A short visit with Oral Paul, who is in training in the radio department in the U.S. Aviation service and who spent the fourth of July with his parents here, Mr. and Mrs. August Paul was most interesting. Their service is much less confining than the regular army service and much less routine. They answer mess call at seven, begin classes at eight which run to 11:30 back at one and off at four. They may dress in civilian clothing the balance of the cay and are at leisure.
When they have completed their schooling and are back at their regular base they are required to check the bulletin board each morning and if their ship is not called for duty they will have the da off. Many of the men in the service have their homes in nearby residential districts, driving back and forth morning and evening.
He will be assigned to a bombing plane, in which he has his own compartment, fully equipped with radio apparatus and with bed and running water. No other person is allowed in this compartment. He will maintain contact between the ship and the other ships in the flight as well as with the ground.
His rate of pay will be increased to $81 per month with board, room, clothing and expenses paid, including hotel and meals while away from their base.
A bomber is manned by 31 men and fly in formation at a height of approximately 12,000 feet. They are guarded by fast pursuit planes. The government is working on a system of television which will be equipped on the pursuit planes flying at a lower altitude, below the clouds and which will be transmitted by radio to the bombers above the clouds so that the large ships fling at the high altitude will be able to see where they are located through the means of television.
Mr. Paul said that nothing was guarded as closely as the secret bomb sight, which has been the object of so much controversy of late. He said that no one was allowed to even get a glimpse of the sight and that as soon as a plane has landed armed guards remove the sight carrying it to vaults, completely covered. He said, however, that it was almost absolutely accurate, that they practice dropping bombs into a 12 foot circle from a height of 12,000 feet and that the claim is made by the gunmen that it can be dropped into a pickle barrel every shot.
Taken from McLaughlin Messenger/Corson County News July 18, 1940

First Numbers in Draft Drawn

An estimated 6,175 men holding draft serial Number 158 will be the first called up for military service in the nation’s unprecedented peacetime conscription.
That number was the first drawn in today’s historic draft lottery. Secretary of War Stimson drew it from a big glass bowl at 12:16 p.m., a minute or so after President Roosevelt said in an opening speech that the purpose of raising a draft army is “the defense of our freedom.”
Standing on a platform in the large government auditorium which was the scene of the lottery, Mr. Roosevelt told an audience exceeding a seating capacity of 1,300 that “only the strong may continue to live in freedom and peace.”
In quick succession other numbers were drawn by high officials who, like Stimson, were blindfolded before their hands dipped into the glass bowl filled, at the start, with numbers put separately into cobalt blue capsules.
In the event one of the men in this first assumed group of five is ineligible for one reason or another, the board would take the next order numbers to fill out the quota.
Up to Wednesday afternoon, the following is an unofficial list of registrants, their serial numbers which were assigned by the local board, and the order number which represents the order in which their names were drawn in Washington:
158 James Whitebull, Little Eagle
192 Edwin Docter, McLaughlin
105 Richard Schiley, Gopher
188 Jacob Schneider, Keldron
120 Martin W. Jenson, Morristown
161 Charles Yellow, Wakpala
44 Basil Buck, McIntosh
57 Landie Polensky, Watauga
153 Geo. A. Pixler, Thunder Hawk
19 Anard N. Even, Thunder Hawk
172 Edward Lee brooks, McIntosh
126 Stanley Shooting Bear, Kenel
187 Chester Sutton, Morristown
167 Albert Dolecheck, McIntosh
162 Rolland Bretzman, McIntosh
147 Valentine Thomas, Trail City
31 Clarence A. Jensen, McIntosh
156 Harvey Takes the Gun, Wakpala
112 Jonathan E. Taylor, McIntosh
185 Edward J. Reiger, Athboy
108 Hessel Shotwell, Thunder Hawk
109 George Fisher, Wakpala
184 William H. Edds, McLaughlin
116 Alfred Halvorsen, Watauga
174 Robert L. Menzel, Morristown
131 Moses Goodhouse, Wakpala
125 A. Chasing Hawk, Little Eagle
138 Albert Thomas, Trail City
142 Mike Aberle, Trail City
166 Chas. J. Prochaska, Timber Lake
135 Palmer Hauge, McIntosh
183 Issac Looking Horse, Little Eagle
148 Andrew Weston, Wakpala
198 B.R. Hahm, Morristown
139 John Jung, Trail City
146 Lantz Pederson, Trail City
6 Moses Flyingby, Little Eagle
122 Jacob Mastel, Firesteel
83 Paul Rough Surface, Kenel
280 Michael Coraguilo, Trail City
169 Melvin Meier, Timber Lake
145 Frank Holzer, Trail city
9 Frank Hoffman, McIntosh
121 John P. Jones, Morristown
625 Philbert Makens, McIntosh
181 Frank Vermillion, Kenel
660 Douglas Traversie, Little Eagle
86 Vincent O’Donnell, Morristown
114 Bernard Logerwell, Wakpala
136 John Demery, Wakpala
228 Elmer Banek, Wakpala
612 Wallace Arneson, McIntosh
231 Edgar Kirschenman, McIntosh
203 Henry Hauck, McLaughlin
96 Joseph Z. Comeau, McLaughlin
21 Vernon Suess, McIntosh
165 Benjamin Arnold, McIntosh
159 James P. Byington, McIntosh
79 Ray J. Billups, McIntosh
78 harry Kittelson, Thunder Hawk
45 Dayton Hazzard, McIntosh
25 Jerome Shoestring, Bullhead
609 Leonard Balsiger, Trail City
603 Donald Howe, McLaughlin
Taken from Corson County News October 31, 1940

