notsofancynancy

Posted by: notsofancynancy | April 10, 2014

Marvin Cain goes to the 1943 Rose Bowl

“Half time UCLA Band” Courtesy of the Cain Family

You can click on the pictures to make bigger

The Rose Bowl and parade has always been a big part of our lives because my Grandma Susie lived in Pasadena just a few miles from where the parade was held. She worked for Sears right there on Colorado Boulevard. We lived a half hour away and I have great memories of taking out of town relatives to the parade. There was a factory a block from our house and when the floats were taken from there to Pasadena the day before we got our own little preview of five or six of the floats. Then of course, during the Rose Bowl game our family would gather for the last of the New Year’s festivities and all watch the game together. Those are great memories, ones I cherish. So when I came across Mr. Cain’s pictures of the 1943 game it was really hit a nerve and I just had to research this game and put information to the pictures.

Because Pearl Harbor was bombed and the fear it caused the United States in 1941 PFC Cain along with the rest of the 110^th Quartermaster Regiment were sent to help guard the coast of California. They left Camp Robinson, Arkansas 14 December 1941 and arrived in Northern California at Fort Ord 24 December 1941. Since a lot of the regiment was from Nebraska I am sure they kept tabs on the Rose Bowl that year because the Cornhuskers played the Sanford Indian’s. Sadly that year Sanford was the better team and took the win 21-13. I know at this time up the coast in Fort Ord Dad regiment was ordered to take the trucks up into the forest at night to hide in case of an attack by the Japanese. I know how cold he was as he slept in the truck with only one wool blanket. They were not ready for the cold weather of the coast was throwing at them. I am not sure they were able to sit around and listen to that game on the radio. Dad also tells how dark it was out there with the night sky hidden from the from the dark forest floor.

The regiment spent the next two years running men and supplies up and down the California Coast. The 1942 Rose Bowl game was played in North Carolina but:

According to Wikipedia

After the 1942 Allied victory in the Battle of Midway and the end of the Japanese offensives in the Pacific Theater during 1942, it was deemed that the West Coast was no longer vulnerable to attack, and the Rose Bowl game continued on in the Rose Bowl Stadium. Few Georgia fans were able to make the trip because of travel restrictions.^[3] There were a large number of military servicemen in attendance.^[4] The Tournament of Roses parade itself still was not held due to the war.^[5] Due to the number of American servicemen stationed in Australia, the game was broadcast live on Australian radio.^[6]

Mr. Cain found himself in Pasadena, California around this time and lucky for us he attended the 1943 game, saved his ticket, and took pictures. And God bless the Cain Family for sharing his memories so I can share them with you.They tell me Mr. Cain would not have wanted the attention. I know the same goes for Dad and most of the men from that generation. Thank goodness they preserved this improtant time in their lives through pictures so someone like me can preserve them for our families and the families of others who had family who were there.

“Georgia VS UCLA” Courtesy of the Cain Family

He paid four dollars and with forty cents tax his total cost for admittance was a whole $4.40. Cain traveled through Tunnel 16 to Row 9 and sat in seat 18. The game was held on 1 January 1943 and kickoff was at 2:00 pm.

“Kick Off” Courtesy of the Cain Family

It was a sunny 70 degrees when Georgia and UCLA met at the Rose Bowl that day. And Mr. Cain’s pictures chronicle the game.

“1st Quarter Ga on UCLA 10 Yard Line” Courtesy of the Cain Family

First Quarter Score, Georgia 0, UCLA 0.

“2nd Quarter UCLA on Ga 20 Yrd Line” Courtesy of the Cain Family

Second Quarter Score Georgia 0, UCLA 0.

"3rd Quarter-Ga about to Score Again!" Courtesy of the Cain Family

“[4th] Quarter-Ga about to Score Again!” Courtesy of the Cain Family

According to Wikipedia:

Both teams went scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs had 25 first downs to the Bruins’ 5. In the fourth quarter, the Bruins were backed up against the south goal line. Bob Waterfield attempted the punt 10 yards back from the line of scrimmage as was the custom at the time. The punt was blocked out of the end zone.

I could not find much information other than the above about that last quarter but scoring nine points Georgia would win the game 9-0. After not scoring in the first three quarters I bet that fourth had the crowd on their feet.

“Score Board” Courtesy of the Cain Family

“After the Game” Courtesy of the Cain Family

Photo’s and memories shared by the Cain Family

11 Comments

Posted in 110th/35th Quartermaster, Daily Ramblings, Grab Bag | Tags: 110th Quartermaster, 1943, 35th Quartermaster, Army, California, Georgia, historical, History, Marvin Cain, photo, Rose Bowl, UCLA, World War II, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | April 2, 2014

The Battle of Los Angeles

February 1942 was a scary time for those who lived in the United States. Two months earlier Pearl Harbor had been bombed making the world question what would be next. It also brought the war to our turf.

Nine days after the bombing the 110^th Quartermaster, my father’s regiment, boarded trains headed to Fort Ord in northern California where they were sent to help “guard the coast.”

Marvin Cain’s buddies at the beach near Fort Ord, California, 1942. Marvin Cain wrote “Odell, Byfield, Hayes, Blank” Courtesy of the Cain Family

Dad was assigned to a kitchen truck which was needed because these men did not get the luxury of sleeping at the “fort.” They were ordered to drive the trucks, men, and supplies up into the forest and make camp there. They were under blackout orders and I know it was cold and dark. Dad mentions a couple of things about this time. One was he and Bob Winter tried to burn the kitchen truck down trying to keep warm by lighting the stove. Second how dark it really was. He told of trying to go back to his tent after guard duty and he had a real hard time finding his way. Once he found another man in the wrong bed because he could not find his own.

From Marvin Cain’s collection the “Kitchen.”

