Capt. Ellsworth W. Prouty
Army Air Corps
360^th Transportation Personnel
Hell’s Angels 303^rd Bomb Group (H)
The 8^th Air Force

Place of Entry: Chicago, IL
Date of Departure: Sept. 5, 1942
Place of Separation: Ft. Sheridan, IL - July 25, 1945

Ellsworth was entitled to: Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign w/4 brass stars and the WWII Victory Medal. Ellsworth attained the the Rank of Corporal. He was Captain in the 360th Transportation Personnel.

Ellsworth married Marjorie Church from Northampton, England and they lived in Central Illinois area, and raised 4 children. Ellsworth was very proud to be a Veteran, and has passed that on to all of his children. Ellsworth passed away on Sept.25, 1990.

 Proud to be his daughter,
Barbara O’Grady.

First Lieutenant Russell E. Sewell

Photo: South Chicago Station

B & O Railroad - January 1944

Russell Earl Sewell (Brick #2286) was born in Jacksonville, Illinois April 29, 1913 to Cora May Olson Sewell and Earl Othello Sewell.  Russell attended grade school at Roach School in Decatur, Illinois and graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago. He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 when he was working for Oscar Mayer in Chicago.  Russell and Bernice Alvina Overgaard, who was also employed at Oscar Mayer in Chicago, were married in March 1943.

Russell attended basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas and from there went on to X-Ray school at O’Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Missouri where he graduated as Technician 5th Grade. From there he went on to Camp Livingston, LA where he became Technician 4^th Grade.  From there Russell went on to Camp Barkeley, Texas where he attended the medical administrative corps officer candidate school and he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. From there he went on to Camp Carson, Colorado where the 42d Field Hospital was activated. Then on to Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base, Maxton, North Carolina and then to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and then on to Cp. Kilmer, Stelton, New Jersey and then on to Belfast, Northern Ireland, Gourock, Scotland, and finally to Bromyard, Herefordshire, England where they awaited D-Day and then on to Normandy and the European Theatre of Operations.  Russell was commissioned First Lieutenant while in Belgium Feb. 1945.

The whole history of Russell’s unit can be read on this website:  www.med-dept.com under unit histories, hospital units, 42^nd Field Hospital. Russell was in the third platoon of the 42^nd Field Hospital. This is the link directly to the unit’s history:

http://www.med-dept.com/unit_histories/42_fld_hosp.php

After WWII, Russell was in the Illinois Reserve Corps until Dec. 1952.

Russell and Bernice later moved to Wisconsin where Russell was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, The Masonic Lodge, the Eastern Star, Trinity United Methodist Church, Shriners, Scottish Rite and 40 et 8 and was a lifelong Cubs Fan.

Russell and Bernice had three children. Russell passed away on March 30, 2001 at the age of 87. 

Submitted by Russell’s daughter and her husband:

Susan Sewell King and David King

Estes Park, Colorado

dsk@q.com

The veteran I chose to interview for this assignment was my grandfather James Krohe, Sr., who served in World War II as well as the Korean War.  When he was only eighteen years old he was drafted into the army to serve in WWII in June of 1943.  He was attending Western Illinois University at the time.  His basic training took place at Fort McClary Alabama.  After completion of basic training, my grandfather was sent to North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., for special training called ASTP civil engineering.  When the army needed more infantry soldiers in Europe he and his fellow classmates were transferred to the 42^nd Division in infantry at Camp Gruber, OK.  There he was trained to be a mortar gunner.

                Private Krohe was then sent to Europe in December, 1944 with the entire 42^nd Division.  He was there for 1.5 years and within that time he travelled through France and Germany in combat.  His rank was Private First Class, assigned to Company K, 242^nd Infantry Regiment.  He was part of two large campaigns and awarded two Bronze Stars for serving in the Central Europe-Rhineland and the Alsace-Ardennes Campaigns, as well as being awarded a Combat Infantry Badge which he is most proud of.  When in combat they spent most of their time taking villages and digging foxholes.  While serving in Europe he was able to attend one of the USO Shows put on by Bob Hope.  My grandpa was discharged from the army in May, 1946, and returned to his hometown in Beardstown, Illinois.