Two Men Leave for Training

Corson County’s quota under the Selective service Act for the first call is two men. The two men who will go are Cecil Joseph Lang, Watauga and Milo Albert Watson, McIntosh. Both men are volunteers. The men entrained at McIntosh, Monday Nov. 25 and are to arrive in Ft. Snelling, Minn., on Nov. 26.
Corson county now has twelve volunteers. They are as follows; Cecil Joseph Lang, Watauga, Milo Albert Watson, McIntosh, James Edward Harrison, McIntosh; Frank William Huffman, McIntosh; Palmer Severine Theodore Hauge, McIntosh; Karl Silas Village Center, Bullhead; Emerson George Solvey, Morristown; Theodore W. Lueder, Mahto; George Hawk, Bullhead; Leo Theodore Crowghost, Wakpala; Allen Yellow, Wakpala; and Alfred Amos Halverson, Watauga.
Taken from Corson County News November 28, 1940

Local Board Classify Men

Following is a list of the registrants for the Selective Military service, with their respective order numbers, which have been classified by the local board up to Dec. 1, 1940 Questionnaires have been mailed to 152 registrants in the Corson County area. This includes the first 143 registrants and 8 additional who are all volunteers and 1 who has applied for permission to leave the United States.
1. James White Bull, Little Eagle III-A
4. Jacob Schneider, Keldron III-A
5. Martin William Jenson, Morristown III-A
7. Basil William buck, Timber Lake III-A
9. George Arthur Pixler, Thunder Hawk II-A
12. Stanley E. Shooting Bear, Kenel III-A
13. Chester Clarence Sutton, Morristown III-A
14. Albert Antone Dolecheck, McIntosh III-A
15. Roland Emil Bretzman, McIntosh IV-D
18. Harvey Takes the Gun, Wakpala IV-F
19. John Henry Paris, McIntosh IV-F
22 Hessel Snyder Shotwell, Thunder Hawk III-A
23. George Fischer, Wakpala III-A
24. William Harold Edds, McLaughlin III-A
27. Moses Goodhouse, Wakpala III-A
28. Ambrose Chasing hawk, Little Eagle III-A
29. Albert M. Thomas, Trail City III-A
30 Mike J. Aberle, Trail City III-A
V-32 Severine Theodore Hauge, McIntosh IV-F
34. Andrew Artemus Weston, Wakpala IV-D
35. Benjamin Richard Hahm, Morristown IV-D
37. Lauritz E. Pederson, Trail City III-A
38. Moses Flyingby, Little Eagle III-A
39. Jacob Peter Mastel, Trail City III-A
40. P. Abraham Roughsurface, Kenel III-A
41. Michael Ray Coraguilo, Trail City III-A
43. Frank M. Holzer, Trail City III-A
V-44 Frank William Huffman, McIntosh IV-F
45. John Paul Jones, Morristown III-A
46. Philbert Makens, McIntosh IV-C
47. Frank Edward Vermillion, Kenel III-A
50. Bernard Lyle Logerwell, Wakpala III-A
54 Edward C. Kirschenmann, McLaughlin IV-F
55. Henry H. Hauck, McLaughlin III-A
56. Melvin Dale Stewart, Morristown III-A
62. James Francis Gordon, McLaughlin III-A
64. Dayton Evans Hazzard, McIntosh III-A
65. Jerome Shoestring, Bullhead III-A
6. Leonard Frederick Balziger, Trail City III-A
67. Donald Keister Howe, McLaughlin III-A
68. Harold Everett Pearson, Keldron III-A
69. Herbert Walter Naden, McLaughlin III-A
70. John Phillips, Wakpala III-A
73. Edward Schulz, McLaughlin III-A
76. Samuel Emerson Parker, Kenel III-A
80. Hugo Ploog, Morristown III-A