In January they were sent further south to San Luis Obispo which is about 161 miles from Los Angeles. This is where they were during the Battle of Los Angeles. I am not sure why I did not know about this event but I have to believe that each one of the men of the 110^thQuartermaster heard of this incident and I am sure they were all on high alert until the facts were sorted out, but could they be?

Late night, 24 February 1942 the people of Los Angeles would be scared out of their wits. I am sure most of them were sleeping and woke out of a sound sleep when air raid sirens, and anti-aircraft fire began and rocked their world. The city was put on mandatory blackout and thousands of air raid wardens were called to their post. I know if I was there I would have been under the bed.

According to ww2today.com/25th-february-1942-the-battle-of-los-angeles:

During the night of 24/25 February 1942, unidentified objects caused a succession of alerts in southern California. On the 24th, a warning issued by naval intelligence indicated that an attack could be expected within the next ten hours. That evening a large number of flares and blinking lights were reported from the vicinity of defense plants. An alert called at 1918 [7:18 p.m., Pacific time] was lifted at 2223, and the tension temporarily relaxed.

But early in the morning of the 25th renewed activity began. Radars picked up an unidentified target 120 miles west of Los Angeles. Antiaircraft batteries were alerted at 0215 and were put on Green Alert—ready to fire—a few minutes later. The AAF kept its pursuit planes on the ground, preferring to await indications of the scale and direction of any attack before committing its limited fighter force.

Radars tracked the approaching target to within a few miles of the coast, and at 0221 the regional controller ordered a blackout. Thereafter the information center was flooded with reports of “enemy planes, ” even though the mysterious object tracked in from sea seems to have vanished. At 0243, planes were reported near Long Beach, and a few minutes later a coast artillery colonel spotted “about 25 planes at 12,000 feet” over Los Angeles. At 0306 a balloon carrying a red flare was seen over Santa Monica and four batteries of anti-aircraft artillery opened fire, whereupon “the air over Los Angeles erupted like a volcano.” From this point on reports were hopelessly at variance

Los Angeles Times, 26 February 1942

Probably much of the confusion came from the fact that anti-aircraft shell bursts, caught by the searchlights, were themselves mistaken for enemy planes. In any case, the next three hours produced some of the most imaginative reporting of the war: “swarms” of planes (or, sometimes, balloons) of all possible sizes, numbering from one to several hundred, traveling at altitudes which ranged from a few thousand feet to more than 20,000 and flying at speeds which were said to have varied from “very slow” to over 200 miles per hour, were observed to parade across the skies.

These mysterious forces dropped no bombs and, despite the fact that 1,440 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition were directed against them, suffered no losses. There were reports, to be sure, that four enemy planes had been shot down, and one was supposed to have landed in flames at a Hollywood intersection.

Residents in a forty-mile arc along the coast watched from hills or rooftops as the play of guns and searchlights provided the first real drama of the war for citizens of the mainland. The dawn, which ended the shooting and the fantasy, also proved that the only damage which resulted to the city was such as had been caused by the excitement (there was at least one death from heart failure), by traffic accidents in the blacked-out streets, or by shell fragments from the artillery barrage.

Los Angeles Times 26 February 1942 Cropped. Look at how the spotlights end on the object instead of continuing on as it would if nothing was there.

Attempts to arrive at an explanation of the incident quickly became as involved and mysterious as the “battle” itself. The Navy immediately insisted that there was no evidence of the presence of enemy planes, and [Secretary of the Navy], Frank Knox announced at a press conference on 25 February that the raid was just a false alarm. At the same conference he admitted that attacks were always possible and indicated that vital industries located along the coast ought to be moved inland.

What came next was a lot of confusion over what it was in the sky that night. It was even more confusing as the logical explanation was ruled out. We know what it was not. It was not a Japanese plane as originally thought, not a plane at all. Whatever it was, was not shot out of the sky or was it? Was it a weather balloon as the government told or was this one of the first mass UFO sighting as conspiracy theorist these days believe?

On 20 April 1942 my father’s company which had been sent to the west coast to help “guard” it, was sent to Van Nuys, California which is a suburb of Los Angeles. Did this move have anything to do with the Battle of Los Angeles? How does one guard against such a thing? They would remain there until they went back to San Luis Obispo in January of 1943 that is a whole nine months! Interesting, if I say so myself.

So what do you think it was?

26 Comments

Posted in 110th/35th Quartermaster, Grab Bag, My Father's Letter's | Tags: 1942, 35th Quartermaster, Army, Battle of Los Angeles, fort mc arthur, historical, History, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times, Robert “Bob” Winter, The Great Air Raid, UFO, World War II, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | March 27, 2014

Honoring Lieutenant Colonel Winquest

Harold L. Winquest

1912-1959

Lt. Col Harold L. Winquest was older than my father by seven years and attended the University of Nebraska-where he graduated in 1934. While there he enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps training program. He arrived back in Holdrege, Nebraska where he continued his career in the National Guard and trained at Camp Ashland in Nebraska which is a National Guard training facility. Winquest did quite a bit of traveling as he received training visiting, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington, DC. In April 1940, Winquest was appointed Captain, 110th Quartermaster Regiment, Company A Commander.

On 23 December 1940, he along with my dad and most of the young men in Nebraska were mustered into the Army. They were induced in different communities around Nebraska such as Company A in the Holdrege National Guard Armory, and dad in Lexington. As Dad, they signed for one year of service.

Courtesy of the Cain Family

It is here Captain Winquest and my dad’s stories meet. The 110^th Quartermaster Regiment, which included both Winquest and Dad’s Company’s boarded trains and left small town Nebraska and were sent to Camp Robinson, Arkansas where they would begin training to go overseas. It is here that Cpt. Winquest meets his future wife where she worked in a civilian job at the camp. They married in 1941 and as Army wives do she would follow her husband around the United States when she could.

