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Wilbur L. “Spud” Schwanke

Home...BiographiesWilbur L. “Spud” Schwanke

Wilbur L. "Spud" Schwanke

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    1940 LHS football team    		 Placeholder
    1941 LHS football team    		 Placeholder
    1942 LHS junior class
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    1942 LHS glee club
This January 28, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 5, column 2:
    A birthday party in honor of both Esther and "Spud" Schwanke, was given at their home last Sunday. Pfc. Elmer Schwanke was home from Fort Custer, Mich., Harold and wife from Gary, and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Meyers of Lowell, to help celebrate the occasion.
This March 2, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Word received by the Francis Schwankes from their son, Pvt. Wilbur "Spud" Schwanke, informs them he is now with his outfit "somewhere in England." "Spud" said he was getting along fine.
The following August 3, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 3, column 2:

    Port Units Work Together on Loading Program for Invasion

    Headquarters European Theater of Operations -- Officers and men of two U.S. army port units worked side by side with complete harmony and high efficiency in loading hundreds of ships with war cargoes for D-Day and Allied operations in France.

    Enlisted technicians and officers were assigned wherever they were needed most at each stage of the loading, and transfers were made rapidly from one sub-port to another when certain harbors had emergency jobs to handle.

    Master plans were prepared for each ship, showing where each type of cargo was to be stored. Vehicles, guns and ammunition needed first by disembarking troops were stowed in upper holds within easy reach. Other items were placed in lower holds in a descending order of urgency.

    The harmonious operation of the units was so successful that all loading was completed in plenty of time for the Allied landing in France. There were no major accidents and no large bottlenecks. When the D-Day signal came, cargoes were aboard and the ships were waiting in the harbors to go wherever the fighting forces called for supplies.

    Among the members of this unit were Pfc. Wilbur Schwanke of Lowell, Pfc. Luther Parks of Schneider and Pfc. Robert Miller of St. John.

This Lowell Tribune article was found in the January 18, 1945, issue (page 7, column 2):
    T/5 Wilbur Schwanke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Schwanke of Lowell, has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity, according to a release from the Public Relations section, U.S. army. Wilbur, a receiving and shipping checker, has been stationed in England for several months.
This August 2, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Le Havre Poe, July 12 -- The 16th Port Majors (nee Mudhens) currently are tiding the crest of a 39-game winning streak against baseball rivals in the ETO.
    Sgt. Reno Martina of Denver, has hurled 34 of the victories, notching 17 shutouts, three no-hitters and one perfect game. S/Sgt. Jimmy Lewis of Cleveland, and Cpl. Wilbur Schwanke of Lowell, Ind., are the team's big guns at the plate.
Last updated on January 18, 2012.

Go to Wilbur Schwanke, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.

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