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Norman E. Dinwiddie (born 1921)

Home...BiographiesNorman E. Dinwiddie (born 1921)

Norman E. Dinwiddie (born 1921)

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    1937 LHS Freshman Class    		 Placeholder
    1937 LHS Basketball Squad
The following article was found in the January 21, 1943, Lowell Tribune on page 2, column 2:

    Corp. Norman Dinwiddie Writes from Africa

    Corp. Norman Dinwiddie, son of the Keith Dinwiddies is doing all right in Africa according to recent interesting letters to his parents. For Christmas he states that he received all his presents from home, cards by the score, and topped it all off by successfully wading through the regulation army turkey dinner and two other turkey dinners at the home of residents of the community. Regarding his present location he writes:

    "It is beautiful here. I can stand on the cliff beside my truck and throw a stone into the blue Mediterranean -- and it certainly is blue! Sometimes it is streaked with other colors, according to the way the sun strikes it."

    Norman also described conditions existing among refugee children from France, who average about 12 years of age. Their fathers are nearly all prisoners of war in Germany and the mothers are doing forced labor in different German-held places. They are allowed to write only a short note, not to exceed ten words, to their parents. Many of these children speak English, and one, according to Norman, reminded him so much of his sister, Betty, that he wanted his mother to write to her. The censor thought otherwise and the name and address of the little girl was deleted. Right now Norman is busily engaged in learning to speak French and Spanish, the dominant tongues of North Africa.

The following article was found in the February 4, 1943, Lowell Tribune on page 2, column 1:

    It's Now Tech. Sergt. Dinwiddie

    Word of a promotion from Corporal to Tech. Sergeant of Norman Dinwiddie has been received this week by his parents, the Keith Dinwiddies. Norman says he is getting along fine and with numerous invitations out for meals received by himself and his buddies; the inner man is well taken care of.
The following February 25, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, columns 1-2:

    Writes from Post in No. Africa

    Several letters have been received by the Keith Dinwiddies the past week from their son, Sgt. Norman Dinwiddie, who is stationed with the U.S. air corps in North Africa. Norman says they have been called in from detached service, and will soon be heading to the front. He sent in a number of pictures of interest. He says he received the Lowellian, L.H.S. paper, and The Tribune and enjoys getting the news from home very much.
This March 11, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 6, column 2:

    Enjoys News from Home

    A letter received by us from Sergt. Norman Dinwiddie, with the air corps in Africa, says he receives The Tribune and although they are a little old when he gets them, he enjoys getting the news from the old home town.
This March 25, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:

    Undergoes Operation in Africa

    A letter received by the Keith Dinwiddies informs them that their son, Sergt. Norman Dinwiddie, with the air corps in Africa, was to undergo a minor operation in the hospital there. No word has been received since.
The following August 3, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 3, column 2:

    Back at His Radio Work

    The Keith Dinwiddies of Hammond, have received a letter from their son, S/Sgt. Norman Dinwiddie, stating that he is back with the radio division of the air corps again after being ill for several weeks. Norman said he sees Cpl. "Smoky Joe" Jaskovich, well known to the younger set here, very often, and that they have had many a good visit, talking over old times in and around Lowell. "Smoky" is in the quartermaster corps. Both boys were well when the letter was written.
This Sept. 14, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 2:

    OPEN HOUSE TO BE HELD FOR S/SGT. N.E. DINWIDDIE

    Open house will be held at the farm home of Mrs. F.E. Tilton, on Sunday, Sept. 17, in honor of Staff Sgt. Norman E. Dinwiddie, who has just recently returned from 2 years service overseas.

    Friends and relatives are invited to call during the day.

Another article in the same issue of the paper (page 4, column 2) follows:

    Home from Overseas

    S/Sgt. Norman Dinwiddie, who has been overseas the past two years arrived home last week, and is visiting his parents, the Keith Dinwiddies, former Lowell residents, now residing at Hammond. After his furlough, Norman will probably be assigned to duty in the states for a time. He informed us that Sgt. Gordon Fitzgerald, a former Lowell boy, was on the same boat with him. "Fitz" will visit his parents, the Dan Fitzgeralds, at Blue Island, Ill.
The following Sept. 21, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1 column 5:

    DELORES KORS AND S/SGT. DINWIDDIE WED

    At 9 o'clock Friday morning, Sept. 15th in St. Edward's church. Lowell, with a background of candles and flowers, Miss Delores Maerose Kors, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kors of Cedar Lake and Staff Sgt. Norman Dinwiddie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Dinwiddie of Hammond, were united in marriage.

    The bride, gowned in white net over white satin, with finger-tip veil and carrying an arm bouquet of white, composed of roses, carnations and gladiolus, was escorted to the altar by her father, where she was met by the bridegroom, attired in his soldier's uniform. The bridesmaid was a cousin of the bride, Miss Genevieve Kors. She wore a white net over pale blue taffeta and carried an arm bouquet of pink roses and pink carnations. Best man was John L. Tilton, cousin of the bridegroom.

    The wedding march was played by Miss Joyce Hayden, who also accompanied the singers, Misses Patricia and Eileen Callahan. The Nuptial Mass was read by Rev. Edward M. Boney, pastor. The double ring ceremony was used. The mothers of the young couple wore corsages of pink carnations and their fathers and the best man each wore a white carnation on his coat lapel.

