In Memory of Alvin Martin Labens, 99th Infantry Division

Alvin Martin Labens passed away Sunday night, January 25, 2015. He was born November 28th, 1923 to Harry and Lillian Hochstein Labens. In his formative years, he participated in the Boy Scouts attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Clarksdale High School where he was a member of the band and graduated in 1941. He attended LSU majoring in forestry and was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi social fraternity.

After the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army reserve and was called to duty May of 1943. After completing basic training, he was placed in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) and returned to LSU to study engineering.

When ASTP was terminated in March of 1944, he was transferred to the 99th Infantry Division at Camp Maxey, TX. In September the 99th Division embarked for England and in November was moved to the Belgium-German border.

On December 17, the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, his company was attacked by two German regiments. During the "orderly" withdrawal he and two other enlisted men were separated from their company, which had been diminished from over 200 men to just 18. He was hospitalized in March and when the war ended in May, he opted for an honorable discharge in 1946. He joined in the Merchant Marines and worked his way back to the United States. His military citations included the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Good Conduct medal, European Theater medal with three stars and Victory medal.

He returned to LSU for a year before transferring to Southern College of Optometry in Memphis where he met Rebecca "Becky" Novick. They were married April 1, 1951. He maintained his optometry practice in Clarksdale, MS for 47 years before retiring to Memphis, TN.

He was an active in the Lions Club, the Exchange Club, and was a member and secretary for the Coahoma County Conservation League for 37 years, as well as a member of Masonic Lodge 286. He served as president for B'nai Brith Temple Israel. He was an outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing and the peace and companionship those activities provided. He loved his family and was never happier than when everyone was gathered together.

He is survived by his wife, Becky, whose smile would brighten his day when his pain was constant; brothers Maurice and his wife Charlotte, and Malcolm; son Steven Labens, his wife Cathy; son Darryl Labens, his wife Mary; and daughter Valarie Labens, who did so much for him, and her partner Tom Ligon; granddaughters, Leila Labens, Lanie Labens and Lili Labens.

In Memory of Erling O. Olsson, 125th Infantry Regiment

Erling O. Olsson, age 90, of Marquette, Michigan, formerly of Parkers Prairie, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at the D.J. Jacobetti Veteran's Home in Marquette.

Erling Olaf Olsson was born September 10, 1922, to Manuel and Minnie Olsson in Minneapolis. He attended public schools in South Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1940. He enrolled in the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1940. 

In view of the times, he thought it best to also enroll in the ROTC program which offered a stipend if one got into the Advanced Corps. He also joined the Civilian Reserve Corps, in action status. His unit was called to active duty April 9, 1943, but he and a friend were held back for lack of proper sized shoes at Fort Snelling. Later, they rode a troop train to Camp Wallace, Texas, near Galveston for Basic Training and training on the 40 mm artillery unit in defense against strafing type aircraft. There was not much need for anti-aircraft artillery so there was no room in the officer candidate school. While waiting he was assigned to the government sponsored ASTP program at the U of M to pursue the technical program begun earlier. He received orders to Officer Candidate School at Camp Davis, North Carolina on January 1, 1944, upon being commissioned First Lieutenant, he was briefly assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas. 

During this time, he took a short leave to be married to EthelMae Lysaker May 20, 1944, in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and together they traveled back to Fort Bliss. Again, as control of the air war gained, there was no need for an A.A. officer so he was transferred to the Infantry Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia, to learn infantry tactics and weaponry. Two months later, orders were received assigning Erling to Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas, as a training officer in the 125th Infantry Regiment. He received orders a short time later for the overseas assignment from Fort Meade, Maryland. From the Replacement Depot at Naples, Italy, he was assigned to the 338th Regiment and 83rd Infantry Division as a platoon leader. 

At this state of the war, he was assigned near Pisa, Italy in the North Apennines, from there they crossed the PO Valley and into the Southern Alps by war's end. Erling had enough points to be sent back to the USA for release, however, he continued to be in the Reserve and with the Korean War was recalled to active duty at the Headquarters for guided missiles and A.A. School at Fort Bliss. He was assigned to be commander of the HQ Bly of the 98th Anti-aircraft Artillery group as part of the Northern Hemisphere Defense (Alaska). After the requisite time he was returned to home again at which time he gave up is Reserve Commission. Erling returned to the U of M to complete his work for his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering Degree. For his service to his country, Erling received the Bronze Star with Cluster, the EAME Theater Medal with two Bronze Stars, the American Theater Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Victory Medal and the Meritorious Unit Service Plaque.

