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

Page 17 text:

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.

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.

Page 18 text:

Lieutenant JOHN HENRY PERSON John Henry Person was a navigator on a bomber operating in the African theater. He has been missina ever since two planes failed to return from a mission early in 1943. He enlisted in 1940, in the Army Air Forces, following two years at River Falls, and was sent to the Mediterranean theatre. His death apparently occurred April 18. 1943, in Sicily. He married Jane Erickson in 1942. and had a son whom he had never seen. He received the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart. T Sgt. WARD RANDLES Ward Randles came to the college from Alma Center and while here was a Falcon basketball star. He received his degree in 1939. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1942 and served in the Europe-Africa-Middle East area. He flew in the famous raid over the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania in August, 1943. as Flight Engineer on a B-24 bomber. He had been missing since December 22. 1943. when on a flight over Hollond. but was not officially declared dead until September, 1945. He received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. He married Beatrice Cornell in 1943. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Earl Randles of Alma Center. Pfc. JOHN W. ROCKWELL John W. Rockwell enlisted in July, 1943. He was sent to the European theatre, where he served with a demolition corps. He met his death near Le Havre, France, October 19, 1944. He was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart and the Soldiers' Certificate of Merit tor performing exceptionally meritorious service in daily exposing himself during the period before his death, September 5 to October 19. 1944. on his hazardous mission, part of it under fire. Private Rockwell is survived by his wife, two children, and his mother. Mrs. Winnona Rockwell. His brother. Malcolm, also lost his life in the service.