                He joined the National Guard in 1947 after getting married and moving to Springfield, Illinois.  His rank was Warrant Officer and his job was director of the 44^th Infantry Division Band.  During the Korean War the National Guard was called on for active duty in 1952-1953.  He was stationed in the state of California for 1 year then the state of Washington for 1 year.  His job also included helping decide what band members would go overseas as replacements but he mainly served as the band leader and conductor of the band.  They served primarily as entertainment for dignitaries and troops.  While he was in the capacity he was able to see Bob Hope again and this time he met him and played for him.

                Following his service in the Korean War he did not return to school and found employment with the state of Illinois.  He continued his career as a musician and band leader with the 33^rd Infantry Division Band Illinois National Guard.

                The 42^nd Rainbow Division of WWII has a reunion once every year that he attends when he can.

                When I asked my grandpa how his service impacted him, he said it didn’t impact him in any way after his service but he can still remember every detail of his time while in service, even 60 years later.  He could even recall walking through the forest and digging a foxhole and having to put branches over it so the enemy could not see the candle light.  He and his “foxhole buddy”, Bill Law, sat with the mortar gun right next to them as they wrote letters to their families.  He was lucky enough to return to his family uninjured after proudly serving his country.

Written by:  Kelsey Slaughter

For Mr. Lightfoot’s 6^th Hour Class

Joseph Philip Cagney was born on August 10, 1924, and lived in Oak Park, a suburb due west of Chicago’s loop. Since his father’s name was also Joseph he was known as “Phil” by his family and friends. He graduated from Ascension grade school in 1938, Fenwick High School in 1942 and that fall enrolled in Notre Dame’s school of engineering.  

Shortly after he completed his freshman year at Notre Dame, Phil received his order to report for induction and in July was transported to Camp Grant, near Rockport, Illinois. There he received his uniforms, including size 12 ½ B shoes, and his orders to report for basic training at the Army’s Camp Fannin, near Tyler, Texas. He was most proud of the 2 expert sharpshooter medals he received for his time on the firing range. During his tenure at Camp Fannin, “Joe,” as he was now called by his army buddies, took a battery of eligibility tests for the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). If accepted, applicants would be sent to a university to be enrolled in its engineering curriculum. Joe did well on the tests and after he completed his basic training he became a member of the University of Wisconsin’s ASTP program in November, 1943.

By the beginning of 1944 it became evident that the military needed all available troops for its later assault on Fortress Europe and the Japanese held Philippine Islands. As a result, the ASTP was cancelled for all enrolled except those in their final year. In March, 1944, Joe was reassigned to the 96^th Infantry Division, 381^st Regiment, Company K and boarded a troop train to Camp White, near Medford, Oregon. During the next few months, his unit went to Camp Luis Obispo and Camp Callan in California to receive special training in amphibious landings. Late in July the 96^th Division arrived at San Francisco harbor and began boarding the 5 troop ships for Hawaii and eventually the Philippine Islands.

On October 20, 1944, American troops under the command of General Douglas MacArthur began their assault on Leyte Island in the Philippines. During an engagement near Catmon Hill on October 29th, Joe was wounded while attacking a Japanese machine gun emplacement. Fellow combatants, under heavy fire, were able to remove him from the battlefield and he was transported to the army’s field hospital set up in the nearby Catholic cathedral. Although Joe was operated on successfully, his wounds were too serious and he died the next day, October 30, 1944.

Joe was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, posthumously, “For exemplary conduct in ground combat against the enemy on or about 20, October, 1944, in the Pacific Theater of Operations.”  An army buddy, Clay Bushnell, wrote a book, Centurion King, about his combat experiences and dedicated it to the memory of Joseph Philip Cagney, stating he wrote “this book as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of my best friend and buddy.” Joe also was the recipient of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Philippine Liberation Medal and 6 additional medals. His 381^st Infantry Regiment received the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation for gallantry in action.

