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2 l FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

OPERATION: FORGET NO SOLDIER 2013

Ironwood woman recalls delivering fateful news By KATIE PERTTUNEN

kperttunen@yourdailyglobe.com

IRONWOOD — Elaine Peterson remembers a fateful day when she was 12 years old in Highbridge, Wis. The postman gave her a telegram and told her to take it home to her parents right away. She knew right then that something was very wrong. Her brother, Edwin, was serving as a Corporal in the Air Force, and her brother, Laurence, was serving in the Infantry in the Army, as it was 1945 and World War II was still being raged. The handwritten telegram was from the Major General, the Adjutant General of the War Department, J.A. Ulio. It was addressed to Mrs. Hannah Dyrness, Peterson's mother. It said that Corporal Edwin Dyrness went missing in the Mediterranean theatre on March 13. On March 16, Peterson wrote him a letter, before they knew he was missing. It was returned. “Communication took forever back then. It's not like today when you can Skype,” Peterson said. On April 14, Hannah Dyrnesswrote Corporal Dyrness a letter, not knowing “if you are with the living or not.” She told him, “We are all well and I pray you are the same.” Dyrness had written his last letter to his family on Feb. 26, while at Fort Meade, in Maryland. He said that his clothes were all packed

and he was just waiting to get underway, having toured Baltimore and Washington, D.C. On July 30, the Dyrness family got the letter that no family wants to get, from Edward Witsell, Acting the Adjutant General of the Army. Witsell said that at 4.a.m. on March 13, U.S. Army Transport J.W. McAndrew was en route to the European continent, when the French aircraft carrier Bearn went off course and struck the J.W. McAndrew. Eighty-one enlisted men were washed out to sea, and only 13 were rescued, because of “prevailing conditions at the time, heavy seas, darkness, and poor visibility.” Dyrness was not among the rescued. He “perished” at 21. Peterson said it would have been nice to have been able to get in touch with survivors. Peterson's brother, Laurence, earned a Purple Heart during the war, serving in North Africa. Peterson doesn't remember much about her brothers because of the age difference between them. Before her brothers went off to war, they worked at the Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Pattison Park in Superior. “Times were different then. My parents didn't tell me stories about my brothers. It's not like today. Now they are gone and I am left with questions but no one to ask,” Peterson said.

Ironwood resident Elaine Peterson reads a letter from the War Department confirming that her brother, Edwin Dyrness, would not be coming home from World War II.

Proudly They Serve . . . There is no greater act of honor and courage than serving one’s country . . . . . . we proudly salute all the men and women of our Armed Forces who protect the freedom we hold so dear.

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Letters counterclockwise from top left. Letter written by Edwin to his mother approximately two weeks before this death; Letter to Edwin written by his mother; Western Union telegram informing the family their son was missing; Letter from war department informing Hannah of the death of her son.

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4 l FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

OPERATION: FORGET NO SOLDIER 2013

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OPERATION: FORGET NO SOLDIER 2013

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UÄxáá|Çzá àÉ ÉâÜ fxÜä|vx ÅxÇ tÇw ãÉÅxÇ jx ÑÜtç yÉÜ à{x|Ü átyx ÜxàâÜÇ Sharon Lutheran Church

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6 l FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

Ewen sailor's sacrifice not forgotten by nephew By CORTNEY OFSTAD cofstad@yourdailyglobe.com

EWEN – On Feb. 15, 1942, the late George Koski wanted to reassure his family of his safety aboard the U.S.S. Houston, despite media reports. He wrote in a letter to his brother, John, "I want to warn you again not to believe what you read in the papers, because we just copied another press item a few days ago (put out by the Japanese I suppose) that the Houston was sunk and I know it's not true because she's still right here, just as good as ever." However, less than a month later, the U.S.S. Houston sank in the battle of Sunda Strait in the Pacific Ocean, and Koski died aboard the ship. Seventy-one years later, Koski's nephew, Paul Koski, still has the letters

that were sent to his father, John, and grandfather. Despite the fact that Paul never met his uncle, he always takes pride in the sacrifice that he made for his country. "It makes me proud that he served and that he was a part of this family," Paul said. "Our family was represented by him and his sacrifice and that makes me proud." Many of the letters in Paul's possession are to his father and grandfather from George. The letters describe the challenges of sending and receiving mail aboard a ship during wartime, being in port and missing each other. Each letter brought comfort that even though George was thousands of miles away, his family knew for a brief moment he was OK.

OPERATION: FORGET NO SOLDIER 2013

After hearing that the U.S.S. Houston did sink, however, Paul said that he remembers his family talking about the apprehension they felt. "My aunt (George's sister) is still alive and she said that there was a lot of apprehension when he went missing, because it was a long time before they found out that he was actually dead," Paul said. "Some of the crew were taken as prisoners of war, so they didn't know if he was alive or not." After giving the ultimate sacrifice to his country, Paul is thankful that he has something to connect himself to his uncle. "It's about expressing gratitude from him losing his life for his country," Paul said. "He is family, and I am so proud of him for that sacrifice."