He went to all the training maneuvers Dad did, including the Tennessee and Louisiana maneuvers. Then after Pearl Harbor was bombed the 110^th QM was sent to the coast of California where they spent 1942 and most of 1943 guarding the coast from Fort Ord all the way to Los Angeles. Winquest was promoted to Major on 29 May 1942.

28 September 1943 found the Major separated from the 110^th QM and reassigned to the 1^st Army Headquarters Staff and transferred to Governors Island, New York City. It is here Dad and Winquest would part ways. The later would take a very different path than my father did. Here I learned a little bit more about World War II. You see Dad followed Patton around south of France while Eisenhower to the north. His daughter Julie says:

I think [what] is interesting about my dad is that he got to serve under General Eisenhower in the planning and implementation of the invasion of Europe. I think it was because of his experience with the National Guard quartermaster that he served 1st army in the G-4 section.

On 12 October 1943 Winquest boarded the Queen Mary headed to England and was assigned to the 1^st Army Headquarters as a supply and evacuation officer.

18 January 1944 he was sent on an inspection trip to Africa. While there he visited Algiers, Casablanca, Oran and Marrakesh. In January he was sent on another inspection trip to Italy. He visited the front in Italy, Naples and Pompeii.

D-Day (+3) he rode a Landing Ship Tank to Omaha Beach and was a part of the early days of the invasion.

An ourdoor office in a truck, with phones, typewriters, makeshift desks. The men in from, All of Company E, crowd about the first paper they have seen in days. Reading is Pvt. William Rovinson of Little Rock and, and on his left is Pvt. Gabriel Serois of Omaha. Second row, left to right, Pvt. Herman Poppe, West Point, Nev.; Pvt. James Glandon, Holdrege: Pvt. Le Roy Wirtz, Omaha: Pvt. William Ronk, Grand Island. Seated on the top step is Lr. Col W.H. Browne, Lincoln. At the phone is Capt. Harold Winquest and Typing is Pvt. Franck Boyle of Omaha. Courtesy of the Winquest-Johnson Collection

An outdoor office in a truck, with phones, typewriters, makeshift desks. The men in front, All of Company E, crowd about the first paper they have seen in days. Reading is Pvt. William Robinson of Little Rock and, and on his left is Pvt. Gabriel Serois of Omaha. Second row, left to right, Pvt. Herman Poppe, West Point, Nev.; Pvt. James Glandon, Holdrege: Pvt. Le Roy Wirtz, Omaha: Pvt. William Ronk, Grand Island. Seated on the top step is Lt. Col W.H. Browne, Lincoln. At the phone is Capt. Harold Winquest and Typing is Pvt. Franck Boyle of Omaha. Courtesy of the Winquest-Johnson Collection

From the “Chronology of Military Career” compiled by his daughter Julie:

July 21, 1944: Living in an apple orchard. Office in the command echelon is a blackout tent attached to the end of a truck fixed up like an office. It has four folding tables and chairs set up in the office tent with a large situation map at one end. There is a piece of air corps matting on the floor and regular telephones and electric lights operated by a captured generator. He is sleeping in a smaller 2-man tent. He has an orderly to wash his clothes. Sleeping on cots and rubber mattresses.

As near as I can figure out the 1^st Army took a more northern route across Europe through Belgium and into Germany. As this time Winquest was still with the 1^st Army command post which was where he was on VE-Day, 7 May 1945. Three days later he was transferred to the 2nd Army Group Headquarters, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Winquest would remain overseas until 11 October, when he returned to the USA aboard the same ship he came over on, the Queen Mary. He was discharged 12 February 1946 from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The men he lead, 110th Quartermaster, Company A, Camp Robinson, Arkansas

The men he led, 110th Quartermaster, Company A, Camp Robinson, Arkansas, about 1941

He was then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel effective 31 December 1946 in the Officers Reserve Corps. His wife tells us he was to be promoted while he was overseas but there was promotion freeze.

Lt. Col. Winquest was awarded the following decorations: Oversees Bars located on left sleeve, one bar for every 6 months. European Theater Operation ribbon contained 6 stars for campaigns, one for Italy, one for Normandy, one for North France, one for Germany, Ardennes, and Central Europe, Invasion arrowhead and Ribbon. He also received the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the American Defense Service Medal in 1947.

A true World War II hero in my book and it is my honor to write this in his memory.

Written with the help of Lt. Col. Winquest’s daughter, Julie

Reference: Harold Latham Winquest: chronology of military career, ROTC through WWII, by Julie Sand

7 Comments

Posted in 110th/35th Quartermaster, Another Hero Has Been Called Home, Daily Ramblings | Tags: 110th QM Co. A, 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Armed Forces, Army, family, Harold L. Winquest, World War II, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | March 14, 2014

An Update

Kearney Hub, 3/14 Kearney, Nebraska

Well the article has generated a response and once again I am amazed I have been so lucky. Julie contacted me and her father Harold was with the 110th National Guard unit from Holdrege, Nebraska. She has generously shared his scrapbook with me and I am happy to report that with her help I will try to tell the story of the 110th Quartermaster, Company A.

Now mind you my dad was not a apart of this company but he walked this same journey just to the north west of Holdrege in Lexington, Nebraska. But they all were part of the 110th Quartermaster.

Page Two

So Please allow me to introduce you to the Holdrege 110th QM, Company A. members taken about the time they were mustered into Federal Service 23 December 1940 at National Guard Armory.

110th Quartermaster Regiment, Company A Nebraska National Guard is made up of Holdrege and Phelps county men. They are now in service with other units of the National Guard at Camp Robinson Ark. Courtesy of the Winquest-Johnson Collection (page down for list of names)

Thank you Julie for sharing your collection with me. I will do my best to tell the real story of these brave young men. Thank you for sharing your “Dad’s” story with me I just hope I will do it justice.