86. Sidney Eagleshield, Little Eagle III-A
87. Albert Eugene Hertel, McLaughlin III-A
90. Norbert E. Collins, Trail City III-A
91. Andrew Frank Baczuk, Trail City IV-F
V-646 James Howard Harrison, McIntosh I-A
V. Emerson George Solvey, Morristown IV-F
Taken from Corson County News December 5, 1940

More Men are Now Classified

Corson county has to date had 18 volunteers for Selective service. Out of this group 11 have been placed in the Class I-A group. They are as follows: V-11 Edward Lee Brooks; V-25 Alfred Amos Halverson; V-51 John Willie Demery; V-81 Barney Bald Head; V-93 Theodore William Lueder; V-267 Virgil Oswin Swift; V-580 Allen Yellow; V-646 James Edward Harrison; V-Samuel Foster; V-518 Cecil Joseph Lang; V-Milo Albert Watson. The last two named volunteers are now in training at Fort Snelling Minn.
Word has been received at this office that no selectees will be inducted into the army of the United States between Dec. 15, 1940 and Jan. 3, 1941:
17. Clarence A. Jenson, McIntosh III-A
31. Charles J. Prochaska, Glencross III-A
72. Arthur J. Lindskov, Isabel III-A
79. Albert Sauter, McIntosh III-A
85 Marcus Lee Burke, Morristown III-A
96. Lloyd Blow, Watauga III-A
102 Arthur Moser, McLaughlin III-A
113 Eli F. Eagle, Bullhead III-A
118. Christ R. Schmidt, McLaughlin III-A
119. Burdette E. Larson, McIntosh III-A
123. Jake Schmaltz, Wakpala III-A
136 David Tiona, Wakpala III-A
142. Cliff Hauser, McIntosh III-A
143. Samuel Crowghost Bullhead III-A
84. Clyde Blow, Watauga IV-F
89. Archie Ralph Moore, Athboy IV-F
95. Armen Leno, McLaughlin III-A
101. Leo Chasing Hawk, Little Eagle III-A
111. Valentine Keller, Jr. Glencross III-A
112. Ralph Vincent Tiger, Wakpala III-A
115. Elmer Kellum, Morristown III-A
116. Robert R. Bieber IV-F
117. Edwin H. Herman, Mahto III-A
121. George Chase Alone, Kenel III-A
126 David Hieb, Timber Lake III-A
128 Sigurd E. Erickson, McIntosh III-A
130. Mark Bernard Smith, Wakpala IV-F
133 Samuel Kenneth Fly, Little Eagle IV-F
135 William F. Baumberger, McIntosh III-A
137. Peter J. Mastel, Trail City III-A
139 Jacob Firecloud Little Eagle III-A
141 John J. Takes the Gun, Little Eagle III-A
10. Arnold N. Even, Thunder Hawk III-A
16 Joseph V. Thomas, Trail City III-A
97. John Gehring, McIntosh III-A
105. Lawrence Schneider, Wakpala III-A
127. Edward Pfeifer, McLaughlin III-A
130. Kenneth E. Higby, Morristown III-A
2 Edwin Dockter, McLaughlin I-A
3. Richard Schily, Gopher I-A
6. Charles Yellow, Wakpala I-A
V-11 Edward Lee Brooks, McIntosh I-A
V-25 Alfred A. Halverson, Watauga I-A
26 Robert L. Menzel, Morristown I-A
V-51 John W. Demery, Wakpala I-A
V-93 Theodore W. Lueder, Mahto I-A
V.99 George Hawk Bullhead I-B
V-267 Virgil Oswin Swift, Wakpala I-A
V-505 Karl. S. Village Center Bullhead I-B
V-580 Allen Yellow Wakpala I-B
33. Issac Looking Horse, Little Eagle I-A
74. Robert B. Earth Easter, Bullhead IV-F
V-81 Barney Bald Head Bullhead I-A
104 Collins S. Lamonte, Wakpala I-B
V-134 Leon Longchase Little Eagle 1-B
V. Samuel Foster Little Eagle I-A
Taken from Corson County News December 19, 1940

