With Our Men In The Service: February 4, 1943
With Our Men In The Service
Raised To Lieutenant
Roland E. Wurster, former patrolman on the Ann Arbor police force, is now a second lieutenant in the Army's military police.
Lt Wurster, who is home on leave until he reports for duty at Dallas, Tex., next week, enlisted in the Army last July 31. After a short stop at Fort Custer he went to Fort Riley, Kas., for basic training.
On Oct 22 he was made a corporal and was sent to the officer’s training school at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. On Dec. 1 he was selected for the provost marshal’s school at Custer, from which he graduated with his commission Jan. 29.
Lt. Wurster, who Is 25 years old, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wurster, 502 Fountain St. He Is a 1936 graduate of Ann Arbor High school.
In Medical Corps
Arthur Elfring, 21-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton B. Elfring, 813 McKinley Ave., who was inducted into the Army Nov. 19 and reported Dec. 2, has been assigned to the medical corps as record clerk.
Pvt. Elfring was sent to Camp Barkeley, Tex., where he was enrolled in the clerk's school.
A 1939 graduate of University High school. Art took freshman studies at the Emmanuel Missionary College at Berrien Springs and was a sophomore at the University of Michigan when called to service.
Air Corps Mechanic
Pvt. Ernest Rowe, jr., 21, son of Mrs. George Wilke, 1505 Pear St, and Ernest Rowe, sr., of Ypsilanti, is preparing for duty in the Army Air Corps as a ground crew mechanic.
Now stationed at George Field, Ill., Pvt. Rowe enlisted in the Army last September, at that time being employed at the Willow Run bomber plant. He also was in training with the local unit of the Michigan State Troops.
His mother and sister, Mrs. Charles Hope, of Ypsilanti, visited him at camp recently and reported back that he was enjoying his work.
Air Corps Photographer
Inducted into the Army from non-military work in the War Department in Washington, Harry Don Litteer, 30, 1980 N. Maple Rd., is now a private, first class, at Buckley Field, Colo. He Is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Litteer.
Don is a 1930 graduate of Ann Arbor High school and also attended Michigan state Normal College and Cleary Business College in Ypsilanti. He was employed by the War department in the quartermaster corps with civilian status at the time of induction Sept. 20. After four days at Fort Custer, he was transferred to Buckley Field and has been stationed there in a base aerial photography unit.
His wife, the former Frances Schmidt of Lincoln, Neb., is living in Winchester. Va.
In Telephone School
Pvt. John Leo Cuthbertson, 19, of the Marine Corps communications division, has finished boot training at San Diego, Calif., and is now studying in a telephone school there at the base. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Cuthbertson, 1038 E. Huron St.
Pvt. Cuthbertson enlisted in the Marine Corps Oct. 1 and reported immediately to San Diego. He completed boot training Jan. 26 and will be enrolled in telephone school for for two weeks. He will then be sent to Aggie College, Utah, to finish the course.
According to his parents, every letter from him is full of praise for the Marines. To John, there is nothing that could compare with the Marine service, his parents say.
A graduate of St. Thomas High school in 1941, he was employed at the Bomber Plant at the time of enlistment. He was active on both the football and baseball teams in high school.
Radio Repairman
At radio repair school at Camp Crowder, Mo., is Frank C. "Brownie" Brown, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Brown, 4042 Saline Rd. He was made a corporal two weeks ago.
Corp. Brown was a lubrication man at Johnson Sales and Service before induction into the Army Nov. 9. He spent three days at Fort Custer, drawing a transfer to the Army Ale Corps at Miami Beach, Fla. There he stayed in special training school for four weeks and then was sent west to Camp Crowder.
Corp. Brown is a graduate of Dexter High school, class of 1937, and while in school was pitcher on the baseball team as well as a member of the basketball team. He was promoted to corporal.
Gets Bomber’s Wings
Another Ann Arbor youth to join the ranks of bombardiers in the Army Air Force is Robert W. Stanton, son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Stanton, 1303 Madison St.
Stanton, who received a commission as a second lieutenant when he received his wings Jan. 27 at Victorville, Calif., is home on leave from Monroe. La. — after being granted a furlough immediately after reaching his new station.
When he returns to Monroe he will enter a navigation school.
Lt. Stanton, formerly a bookkeeper at the Ann Arbor Bank and the Washtenaw Independent Dairy, enlisted in the Air Corps last April 2. Called up July 2 he received basic training at Santa Ana. Calif.
His furlough brought a hurry-up call for his mother to come home by plane from California, where she had gone to visit him and stayed on with relatives after he left, the first time, for Louisiana.
Receives Air Medal
Staff Sgt. Casimer Nastal, 19 years old, a former Clinton resident and a 1941 graduate of Clinton High school, has been awarded an Air Medal for "exceptionally meritorious” achievement, according to an announcement from London.
Sgt. Nastal’s brother, Theodore, 22m was a tail gunner on the Flying Fortress, "Thunderbird," during its recent exploit over Tripoli when it was credited with downing six Nazi planes. Gunner Nastal received credit for bringing down one of the six craft.
Ends Furlough
Another Whitmore Lake boy, Jim Nagy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Nagy of Seven Mile Rd., has returned to Fort Lewis, Wash., where he is now stationed with the Army, after a 15-day furlough spent with his parents.
Jim was inducted into the service last April 13 and was trained at Camp Forrest, Tenn., for five months before receiving his latest transfer. He has been on duty at Fort Lewis since then, and has the rank of private.
Two other Whitmore Lake youths are also serving at Fort Lewis now, "Red” Travis and Floyd E. Nelson, son of Mrs. S. J. Nelson, 126 Barker Rd.
Lt. Wurster
Art Elfring
Ernest Rowe
Don Litteer
Pvt. Cuthbertson
Frank Brown
Lt. Stanton
Pvt. Nagy