The men are called upon!
Courtesy of Winquest-Johnson collection

1^st row left to right

Corporal Warren Singleterry,

Sargent Tom Ireland

Sargent Irving Blauvelt

Sargent Clayton Anderson

1st Lieutenant Melvin Amen

Captain Harold Winquest

2^nd Lieutenant Albert Meyers

1^st Sargent Levi Longberg

Sargent Arthur Linder

Sargent Edward O’Shea

Corporal Eugene Ostrand

Corporal John Steinke

2^nd Row left to right

Corporal Ray Stinstrom

Ralph Shatter

Charles Lance

Charles Anderson

Edison Lee

Ernest Mitchel,

Clyde Bray

Roy Dibben

James Sidewell

Corporal Rodney Johnson

3^rd Row, left to right

Kenneth Phillips

Wayne Johnson

Charles Stinke

Milton Shaffer

Floyd Byfield

Raymond Ek

Eldon Brooks

Kermit Anderson

Harry Dahlstrom

Harold Anderson

LaVern Palmer

Royal Carlson

Neil Morrison

Charles Clark

Delbert Pearson

Roy Pearson

Dale Meisenbach

Clynton Anderson

12 Comments

Posted in 110th/35th Quartermaster | Tags: 110th QM Co. A, 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Army, Harold Winquest, Kaarney Hub, Kearney, Nebraska, notsofancynancy, Rod Johnson, World War II, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | March 6, 2014

Honoring Harry Dahlstrom

It is with a heavy heart I have to post the only known living member of the original 1941, 110th Quartermaster has passed away. When I first started the journey through my father’s letters someone told me about Harry Dahlstrom. I feel blessed that I got to have one phone conversation with him. He became my last link to my father and his days in training to go overseas. I am sad to think there are no others left that I know of and so now preserving their memories lies on my shoulders. I feel blessed I have so much to preserve.

Provided by the Cain Family, Ft. Four men AJ Bud Meyers, Melvin Amen, Ed O’Shea, Don Johnson, 2nd row: OC Gustafson, Axtel, Eldon Anderson, Jim O’Dell, Edison, Marvin Cain. Back Row Don Clayton, Ardra Franzen, Kearney, Rod Johnson, Roy Pearson, Harry Dahlstrom, Bill Maska, Minden, Burdette Weedlund, Minden, and Henry Hansen, Grand Island

Once the 110th QM got to Camp Robinson Mr. Dahlstrom was transferred out of the division. Harry ended up in the Pacific Theater Operation while those that stayed with the division went to Europe.

Harry Dahlstrom Courtesy of the Prairie Museum

Here is a copy of his obituary.

Memorial Services for Harry D. Dahlstrom will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, March 7, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Jeff Adams officiating. Private family interment will be held prior to the services in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with military honors conducted by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the U.S. Army National Guard Military Honors Team.

     Harry D. Dahlstrom, 94 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at Holdrege Memorial Homes. Harry was born on May 1, 1919 on a farm eleven miles northwest of Holdrege in Phelps County Nebraska, the sixth son and eighth child of nine born to Elmer and Johannah (Asplund) Dahlstrom. He attended Ash Grove School District #9 into the 7th grade. The family then moved to Sumner, Nebraska in 1930, and lived there until March 1933 at which time the family returned to Phelps County, where they resided eleven miles north of Holdrege. Harry completed his high school career at Holdrege High School, graduating with the class of 1935.

     After a year out of school doing farm work and saving enough money to attend college, Harry became a student at Kearney State Teachers College for two years. He was then employed at the Phelps County Court House, working for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), the farm program, measuring land and working in the office. It was there he met Evelyn Ann “Ev” Youngquist, who later became his wife.

     In November of 1940, he joined the Holdrege National Guard Unit, Co. A of the 110th Quartermaster Regiment, which was activated into Federal Service at the Holdrege City Auditorium on December 23, 1940. In January 1941, the unit was sent to Camp Robinson at Little Rock, Arkansas. The unit went on maneuvers in the summer of 1941, first to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, then to Louisiana. Coming home from the Tennessee maneuvers, one of the soldiers apparently yelled at some young ladies on a golf course. Nearby was Lieut. Gen. Ben Lear, who in anger recalled the unit to Memphis after they had reached their area at Camp Robinson. The unit became known as the YooHoo Boys throughout the nation. After Pearl Harbor, the company was transported by troop train to Fort Ord, California just before Christmas in 1941. Later stationed at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, Harry and Ev were united in marriage in an Army chapel on January 24, 1942. Moving to Van Nuys, California for a short time, Harry left the outfit to attend Officer Candidate School. He obtained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant at Camp Lee, Virginia in November 1942 and was assigned to the 47th QM Truck Regiment at Fort Ord. In 1943, he was appointed commander of the newly activated 3473rd QM Truck Company. Many of his personnel had no driving experience, so he and his other officers trained them to drive 2 ½ ton cargo trucks. He went with his company to the South Pacific in September 1944, going first to New Guinea, then to Luzon Island in the Philippines and finally to Japan in late 1945. He returned to San Francisco, California just before Christmas in 1945 and was honorably discharged from the military service on February 26, 1946. Following his service, he and Ev returned to Holdrege, where they raised their only daughter, Jane.

     His first job at home in Holdrege was as the Veterans Service Officer for a brief time, after which he went to work for Allmand Bros. Mfg. Company in the office and later selling Allmand welders to dealers and also to farmers.

     In 1955, he worked in the home improvement business for a year. Harry then began a career with Investors Diversified Services (IDS), which later became known as American Express Financial Advisors. Harry continued to serve clients at American Express until his retirement in 1999 at the age of 80.

     Harry was active in the community, serving on the boards of ESU 11, the Phelps County Community Foundation, and the Phelps County Historical Society. He was also active in the First United Methodist Church, the Holdrege Rotary Club, the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce and in many other community activities.

