LA CROSSE HISTORY
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THE LA CROSSE AREA'S HISTORY, DIGITIZED
World War II
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—World War II—
Creator:
David Yates
Description:
During WWII, the US Army’s Fort McCoy, in Monroe County, Wisconsin, served as a location to house German prisoners of war (POWs). David Yates was stationed at Fort McCoy during this time and managed to take photographs that now give insight into daily life for soldiers and POWs alike. This collection consists of over 100 black and white photographs that capture day-to-day activities and military personnel during WWII at a German POW camp located inside the United States.
Creator:
Erickson, Darryle
Description:
Adolph Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, spent the years 1933-1939 preparing his nation for war, He spent the years 1939-1945 in war; in the process he caused millions of deaths and destroyed much of European society. In addition, in defeat he gave the Russians an unparalleled opportunity to dominate Europe and Asia. The purpose of this study is to determine editorial opinion on the coming of World War II as expressed in the area newspaper. The paper examined was the La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, edited by R. L. Bangsberg, with Sunday editorials by M. R. Byers, from October, 1933 to December, 1941. A reading of this newspaper reveals several tendencies clearly. The editorials leaned toward a policy of strict isolation from the beginning of Germany's rearmament, through the Anschluss, the Munich Conference, the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, the attack on Poland, the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland, and the conquest of Denmark and Norway. On the occasion of Hitler's invasion and conquest of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg, the editorials softened the voice of isolation as rumblings for preparedness for war began to appear in them. The battles of France and Britain brought an awareness of the possibility that the United States might enter the war. The editorial voice urged and approved the war preparations the selection of a war cabinet, the destroyer-base exchange, the passage of the first peace time draft law, President Roosevelt's Four Freedom's speech and the Lend-Lease Act. As Hitler won more victories America moved closer to the brink of war in 1941. After Germany's conquest of Greece and Yugoslavia, the signing of the Russo-Japanese Neutrality Treaty, the freeze on Axis funds, the attack on Russia, and the Atlantic meeting of President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, the editorials fully recognized that the United States was on the verge of complete participation in the war and gave approval.
UW-L Seminar Paper
UW-L Seminar Paper
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Albert E. Flottmeyer discusses his life in La Crosse, Wisconsin, focusing on his experiences and observations as a building developer. He details the housing industry, describing construction materials, building styles, interior design, and housing developments, in particular the Wedgewood Terrace and Wedgewood Valley developments.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Bernard Medinger discusses his life in La Crosse, Wisconsin, focusing on his Army career during WWII. Topics include but are not limited to: drafted in 1942, Pearl Harbor, Camp Butner (NC) Army Base, 339th General Service Engineer Regiment, 1943 travels (Australia and New Guinea), segregation of African Americans in Arym, Japanese airfields, building bridges in Japan (1943), building air strips and hospitals in Philippines (1945), health concerns ("Jungle Rot"), war ending, German POWs, Fort McCoy, C-rations and diet, violence against Japanese soldiers, Hollywood portrayal of WWII, and comparing 9/11 to WWII.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Bud Miyamoto (b. 1945) spends a majority of his interview remembering his early life in La Crosse, specifically life on the North Side as a Japanese American. Topics include but are not limited to: North Side neighborhood, his (white) mother's background and employment at the Auto-Lite factory, father’s service in the 100th Infantry Battalion during WWII and journey from Hawaii to La Crosse, Camp McCoy, local businesses (the Sweet Shop, the Country Kitchen, and the Riviera Theatre), social life and entertainment (school dances, drag races, movies, county fair, circus, and picnics), recreation and sports (swimming at the North Side Beach, softball at Copeland Park, and fishing on Black River), student rivalries between Central High School and Logan High School, health remedies, religion (St. Luke’s Methodist Church), anti-Japanese racism in town, Black Americans in La Crosse, Moss family, working-class cultures on North Side, Auto-Lite factory, community grief from 1959 lay-offs at Auto-Lite, employment (Manke Hardware Store, M. Lokken & Son Grocery, Neumeister’s Butcher Shop, Guggenbuehl and Nekola, Nelson’s Clothing Store, and Berg’s Pharmacy, Milwaukee Sentinel, the Sweet Shop, andSandy’s fast food), President John F. Kennedy, 1965 Flood, Lower North Side train depot, telephones, medical industry, and local radio.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Don Molzahn discusses his life in La Crosse, Wisconsin, focusing on his Coast Guard service during WWII. Topics include but are not limited to: perspective on why the war began, Great Depression, effects on the future war effort, industry development, U.S. Military draft (1940), Pearl Harbor, ending the war with Japan, atomic bomb, benefits of WWII (industry, increase in workforce, and stability in economy after the Great Depression), enlisting experience, boot camp, Cost Guard crew member duties, Landing Ship Tank (LST Association), creation of memorial, comparison of Pearl Harbor to 9/11, patriotism, return from military service (1945), G.I. Bill education benefits, relationships between crew men, during and after war, and opinions on UWL Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Haiden discusses growing up in a German immigrant family in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He discusses family life, work life, and the development of La Crosse. He details his work in the railroad industry, mentioning several companies operating routes through La Crosse. He also describes the downtown district, including the breweries that operated there.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Mr. and Mrs. Banasik discuss their marriage and family life in La Crosse, Wisconsin. They describe work, home, recreation, and entertainment activities. They also comment on changes in society and politics.
