The Ely miner., 1943-06-17
NEWS ABOUT
SERvIcEMEN


First word to reach the Veterans OF
Foreign Wars from an Ely soldier in
Iunisia when the Germans capitu-
lated has just been received here.
1t comes from Cpl. Nestor ]. Niemela
who said he was in Tunisia when the
city of Tunis fell
Corporal Niemela, one of many local
soldiers believed to have helped de-
feat the Supermen of the Axis, said
he could not reveal his present sta
ton.
tive travelled a good many miles
since landing here in Africa" he said
Have been in Oran, Arzew, Phillips
vile and Bone" (All are Mediterranean
seaportS in Algeria, Oran in the ex-
treme western part of the country and
Bone in the extreme eastern.)
What does Corporal Niemela think
of Algeria?
'The Arabs can have this Africa,
he declared. "Give me gold old Min
nesota. My regards to the boys in the
services and to the folks at home"
Aviation Student Ray Nyman is a
member of Sqdn. GA, army air base
Santa Ana, Calf, where he is in train
ing to be a bombardier.
Pvt. Harold A. Niemi, Co. B, 62nd
Med. TT. Bn., Camp Barkeley, Texas
writes:
"I've been in the army since Apr. %
and have been separated from all the
pals with whom I went to Fort Smell
ling. I haden't expected this. My
brother, Einar, is with me and it's nice
to be together. There may be other
Ely boys here, but I haven't heard OF
them.
"The weather? It's something differ
ent from nothern Minnesota. 1t never
rains. Give me good old Minnesota
weather and I'm satisfied.
@AbOut the girls, or those you
might call Texas cowgirls. They're
not hard to look at, but the Ely girls
can beat them all.
"I'm going to cooks and bakers
school taking a siX-week course. This
army life is grand. I really enjoy it.
Pvt. Ed Vessel, End MT, End Sig. TT
Rgt., Camp Charles Wood, Fort Mon
mouth, N. j., has been transferred
from radio to truck maintenance
which he says he ''likes better because
had knowledge of it in civilian life
We're located between quite a few big
cities. New York is one hours train
ride away; Atlantic City, two hours"
Pfc. John A. Zbasnik is now in Det
2, 900 ON Co., Minter Field, Bakers
field, Calf.
Aviation Student Frank M. Kalan is
in So. 104, Fit G, AAFCC, SAACC,
San Antonio, Texas. "Here," he says,
1--WE will be classified as pilot, bomb
ardier or navigator. I've already taken
all the examinations and am waiting
patiently for my classification
'This Is supposed to be THE great
Lone Star State, but I'll take Min
nesota any time. The weather is
mighty rough in this section"
Pfc. John P. Grahek is stationed in
the 362nd TSS, Lowry Field, Denver,
Colo.
Pfc. Emil Kyro is the the 89th Alb
So, Williams Field, Chandler, Ariz.
Cpl. Jas. j. Peshel is now in Hq.
Bly,, 280th FA Bn., Camp Cooke,
Calf. The camp, he says, is three
miles from the coast and is cool all
the time. 1--WE are getting a lot of
toughening up work." he said, "and in
struction in teaching. We will act as
instructors when the basics get here"
Pvt. Ray A. Nicholson is in the 873rd
CD. So, Gila Bend Gunnery Base,
Gila Bend, Ariz
Pfc. Albin G. Markun, Hq. Co., Serv.
Bn., Bldg. 139, MOB, San Diego,
Calf, writes:
Things certainly have changed
since I left Ely and there certainly
have been lot of surprises. The fell