178 men and women from the Arenzville community served during World War II – the largest mobilisation this community had ever seen.
Some came from the same families that had sent men to the Civil War and World War I. The Burrus family sent seven sons. Four Charlesworths served. Four Zulaufs. Five members of the Peck family. Among those who served were also women – Mary Jane Looker, Letha Lovekamp, Mable Jean Peck, Rosemere Peck, Ruth Stamper, and others .
One member of this community, Louis Kloker, made the ultimate sacrifice and did not return.
Sgt. Bridgeman entered service July 1, 1941, and was serving as a mechanic in the air corps.
* killed during active duty
He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 11, 1941 and completed training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was assigned to the Headquarters Regiment of the 515th Coast Artillery, an anti-aircraft unit formed in New Mexico and later stationed in the Philippines. It is one of the most decorated units of World War II.
* killed during active duty
Edward “Bud” Burrus served with the 7th Armored Division, 40th Tank Battalion, Company C.
Jack Burrus began active duty on November 9, 1942, serving as a company aid (medic) with the 69th Infantry Division. He trained at Camp Grant, Illinois, and Fitzsimmons Hospital, Denver, before joining the Fighting 69th at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. On November 15, 1944, he departed New York Harbor aboard the MS John Ericsson, bound for England as a member of Company D, 272nd Infantry Regiment.
William T. Charlesworth served as a Tech 5 in the Service Battery of the 87th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.
After undergoing training in night attack and combat tactics at Quonset Point Naval Air Station, Charlestown, RI, he reported for duty with the Pacific fleet in February 1945. He was assigned to the Fighter Squadron VF-87 based on the aircraft carrier the USS Ticonderoga. He was a pilot of the Grumman F6F-5N, or Hellcat.