Chalmer Peterson, Callender
By SANDY MICKELSON, Messenger staff writer CALLENDER — An elderly couple in Stupna, Czechoslovakia, is the face of World War II for Chalmer Peterson, of Callender. Children crying is the sound of war. The sight of war stands strong. Two Sherman tanks facing one another on a road four miles outside Stupna when the American and Russian armies met one another to declare defeat of the Germans. “There was very little resistance toward the last,” Peterson said. “We were at Leipzig, and went from there to the Mulde River to meet the Russians. They hadn’t got there yet, so they loaded us up in 6-by-6s and we went south and kept going and ended up in Pilson, Czechoslovakia. Boy, were the people glad to see us. We got a welcome you couldn’t believe — old ladies came out with champagne. “A German Panzer tank division surrendered to us — 1,100 men. They surrendered to us because they didn’t want to surrender to the Russians.
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Bill Baber, Fort Dodge
November 11, 2008In World War II, the U.S. submarine force suffered the highest loss rate of the Armed Forces — 22 percent of its men were lost. » Full Story
Chalmer Peterson, Callender
November 11, 2008CALLENDER — An elderly couple in Stupna, Czechoslovakia, is the face of World War II for Chalmer Peterson, of Callender. » Full Story
Dale Field, Fort Dodge
November 11, 2008Dean Kluss, Woolstock
November 11, 2008WOOLSTOCK — Dean Kluss was a senior in high school when he decided to make a career by joining the U.S. Navy. » Full Story
Dennis Mraz, Clarion
November 11, 2008CLARION — Dennis Mraz found himself with a lucky number 8 in the draft lottery, with the prospects of the United States zeroing in on Vietnam. » Full Story
Glenn Rohden, Paton
November 11, 2008PATON — Like many who choose to enter military service, Glenn Rohden, of rural Paton, comes from a line of soldiers. » Full Story
Herb Billman, Clarion
November 11, 2008CLARION — At age 88, Herb Billman still stays busy. » Full Story
Jim Peterson, Gowrie
November 11, 2008GOWRIE — On July 2, 1970, Jim Peterson’s number was up. » Full Story
Laurel Palmer, Webster City
November 11, 2008When Laurel Palmer enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, women recruits took basic training, though it was completely » Full Story
Lee Ayers, Webster City
November 11, 2008WEBSTER CITY — For Lee Ayers, there was no question that he would enter the military. His father, Leo Ayers was a World War I veteran. » Full Story
Mader family
November 11, 2008Keeping military planes in the air has become something of a tradition for the Mader family. » Full Story
Matt Kostos, Fort Dodge
November 11, 2008U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matt Kostos works to make sure the Air Force maintains strength in numbers. » Full Story
Michael Trenary, Fort Dodge
November 11, 2008It may have been a small outpost, but it had big action.
Sgt. » Full Story
Orville Jensen, Fort Dodge
November 11, 2008He didn’t see much action — even though he was surrounded by it. » Full Story
Richard Bean, Slifer
November 11, 2008As a newlywed in 1944, Richard Bean had to leave his bride behind while he went off to serve his country in World War II. » Full Story
Richard Irelan, Webster City
November 11, 2008WEBSTER CITY — Courage and compassion — two things which the U.S. » Full Story
Ted Knutson III, Webster City
November 11, 2008WEBSTER CITY — Ted Knutson III served in the U.S. » Full Story
Tyson Holm, Lake City
November 11, 2008LAKE CITY — Some people think of Operation Iraqi Freedom in terms of negativity, oil and greed.
But for U.S. Marine Cpl. » Full Story