     Harry loved Holdrege and Phelps County, and he was very interested in people. His philosophy was to make a new friend at every opportunity. He loved sharing a good joke, having a lively political discussion, and he was a proud Democrat in a Republican town and state. He enjoyed sailing his boat at Johnson Lake, and he insisted that his coffee was hot and black. Music was important to him throughout his life, from the time he sang solos in church as a child, sang in several barbershop quartets, led the singing at Rotary Club meetings, and sang in the church choir. One of Harry’s loves was Big Band and Jazz music. Harry and Ev enjoyed dancing to the Big Bands at the Holdrege City Auditorium and in California during WW II. Harry served as a Big Band DJ for various events in the community, and for a time he had a radio program on KUVR, playing big band standards for the Senior Center radio show. Photography was a hobby for much of his life, and he and his camera captured scenes in California and the South Pacific during WW II and beautiful landscapes around Phelps County and Nebraska.

     Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ev on March 1, 2006; five brothers: Lawrence, Roy, Eldon, John Morris and Ralph; and three sisters: Orpha Dahlstrom, Evelyn Watson and Lois Jean Dahlstrom.

     Harry is survived by his daughter, Jane Dahlstrom-Quinn and her husband, Donald of Evergreen, Colorado; two grandsons: Michael Quinn of Evergreen and Patrick Quinn of Denver, Colorado; one sister-in-law, Kathryn Dahlstrom of Auburn, California; three nieces: Karen Everett (Richard) of Omaha, Linda Burdick (Don) of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Jennifer Baker of Colfax, California; three nephews: James Watson (Velda) of Lincoln, Bud Dahlstrom (Brenda) of Waverly, Nebraska, and Mark Dahlstrom (Keri) of Nevada City, California; and a host of other family members and friends. The couple were blessed to have as part of their family an American Field Service Foreign Exchange Student, Jessica Grob who presently resides with her family in Santiago, Chile.

     Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

     A memorial has been established in Harry’s honor and kindly suggested to the Phelps County Historical Society, the Phelps County Community Foundation – Harry and Evelyn Dahlstrom Scholarship Fund, the First United Methodist Church of Holdrege, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

     Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at http://www.nelsonbauerfh.com

     The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.

Rest in peace Mr. Dahlstrom and tell my Dad I miss him.

6 Comments

Posted in Another Hero Has Been Called Home, Daily Ramblings, Grab Bag | Tags: 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Army, Harry Dahlstrom, Harry Dalhstrom, My Father's Letter's, World War II, WWII, WWII Letters

Posted by: notsofancynancy | February 27, 2014

1958 Reunion Brochure

1958 Souvenir Program-You can click on the image to enlarge

Page 1

By Joe Resch

Page 2-3

Joe Resch, Joe Reznicek, “Pop” Roe Gordon

Pages 4-5

Brig. Gen. Guy N. Henninger, Lt. Col. W. Bill Atkinson

Page 6-7

Insert blown up

Last Page

by Marcus L. Poteet

24 Comments

Posted in Daily Ramblings, Family, Grab Bag, My Father's Letter's | Tags: 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Army, Family History, History, My Father's Letter's, World War II, World War II Love Letters, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | February 20, 2014

110th-35th QM Timeline

Marvin Cain wrote “Co A 110 QM”- Camp Robinson- Courtesy of the Cain Family

Various stations and areas occupied by 35^th Quartermaster since entry into active federal service.

23 December 1940 – National Guard of QM, which was part of the 35^th Infantry Division, mustered into active federal service.

2 January 1941 – arrived at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, near Little rock, Arkansas.

13 May 1941 – Provisional battalion from QM departed for Second Army Tennessee Maneuvers.

6 July 1941 – QM provisional battalion returned to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Upon passing through Memphis, Tennessee, individuals YOO Hoo-ed gals. Yoo hooing was voiced as being riotous by General Lear, Second Army Commander.

7 July 1941 – QM provisional battalion marched fifteen (15) miles as punishment for the previously stated Yoo Hooing. Immensely enjoyed by troops with nationwide publicity.

14 August 1941 – QM departed for Louisiana Maneuvers.

6 October 1941 – QM returned to Camp Robinson, Arkansas, from Louisiana Maneuvers.

7 December 1941 – “REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR”.

16 December 1941 – QM departed from Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

24 December 1941 – QM arrived at Fort Ord, California

18 January 1942 – QM arrived at Camp San Luis Obispo, California

1 March 1942 – QM reorganized from QM Regiment to QM Battalion.

20 April 1942 – QM arrived at Van Nuys California, suburb of Los Angeles.

15 November 1942 – QM reorganized from QM Battalion to QM Company.

18 January 1943 – QM arrived at Camp San Luis Obispo, CA

21 March 1943 – QM departed from Camp San Luis Obispo, California

28 March 1943 – QM arrived at Camp Rucker, Alabama.

15 November 1943 – QM departed for Second Army Tennessee maneuvers

15 January 1944 – QM arrived at Camp Butner, North Carolina.

5 May 1944 – QM departed for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

11 May 1944 QM departed from Camp Kilmer, New Jersey for Port of Embarkation at New York.

12 May 1944 – QM Departed U.S.A.

25 May 1944 – QM arrived at Bristol, England

26 may 1944 – QM arrived at Scarne Cross Camp located at Launceston, Cornwall, England.

6 July 1944 – QM arrived at Weymouth, England.

7 July 1944 – QM departed from Weymouth, England for France.

35^th Quartermaster Company arrived on Omaha Beach 7 July 1944. Upon arrival QM departed for de-water proofing area, which was near COLLEVILLE, France, remaining there approximately two (2) hours. Moved to bivouac area near COLOMBIERES, France.

9 July 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area near LES LANDES, France.

21 July 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately two (2) MILES SW of ST CLAIR, France.

29 July 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately two (2 miles SW of ST CLAIR, France.

20 July 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately three (3) miles NE of ST LO, France.

3 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately four (4) miles SW of TORIGNI. Billeted in “Chateau de Breuilly”.

