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

Page 16 text:

Staff Sergeant ROBERT R. McCABE Robert R. McCabe, son of Mr. and Mrs. William McCabe of Hammond, received his B.E. degree in science and mathematics from River Falls in 1937. He had been active in basketball and debate and served on many committees while in college. He entered the service July 15, 1942, in the Army Air Forces and was sent overseas to the New Guinea area. Here he was a radio gunner on a B-25 bomber. He was shot down September 3, 1943, over Wewak Bay after a terrific enemy attack. All five members of the crew were missing. He was awarded the Silver Star, Presidential Unit Citation and the Purple Heart. Lieutenant STANLEY L. MORLEY Stanley L. Morley majored in science and mathematics during his four years at River Falls, receiving his degree, Bachelor of Science, in 1940. One of his extra-curricular activities was photography, and he was photographer for the 1940 Meletean. He entered the service in February, 1942, in the Army Air Forces and was sent to the European theater of operation. He was on a bombing mission over Germany when he was shot down over Duren, November 29, 1944. He had received the Air Medal and was awarded the Purple Heart. Lieutenant Morley‘s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Roy Morley of New Auburn. Lieutenant ROBERT L MRAZ Robert L Mraz enlisted in the Army Air Forces in January, 1942, while in his sophomore year at River Falls. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in September and was sent to the Alaskan area at the end of the year. It was while on patrol duty in the Aleutian Islands that his plane was caught in a propeller wash, and he was killed January 21, 1943. Lieutenant Mraz was an outstanding athlete, receiving the American Legion award as the outstanding athlete of his class upon his graduation from the Algoma High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He continued his football career at River Falls, becoming a varsity letterman. During his vacations he played baseball on the Algoma city team. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mraz of Algoma. A sister, Lieutenant Elaine Mraz, was an army nurse at O’Reilly General Hospital, Springfield. Missouri.

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Lieutenant DONALD E. JOHNSON Donald E. Johnson also left River Falls with the National Guard in October, 1940, after spending two years in college. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He left the United Stotes for foreign service in June, 1943, and fought in France, where he was mortally wounded at Vire, August 10, 1944, dying August II. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Johnson of River Falls. In August, 1943, he married Dorothy J. Parrish of Ellsworth, a former student at River Falls. Private ROY JOHNSON Roy Johnson attended the college from 1931-1933, taking the Principals course. At the time of his induction he was assistant field supervisor of Warner Brothers Motion Pictures, working out of the Minneapolis office. He enlisted in the Army February 15, 1945, and was sent overseas from the West Coast just before peace was declared. He was on his way to the South Pacific when he died aboard ship of illness—cerebro-spinal fever meningococcic. He is survived by his mother. Mrs. Flora Johnson, his little daughters and one brother, Private Louis Johnson, with the armv in T«v . His wife. LaVonne Ringdahl Johnson, died in 1940 Staff Sergeant VOYLE JOHNSON Voyle Johnson attended River Falls Teachers College two years, 1938-1940, before entering the service. January. 1940. He went into the Army Air Forces and was sent to the Philippines, where he fought in the Battle of Bataan. He was reported missing in action in May. 1942, and no further word was received until July, 1944, when he was declared officially dead and awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. At the end of the war it was learned that he had died June 2, 1942, in a Japanese prisoner of war camp—Camp O'Donnell in the Philippines. He is survived by his father, Axel Johnson, of Grantsburg and one brother and three sisters.

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Private BURTON OLSON Burton M. Olson came to River Falls Teachers College after his graduation from the River Falls High School and took a pre-engineering course from 1937 to 1939. He enlisted in the infantry, July 28, 1944, and served in the Pacific on Okinawa. He met his death there April 20, 1945. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Manley Olson of Beldenville. In July, 1941, he married Fern Struble and left one son. Private STANLEY PALM Stanley V. Palm, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Palm of Milltown. entered the River Falls Teachers College in the fall of 1937 and received his B.S. degree in 1941 in mathematics and science. Among his extra-curricular activities were basketball, which he played during his entire four years at college, and tennis. He enlisted in the Army in August, 1942, and was sent to Greenland. While being transported to this area he lost his life in the sinking of the transport Dorchester by a German submarine when within fifty miles of its destination, February 3, 1943. In 1942 Stanley Palm married Ruth Davidson. A brother, Captain Irvine L. Palm, was also ir. the service. Lieutenant ELMER PARNELL Elmer Parnell received his B.E. degree from River Falls in 1932 in mathematics and science. He also attended Marquette University and received his Master's degree in 1942. Previous to this ne had been a member of the faculty of the Somerset High School for ten years, teaching mathematics and science. He was their first coach of basketball and also coached boxing and other sports. He entered the service in April, 1944. He received an assignment to the Air Transport Command and completed his training at Las Vegas, New Mexico. He was awaiting his assignment to overseas service when the news came to his mother that he had died quietly in his sleep at Camp Luna, Las Vegas. November 17, 1944.