    Staff Sgt. Dinwiddie, a graduate of Lowell high school, has been in service two years and eight months. He received his radio training for the airforces in Orlando, Fla. He was the first man to erect a radio station for our armed forces in the African invasion. He also saw service in Scotland, England, Africa, Pantellera, Sicily and Italy.

    After the services, dinner was served in the bride's home. A reception was held at Cedar Lake Hill Top club house that night.

    On Sept. 29, Sgt. Dinwiddie, accompanied by his wife, will leave for an army rest camp at Miami Beach, Fla.

This August 23, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    The Keith Dinwiddies received a telegram Tuesday from their son S/Sgt. Norman, stating that he is to be discharged from the service Aug. 24th and that his wife will also be discahrged soon after. Both are in radio work at Mitchell Field, N.Y. Norman will arrive home about September 10.
This September 13, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Norman Dinwiddie, who has been stationed at Mitchell Field, N.Y., since his return from overseas duty several months ago, has received his discharge from the service. His wife, who has also been with the air corps, will soon be discharged.
This May 9, 1946, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 6, columns 4-6:
    Lowell's snappy all-World War II ceremonial team from Post 101, pictured above, with Congressional Medal of Honor winner Kenneth Duncan acting as Sgt.-at-Arms, will officiate at initiation ceremonies next Wednesday evening at Bendix Aviation Post 284, South Bend. The mass initiation ceremony will be held in the huge John Adams high school gymnasium, which has a seating capacity of 3,000.
    The popularity of the Lowell team, the only one in the entire state composed entirely of World War II vets, has been increasing steadily since its formation a few months ago. Thus far they have initiared 493 new members into Posts at Hammond, Gary, Hobart, Rochester and Lake Village. This figure includes many boys initiated into their own Post.
    The team has been scheduled for work at Crown Point and Cedar Lake in the near future and will undoubtedly be in demand at Legion Posts throughout the state in the coming months.
This May 20, 1948, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 3:

    THREE LOCAL MEN REENLIST IN ARMY AIR FORCE

    Roy Steward, Dick Williams and Norman Dinwiddie, veterans of World War II, re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps recently, all three receiving the rank of Staff Sgt.
    Roy and wife are at Perrin Airfield, Sherman, Tex., Norman and his family are at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill., and Dick is at a field in Texas.
The following January 12, 1950, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 9, column 3:

    TO MOTHERS OF WORLD WAR II

    I wish to thank you whole-heartedly for the splendid Christmas gift. It was a pleasant surprise to be remembered on Christmas morning from all of you back home. The homemade candy was delicious and was received in very good condition.

    That friendly remembrance make us (who are in Service) realize that the duty we are doing is really appreciated.

    Sincerely,
    S/Sgt. Norman E. Dinwiddie and Family

From The Lowell Tribune, Dec. 28, 1950, page 11, column 2:
    Mrs. Walter Childress and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jerry Childress, drove to Scott Field Friday and the former's son, Dickie, returned with them to enjoy a ten-day Christmas furlough at home. Before returning to Lowell Friday evening they were dinner guests of Staff Sergeant and Mrs. Norman Dinwiddie and children who reside at 311 South Pennsylvania Ave., Belleville, Ill. The Dinwiddies extend an invitation to Lowell folks to be their guests when in the vicinity of Scott Field.
The following January 17, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 6:
    S/Sgt. and Mrs. Norman E. Dinwiddie and family have returned to Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Ill., after spending a two-week vacation with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Dinwiddie at Valparaiso, and his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. G.P. Lawson at Crown Point, and sister, Mrs. Fred E. Donaldson and daughter, who also have been guests in the Dinwiddie home for the past few months. Norman enlisted in January 1942 and was sent overseas the same year where he served two years. He was discharged in 1945, and re-enlisted in 1948. Norman, a radio operator during World War II, has recently completed two advance courses in radio at Scott Field and is now a radio instructor at that base. His address is 1622 Kinsella, Belleville, Illinois.
The following December 4, 1952, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2 column 4:
    S/Sgt. Norman Dinwiddie writes from Spenard, Alaska, that the snow is two feet deep. A radio man, Norman tells that since recent plane crashes in that area he had been on duty almost continuously, helping locate the scenes of the disasters. His address is: Star Route, Box 910, Spenard, Alaska.
A copy of the following newspaper article, hand-identified as being from the May 19, 1954, Tribune, was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:

    Norm Dinwiddie Family Establish Alaskan Residence

    Due to rotate back to the States from Alaska, Norman Dinwiddie preferred to remain in Alaska and was granted an Alaskan discharge from the U.S. Air Force. He was a S/Sgt. Stationed at Elemndorf, Anchorage, Alaska. With his wife and children, he resides in the home which he purchased on Star Route, Box 910, Spenard, Alaska.

    Norm is doing construction work on a new hospital being erected at the Elemndorf base. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Dinwiddie of Valparaiso plan to leave the last of June to visit them. They will drive to Alaska and expect to be gone a month.

Last updated on January 10, 2012.

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