5 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately eight (8) miles NW of ST POIS, France, in a wheat field.

6 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately four (4) miles South of ST. HILATRE-du-HARCOUET. 35^th Div. was placed under Third Army after being with First Army since arrival in France.

13 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately two (2) miles East of LE MANS.

16 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area on outskirts of MOREE. Approximately forty (40) miles East of LE MANS.

20 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area on outskirts of BAIGNEAUX, in dense woods.

22 August 1944 – QM moved to area vicinity PITHIVIERS for issue of rations, stayed approximately four (4) hours. Continued move to outskirts of LADON, directly West of MONTARGIS.

25 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area in vicinity of LA CHAPELLE, approximately four (4) miles East of MONTARGIS.

29 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area approximately two (2) miles North of VILLENEUVE-l’archeveque, NE of SENS.

31 August 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area one and one-half (1 ½) miles NW of ESTISSAC, France, approximately ten (10) miles West of TROYES.

2 September 1944 – QM moved to bivouac area on outskirts of CHASSERICOURT, France, approximately fifteen (15) miles South VITRY-le-FRANCOIS.

8 September 1944 – QM moved to vicinity of Bulligny, France, approximately ten (10) miles south of Toul.

15 September 1944 – QM moved one (1) mile NE of Goviller, France, approximately twenty (20) miles SW of Nancy.

18 September 1944 – QM moved to outskirts of Haraucourt, France, almost directly east of Nancy, approximately ten (10) miles.

20 September 1944 – QM bombed and strafed by four (4) planes, dropped two bombs in vicinity of area, no casualties.

25 September 1944 – QM moved to SW section of Nancy, France, in Rommel barracks.

27 September 1944 – QM moved to St. Max, France, which is NE section of Nancy.

12 October 1944 – QM moved to new area within the town of St. Max, France.

10 November 1944 – QM moved to Brin, France, approximately ten (10) miles SW of Chateau-Salins.

20 November 1944 – QM moved to Dalhain, France, approximately five (5) miles NE of Chateau-Salins.

24 November 1944 – QM moved to vicinity NE of Morhange, France, at railroad station.

8 December 1944 – QM moved to the town of St. Jean-Rohrbach, France, in French barracks.

22 December 1944 – QM moved to the city of Metz, France.

23 December 1944 – QM moved to new area within Metz, France.

26 December 1944 – QM moved to Arlon, Belgium. Billeted in Palais-de-Justice, place of Leopold.

27 December 1944 – QM moved to Guirsch, Belgium, approximately three (3) miles north of Arlon.

19 January 1945 – QM moved to Mitz, France.

23 January 1945 – QM moved to Moyenvic, approximately twenty (20) miles NE of Nancy, France, Seventh Army sector.

24 January 1945 – QM moved to the town of Gungwiller, France.

26 January 1945 – QM moved to the town of Bettwiller.

30 January 1945 – QM moved to Verdun, France.

31 January 1945 – QM moved to Rijckholt, Holland, approximately six (6) miles SE of Masstricht, Ninth Army sector.

5 February 1945 – QM moved to Stahe, Germany, “Buzz-bomb alley.”

15 February 1945 – QM Company awarded Meritorious Service Unite Plaque by G.O. No. 12, Hq. 35^th Inf Div.

1 March 1945 – QM moved to NUCLELEOVEN, Germany.

2 March 1945 – QM moved to BRUGGEN, Germany.

4 March 1945 – QM moved to STRAELEN, Germany.

11 March 1945 – QM moved to BRUGGEN, Germany for rest period.

26 March 1945 – QM moved to area East of RHINE, in town of LOHNEN.

30 March 1945 – QM moved to DINSLAREN, Germany.

1 April 1945 – QM moved to vicinity of GLADBECK, Germany.

12 April 1945 – QM moved to RECKLINGHAUSEN, Germany.

13 April 1945 – QM moved to QUERENHORST, Germany, approximately 45 miles NE of BRAUNSCHWEIG (Brunswick.)

18 April 1945 – QM moved to DOLLE, Germany.

20 April 1945 – QM moved to East edge of TANGERHUTTE, Germany, approximately four (4) miles West of ELBE RIVER.

26 April 1945 – QM moved to BURGDORF, Germany, fifteen (15) miles NE of HANHOVER.

7 May 1945 – Hostilities with Germany’s forces ended, to be effective 0001 9 May 1945.

17 May 1945 – QM moved to ASCHEBERG, Germany, 15 miles South of MUNSTER.

19 May 1945 – QM moved to BOCKUM, six (6) miles west of HAMM, Germany.

Original courtesy of the Cain Family/Transcribed November, 2013 by Julie Jensen

19 Comments

Posted in Grab Bag, My Father's Letter's | Tags: 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Army, family, Family History, History, Marvin Cain, My Father's Letter's, World War II Love Letters, WWII

Posted by: notsofancynancy | February 8, 2014

The “Yoo Hoo” Incident

This incident occurred during the Tennessee maneuvers in the summer of 1941 and earned Dad’s Division, the 110th Quartermaster and General Ben Lear the first nicknames of World War II.

I am not saying these men were proud of the incident. It was an embarrassment that many would regret the rest of their lives. It was the press that took the incident and ran with it. My soldiers would have liked to forgotten it.

Please if you are a family member and want to contact me please do so at

notsofancynancy916@hotmail.com

I post it in honor and in memory of the 110th-35th Quartermaster.

: 1958 Reunion Program, note “of the Famous “Yoo Hoo” Regiment”

It is here in the timeline that the incident that made my father’s regiment famous happened. Dad was on furlough at this time, falling in love with my mom and hanging out with her family in Brookville, Kansas. Even so, news of this incident provided the “mothers” of the soldiers a reason to campaign. This is where Dad’s regiment and Lieutenant General (LTG) Ben Lear were granted the first nicknames of World War II. This is a story worth preserving.