More Men are Called for Duty

The following five men have been selected for induction by the local board and are to report at McIntosh Feb. 20. From here they shall be sent to the induction station at Fort Snelling, Minn: John Willie Demery, Barney Baldhead, Leo Theodore Crow Ghost, Allen Yellow, and Samuel Foster.
Because one or more of the men named above may not be inducted at the induction station by the armed forces, the following named men may be required as replacements; Edward Lee brooks, Virgil Oswin Swift, Lloyd Willard Wilcox, James McClure Lyman, Gilbert John Elder.
The following men have been classified as follows:
71. Phillip Max Earring I-A
83. John Peter Aberle I-A
88. James Bertrand Syverson IV-F
V-264 Quintin V. Prochaska II-A
V.453 Leo T. Crow Ghost I-A
The following men have been reclassified as follows:
20. Johnathan Edward Taylor I-C
V-25 Alfred Amos Halverson I-C
41. Michael Coraguilo I-A
42. Melvin Max Meier II-A
V-93 Theodore W. Lueder IV-F
V-646 James E. Harrison I-C
Taken from Corson County News February 13, 1941

Ten Men called From this County, To Report March 24

Corson County’ quota in the sixth call for the state is 10 men. They are to report at Fort Snelling on March 24. Five of these men are volunteers and the remaining five were drawn from the registration list according to their order numbers.
The following men have been selected:
V-267 Virgil Swift, Wakpala
V-235 Lloyd Wilccox, Timber Lake
V-107 James Lyman Keldron
V-667 Gilbert Elder Timber Lake
2. Edwin Dockter, Mahto
3. Richard Schily, Gopher
6. Charles Yellow Wakpala
26. Robert Menzel, Morristown
33. Issac Looking Horse, Little Eagle
36. John Jung, Trail City
Edward Lee Brooks of McIntosh and Don Sam of Bullhead have been selected to replace two of the men that were recently rejected at the Induction Center. They will leave within the next week or ten days for Fort Snelling Minn.
Taken from Corson County News March 6, 1941