The story of U.S. Army Capt. Earl L. Jackson and his family is one of sacrifice. A widowed mother who lost a beloved son during World War II; a 32-year-old father who paid the ultimate price to preserve a way of life for family and country; and three children whose memories of their dashing father provoke pride and not just a few tears.

Theirs is not perhaps a unique tale, but a tale that is uniquely American; that is a tale of a courageous father traveling to foreign lands, fighting the good fight, preparing to sacrifice his life so that his family need not sacrifice theirs and so that his countrymen not sacrifice their way of life in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

This tale begins back in 1913 in Makanda with the birth of baby boy Earl to Doss and Ida Tope Jackson. When Earl’s father died at a young age, Ida Jackson was left to raise six children on her own, adding a few stepchildren when she remarried. “She was just 5-feet tall and weighed about 95 pounds, but she was the strongest woman I ever saw in my life,” said Ida’s grandson Robert Earl Jackson, 71, of Energy.

She would need that strength as she sent her son Earl off to war, leaving behind his wife, Geneva and three children, Dorothy, almost 13, Robert Earl, then 11, and Shirley, 8. “She was our heroine,” said Shirley Jackson McKinney, now 67 of Little Rock, Ark. “She saved everything he sent home, every letter and every news clipping. We all have copies and they helped us to know our dad. They are our treasures.”

Jackson’s children got to know their father’s compassionate side in one of the letters he wrote to his mother that he signed “Your wandering son, Earl”:

“I had a small stock of candy when I arrived here, but I soon gave it away to the children here. Little girls and boys from two to 10-years-old ask every American soldier they see for candy. They don’t have candy here as sugar is too scarce. “The children look pale and undernourished and I couldn’t help but think of those healthy youngsters of mine living in a land of plenty. So, the candy I receive from rations go to the English kids – they need it worse than I do.”

Jackson was a full-time adjutant in the Illinois National Guard based at the Carbondale Armory before he entered the U.S. Army in 1941. McKinney remembers little about those days, but does recall Jackson’s leave at home before being shipped overseas.

“He visited school one entire day with each of his three children. Each of us had our own school day with our dad. I was in the first grade and recall how very proud I was of walking to school with my dad in his full military uniform. He sat in the back of the classroom the whole day observing my class work,” she wrote in a tribute to her father. “That day was probably my last memory of seeing my dad.”

The family kept up with Earl’s exploits in his messages to his family, especially his mother. “Nov. 25 1944 somewhere in Germany:

Dear Mom, Well, I’m still safe although I’m having some narrow escapes. My Jeep hit a mine a few days ago – threw me out of it – just shook me up a little – but injured my driver and my executive officer. Have been under constant shell fire for some time now.”

Dec. 11, 1944: “I guess you have been reading in the papers how my outfit crashed through the German defenses – we who had never been in combat before defeated Hitler’s best troops – his “supermen.” This outfit amazed everyone as we got tough and chased the Jerries (German soldiers). When our men attacked they either threw down their arms or ran and we had to chase them to capture them.”

Belgium Jan 5, 1945: “Having quite a lot of snow and cold weather here now, which makes going a bit tougher but we will come through. No one can beat the courage and determination of the American soldiers as we are again joining in this war.”

Belgium Jan 18, 1945: “Mom, I hear I’m to get a medal for my actions during the recent operations. I don’t know what I did other than get my company into the towns with few casualties and captured 37 German soldiers. Would have got more but they seemed to want to fight so we shot them. I could sure write lots of heroic things my men did but I’m not permitted to do so. I believe Company C is the fightingist outfit in the entire army and I’m still proud to be its captain. Well Mom, I’ll be glad when the war is over. I’ve seen everything. Death in its most horrible forms. And war is certainly not a pretty sight. No one can ever tell me anything about war! I know! Well, I’ll close for this time. Your son, Earl P.S. Would love some hot biscuits! You can sure make them.”

