAY The home of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin in LeMars was the scene of a pretty candlelight wedding when Miss Frances Ewin became the bride of Gerald Bos, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bos of LeMars. Rev. S.A. Jones of Independence, Iowa, performed the ceremony. Donald Bos lit the candles as Cecila Collins played soft music. Miss Irene Jones sang "I Love You Truly" and Richard Albert sang "Because."

Ruth Ewin, sister of the birde, was bridesmaid and Vernon Ewin, brother of the bride was best man. The bride was attractive in white street length satin gown and fingertip veil held by roses. Her bouquet was gardenias and orchids, a gift from Phyllis Freymann. The bridesmaid wore a pink street length dress and wore a corsage of carnations and sweet peas. The groom and his attendant wore conventional dark suits.

A reception followed the ceremony. A beautiful three-tier wedding cake formed the centerpiece. Miss Harriet Hawkins and Phyllis Freymann were table waitresses. Mrs. Ed. Keihn and Mrs. Arnold Coppock were kitchen hostesses. After a short honeymoon Mr. and Mrs. Bos will make their home in Nebraska.

1946 Jun , LeMars Sentinel:

IRENE JONES, FORMER LE MARS GIRL BECOMES BRIDE OF VERNON EWIN

A beautiful candlelight wedding took place in the First Baptist Church in Independence, Iowa, Sunday evening June 9, 1946, at 8 o'clock when Miss Irene Jones, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. S.A. Jones, became the bride of Vernon Charles Ewin, of Minden, Nebr.  The bride's father performed the double ring ceremony.

The church was beautifully decorated and the altar was banked with pink and white peonies and ferns.  Four candelabra with six candles in each, cast soft candlelight over the scene.  There were also candles in the windows.  A 15-minute organ prelude of favorite selections of the bride was played by Miss Grace Potwin of Independence, who also played the Lohengrin Mendelssohn wedding marches.  Mrs. C.L. Raymond, soloist, sang“I Love You Trulyâ€� and “Becauseâ€� preceding the ceremony, and the “Lord's Prayerâ€� at the close.

The bride wore a white floor length gown of rayon marquisette with white taffeta.  Her finger tip veil was held in place by a crown band of seeded pearls, and the bridal bouquet was made of white carnations and sweet peas with a pink rosebud corsage forming the center.  She wore a double strand of pears, a gift from the groom.

The bride was attended by her aunt, Mrs. Calvin Anderson of Akron, Iowa, as matron of honor and two bridesmaids, Misses Delores Anderson of Akron, cousin of the bride and Ruth Ewin, of LeMars, sister of the groom.  The matron of honor wore a floor length blue taffeta brocade gown with a shoulder length veil held in place with a band of pink flowers.  She carried a bouquet of pink carnations.  The bridesmaids wore floor-length gowns of pink lace and chiffon with pink and white corsages.

The groom was attended by a close friend, Robert Glaser of LeMars as best man.  Ushers were Lorvan Hawkins of LeMars, cousin of the bride, Fayne ????man, Jr., of Independence and Robert Schanke, Independence.

The groom and his attendants wore conventional dark suits with white carnation boutonnieres.

A reception was held in the church parlors for 165 guests.

The three-tier wedding cake topped with blue candles and pink streamers decorated the reception table, carrying out the bride's chosen colors of white, pink and blue.

The bride has been a resident of Independence, Iowa, for the past 2 ½ years and has taught school the last four years in Plymouth and Buchanan counties.  The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin of LeMars. He spent 31 months in the Army with 22 months overseas duty in Italy, France and Germany, receiving his discharge last October.  He is now employed in the Minden Creamery, Minden, Neb., where the young couple will make their future home.

1947

"Gladys & Charlie Ewin moved to Minden, Nebr." [Fern's diary]

1948

8 Feb 1948, Linda Lee Ewin, born 8th Feb, Minden, Nebraska, to Vernon & Irene Ewin. Linda is the first grandchild of Charles & Gladys Ewin.

29 Apr 1948, Thomas Gerald Bos, born 29th April, Minden, Nebraska, to Gerald & Frances (Ewin) Bos, second grandchild of Charles & Gladys Ewin.

Decoration Day weekend 1948, per pictures there was an Alderson Reunion held in Iowa. See pictures included in this book; there is Five Generation picture taken at that time....Lucinda Cooper/Lizzie Chapman/Gladys Ewin/Vernon Ewin/baby Linda Ewin, nearly 4 months old.

1949

28 May 1949, Lenus Francis Forslund married Ruth Louise Ewin, in Minden, Nebraska.

1950

Mar 1950, "Frances Bos & Tommy came in March." [Fern's diary]

07 Mar 1950, "Big snowstorm, March 7th." [Fern's diary]

13 Apr 1950, David Vernon Ewin was born to Vernon & Irene Ewin, Minden, Nebr., April 13, 1950.

More 1950...not dated: "Earl's cistern broke out. Myrtle and Charles came. Gladys & Charlie moved back from Minden, Nebraska. Mama (Lizzie) had face trouble; she was in the Sioux City hospital." [Fern's diary]

LeMars Globe-Post, 30 Oct 1950

The Louis E. Brick auxiliary No. 20 will meet in the home of Gladys Ewin, of Seney, at 2:30 Thursday afternoon.