Clockwise from top right: Letters from George to his brother, John; Citation for the U.S.S. Houston from the Secretary of the Navy; Photos of George in his Navy uniforms; Letter from George telling John not to worry.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

OPERATION: FORGET NO SOLDIER 2013

SHOWN ARE William J. Ceccon, left, and his cousin, Andrew Finco.

War tale of two cousins By RALPH ANSAMI

ransami@yourdailyglobe.com

The Jan. 4 letter from France from William J. Ceccon to his cousin, Andy Finco, both of Ironwood, contained a foreboding. “I know your up in the front lines again and I wish you all the luck in the world. It's a good thing we met that Saterday, heh? Because you sure pulled out fast.” They had met in France on March 7, 1944, and had often written to each other about the war and the people back home in Ironwood's Newport Location. Their mothers were sisters. Decades later, Karen (Ceccon) Byrns, of Ironwood, was looking through her father's war-time correspondences and she realized a startling fact – the letter from her father to his cousin was never sent. Andrew A. Finco was killed by machine gun fire in action in Belgium with the 32nd Glider Infantry. The date of his death was Jan. 4, 1945. There were 18 tanks involved and casualties were heavy,

as the position was overrun and the platoon couldn't withstand the enemy assault. Karen also found letters from “Andy to Billy.” One read, “I got a letter from your brother Eugene. He says he likes the Navy. Well, I suppose its better than army. Well I hope this war ends soon so we can can get to see old Newport again. I sure miss the old place.” The letter ended, “Don't do what I wouldn't do.” Private Finco was apparently buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery in France, about 10 miles north of Yerdun. His body was supposedly in grave 238, row 10, plot D, according to military records. But William Ceccon was also told that Andrew was buried in the U.S. cemetery in Foy, Belgium. Ceccon went to Belgium on June 6, 1945, but couldn't find his cousin's grave. He tried and tried but he never did find Andrew Finco's final resting place. Ceccon, who enlisted at age 17, was discharged from service on Feb. 2, 1946, at the age of 21. He died on Oct 23, 2002.

Top – Letter from 1945 requesting the place of burial for Andrew Finco; bottom – Letter from Andrew Finco to his cousin William J. Ceccon written in November of 1944 approximately one month before his death.

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8 l FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013

OPERATION: FORGET NO SOLDIER 2013

Seven ways to support the troops

There are thousands of troops stationed around the world that can benefit from some support from home. Being away from one's native country can cause feelings of homesickness and potentially loneliness. All it takes is a few encouraging words to let servicemen and women know you are thinking about them and appreciate their efforts. So what can you do to show your support? There are many things, actually. Here are a few ideas and you can build on them. 1. Write a letter: The single most effective and simple way to offer troops support is to tell them, in your own words, how much you appreciate their efforts. Write a letter to someone whom you've never met and tell him or her about your life and what is going on back home. You not only will provide a window on your world, you just may make a new friend in the process. There are plenty of organizations that will connect you with overseas soldiers.

Do a search online, or you can even speak with a local veteran's association or military recruiting organization for more information. 2. Send greeting cards: It can be difficult for troops overseas to send back special occasion greeting cards, simply because of the lack of availability of them. Whether you send handmade cards, or prebought general occasion ones, the cards will be appreciated by soldiers who want to offer special sentiments to their loved ones. 3. Make phone calls easier: We're a world of modern conveniences. We think nothing of picking up a cell phone and making a call or sending a text. Troops don't always have that luxury. It can be expensive to make calls overseas. Sending soldiers pre-paid phone cards and used cell phones enable them to make calls back home. Visit "Cell Phones for Soldiers" to learn more about how you can help. 4. Send a care package: Troops

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often appreciate little touches of home. Generally this involves food or items that are familiar to them. Sending care packages can be a great way to offer a touch of the familiar. Find out what is acceptable to send by contacting an organization like Treats for the Troops. You can also raise money with friends and family to send something substantial. You can pre-load an MP3 player with songs and have that sent, as an option. 5. Volunteer: Connect with an organization that provides support to current or past troops. Perhaps you can inquire at a veterans' hospital. Even visiting past veterans and sitting down and talking with these people about their experiences are ways to show support. 6. Foster a pet: Have you ever given thought to what happens to the pets of servicemen and women? If they don't have a spouse or family member to care for the animal, the pet may have to be put in a

shelter or given away. However, you can volunteer to foster the pets of service personnel during their tours of duty. 7. Provide support for military families: Organize a party, barbe-

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Home or Abroad – We Are Supporting our Troops We salute the members of our armed forces who defend our freedom so bravely. Their heroic actions and dedication to our country make us proud to be Americans. May they come home safe and soon.

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