Gold Star list honors those from diocese who fought and died in WWII
By Tim Wenzl
Diocesan Archivist
The dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., served to inform and educate generations hence of the sacrifices of many who fought for their country.
In the Diocese of Wichita, a total of 6,839 young men and women left their parishes to serve in the Second World War. Two hundred and thirty-six of these men and women gave their lives for their country. Sixty-six were members of parishes now in the territorial boundaries of the Diocese of Dodge City.
On Feb. 20, 1948, a "Gold Star List of War Heroes" was published in the Advance Register in Wichita. The list was compiled at the chancery office in co-operation with the pastors of the diocese. The following names list those from parishes now in the Diocese of Dodge City. Additions or corrections can be made by writing the diocesan archivist at PO Box 137, Dodge City, KS 67801.
Gold Star veterans
The World War II "Gold Star Boys" were service men who lost their lives. The term began during WWII when the families would place a Gold Star in their window after they lost their son.
Ackerman, Edward - Immaculate Heart of Mary, Windthorst
Baier, Henry, Jr. - St. Francis Xavier, Seward
Barragree, Mrs. William (Helen) - St. John’s, Meade
Bartonek, Eugene - St. Ann, Olmitz
Beran, Roman - Holy Family, Odin
Birzer, Fred - St. Andrew, Wright
Brehm, Jerome - St. Nicholas, Kinsley
Breit, Hubert - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Campbell, Richard Bradley, St. Mary’s, Garden City
Cook, Donald Frank - St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend
Cosgrove, Gleason - Sacred Heart, Pratt
Davila, Raymund - St. Mary’s, Marienthal
Doherty, Bernard Richard - St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend
Dome, Alvin - St. Mary’s, Sitka
Duesing, Anthony - Immaculate Heart of Mary, Windthorst
Esquibel, Roberto - Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City
Esquibel, Rodolfo - Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City
Fehrenbacker, Raymond Eugene - St. Francis Xavier, Seward
File, Orlando R. - St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend
Flynn, John Joseph, St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend
Frank, Gilbert - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Gasser, Allen Charles - Sts. Peter and Paul, North Kinsley
Gerstenkorn, Edmund A. - Holy Family, Odin
Gillen, Leander - St. Mary’s, Marienthal
Gonzales, Anthony - St. Anthony, Lakin
Graf, Gregory - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Gruenwald, John - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Hartman, Celestine - St. Mary’s, Loretto
Hekele, Joseph - Holy Family, Odin
Herman, Herbert - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Herrman, Elmer - St. Joseph, Liebenthal
Herrman, Ludwig - St. Joseph, Liebenthal
Heskamp, Carl G. - St. John the Baptist, Spearville
Hickel, Erwin J. - Sts. Peter and Paul, North Ellinwood
Hoffman, Louis M. - St. Francis Xavier, Seward
Humphrey, Bernard - St. John the Evangelist, Hoisington
Klein, Paul - Sacred Heart, Dodge City
Klepper, Frank Arnold - Sts. Peter and Paul, North Ellinwood
Knoll, Gregory - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Knott, Mrs. Verle (Lena) - St. Patrick, Plains
Landwehr, Lawrence - St. Aloysius, Ransom
Legleiter, Aloysius - St. Joseph, Liebenthal
Lovitt, Rancis Albert - St. Mary’s, McCracken
McCormick, Mark - St. Michael’s, La Crosse
Meier, Robert - St. Mary’s, Marienthal
Miller, Albert John - St. Anthony, Fowler
O’Connor, Dennis John - St. Joan of Arc, Elkhart
Peitz, Harold - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Rebel, Alvin - St. Ignatius, Nonchalanta
Reif, Joseph - Immaculate Conception, Claflin
Reinert, Floyd - Sacred Heart, Dodge City
Roggenbuck, George - St. Mary’s, Garden City
Rosproy, Ole - St. John the Baptist, Spearville
Scheve, Gregory - St. John the Baptist, Spearville
Schmidt, Le Roy - St. John the Baptist, Spearville
Shaw, Robert - St. Joseph’s, Ashland
Stegman, Jerome - St. Joseph’s, Ashland
Stegman, Stanley - Sacred Heart, Pratt
Stephen, Paul Curtis - St. Joseph’s, Ellinwood
Susank, Firman Edward - St. John the Evangelist, Hoisington
Thill, Leonard - St. Catherine, Dubuque
Vann, John Richard - Sacred Heart, Dodge City
Wagner, James - Sacred Heart, Dodge City
Younger, Clarence - St. Mary’s, Marienthal
Ziebolz, Isidore - Sacred Heart, Ness City
Zimmerman, George - St. Lawrence, Jetmore