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Carl Joseph Wittry 1919-1945 Maple River, May 1945 Memorial Rights for T/4 Wittry at Maple River
The military part of the rites was in charge of the Breda American Legion post and the American flag was presented to T/4 Wittry's widow by Peter Oswald of Arcadia, commander of the post. Harold Leiting and Ray Vonnahme formed the color guard, while Joe Reis and Julius Bohnenkamp were flag bearers. * * * Servicemen acting a pallbearers were: Sgt. Mike Reising, Sgt. Edgar Polking, Sgt. Ed Julich, Sgt. Melvin Jahde, Sgt. Ernest Kokenge and Cpl. Joe Hermsen. Honorary pallbearers, members of Charles Carroll Council No. 780, Knights of Columbus were: Leonard Schissel, A.J. Polking, James Houlihan, Arby Neppel, Leo McWeeny and Fred Julich Jr. T/4 Wittry was a veteran of invasions in various Pacific areas. He had been in the army more than four years, having been among the first group of young men of Carroll County to enter under selective service. After reporting at Omaha March 12, 1941, he was sent to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and thence to Camp Roberts, Calif. Three months later he was transferred to Camp San Louis Obispo, Calif. From August, 1941, until July 1943, he was stationed at various places along the west coast including Longview, Wash.; San Diego, Calif., Los Angeles; San Clemente Island; Ft. Lewis, Wash.; Sacramento, San Francisco, Bakersfield and Fort Ord, Calif., in the order named. After being stationed at Fort Ord about half a year, he left for overseas duty. He saw service at Kriska and Adak in the Aleutian Islands before being sent to Hawaii. In January 1944, he participated in the invasion of the Marshall Islands. The next month he moved to the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. From Sept. 12 to Oct. 20 he was on Leyte Island in the Philippines. Christmas day, 1944, he took part in the invasion of an island off Leyte. He participated in the invasion of Okinawa Island April 1. There he died a month later, May 1, of wounds suffered in battle T/4 Wittry was born March 24, 1919, at Mt. Carmel. The present home of his parents is one-half mile north and one and three-quarters miles west of Maple River. * * * He was graduated from St. Francis School, Maple River, in 1931. While assisting his father with farm work, he was an active member of the Carroll Community 4-H club. From November 1940, until he joined the armed forces the following March, he was a representative and instructor for the McKenny school of music at Peoria, Ill. He was located in various Iowa and Minnesota towns during that time, and was giving lessons on the Hawaiian guitar at Grand Junction when he was called into the service. He was married Dec. 26, 1942, to Marie Nieland of Sac County, the ceremony taking place at St. Bernard's church in Breda. Besides his wife, his father and stepmother, T/4 Wittry leaves three sisters, Marie, assistant in the Carroll county farm bureau office, Rita Ann and Anita Mae, at home, and one brother, Lawrence J. at home. His mother died May 7, 1922, when he was less than three years old. * * * T/4 Wittry was a member of St Francis' church, Maple River.He belonged to Charles Carroll Council No. 780, Knights of Columbus. Relatives from away attending the memorial services included: Sister M. Anthusa and Sister M. Florina, both of Rose Convent, LaCrosse, Wis.; John C. Wittry, Marshall, Minn.; Mrs. John L. Pape, Cottonwood, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Matt Bernardy, Seaforth, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rettenmaier and Walter Rettenmaier, Mallard; Mr. and Mrs F. J. Snyder and family and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Heisterkamp and family, Mt. Carmel; Mr. and Mrs Marcus Rettenmaier, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wittry and family, Mr. and Mrs. B.A. Wittry and family and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wittry and family, Breda; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ludewitz and family, Templeton, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Staples and family, Arcadia; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wittry, Mr. and Mrs. B.H. Schroeder, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schroeder, Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Olerich and family, Carroll. There were also many other relatives and friends from the surrounding community. |