Belgium Jan 20, 1945 “Dear Mom, I received the cake and fountain pen today. The pen was okay and I’ll send you a money order for it. The cake was damaged in shipment. It had become wet. Weather is still cold, and the snow is really deep altho I am told that spring comes early here. I haven’t had much of a chance to send anything to Bobby yet but I intend to send him a German Bayonet and helmet. Well, I’ll close for this time. Earl”

A month later, U.S. Army Capt. Earl L. Jackson was killed in action.

“He got through the Battle of the Bulge and they were mopping up little towns in Germany,” said Robert Earl Jackson, who did receive the bayonet and helmet, albeit after his father’s death. “He and his executive officer were killed by 88 mm artillery on Feb. 23, 1945. They must have had the area in their sights because it was a direct hit on them.”

News of Jackson’s death came swiftly. “I was at school and a little girl came up to me and said, ‘Your daddy got killed in the war.’ When I got home, my mother wasn’t there, but I found the telegram on the cabinet. It didn’t soak in. It wasn’t traumatic but it became more so the older we got,” said Jackson’s eldest daughter, Dorothy Lively, 72, of Herrin. “Naturally we are proud, but we would much rather he came home. I can’t help but wonder where we would be, what he would have been doing, had he not been killed.”

Robert Earl Jackson was with his grandmother when he got the news of his father’s death. The remembered pain of that moment was evident on Jackson’s face on a recent visit to the Carbondale Armory where a plaque commemorating his father was placed in 1950, in remembrance of the only National Guard member from that Armory to die in World War II. “He was a great patriot. He loved the military and had he not been killed, he would have retired after a career in the military. He is the reason I went into the military,” said Jackson, a retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. E-8 who belonged to his father’s old unit.

McKinney said that although she was just eight when her father died, she has memories of her father she holds precious. “I do have memories. He had a love of his country, his children and family,” she said. “He paid the ultimate price and he was courageous in doing that.” Jackson said he thinks of his father when he hears of the casualties in Iraq. “At 32, my father was so young, but here again we are having 19 and 20-year-old kids dying and it just tears me up,” he said. And he always remembers one passage from a letter sent by his father: “If I come out of this thing alive I shall fight for anything that will prevent this country from ever getting started in a war again. I’ve seen war now and know what it is. We don’t ever want it to happen again.”

In Memory of CPT Earl L. Jackson, KIA 23 February 1945 near the Roer River, Germany

World War II Europe
(1943-1946)

James J. Duncan was born 12 Jan 1924 in Ilsley, KY. He was the son of Cal and Georgia Duncan. 13 Feb 1943 at age 19, he attended basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas and later Camp Carson, CO. He was transferred 15 June 1944 as a replacement soldier to the 29^th Division, 116^th Infantry-Co L, 3d BN, where he participated in the brutal Normandy campaign in France, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe as a combat infantryman.

On 30 July1944, he was reported MIA in France. Jim was in a military hospital, unable to identify himself with significant injuries. He recovered enough to be identified and was returned to combat duty on 24 Aug 1944.

Later, on 06 Oct 1944, Jim was listed as a battle casualty at Aachen, Germany. He was suffering from “battle exhaustion with injuries.” On 26 Oct, his mother received a telegram that he was “wounded in action.” On 03 Nov, she received a correction to a previous telegram, advising her that he was “more than slightly wounded.” He spent more than two months in the hospital recovering. He was returned to duty and his unit continued to battle it’s way through Germany and served as an occupational unit until returning to the U.S. from Bremen, Germany.

James had participated in four major European battles, earning him the following awards:

• European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon
• 4 Bronze Service (Battle) Stars for Combat Campaigns:
• Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe
• 3 Overseas Service Bars-one each six months overseas
• World War II Victory Medal
• Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar M-1
• Good Conduct Medal
• Purple Heart Medal

On 22 Feb 1946 Jim was honorably discharged at the Camp Grant Separation Center in Illinois. He has served two years, 11 months and 10 days of active duty. After the war, Jim used his mechanical skills and military automotive training to pursue a career in auto mechanics. This training he passed on to his sons. Jim never spoke of the war except with close military brothers. He marched to a higher calling on 05 Jul 1994 and now rests at Live Oak, in Selma, AL.

