An area World War II veteran says he was slated for missions to Japan, but the fighting came to an end prior to his deployment.
Starke County WWII Veteran Part of Honor Flight This Week
Wayne Emigh of Knox served a little over a year in Japan during World War II.
“I was in Occupation Forces. Occupation Japan. I was with the Signal Service Battalion keeping communications going for our troops,” recalled Emigh.
WWII Reenactment Quickly Approaching
The sound of gunfire and the hustle and bustle of military life during World War II will soon fill Wythogan Park in Knox.
The US 1st Infantry Division, known as the “Big Red One,” is hosting a WWII reenactment as part of the World War II Historical Reenactment Society. The sounds of battle will be heard coming from Wythogan Park, where the reenactors will try to offer visitors a feel of what this exciting period of history must have been like. Chaplain Jay “Sky Pilot” Shuttz says the reenactors are collectors and serious students of history, representing several different nationalities who will try to dress, equip, and conduct themselves in proper 1944 manner.
The Fire Mission Controller – Part Three
This week we have followed Jim Hardesty of Hamlet from his time at Purdue University to the invasion of Germany during World War II. It is part of a story written for “Generations the Magazine,” a publication dedicated to telling the stories of those people who shaped our nation one generation at a time.
This final episode features Hardesty’s experience with the allied army as it fought the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest along the German-Belgian border.
The Fire Mission Controller – Part Three
We have been following the military career of Jim Hardesty of Hamlet this week after he was featured in the latest issue of Generations the Magazine, recounting his military experience in World War II. D-Day was June 6, and every day after that had a number attached. Hardesty landed with the 172nd Field Artillery Battalion on D-8 – June 14.
Today, however, the story focuses on the battles fought in hedgerow country.
Hedgerows were mounds of dirt covered with trees or bushes that were so thick that a tank couldn’t get through them. As the American forces worked their way through this terrain they were forced to endure a considerable cost in lives. The Germans took full advantage of these barricades. Initial attempts at fighting through these barriers consisted of American tanks charging the hedgerows. When it reached the mound it would lift up, exposing the unprotected underbelly. This unarmored part of the tank was vulnerable and, Continue reading
The Fire Mission Controller – Part Two
Generations the Magazine recently presented an article on Jim Hardesty of Hamlet, a World War II veteran. The article chronicled Hardesty’s Army service during that war, and this week WKVI is presenting excerpts from that article.
Hardesty and his group landed in Swansea, Wales, and relocated to the south of England. Hardesty detailed his travel from the states to England.
“We boarded a cargo ship to take us across the Atlantic,” said Hardesty. “It took two weeks in rough North Atlantic weather worrying about submarine attacks. Nothing much happened except being sea sick. I was never so glad to see land in my life.”
Joe Smrt Turns 96
Today is Joe Smrt’s 96th birthday. He is known by many in Starke County for his patriotism.
On this date in 1916, Joe Smrt was born. He was born two weeks before the singer Dinah Shore and one week before the World War I Battle of Verdun began that claimed the lives of 698,000 French and German soldiers.
From the WKVI Archives
Did you know that Walter J. Paulsen was the first North Judson resident to die in WWII?
It was on this date in 1974, that ground-breaking ceremonies were held in North Judson for the new Walter J. Paulsen U.S. Army Reserve Center. Over 500 people attended the festivities. General James G. Freeze, Commander of the 123rd Arcom Division, was the main speaker. Col. Jerry Paras of North Judson was the Master of Ceremonies for the ground-breaking festivities.
World War II Veteran, Harvey Hammerlund, Dies
If you ever visited the Knox VFW during celebrations of patriotism you probably saw Harvey Hammerlund. Dressed in his Navy Blues with a pipe in his mouth, Harvey Hammerlund was the epitome of what’s good about this country. Hammerlund passed away Wednesday, June 14th.
“It’s probably appropriate that Harvey died so close to Flag Day, June 14th, because Harvey honored that flag and he honored his country,” said WKVI’s Ted Hayes. “If the definition of patriotism is feeling, expressing or inspired by love of one’s country, then you could put that tag on Harvey Hammerlund. He and Joe Smrt flew to Washington, D.C. on one of the first Honor Flights. While there, they visited the World War II monument. Like a slow drum beat, the World War II veterans are leaving us, but they’ll never be forgotten. They’re wonderful people, like Harvey Hammerlund.”
For a complete obituary notice, visit the Obituary page on this website.
Jim Shilling to be Featured on Friday’s “Ted Hayes Remembers” Program
This week on “Ted Hayes Remembers”, Ted will talk with Jim Shilling.
Jim and Melba Shilling have been in the forefront of collecting and maintaining a history of Starke County for decades. Jim has shown the Starke County Courthouse to hundreds of people, and taken hundreds more on tours of the Starke County Museum.
Ted asked Jim to talk about historical events over the past 50 or so years that have impressed him.
Three Starke County Veterans Fly to Washington, D.C. on Honor Flight
Three World War II Starke County Veterans were flown to Washington, D.C. Tuesday as part of the Honor Flight Network’s program to honor the surviving members of that generation who fought in that bloody war.
Traveling to Washington were Jack Milner, Chuck Johnson and Floyd Brown. All are members of VFW Post #748 in Knox.
World War II and Korean Veterans Can Register for Honor Flight
Last year, two Starke County World War II veterans, Joe Smrt and Harvey Hammerlund, were flown to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial by a veteran’s service organization called “Honor Flight”.
John Jordan, of Honor Flight, was asked if there will be an opportunity for additional World War II veterans to make the trip.
Knox American Legion and VFW Lay Wreaths at War Memorial
Members of the Knox VFW and the American Legion laid wreaths at the War Memorial at the Starke County Courthouse. Organizer, Terry Turner, says this is a part of the national Wreaths Across America program.
Teresa Stoner Remembers Attack on Pearl Harbor
A Knox woman’s mother experienced one of the most important events in United States history on this date in 1941. Teresa Stoner, mother of Karen Dunn, was living with her family in Honolulu, Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.
