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

Page 22 text:

Lieutenant STANLEY TORGERSON Stanley Torgerson graduated from River Falls in 1939 and taught in Hammond and later in Hudson. He was an honor student, an outstanding athlete and a teacher of unusual ability. He enlisted in the Field Artillery in {941 and served on the Italian front. He was killed in action at the Battle of Salerno. September 14, 1943. Only a few days before ho hod been cited for heroic action on the Salerno front, where a pocket of American artillery had no infantry covering ana Lieutenant Torgerson braved death by standing on a fuse box to direct blank fire. Lieutenant WALTER BRUCE WALKER Walter Bruce Walker was born in Canada and came to Hayward with his parents in 1919. He attended Fletcher College, Iowa, in 1936 and then River Falls Teachers College, from which he received his degree in agriculture in 1941. He taught at McMillan. Michigan, before entering the service in August, 1942. He went overseas in April. 1945, in the Pacific area. Word was received in August that he had died on ie Shima of injuries received in an accident, July 30. when a truck got out of control and crashed through the tent where he was sleeping. He was to have been elevated to the rank of captain in the near future. Lieutenant Walker was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John K. Walker of Hayward. A brother. Keith Walker, was with the armed forces in Germany. Sergeant FRANK E. WINTERLING Frank E. Wintering was a student at River Falls in 1936-1938, attending Stout Institute the next year. He enlisted December 8. 1941, in the Marine Corps and was sent overseas to Guadalcanal. He met his death there October 14. 1942. His brother, Joe Wintering, lost his life in the service as a Marine in the Philippine Islands. May 6, 1942. After the death of his two only sons, the father. Frank W. Winterling, enlisted in the Marines himself and served with credit and honor.

Page 21 text:

Lieutenant PETER STENE, JR. Peter Stene was a student in the college from 1936-1940, enlisting in the Army Air Forces in June, 1941. He served in the European theater and was in the assault on Regensburg, Germany, in August, 1943. He met his death while returning from a bombing mission to Frankfurt, Germany, February 17, 1945. Just off the coast of Ostend, Belgium, the aircraft of which he was Command Pilot caught fire from an explosion in the nose of the plane. It crashed into the sea, and only one survivor was rescued. The Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross were awarded to him. Lieutenant DARRELL KEITH STOYKE Darrell Keith Stoyke came to River Falls from Chetek, studied here in preparation for a business course, 1939-19 0, and then went to the University of Minnesota, which he attended from 1940 to 1942. He enlisted in July, 1943. in the Army Air Forces. He became a Fighter Pilot and was sent to the European theater. On August 19, 1944. he was killed in action in Southern France. He received the Air Medal with three oak.leaf clusters. Lieutenant Stoyke was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Stoyke of Sheldon. Ensign ROBERT THORESON Robert Thoreson enlisted in the Naval Reserve as an aviation cadet in December, 1940. He was in his senior year at the college, majoring in agricultural education and science. He had been active in college life and was business manager of the Meletean at the time of his departure. He was commissioned an ensign in 1941 and assigned to duty as a naval flying instructor with the patrol bomber squadron at the Naval Air Station at Pensacola. Florida. He continued at this duty until his death, due to a landing crash, September 7. 1942. His father, Toby R. Thoreson, lives in River Falls. A brother, Kenneth, was with the Army Air Forces in India.

Page 23 text:

 Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men Pericles-Funeral Oration.