(Information from the Memorial Edition Booklet from The New Knoxville Youth Activities Association)
Early in August, 1944, a group of representative citizens of the New Knoxville community met to consider a proposition offered by E. R. Kuck to provide the community with recreational facilities for its youth to be dedicated as a living memorial to honor the valor and sacrifices of the men and women of the New Knoxville community serving in World War II.
The response was enthusiastic and unanimous and immediate action followed to launch the program. Committees were appointed. Meetings with the Board of Education resulted in harmonious cooperation and in the acquisition of additional land. The committees that studied policies of Organization and Procedure produced the Constitution and By-Laws which were duly approved August 21, 1944. The field was surveyed, and then from everywhere as by magic came the tractors, plows, scoops, graders and volunteer workers by the hundred to level and condition the 5-acre tract. Over 10,000 feet of drainage tile were laid and the sixty-foot lighting poles were set in position. Soliciting committees brought in to the Treasurer more than $5,000 in cash and material contributions. On October 15, 1944, the field was seeded to grass and left to rest until final completion in May this year (1945).
Thus in the short span of 2 months there flowed from the mind and heart of the community a purposeful effort so spontaneous and unanimous as to produce amazement and wonder on the part of all who observed it. However, those of an understanding mind realize that this was but an expression of Thanksgiving and appreciation of the sacrificial burdens carried by our youth in the many battle stations of the world—and the further realization that upon the youth of our country, Healthy in Body, Mind and Soul, must be established the post-war world founded on the true principles of Freedom and Peace.
Article III of the organization’s constitution states that the purpose of this association shall be to promote the safety, health, morals, and welfare of our youth in the home, school, church and community. This is to be accomplished by developing, in our youth, control of important fundamental drives through nerve coordination; by making our youth increasingly self-directive; by developing community morale; by fostering sentiments of law and order; by discovering and developing special qualities and abilities as initiative and leadership; by preparing our youth for an active life in a democracy; and especially, by promoting recreational facilities in the development and maintenance of “RANGERS ATHLETIC FIELD” which shall be dedicated to the valor and sacrifice of our boys and girls in the service of their country in World War II.
Five members of the board of the organization were automatically selected on the basis of their standing in the community. These were the Superintendent of the New Knoxville School, the president of the New Knoxville Board of Education, the Mayor of New Knoxville, the pastor of the Evangelical and Reformed Church of New Knoxville and the pastor of the First Methodist Church of New Knoxville. Four more trustees were selected as follows: Chairman of the baseball committee, Chairman of the softball committee, Chairman of the basketball committee and Chairman of the outdoor court games committee. Membership in the organization was comprised of persons who owned one or more membership certificates at $10.00 each. Membership certificates were non-profit sharing and non-transferable.
The Rangers Memorial Athletic Field was officially dedicated on the evening of June 28, 1945, at 8:00 P. M., before a capacity crowd of fifteen hundred spectators. Young adult members of the N. K. Y. A. A. formed a basketball team, a baseball team, and a softball team, all of which played other community and county teams for many years.
TRAGIC DEATH
(The New Bremen Sun, December 23, 1943)
Corporal and Mrs. Victor Meyer of New Knoxville, both well known in New Bremen, were suffocated in an apartment house fire at Alexandria, La. according to word received here Friday morning. The bodies of both Corporal and Mrs. Meyer, the former Marilynn Griner of New Bremen were untouched by the flames and were brought to the home of the corporal’s parents in New Knoxville.
Corporal Meyer had been in the service since August of 1942. He was assigned to Camp Claiborne, La., and soon afterward was joined by Mrs. Meyer. While he was at Claiborne she was employed as a civil service worker at Esta Field, Camp Beauregard, which adjoins Camp Claiborne. They had an apartment in Alexandria, La., and it was there that they suffocated when the building burned as they slept.
Corporal Meyer was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Meyer (Ida Steinecker) both of whom survive. He was born June 5, 1922, and was employed by the Hoge Lumber Co. at New Knoxville before he went into the military service, and was well known and enjoyed many friends in New Bremen. His marriage to Marilynn Griner of New Bremen took place on May 3, 1942 here.
Surviving are his parents, two brothers, Walter, of New Knoxville, and Harold of Kettlersville, and three sisters, Mrs. Evelyn Moeller, New Bremen, Miss Bertha Meyer, New Knoxville, and Miss Adelma Meyer, Lancaster, Pa.
Mrs. Meyer was the daughter of Sylvan and the late Hilda (Fark) Griner, and was born on February 27, 1923, at Fort Loramie, O. She is survived by her father, Sylvan Griner, who about a year ago moved to Minster, by three brothers and one sister, Howard in the U. S. Army, at Ft. Thomas, Ky., Roland and Allen Griner, Minster, and Mrs. Francis Axe, St. Marys. Her mother died two years ago.
Double funeral services with military honors were conducted Wednesday afternoon in the Evangelical and Reformed church at New Knoxville. Officiating clergymen were Rev. Dr. D. A. Bode, Rev. Dr. George H. Smith of New Knoxville, and Rev. Theo. G. Papedorf of New Bremen. Burial took place in the Protestant Evangelical Cemetery at New Knoxville.
The following newspaper article, presumably from the St.Marys Evening Leader, announced the death of Pfc. Walter W. Wibbeler.
PFC. WALTER W. WIBBELER IS REPORTED TO HAVE DIED NOV. 9 OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION
Pfc. Walter Wibbeler, 25, reported slightly wounded in action November 9, in /France, now is reported to have died November 9 of wounds received in action. The telegram from the War Department was received yesterday afternoon by his mother, Mrs. Sarah Wibbeler, of near Moulton, and his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Tester Wibbeler, Moulton.
