Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI, November 11, 1993, Page 32

Each year, Veteran’s Day, November 11, brings back various memories for many of us. Headlines of the October 31, 1940, Clark County Press were: “America Launches First Peace Time Draft.” A little more than a year later, it was wartime after the Pearl Harbor bombing.

Upon announcing the Peace Time Draft, President Roosevelt referred to the “tragic circumstances in lands across the sea which have forced upon our nation the need to take measures for total defense.”

Roosevelt further stated, “You will be members of an army which first came together to achieve independence and to establish certain fundamental rights for all men. Ever since that first muster, our democratic army has existed for one purpose only: ‘The defense of our freedom’.”

The first 200 persons in the draft of Clark County, with their order numbers are listed below. The order numbers indicated the order they were to be called in Clark County. Registrations numbers had also been designated with each name at that time.

Our country’s servicemen and women traveled to the foreign shores of different countries during World War II. Various stories have been told about their experiences overseas, having befriended those in need in the war-torn land.

On a Christmas Eve, in Germany, a temporary cease-fire was called, because it was Christmas Eve. The American soldiers sat in their foxholes, at one point of the battleground, and began singing Christmas carols. Soon, they could hear German soldiers joining in singing along with the same carols, only in the German language. For a short time, there was a common bond in their lives, a neutral time from the fighting, worshiping God in the humble setting.

The Philippine Islands had been occupied by the Japanese military. American forces, through a series of invasions, freed the occupied islands liberating the Philippine people. These people, such as the ones in the following letter, shared by Wm. Joyce, had suffered great losses. To these people, the coming of the Americans was their greatest salvation. Americans meant freedom.

Simplicia Hingco and her brother Pentong, were residents of the City of Darvis, Carmenn, Cebu Philippines, whose parents were thought to be dead, lost family and friends, and they were greatly appreciative to the American forces for the return of their freedom. Simplicia and Pentong would act as guides, offering any help they could to the American soldiers. Through this friendships were struck.

I am so glad to receive from you those comforting letters, with which helps me a great lot vanish my lonesomeness. It was indeed a great delight to answer your letter at this day of celebration, the day which to every Filipino seems a gem, for this same day is our Commonwealth Anniversary. Moreover it help me too, to remember of tendering my humble acknowledgement to you all, our most benevolent benefactor. For if you had been later, this day could have not been celebrated, nobody would have appreciated giving thanks to our unselfish redeemer.

I wish you will be home like our friend “Keller” to y our own home which you can call this is my own home sweet home. It would be well to be eternally among your relatives.

Pentong is getting along fine doing job to solace him from the sorrows of those friends who departed to soon.

Frank Stanley, on the right, who served during the Spanish-American War as a member of Company A, third Regiment. Frank, a Neillsville native, died in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1898

Getting a haircut while out in the desert, by a good buddy or a barber, if you were lucky!

Pictured is Redford Smith of New York, with a BAR-Browning automatic rifle and tri-pod.

1943 – Inspection day for the 306^th Infantry, 77 Division Service Company at Camp Hyder, Arizona.

Last week county food administrator J. E. Ketel put Clark County on sugar cards and they are proving highly satisfactory to both consumer and retailer. The card is so arranged that when sugar purchases are made, the amount of the purchase is punched out and when the legal amount of sugar has been purchased, the card is of no further use. New cards are issued to consumers on the firsts of each month and the old cards taken up and filed for future reference and checking. Clark County seems to be the first county in the state to adopt the sugar card system and it is going to work out fine and eliminate much confusion and unnecessary work.

(Transcriber note: Does anyone happen to have a sugar card that we could have a picture of for the website?)

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