: General Ben Lear

The 110th Quartermaster, 35 Division, still at Camp Robinson was providing ground transportation for the 2nd Infantry to and from the Tennessee training grounds which were about 145 miles away. The training exercises were headed by a newly promoted Lieutenant General (LTG) Ben Lear. From reading my father’s letters at 62 years old he directed and trained his soldiers like a conductor conducts a band, with precision. Lear expected his soldiers to exhibit good manners as well as learn to fight and live like soldiers.

On a hot day in July 1941, the 110thQM rolled into Memphis Tennessee. It was returning to Camp Robinson after six weeks in the field in a convoy of 80 trucks and over 300 men. The men had been praised for being top notch in their field maneuvers and they were proud. They had to remove their hats because their heads had gotten quite big with all the praise they had gotten.

: Found in the suitcase

They were almost giddy (if a man can be giddy) as they began their return trip. The Division knew they would be sleeping in their bunks back in camp with full bellies, and a warm shower rather than bathing out of their helmet as they had just learned to do. They broke out in song and tried to pass the time, loosened their ties, and unbuttoned the top button of their fatigues to help with the unrelenting heat. They passed through Tennessee on that hot day and being only 45 miles from Camp Robinson the soldiers were anxious to get some well deserved rest.

A convoy from Dad’s View

It was then the convoy reached a Country Club and there just happened to be a group of beautiful woman in short golf skirts which were all the rage in 1941 They had just finished a round of golf. As boys will be boys and men will be men the soldiers hollered out to the woman with many whistles and lots of Yoo Hoo’s. I am sure many other words were said. They also started razzing the other golfers trying to throw them off their game. At this point an unassuming old man came out from the golf course. He arrived sporting Oxford golf cleats, a pair of cotton seersucker knickers, his matching knee high socks, brown vest and his golf club clutched in his hand. He shook it at the trucks in anger. When the soldiers saw him, it added more fuel to the fire as they laughed and made fun of the old geezer. He stomped and hollered spewing his displeasure in not so many words. The end of the convoy was abreast when the man was finally recognized by the commanding officers riding in one of the last trucks. It was LTG Ben Lear in the flesh. He certainly did not look like a Lieutenant General in his golf clothes. He was certainly not doing a happy dance. He was disgusted with the men’s lack of respect for the lovely ladies and ashamed of them exhibiting such inappropriate behavior while wearing the Army uniform. As the Commanders tried to calm him down, the first of the 80 trucks were so far ahead not everyone knew what had just transpired. Lear got even angrier and demanded that the men return to camp night and they stay loaded in their vehicles until he got there to address them.

Now remember, the convoy was so long that the front did not even see LTG Lear and had no idea why they were told to hold their positions on their loaded trucks. There were many baffled soldiers wanting to get the trucks unloaded so they could relax. The smell of dinner filled the air and the men were excited to catch up on the mail that they had missed while they were gone. LTG Lear appeared in his uniform with his stripes and stars and demanded that every man on that convoy turn in their resignation or face their punishment. A lot of them did not know why they were being punished until Lear left that night. The men were aghast with shame as they learned the identity of the man with the golf club, the man that most of the men did not see. LTG Lear was now a face not one of those men would ever forget, and this incident would bind the regiment together long after the war. The regiment was told to go back to the airport in Memphis, set their tents up and fall in the next morning for a field inspection. There was no shower that evening. Although they got the food it was ice cold and not many ate. More than half of the convoy was paying for the remarks of a couple truck loads of men. In the morning they would stand as one.

If you look at our service people today you might say, fifteen miles is not such a hard thing to do especially if they are doing only five miles at a time. But these men had only begun training and were only six weeks into field training. Up until now their training was behind books. Most of them were farm boys who had entered the National Guards with the lure of money, a twenty dollar paycheck each month. They were now finding themselves training for a war they did not think they would have to fight Most of the men were truck drivers, clerical workers, secretaries, typist, and officers. Lastly, it was hot and humid having topped the chart off at 97 degrees. Many men fell off the lines that day due to heatstroke and dehydration.

The “Yoo Hoo March,” as it had come to be known was about to climb its way to too being the biggest controversy so far in the men’s training. Apparently there was a club of moms, called The Arkansas Department of Army Mothers. Once they caught wind of the incident and learned of the plight of the soldiers it was on! I have seen how protective moms can be of their sons. I cannot even imagine how those moms’ made the incident and their displeasure known. Within the month the whole United States knew about the fifteen mile hike and the opinions were flying. Congressmen and senators weighed-in with their opinions. The commander of the 35th Division was Major General Ralph E. Truman, cousin to then Senator Harry S. Truman. The Major General voiced his support for the discipline being too harsh for the infamous incident. It seems from all accounts the only people who did not complain much were the men from the 110 QM. With all the press around they thought they were stars. The crowds lined the streets all the way back to camp with people cheering the men on.

LTG Lear and the 110th QM would receive the first nicknames of World War II forever being branded as Yoo Hoo Lear, and the 110th Yoo Hoo Regiment. It was also the first time a Civilian would write a song about World War II. The stories went wild and made plenty of newspapers. It also spread by word of mouth. Eventually the story was featured in Time Magazine in July 1941. Two songs were written about the incident: The “Yoo Hoo Song” was sung to “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”; and a song called “Yankee Doodle 1941”, with words like “General Lear was playing golf (he is twelve years over fifty), pretty girls were playing too and boy did they look nifty.” There was a Yoo Hoo pack of cigarettes, there were candy bars made, and there was even a Yoo Hoo club started with membership cards.

“Those poor men did nothing wrong,” A group of young Texan woman reported in a newspaper article about the incident. It featured four beautiful college women from San Antonio Texas holding a sign that says, “YOO HOO ALL YOU WANT TO BOYS, Lear isn’t here,” and “Come on down fellows!” There was talk of asking for LTG Lear’s resignation but he defended his decision. I cannot imagine something like this getting into the press these days but our country was trying to learn just how to do this thing called war and LTG Lear was dedicated to making these boys into soldiers.