The first telegram advising relatives that he was wounded in action was received in December, a month after he was wounded. No further information was received until the telegram Friday reporting that he had died of his wounds. The message came as a severe shock to relatives and friends.
Pfc. Wibbeler was a supervisor at Goodyear St. Marys before he was inducted into service last March 21. He received 17 weeks training at Camp Fannin, Texas, then came home on a furlough before leaving for overseas service.
His marriage to Dorothy Tester took place on August 9,1944 during his furlough. She has anxiously awaited word from him.
Walt was born May 13,1919, a son of Mrs. Sarah Buddemeyer Wibbeler and the late Louis Wibbeler. There six brothers and sisters: Mrs. Harold Arnett, New Knoxville, Mrs. Noah Settlage, north of New Knoxville, Mrs. Eugene Vogel, St. Marys R. R., Mrs Bernard Kruse, north of Moulton, LeRoy and Henry Wibbeler, at home.
He was a member of the First Evangelical and Reformed church at New Knoxville.
During his several years of service at Goodyear, Walt made many local friends who are grieved by the War Department’s message of his reported death, and their sympathy is extended to the family members.
MEMORIAL RITES SUN. AFTERNOON AT NEW KNOXVILLE FOR PFC. WIBBELER
(A partial newspaper article telling of the time lapse till the family was notified)
Memorial services will be held at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the First Evangelical and Reformed church, New Knoxville, for Pfc. Walter William Wibbeler, who died November 9, 1944, in France of wounds received in action that same date. Friends are invited to the services.
Pfc. Walter W. Wibbeler was formerly employed at the St. Marys Goodyear plant, serving there as a supervisor when he was called into the armed forces on March 21, 1944. He went overseas after 17 weeks basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas, and in December word was received that he had been wounded November 9. Then in February word was received that his death had occurred that same day.
PFC. WALTER W. WIBBELER’S LAST WORDS CONCERNED MESSAGE TO WIFE
"Write to my darling wife and tell her I’ll be all right” were the last works of Pfc. Walter Wibbeler, killed in action last November 9, Mrs. Wibbeler written by Pfc. Tommy Lang of Houston, Kansas.
Pfc. Lang, twice wounded since November 9, has just arrived in Houston from where he wrote to Mrs. Wibbeler in agreement with the request Pvt. Wibbeler made after he was fatally wounded. It is the first word Mrs. Wibbeler has had other than the War Department’s message and confirming letter informing her of her husband’s death and was welcomed by her.
The letter follows.
Houston, Kansas
May 1, 1945
Dear Mrs. Wibbeler:
I hardly know how to write this letter but I’ll do my best. Your husband, Walter, was a very close friend of mine; in fact we shared the same fox hole and he was my assistant on the B. A. R.
Whitie, as we all called him, did many things in action which I would never have done. He was a good fighter and really knew the ropes.
I was beside Whitie when he got hit and I did everything within my power to help him but he didn’t have a chance.
He talked of you and his mother so much I feel that I practically know both of you. I know it was a terrible shock and strain to learn that he’d been killed but I do want you to know that he was well taken care of.
My reason for writing this is because Whitie’s last words were: “Write to my darling wife and tell her I’ll be all right.” I would have written sooner but I’ve been wounded twice since then, and I just got back home yesterday. With closing, I give you my deepest sympathy and I sincerely hope you and his mother are both feeling well.
A faithful friend,
Pfc. Tommy C. Lang
Houston, Kansas
Technical Sergeant Omer W. Lammers Lost at Sea Feb. 15, 1945
Missing in the South Pacific, Memorial only.
Source: Newspaper clipping
Obituary / Additional Information: The sad word that the War Department had declared their son, T/Sgt. Omer W. Lammers to be officially declared dead after being missing in action for a year and a day was received yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. L. Lammers, of Botkins Route 1. The letter from the War Department was signed by Major General Edward F. Ditsell, Adjutant General for the Army, and was dated February 16, 1946. It was as follows: "Since your son, Technical Sergeant Omer W. Lammers was reported missing in action on February 15, 1945, the War Department has entertained the hope that he survived and that information would be revealed surrounding his absence. However, as in many cases, the conditions of warfare deny us such information." Sgt. Lammers enlisted in the Army Air Corps January 18, 1941, and trained at Chanute Field, Colorado, and Fairmont Army Air Field, Kansas. He left for overseas duty in the Pacific on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1944, and was assigned to the Marianna islands. He was a flight engineer of the B-29 Superfortress. He attended New Knoxville school, graduating with the class of 1937, and was employed as a ditching machine operator by the late Ed Holl prior to taking a job at the Goodyear plant in St. Marys from where he enlisted. Omer William Lammers was born on January 9, 1920, near Botkins, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Lammers. He is survived by his parents and a sister, Miss Mildred Lammers, at home, and a brother, Richard Lammers, a student at Heidelberg College, Tiffin. He was a member of the Evangelical and Reformed church at New Knoxville. The official action of the War Department brought Shelby County's WWII casualty list of killed or died in the service to 7.
Technical Sergeant Omer W. Lammers was a flight engineer on this B-29 Superfortress bomber, which was lost in the South Pacific on February 15, 1945. Below is a picture of the bomber and an official Mission Summary.
Pictured is the entire Proctor crew who perished at sea on February 15, 1945. Technical Sergeant Lammers is standing to the viewer’s left.