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

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TO THE MEN OF THE RIVER FALLS STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY WE DEDICATE THIS BOOK. ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

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The world will lit lie note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” Lincoln-Gellysburg Address

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Lieutenant ALVIN ANDERSON Alvin Bud Anderson came to River Falls from the Baldwin High School and attended the college during the years 1939-1941. While here he was interested in intramural athletics and was one of the mainstays of the Falcon tennis team. He was class president, member of the Student Senate, and R Club, and was active on various committees. In May, 1942, he enlisted in the Reserve Signal Corps and served in the Hawaiian Islands from May, 1942, until February, 1943. He sailed to New Guinea in May, 1944, and took part in the invasions of both Leyte and Luzon. On January 29, 1945, he was killed in a plane crash on Leyte. Lt. Anderson's company, the 989th Signal Company, received the Bronze Star for its participation in the Leyte and Luzon campaigns. Lieutenant ROBERT E. BOERNKE Robert E. Boernke enlisted in the Army Air Forces September 25, 1942. He classified as Pilot in May, 1943, and graduated as Second Lieutenant, Fighter Pilot, in March, 1944. After further officers training he flew to India August 2, 1944. In the fall of that year he went over the Hump into China. It was while leading a squadron on an important mission over China that he was killed at Hong Kong, December 23, 1944. He attended River Falls in 1938-1939. Lieutenant BURTON BOETTCHER Burton Boettcher of the army was Captain Boettcher of the River Falls 1941 football squad, starring in athletics here as well as in high school at Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire Teachers College, which he attended during his freshman year. He received his B.S. degree from River Falls Teachers College in 1942, entering the army in August of that year. He became an infantry officer after training in the Officers Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was sont for overseas duty in the South Pacific in January, 1944. It was in Arawe, New Britain, that he met his death. April 6, 1944, as a result of an accidental gunshot wound. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Boettcher of Chippewa Falls, and two brothers, who were also in the service: Lt. (jg) Orris C. Boettcher, serving in the South Pacific, and T Sgt. Vernon Boettcher in England.