Erling had a long and storied career as a chemical engineer that took him to Illinois for his entire working life. He was employed as a project engineer for M&O Paper briefly before moving on to Archer Daniels Midland, Ashland Oil and Sherex Chemical. Upon his retirement in 1985, the CEO spoke highly of Erling, telling that he probably knew more about plastics than anyone in the United States. Following retirement, Erling and his wife, Ethel moved to the 150 year old family heritage farm in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota for 25 years of active community life among family and dear friends. He was a multi-faceted man, always a strong congregational leader in the Lutheran Churches. He loved his animals, especially his Labrador Retrievers and adopted cats. He was a fine gardener, producing vegetables for the family. He, the chemist, always had a wine-making operation going. He was also an artist, watercolorist, and wood carver. He read every inch of the newspaper. Best of all, he was a powerful man who devoted all of who he was to his small family. His wife, EthelMae "Lee" died in 2009, after 60 years of life together. Erling moved to Marquette, Michigan, following the death of his wife, to be closer to his daughter, Leslie. He lived and received excellent care at the D.J. Jacobetti Veteran's Home for the past three years.

He is survived by his two children, Leslie Olsson White and Matt Olsson both of Marquette; and two grandsons, Daniel (Alexandra) White of Portland, Oregon and David White of Orlando, Florida.

In Memory of Robert Arthur DeLap, 1267th Combat Engineers

Robert Arthur DeLap was delivered safely home on Feb. 24, 2015, after a long and remarkable life. Born May 14, 1923, in Sioux City, Iowa, Bob was raised together with his older brother George by his mother, Lillian Vanvick, in a family home that also included his grandfather, aunts, uncles and cousins. As Bob started college, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and the U.S. entered the Second World War. With guidance from his Lutheran pastor, Rev. L. E. Tallakson, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army, but was allowed to continue his education at Augustana College (Sioux Falls, S.D.) for another year and a half. He was then assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program for technical training in the Army Air Corps. During this program, he studied chemistry, taught by his future father-in-law, Professor J.H. Jensen, at Northern State Teachers College (now Northern State University) in Aberdeen, S.D.; and Bob met his future spouse, Marjorie Lucille Jensen. Because of increasing Army needs for infantry, Bob was subsequently sent to Camp Maxey in Texas for training. His unit, the 1267th Combat Engineers, served with the 23rd Corps in Germany near the end of the war in Europe, building bridges to help supply the Allied Army and provide relief to starving people in Germany during mop-up operations. In mid-1945, Bob's unit was sent to the Philippines to maintain roads on mountains near remaining Japanese holdouts. Bob was discharged and returned home in the spring of 1946. Bob and Lucille were married on June 27, 1946. After completing his college studies at Augustana followed by graduate work in New Mexico, Bob joined The Dow Chemical Co. in Midland as an analytical chemist. He worked at Dow from 1949 until his retirement in 1982. Over their years together, Bob and Lucille provided a loving home for their five children, Amy Jendrzejewski (Andrew), Robert J. DeLap (Linda), Patricia Fineman (Robert), Ronald DeLap (Donna Marie) and Elizabeth Lenington (Kenneth). Bob and Lucille were faithful members of Trinity Lutheran Church. Continuing to reside at their home in Midland in retirement, they enjoyed many activities together, including walking, bicycling, cross country skiing, bridge and square dancing. Bob also enjoyed softball and bowling in his younger years, and was a regular golfer with other Dow retirees for many years. Lucille passed away on June 22, 2011, having been tenderly cared for by Bob through her final illness, with help from daughter Patricia. Patricia also lovingly attended to Bob's care when he resided in Haslett, Mich., as he came to the end of his time in this world. Bob and Lucille are survived by their five children; twelve grandchildren, Ingrid Jendrzejewski, Rachel Jendrzejewski, Margaret DeLap, Benjamin Fineman, Matthew DeLap, Andrew DeLap, Rebekah Zuniga, Micah DeLap, Sarabeth Deter, William Deter, Neal Wagner, Eric Lenington; and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Bob will take place 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 from the Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor Gerald Ferguson officiating. Interment will take place in the Midland Cemetery at 2 p.m., with military honors presented by the Midland Area Veterans and the U.S. Department of the Army. Bob's family will receive friends at the church on Friday, from 10 a.m. until time of the service. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Trinity Lutheran Church or the donor's favorite charity. Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home.

German PWs Escape! The Paris News, March 8, 1944

Later new reports said these prisoners turned themselves in shortly after their escape.  After this report, Ernest Koslowski, 22, escaped from Camp Maxey, Texas, May 19.  According to a report in the Paris News, he was recaptured by Texas highway patrolmen a few days later on the edge of some woods between Greggton and Gladewaler. Texas.

The Camp Maxey Prisoner of War Camp was designed to hold up to 10,000 German prisoners.  Records indicate that there were just over 7,000 held their at its peak.  Most of the early prisoners were sent over from North Africa after the combined British and American forces defeated the German Afrika Korps.  These were joined by prisoners captured in Italy and later from France.

