Lt. Wendell Baie-- Part 5: "Has Now Made the Supreme Sacrifice"

Wendell enlisted in the Army Air Corps last November while a student at Northern Illinois  State Teachers College and was called to active duty on March 4 this year.  He had just about completed his training as an aviation cadet and would have graduated and been commissioned a second lieutenant sometime the early part of this month.

Aviation Cadet Baie would have been 21 years of age on December 30.  he was a graduate of DeKalb Township High School and was attending the teachers college at the time he enlisted for army service.

Although only nineteen when he enlisted he wanted to do his part to help his country  and he has now made the supreme sacrifice.

--GreGen

Lt. Whipple (Former NI State Teachers College Student) Is German POW

From the November 21, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Mr. and Mrs, H.C. Collin of 223 Gurler street this week received a card from Lieut. Donald E. Whipple, better known as Gene, a former student at Northern Illinois State Teachers College, now a prisoner at a German camp.

"Lieut. Whipple was a member of the air forces and was shot down over Bremen.  He was reported missing April 15 and the card received this week is the first word his DeKalb friends have had of his whereabouts.  The card was written on July 12 and was received in DeKalb on October 27.  He states that he is feeling well, is being treated satisfactorily and desires to hear from his friends in the vicinity."

I was unable to find out anymore information on this man.

--GreGen

NIU's Enrollment Booms After the War

From the October 4, 2017, MidWeek.

1947 aerial photograph.


Northern Illinois State Teacher College (Northern Illinois University) showing the World War II barracks built to house veterans and married couples going to college under the GI Bill..

The barracks are north of the college buildings and Lucinda Avenue and consist of 15 individual single story structures.

Making Good Use of the GI Bill.  --GreGen

Looking Back: Famous War Correspondent Comes to DeKalb

From the Feb. 24, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb, Illinois) Looking Back.

From 1941, 75 years ago.  The United States was not yet in World War II, but moving toward it back in February, 75 years ago.  This from the MidWeek:  "One of the outstanding entertainments of the entire year is being planned for DeKalb residents on March 24 when Leland Stowe, veteran correspondent for the Chicago Daily News, makes his initial appearance at the Teachers College auditorium."

The Teachers College would be Northern Illinois University today and the auditorium would be in Altgeld Hall.

I looked up Leand Stowe and he was quite an interesting war correspondent.

--GreGen

NIU's Albert Riippi-- Part 2: A Game and the Navy

That year NITC (NIU) was undefeated going into the last game versus Southern Illinois.  Before the game, Chick Evans and college president Karl Adams told Riippi that he had been ordered to report to duty the next morning in Chicago.  The game was being played in Carbondale.

The Huskies won 13-12.  Mr. Riipi missed the celebration party the next day in DeKalb.

He was named All-Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team (he played both offense and defense).

After training, he served on the USS Columbia, the "Gem of the Ocean.  He joined the ship while it was in Long Beach, California, where it had gone for repairs after being struck by a kamikaze.  The ship participated in the Borneo invasion and he returned to DeKalb in time for his mother's funeral.

An Interesting Life.  --GreGen

NIU's Albert Riippi, Football and the War--Part 1

From the November 9, 2013, DeKalb (Ill.) Chronicle "Olson: Honoring captain's career in football, firefighting."

Albert Riippi, 87, will be the honorary football team captain in the Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Ball State University game and near the end of the 2nd quarter will present a new pickup truck to a veteran wounded in Afghanistan on behalf of the DeKalb Firefighters Union.

Mr. Riippi is a lifelong DeKalb resident.

He graduated from DeKalb High School at age 17 in the spring of 1944 and enlisted in the Navy.  Two older brothers were already serving in the military.

He stood 6 foot and weighed 220 pounds, a big Finnish kid who had played offensive tackle for the DeKalb Barbs.

At Northern Illinois Teachers College (as NIU was called back then), football coach Chick Evans needed players with so many young men at war.  His squad was mostly made up of men who were 4-F or had already served.  He asked Riippi to play.  Riippi said to him, "I'm in the Navy.  I'm just waiting to be called."  But he agreed to play until then.

Just Waiting for the Call.  --GreGen