Description:
Description:
Hoeschler touches on many subjects, but mainly focuses on his family history and his professional career. He also spends quite a bit of time talking about his uncle, Frank Hoeschler, who was a known dentist and developer in La Crosse.
Tape 2
Tape 2
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
John Haddad discusses his family's emigration from Lebanon and their settlement in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and describes his service during World War II. Topics include but are not limited to: training and involvement in the family business importing Oriental rugs, expansion of Haddad Rug and Carpet Company, community members Carson Pirie Scott and John Pappus (as customers), father's vineyard, Eastern suppliers network, father's experience in Lebanon, religious conflicts between Christians and Jews (early 1900s), imitation rugs, nation-wide importing rug networks (1936), Iranian traders, Great Depression and the Importation business, and uncle's ice cream shop.
Tape 2
Tape 2
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
John Lysaker begins his interview discussing his education at Logan High School and school programs. Other topics include but are not limited to: Teacher's College, Catholicism, relations and businesses within ethnic groups, race relations, Rivoli Theatre and other movie theaters, carpentry, transportation, Copeland Avenue, railroad industry, the Great Depression, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, veterans, 1965 flood, train depots, technology changes (computers and calculators).
Description:
Myer Katz (b.1910 - d.1993) grew up in La Crosse in a Jewish family. He would later become a prominent local La Crosse historian. In his interview, he mostly covers topics about his family heritage. The subjects include local Jewish history and immigration, Judaism, family customs and practices, antisemitism, education experiences, and general Jewish history.
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Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Lange discusses returning to La Crosse, Wisconsin, following service in World War II. He details his work history and union involvement, describing the brewing industry and his work for Peerless Brewery and his career with the La Crosse Cooler Company. He also discusses his membership in fraternal organizations.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Fitzpatrick discusses growing up in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She details family life and marriage; neighborhoods where she grew up and raised her own family; recreation activities; and local social life and practices.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
In this interview, Paul Cuta and Alberta (Cuta) Gund primarily discuss German and Czech culture during the early 20th century in La Crosse. Topics include but are not limited to: the family home (1016 Farnam Street), Bohemian (Czech) traditional names, Catholicism, parental roles, cigar making, commercial fishing, wooden boat building, Funke's Candy Company, gardens and growing vegetables, paternal grandparents, life in the family home, Hood-Powell Park neighborhood, religious divisions in town; German-Lutheran, German-Catholics, Bohemian-Catholics, Irish-Catholics, Holy Trinity Parochial School, activities at schools, fundraisers, sports, dancing, traditional Bohemian (Czech) food, World War II, La Crosse Tribune, fashion, war rations, street cars, Protestant and Catholic neighborhood relationships, The Strand Theater, recreation activities, school yard games, home remedies, Powells Park, Lapitz Grocery Store, shoe stores and cobblers, home funerals, Hammes Grocery Store, Bruha Selrite Grocery Store, Aboto's Confectionary, bicycling in 1940s, communications during Korean War, home-brew alcohol served in Bohemian Hall, Humms Bakery, Tabbert's Dry Goods Store, taverns, gasoline industry, Tomicek Car Service, financial loans, soap rations during WWII, Baum's Butcher Shop, Shimshack's Shoe Repair and Tavern, Not Your Uncle's Tavern, and the Prohibition era.
Tape 2
Tape 2
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
Paul G. Pappas discusses growing up as one of five sons born to Greek immigrants who settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Topics include but are not limited to: the downtown business environment, the Elite, family background, Imperial Ice Cream Shop, childhood, Greek Food, church, religion, dating, sports and recreation, WWII, transportation, YMCA, Valley View Mall, 20th century technology changes (refrigerator, television), atomic bomb, Korean Conflict, McCarthyism, voting, local politics, Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, and marriage.
Author:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Description:
In this interview, Stacy Hass discusses her time serving in the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War. Topics include but are not limited to: enlistment into the Marine Corps Women's Reserve (1942), propaganda posters, basic training, Marine Corps Base Camp (Lejeune, North Carolina, 1943), professional interactions with men, Marine Corps Air Station (El Toro, California, 1943), supply and office work, Pearl Harbor, husband's combat experience in the South Pacific, wartime communication, censored letters from husband, Post-Pearl Harbor, Japanese concentration camps, wartime recreation, Marine Corps Reserves Base Camp (El Toro, California), Air Base training (El Toro, California), education, post-war activities, accounting firm, Korean War, husband drafted, earning Bachelor's degree, and teaching.
Creator:
Pifer, Richard L.
Description:
A master's thesis. Introduction -- Chapter I. The setting: Wisconsin and the nation -- Chapter II. La Crosse: neutrality to intervention -- Chapter III. Preparedness -- Chapter IV. La Crosse and the world wars -- Chapter V. Select groups and the world wars -- Chapter VI. The search for security -- Conclusion