McHenry's Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive 2020 Commemoration-- Part 2: Come On, We need More Publicity About the Event

I just found out about the ceremony the night before it took place this past Sunday, August 9.  We were at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, Illinois, when my buddy Mark showed a copy of the commemoration events.  I knew right then I was going to attend.  Again, it is something I do in remembrance of what truly was the Greatest Generation (which is also my sign-off for this blog, GreGen in case you're wondering) and it is so sad to see them leaving us at such high numbers these days.  Even the youngest WW II veterans are around 95.

This year, instead of all the ceremony taking place at Veterans Park in McHenry as it has always done before, there was to be a flagpole and flag dedication at four local cemeteries which did not have them.  It was to take place one after the other from 10 am to 1 pm.

I made the mistake of not writing the times and places down as I figured I'd have no problem finding this information on the computer at home.

BIG MISTAKE

I should have known better.  Even though this is a really large ceremony, one of if not the very largest in the state and country (where sadly the vast majority of towns and cities have nothing), there is very little publicity of any sort.  Every year, I have a difficult time finding out any particulars about it.  But, at least I knew where it would be.

But, this year it was a moving commemoration and I needed to know where and at what time it would be.

I checked Yahoo Search, but only found information about the past nine or ten years.  Nothing for 2020.  This event is put on by McHenry's three veterans organizations:  the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Polish Legion of American Veterans.  So I checked their websites.  Nothing.  Then I checked the City of McHenry and McHenry County websites, but again, nothing.

--GreGen

Tomorrow Is the 76th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

It was the "Event" of the Greatest Generation, much like the Kennedy Assassination was to my generation.  It is even more important as we continue to lose the Pearl Harbor survivors as fast as we are (and the World War II survivors for that matter).

In commemoration of it, all seven of my blogs will be about it.

I also am looking to find out if there are any Pearl Harbor events planned for the McHenry and Lake County part of Northeastern Illinois.  So far, sadly, I haven't found any.

My U.S. flags will be flying in remembrance tomorrow.

Pearl Harbor--  Not Forgotten.  --GreGen

Looking Back: Join the CCC in 1940

From the September 9, 2015, MidWeek  (McHenry County, Illinois) MidWeek "Looking Back."

"If there are any young men in the county who can't get a job without experience and can't get experience without a job, the Civilian Conservation Corps may be the answer to their problems.

"The CCC offers healthful, outdoor employment with $30 a month pay, including maintenance (food, housing, medical and dental care) of which $22 goes to the assistance of the boy's family and $8 is used by him in camp.

U.S. Army soldiers were initially paid $30 a month 1940-1941 and essentially received the same benefits.

The CCC experience provided an excellent introduction to military service as it was run essentially as a military undertaking.  No doubt a lot of our servicemen in the war received their initial training in the Civilian Conservation Corps.

--GreGen

Go Back to World War II at McHenry Open House

From the August 12, 2015 Daily herald (Illinois)

McHenry County Conservation District's Living History Open House was held from noon to 4 p.m. August 16th at the Powers-Walker House Historic Landmark at Glacier Park on Il. Route 31 and Harts Road in Ringwood.

A tour will be given of the 1854-era house.  The focus will be on the history of the house, residents and northeastern Illinois region during World War II.  Much attention will be given to the Schaefer and Steinmetz families who lived in the house during that era.

--GreGen

James J. Steinsdoerfer, One of the Five Brothers Who Served from McHenry

Yesterday, I wrote about the five Steinsdoerfer brothers serving in the U.S. military from McHenry County, Illinois, during World War II.  At first I wasn't able to find out anything but eventually came across and article and obituary for a person I believe to have been one of them.

James J. Steinsdoerfer, 81.  Died in 2003.  He is buried in Woodland Cemetery in McHenry, Illinois.  This would have put him at 22 in 1944.  He died June 7, 2003 and was born March 15, 1922 in McHenry.  He had enlisted in the Army on Dec. 28, 1942, at Fort Miles, Delaware and served at the Battle of the Bulge in the 52nd Coast Artillery.

--GreGen

Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive-- Part 3: Five Steinsdoerfer Brothers Serving

Another article mentioned the poor McHenry County mother who had sons in the service of her country.  The September 9, 1944,  McHenry Plaindealer had a write up about the five Steinsdoerfer brothers serving.

Richard, 18, the youngest had just completed basic training
Alvin, 28, the oldest
Leonard, 26
James, 22
Irvin, 21

That was one woman who wouldn't want to see someone approaching her house with a telegram.

I was also unable to find any further information on the five brothers.  I sure would have liked to know their story.

All For Country.  --GreGen

McHenry County's First World War II Casualty

From the May 29, 2012, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Il.) "First WWII casualty in McHenry County remembered decades later" by Stephen D. Benedetto.

On December 7, 1941, Private Joseph Nelles of Woodstock was preparing the altar for Mass at the makeshift chapel at Hickam Field.  He had dreams of becoming a priest and was an assistant chaplain.

He was at first thought to be missing but later was confirmed among the dead from that day.His body was found near the base of the altar.

His watch had stopped at 7:50.

He is buried at Diamond Head Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu.

In 1995, the current Air Force Base Chapel was named after him.

--GreGen