Submitted by Penny Jasper, niece

On 03 Mar 1944, Walter transferred to the USS LST 512 (Burnett County), a tank landing assault ship, designed to serve as an interim hospital. He was in the American Theater of Operations until 15 Apr 1944. Walter then served on this same vessel in the European Theater of Operations to 15 Oct 1944. Walter was a participant in the invasion of Normandy, France on 06 June D Day, and continued in follow up shuttle service for injured soldiers. The USS 512 landed at the Easy Red Sector of Omaha Beach at Normandy, France.

In July, Wally received advanced medical training and continued in the shuttle service. He was transferred after the ship LST 512 was damaged and most of her crew was moved out. By November he was in Boston, received a 23 day home leave before reporting to California in December. He was destined for additional service in the Philippines and was there by March 1945. Walter remained in the Pacific for almost one year. Then February 1946 he was awarded several medals before being transferred back to California.

On 09 Apr 1946 he was transferred to Great Lakes, Illinois USNTC for discharge. He was recommended for re-enlistment, but declined. He was a Hospital Apprentice First Class (HA 1c) and received an honorable discharge. Walter received the following awards:

• Philippines Liberation Ribbon with one Star
• European, African, Middle East Campaign Medal
• Asiatic, Pacific Area Campaign Medal
• American Area Campaign Medal
• WW II Victory Medal

Through the years Walter never spoke of his military service. He was an active member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars. He reported for higher duty on January 1978 and now rests at St. Adalbert’s in Chicago. This information was gathered from his Navy records.

Penny Jasper, daughter

Carlos attended basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi with the 42nd Rainbow Division, 222nd Infantry, HQ Company. He was one of the original WWII “Rainbow men.” After training he was assigned as a replacement to the 85th Division, 338th Infantry, 2nd battalion, HQ Company. He was a member of the Custer Division and was deployed to Italy and the Gustav Line. The 338th fought it’s way “up the boot” of Italy. His unit had a high casualty rate, and some of their men were captured and sent to the worst German POW camps, including stalag IIB. The 2nd battalion was among the first units to enter Rome. He and his regiment fought admirably in Rome-Arno, the North Apennines (Gothic Line), Mount Altuzzo, and Po Valley campaigns. They fought in often unbearable conditions.

They battled in 260 days of combat. For their efforts, the 338th Infantry regiment was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation (one of only 5) in this division for their performance at Mount Altuzzo. It was here the 338th broke the back of German resistance, despite incurring heavy losses. They created an important breach of the Gothic Line giving the Fifth Army passage into the North Apennines. The 338th endured the long and brutal “Lost Winter” of 1944-45 in the Northern Apennines. American Fifth Army Commander, Mark Clark, considered the Custermen the elite assault troops in the Italian campaign. During the war Carlos was a rifleman, ammo bearer, truck driver and assigned to tank weapons. He also served in the 752, 760 Tank Battalion, 757 Tank Destroyer BN & the 522 Engineers. He received the following awards:

• The Bronze Star
• Army Sharpshooter (rifle) M-1
• Presidential Unit Citation (Mr. Altuzzo)
• Army Expert (tank weapons)
• CIB Combat Infantryman’s Badge
• WWII Victory Medal
• Good Conduct Medal
• Three Bronze Service Stars
• Three Overseas Service Bars
• European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

After two ½ years of combat military service, PFC Haaland returned home from Naples, Italy on the USS Monterrey in December 1945. He was discharged on 04 January, 1946 at the Separation Center, Camp Grant, Illinois. Carlos returned home to marry Thelma (Patricia) Duncan; they had twin daughters. Carlos began his career as a life long Chicago ironworker, joining his father and younger brother.

Though many years had passed, Carlos’ daughters remember his ability to sing every marching and military song he had learned in the infantry. Although, he did not talk about details of the war, Carlos had kept a photo album of his military service. When asked about the war, his only reply was, “War is Hell.” Carlos marched to a higher calling on 18 October, 1986. He rests at Mt. Olive in Chicago.

Submitted by Penny Haaland Jasper, daughter

Submitted By:
Megan McGovern
August 2010