Dad writes about the incident

13 July 1941

That deal about those boys walking home from Tennessee. I guess the general was playing golf with some lady friends and one of the boys hollered and told him not to get it in the wrong hole. That is what started the whole thing.

And in the same envelope he writes to my grandma.

Sure was glad to hear from you. I guess everybody feels the same about the Generals deal on that convoy. Part of it those boys had been on maneuvers for the past 6 weeks. One captain is in the hospital over it and about 10 passed out on the way. The papers down here have sure been full of it. Last Sunday one paper had a full page of letters written in by people along the way.

Then on 29 July 1941 he writes.

I was in town to a show Sat. nite and they had a phase in the news reel about the Yoo Hoo boys. That sure covered a lot of territory. We have heard about it being used in Oregon. They were making fun of it up there.

Our father’s regiment became famous and because of the Yoo Hoo incident they would always be remembered as the “110th Yoo Hoo Regiment.” It was on the brochures of each of their reunions and the story told and retold. The name also stuck with LTG Lear and followed him home three years later. As the ship docked that he sailed home in Lear walked to disembark and was met by hundreds of GI’s shouting “Yoo Hoo!” LTG Lear with a blank face and no acknowledgement of what was shouted stormed ashore keeping his head up, shoulders back, gut sucked in ignoring the Yoo Hoo’s. He was a brave man to have had to taken the wrath of the public.To this day if you look up LTG Ben Lear you will find that the Yoo Hoo nickname follows him even in death.

Found in the suitcase

Reference Wikipedia, 35th Division, 110th Regiment, the 1958 Reunion Brochure, Time Magazine July 1944, Mike Allred Yoo Hoo Scrapbook Collection

18 Comments

Posted in Daily Ramblings, Family, Grab Bag, My Father's Letter's | Tags: 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Army, Family History, Lexington Nebraska, Military, My Father's Letter's, The Yoo Hoo Incident, Yoo Hoo

Posted by: notsofancynancy | February 8, 2014

California woman seeks connections to father – Kearney Hub: Local

Here is what I have been up to this week!

California woman seeks connections to father – Kearney Hub: Local.

11 Comments

Posted in Daily Ramblings, Family, Grab Bag, My Father's Letter's | Tags: 110th Quartermaster, 35th Quartermaster, Army, Blog, Family History, My Father's Letter's

Posted by: notsofancynancy | January 2, 2014

A Funny Thing happened on the way to the Campfire

Last Thanksgiving we went camping with my hubby’s oldest daughter, her husband, and their two kids. We planned to cook a turkey with all the fixings. It was a great plan and as I look back now I wonder if I stepped into the Twilight Zone.

Looks like it could be the Twilight Zone

The day was warm and the geology of the Owl Canyon Campground was glowing in the early morning sun. Kim came back from the hike before the others and I filled her in on my journey through Dad’s letters. I noticed that on my father’s VE-Day roster was a man who had the same last name as Tim, her husband. I said “Wouldn’t it be funny if this man is Tim’s relative. Where is his family from?” Nebraska she said and I thought “Wow that would be really weird as this man is also from Nebraska.” We both laughed.

When the rest got back from the hike and were resting up I yelled out of the motorhome to Tim, “Hey Tim, where is your family from?” “Cozad, Nebraska” was his reply. My chin hit the ground. My great-grandparents, both Dads maternal and paternal families homesteaded in Cozad back in the late 1800’s. Now mind you Cozad may be a bit bigger these days but not back then. I had just entered The Twilight Zone.

So I asked him what name was the family that was from there and he told me. It was not the name of the man in Dad’s unit but was it one in my family tree? No way! This is just a coincidence. But how many people can actually say their families came from Cozad? Since I had my computer with me and my PAD file with my father’s family tree is on it I pulled it out and looked up the last name of his great-grandmother. There were 25 people in my tree with that last name. Now they had to pick me up off the floor. We searched my tree for other family names he remembered and some of those were there. By the end of the weekend my grandson was calling me “grandma slash cousin.” We left promising to get in touch with our family historians and see what comes out of it.

When I was home my historian referred me to a piece that was written by one of the family called “My little house on the Nebraska Plains.” It was in the files I had on the disk which came with the tree files. I had read this piece many times as the author really told some great tails about growing up as a homesteader. I was familiar with it but went back and reread it again. There at the top was the author’s name. It was Tim’s great-grandma.

My cousin/son-in-law, grandson/cousin, granddaughter/cousin, step-daughter-in-law/cousin, and Hubby

My step-son-in-law/cousin, grandson/cousin, granddaughter/cousin, step-daughter/cousin, and Hubby

To say I am blown away would be putting it mildly. I had to look at how we had both come to be at that campfire so many years later. Tim and I both grew up in Southern California him in Orange County and me in the Los Angeles Basin. I met my hubby on a 4×4 trip I was leading in the California desert. Tim met and eventually married my hubby’s daughter, making me his step-mother-in-law/cousin. What are the odds?

But wait there is a bit more. I friended Tim’s uncle on Facebook and my sister-in-law (She married my brother) noticed his name. She called me one day asking how I knew him. When she told me the name I had to think because I had not yet talked to him. “How do you know “So and So?” I sat down and explained the campfire journey. She was blown away at Tim being our cousin. Quite a while later she tells me, “Here is the thing, “So and So” and I grew up together and he was one of my dearest friend. I lost touch with him when he moved to Oregon.”

Could it get any weirder?

15 Comments

Posted in Daily Ramblings, Family, Grab Bag, Humor | Tags: 6% of separation, California, camping, cousin, Cozad, desert, family, Family History, humor, Nebraska, owl canyon campground, Thanksgiving