1942 May 8, Article from The Paris News regarding cemeteries with Camp Maxey boundary.

Camp Maxey was big by any standards and the process moved quickly to acquire the land.  Besides families being displaced there came additional hurdles.  The land had belonged to family groups and small communities for more than a century.  One of these hurdles was what to do with the graves in within the camp.  Even today there exist old family graves within the boundary of the existing National Guard training camp.

1942 April 10 article from The Paris News on acquiring land for Camp Maxey

Homer Vaughn Wagnon, Jr.

102d Infantry Division, 407 Infantry, B Company

Homer Vaughn Wagnon Jr. was born in Macon, Georgia, on December 27, 1923, an only child. He left this world on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, having just satisfied his life's ambitions. 

His father was always a Macon man and his birth mother, Marie Willey Wagnon, a Thomasville, N.C. native. His stepmother was Mary Wilson Harvey Wagnon who gave him a stepsister and stepbrother, Claude Harvey Walton and Herschel "Buddy" Harvey, to be his siblings. Vaughn was educated at Lanier High School for Boys, Purdue University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Virginia. 

As a Mechanical Engineer, he pursued his lifelong compulsion to design and build. Living in Philadelphia in 1950, he was employed by Uniroyal and later RCA. Moving to Charlottesville in 1959, where Sperry and Teledyne employed him, he ably met his goals as a machine designer. His range of new products varied from mechanical rubber goods, radio and TV, naval ships, and aircraft applications. In 1983, he became a self employed PE and diverted effort to Civil Engineering as a structural designer. In this capacity he enjoyed working with steel and concrete structures in the building industry, as well as wooden structures in the housing industry. Retiring in the year 2000, he claimed his was a most satisfying career of 50 years. 

In his family were the love of his life, Darlene Raitt Wright Wagnon and her children, Debbie, Doug, Dan and Deana. Vaughn's children were Larry and Linda from his first marriage. Altogether this family included eleven grandchildren, Tanya, Tara, Tariq, Timothy, Mary Mason, Nancy Douglas, Logan, Corey, Jaid, Sam and Taylor; five great-grandchildren, Chase, Charley May, Channing, Nan and Noah; son-in-law, Doug Barnes; and daughters-in-law, Kathryn Caperton, and Patricia Moyer. All live in Virginia except Doug and Linda Barnes of Chicago. What a delight it was to be part of this wonderful family. 

Vaughn was happy working in his home workshop building things for the house and garden. He was an airplane private pilot, and was rated ASEL and VFR. He obtained his VA state "M" competence rating for operating a motorcycle. He enjoyed playing bridge, both duplicate and party games. He was a passionate collector of everything relating to his life experience and that of his loved ones. 

He was especially proud of his collection of guns and military memorabilia, reminiscent of his service in World War II. Words, music and language were his everyday delight. Ballroom dancing with Darlene and their many friends was a virtual obsession. Vaughn was drafted on June 15, 1943, into the Army's ASTP program for engineers. He completed his basic training in Camp Hood, Tex., and then spent 6 months in Lafayette, Ind., attending Purdue University. From there he was inducted into the 102nd Infantry Division, "Ozarks", where he was trained to be an infantry rifleman in "B" Co., 407th Inf. at Camp Swift, Tex. 

Sent to the ETO with his division in 1944, he fought across Europe from France, through Belgium, Holland and Germany to the Elbe River on VE Day 1945. Wounded only once, he was awarded the EIB, CIB, PHM, BSM w/cluster for valor, GCM, WWII VM and EOM for Germany. Nine months in combat, he served his country in three campaigns: Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. 

After the war, he was in the army of occupation for another nine months with the 79th and 90th Divisions. Vaughn rose through the ranks to become a platoon sergeant with the grade of S/Sgt, and was given an honorable discharge on December 28, 1945. In later life, after retirement, Vaughn became a member of the BPO Elks Lodge 389, VFW, DAV, NRA, AAHG, CWRT, AL Post 74, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, 19th Va. Inf., Camp 1493 and the Thomas Jefferson Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. 

He and Darlene were active participants with the "Ozarks", 102nd Infantry Division, at their annual reunion sites all over the USA and he functioned as their Asst. Webmaster. 

His family will receive friends to celebrate the life he loved from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Hill and Wood Funeral Home, 201 N. First Street, Charlottesville, Virginia. His family welcomes you to join them at the American Legion, 3025 Louisa Rd., Keswick, Virginia, following the visitation at the funeral home, for light refreshments. Interment will be private. 

Flowers and memorabilia are welcome. God willing, the occasion will be happy, with no regrets. Condolences may be sent to his family at www.hillandwood.com