Letter from Quintin

The following letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Prochaska from their son, Quintin, who is now stationed at Arica, Chile as a radio operator with the Trans Airways will be of interest to his many friends in this vicinity;
Dear Folks;
Well, here I am in Arica. We overnighted in LaPaz last night because of forced landing between Salta and Lucuman. Weather was bad and we couldn’t make Salta and couldn't get back to Lucuman. We landed in a field 4 kilometers from a village named Jarmiendia. We slept in the plane and after sending some passengers by train, dumping some cargo and reloading some cargo to different position, dumping some gasoline and tearing down a fence we, finally go into the air after four trys. The field was very small and muddy and we sure messed it up for some farmer.
We were scheduled to reach Lima yesterday but we don't know if we will even get home today (Saturday). I wasn’t scheduled out from Lima until day before yesterday but left Monday for Buenos Aires in another operators place. We are now in a hotel in Arica waiting for connections from Santiago which we were supposed to make yesterday.
I had an annual physical examination in lima last week and nothing wrong with me but even though I am well again I don’t ever feel too good flying at such a high altitude. I have an oxygen mask now which helps some.
I was supposed to be in Lima today for a birthday party but don’t look like I’ll get there Perhaps I have some mail in Lima? Hope I get bug and aeronautics soon. The Santa Lucia of the grace line is in the harbor here now. The hotel overlooks the Arica harbor.
I listen to the States on short wave radio always in Lima. Usually Breakfast club and news. Also heard Kids program on Sunday morning last. I think you listen to the same program. Well among adios, Quinten
Taken from Corson County News March 27, 1941

Letter from Harris

The News is in receipt of the following letter from Harris Green, who is now stationed in the U.S. Army at Ft. McDowell, Calif;
Dear Frank:
I have a couple things I thought you might be interest in. Make fair copy for some of the items of interest.
There are at least three fellows from McIntosh in Foreign Service, that I know of. One is Floyd ‘Jinny” Johannsen; he went to Panama about three weeks ago. I believe he’s in the Infantry. He was here for almost there months before he sailed. He was working as janitor in Post Headquarters when I first saw him.
Do you remember Roger Pedersen? I met him this morning. I’m second in command of the Classification Section and one of the men I classified this a.m. was he. It was sort of a jolt. Imagine a man coming to your desk and when you ask his name discover he’s someone you haven’t seen for almost five years. He didn’t know me at first. Guess it must be the glasses and the “Milwaukee Goiter”.
The paper is really interesting Frank; it kinda saves me the trouble of writing too many letters to keep up with the home town. Maybe you think I wasn’t all hepped up about that basketball team. It looked like you had a winner at last. Next year, maybe. Sincerely Harris Green
Taken from Corson County News April 10, 1941

Nehl’s are Represented

The local Selective Service board last week received home address cards of five Nehl boys who are in the Navy. Three of the, Earl E., John. M., and Robert E., are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Art Nehl of Watauga; one Donald J. is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Nehl of Watauga and Walden M. is the son of Fred Nehl of Morristown. At one time they were all on the same ship, the U.S.S. California, and for the past two years, up until lately Walden has been stationed in China. Earl, John, Robert and Walden all attended the McIntosh high school.
Taken from Corson County News April 10, 1941

Death of John Nehl Received by Parents

The tragedies of war were brought home Tuesday when Mr. and Mrs. Art Nehl of Watauga received a message from the war department, informing the of the death of their son, John, who was serving with Uncle Sam’s navy, supposedly at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands.
The message was very brief, and below we print the telegram as received by Mr. Nehl:
Washington, DC 656 AM 16
Art. E. Nehl,
Watauga, S.D.
The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, John Michael Nehl, machinist mate first class U.S. Navy was lost in action in the performance of his duties and in the service of his country. The department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station. If remains are recovered they will be interred temporarily in the locality where death occurred and you will be notified accordingly.
Rear Admiral C.W. Nimitz,
The death of John Nehl casts a shadow of sorrow over the entire west river country; he was born near Watauga January 11, 1914 and grew to manhood in this country and was held in the highest esteem by every acquaintance. He attended the McIntosh high school for three years and was an outstanding athlete, starring in basketball and football. In his senior year he left for Snohomish, Wash., where he graduated and then returned to his home at Watauga. Four years next March, he would have served his enlisted period with Uncle Sam’s navy had not death intervened. John was a perfect specimen of manhood, tall and strong, and his promotions in the navy exemplified his adherence to his duties as a sailor. He gave his life for his country and when history is written it will be known that John Nehl died at his post, a brave young man, one who would never yield in spite of adverse conditions.
Besides his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Art Nehl, and other near relatives, he leaves to mourn his death, three brothers, Earl, Robert and Ted, the two former serving in the Navy; four sisters, Eleanor, Rose, Zella and Catherine, the latter residing at Mitchell and the three youngest sisters at home.
Taken from Morristown World December 19, 1941

