University of Wisconsin River Falls - Meletean Yearbook (River Falls, WI)

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Lieutenant (jg) JOHN D. FRANK John D. Frank of Phillips came to River Falls in 1939 and Sent two years at the Teachers College in the Agriculture ipartment. enlisting in the Naval Reserves in August, 1941. He received his wings at Pensacola, Florida, and was assigned to patrol duty at Panama and later at Jamaica. He was transferred to a fighter plane, and his training continued until the carrier USS Kaason Bay was sent into action in July, 1944, in the invasion of Southern France. He flew a carrier-based navy fighter plane in this invasion, and was • reported missing August 17, 1944. He had been awarded the Air Medal and received the Purple Heart. A brother, Bernard, served with the armed forces in the South Pacific. In 1944, Lieutenant Frank morried Miss Eleanor Curtis at Pleasantville, N. Y. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Dismas E. Frank of Phillips. Wisconsin. Private CHARLES L. GANSKE Charles L, Ganske, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ganske of Chetek, graduated from the Chetek High School and came to River Falls in 1939. He remained here through 1939-1940, majoring in science. September 29, 1941, he joined the armed forces and thus was in service before Pearl Harbor. He went overseas and served in the Philippine Islands. He was missing at Bataan and died in Cebenatuen prison, September 28. 1942. T 5 JAMES GORDON FLATHE James Gordon Fla the was bom in Winnipeg, Canada, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Rathe, who came to the South Fork district near River Falls in 1938. He had entered the Teachers College in 1937 from the Pepin High School and remained until 1939. He entered the army in January, 1943, and servod in the Reconnaissance division—armored Cavolry. He was sent overseas and fought on the fields of Normandy, where he was wounded July 4, 1944, and succumbed to his wounds the next day. His brother, Staff Sergeant George Flathe, was killed in action in Belgium, January 31, 1945, after having I'oon in service five years. Another brother, Gerard, was in the Royal Canadian Air Force in England. ■i

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Pfc. CARL G. DAHL, JR. Carl G. Dahl, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl D. Dahl of Baldwin, graduated from the Baldwin High School with the class of 1942. He attended the Teachers College at River Falls in 1942-43, entering the army March 5, 1943. He served in the infantry and was sent overseas, where he was killed in action in Normandy, July 31. 1944. A C DUANE LEON DOOLITTLE Duane Leon Doolittle, son of Editor and Mrs. H. F. Doolittle of Ellsworth, met his death together with a friend, Donald L. Harlander, in an airplane crash near Ellsworth, Memorial day afternoon, 1944. Duane had just completed his basic training at Wold-Chamberlain field May 22, and was to have reported at Corpus Christi, Texas, for advanced training, June 2. He enlisted in the Navy V-5 program in 1943, after completing his sophomore year at River Falls. While in high school and at college he played on the basketball teams and, after enlisting, played with the Mankato Teachers College five while training there. He played drums in his home school band for eight years, was a member of the college band, and was drummer with the Navy band at Northfield. Minnesota. He was an Eagle Scout. Duane's sister, Audrey (Mrs. Graydon C. Wood), also attended the River Falls College and nis brother. T Sgt. Stanley E. Doolittle, was with the army in Korea. Lieutenant LESTER E. DYER Lester Eugene Dyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Dyer of Fond du Lac, spent four years, 1939-1943, at River Falls, and in looking over the college annuals of those years one finds that he participated in almost all college activities. He was class president, member of FFA, Student Senate, Honor Society, numerous committees and active in athletics. He graduated with the degree of B.S. in agriculture in 1943. He entered the service that year in the Marine Corps and served in the Central Pacific theater. His doath occurred February 24. 1945, at Iwo Jima, when he was killed instantly by a sniper. All officers in his company were killed except one, and he was wounded. Lieutenant Dyer received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Sharp Shooter's Medal, and Purple Heart.

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Second Lieutenant THOMAS H. GILL Thomas Hopkins Gill was the son of Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Dewey R. Gill of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He attended River Falls Teachers College during 1939-1940. He enlisted in January, 1942, and served in the Army Air Forces in the European theater of operation. He received the Purple Heart and recognition of the excellent way in which he handled his plane, saving the lives of all crew members. He met his death September 26, 1944, in a B-24, probably over Holland. Lieutenant Gill married Dorothy Jane Taylor in 1942. and they had one daughter, Nancy Taylor Gill. Staff Sergeant ELDON GILLES Eldon Gilles attended River Falls Teachers College in 1938-1939, following his graduation from the Plum City High School. He entered the service in October, 1942, and was sent overseas in October, 1944, in the Army Air Forces. Staff Sergeant Gilles was an armor gunner on a B-24 in the Eighth Air Force and was stationed in Shipdam, England. He had completed all his missions and was awaiting passage to the United States when he was killed in an aircraft crash over Gairloch, Scotland. June 13. 1945. He had received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. Lieutenant DEAN W. GORDON Dean W. Gordon entered the service in December, 1943. and became a pilot in the Army Air Forces in the Pacific theater. He had flown around 1200 hours overseas, making trips to Australia and almost all the islands in the South Pacific. His plane moved supplies and troops to the forward areas as soon as they were taken. It supported the Eighth Army’s drive into Mindanao and helped carry all the supplies used in the operation—the first time an engagement had been supported entirely by air. His death occurred July 17, 1945. when his plane crashed on Mt. Calavite on the island of Mindora on a mail run. He received the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with five bottle stars, the Philippine Liberation ribbon, and was eligible for the Air Medal. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gordon, and two brothers, one of whom. Dale Gordon, is attending college.