Joins Navy

Charles Hoffman Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hoffman, who recently enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and was given a rating of third class petty officer and his work in the navy will be stenographic work and he is now stationed at Deadwood.
Charles (Chink) graduated from the McIntosh high school with the class of 1939 and took special training after his graduation at the Black Hills Commercial college and has been employed with the Fish and Hunter office at Rapid City for the past two years.
Taken from Morristown World December 19, 1941

Earl Nehl

Earl Nehl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Art Nehl of Watauga left Wednesday for the west coast where he will rejoin the U.S. Navy, after spending the past three weeks furlough with his parent and friends in this vicinity. He is a brother of John Nehl, whose death was announced this week by the war department.
Taken from Morristown World December 19, 1941

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1942

Quinton Prochaska writes of Christmas of 1941 in Iceland

Quintin V. Prochaska, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Prochaska of Watauga, has had published in the Sunday Visitor, a magazine of national circulation, an account of Christmas in 1941 in Iceland.

A radio operator with Pan-American Airways, the author has been stationed abroad for some time.

The article follows:

"And as the services requires you to keep your uniform clean and spotless as a soldier, you must also keep your soul clean and bright for God."

The young English chaplain, vestments of the priesthood over his uniform of Khaki then wished all a holy Christmas -- expressing the hope that the coming Christmas would, perhaps bring more happiness. His sermon had been very short, not really a sermon at all; just a few well chosen words of hope and wisdom.

The Icelandic priest continued the mass. This was Christmas in Iceland, 1941.

The Catholic church, standing on the highest point of the town of Revkjavik, was filled and the doors were opened and many men unable to crowd into the church heard mass under the stars. Rifles were stacked in the vestibule and steel helmets and gas masks neatly piled along the wall and in front of the church. These soldiers, British and American alike were fully equipped and ready for immediate action. There were also neat, attractive, young American nurses, proud of the lieutenant bars shining brightly on their coats. Young U. S. army air corps pilots and tough line sergeants and men of the RAF, and boys looking about the age of high school students. There were men from all branches of the service, British and American soldiers, worship God in the manner of their own choosing. Some softly hummed or sang with the choir, the hymns they had learned in their homelands as children; others standing grim-lipped in silence.

This is not an army of "pink lemonade soldiers." Those men are toughened and hardened by long hard training and conditioning and work. Those men have a hard life and they are he-men -- but their hearts are not calloused by hate. Those men have folks back home who, perhaps, don't fully realize and appreciate their sacrifices but they don't complain, they are confident and ready, their morale is excellent.

They gaze upon the Christ Child in the crib -- that small figure in the manger reminding them of the Infant Jesus born in Bethlehem and of His promises to men. Their eyes are soft and they have faith; faith in the existance and goodness of God, and faith that men's right's and men's freedom will endure and they solemnly make the vow that dictatorship and oppression of human rights will be defeated.

The mass is over. Soldiers cheerily greet each other with a Merry Christmas and quickly fill the many trucks and these men return to their camps with lighter hearts.

The rumble of the trucks die away: the drone of a patrol plane ever watchful, grows fainter and then all is silent and the world is not at peace but at war.

This was Christmas, 1941, in Iceland as I personally observed it. Those men attending mass, being true to their chosen faith refute the claim that religion has no place in the armed forces. They prove that soldiers can be tough and yet believe in God an I know that their attending mass does not denote weakness but true strength.