While reading the 80 V-Mails released monthly by the Saucon Valley Defenders during the war years 1942-1945, we noticed many references to Hellertown High School, Saucon Valley Alumni Association, High School Sports Highlights, and Community Events that were communicated to our local GIs serving in the armed forces.
Reading more carefully reveals information about many educators who either joined the war effort by leaving early or finishing high school and signing up, or existing teachers who left their positions to enlist. The Greatest Generation of Hellertown and Lower Saucon, about 800 in number, included many who were fortunate to return and become teachers in our local schools.
Here are some of the Saucon Valley’s Greatest Generation who you may remember as educators in the Hellertown Lower Saucon School District. There may be more educators’ names mentioned that we did not pick out from the 80 digitized V-Mails, so if you find others, please let us know.
Don’t forget to go to our Blog: www.Saucon-Valley-vmails.blogspot.com. Click on the image in the left sidebar to download a searchable Adobe PDF. Open the Adobe PDF and look for the magnifier in the upper right corner, then search for any name or word in the 80 downloaded V-Mails. The program will pull V-Mail with your search criteria.
Below are excerpts from SV’s Greatest Generation
1942
October 5, 1942 - Mr. Stanley Weikel, also a member of the high school faculty, and Mrs. Weikel became the proud parents of a baby girl.
1943
April 1943 - Charles Raudenbush, manager of the American Store, has been elected President of the Hellertown Business Association. He succeeds M. E. Illick.
July 1943 - During the past few weeks, we have received word from quite a number of you who are serving in so many different places. Pfc. Albert Hoppes, a weather observer in the Army Air Corps, was located at Jackson, Miss.
September 1943 - Raymond Gozzard, S.l/c says, "I can't wait to see some action on the sea."
October 1943 - The American Legion Band was led by Tech Sgt. Robert L. Hoppes, of Camp Stewart, Ga., who was home on furlough. Other servicemen and women in attendance added a touch of the military to the enthusiastic crowd, which in turn made the carnival successful
December 1943 - Albert Hoppes, _with the Army Air Corps in India, says he likes the land of mystery.
December 1943 - Raymond Gozzard Sl/c hopes to see someone he knows in the "Middle East".
1944
January, 1944 - The following men have been accepted for service since our last letter to you: ARMY - James Petrovich, William Apple, Michael Glosan, Steven Hari, Jr., William Toth, William Zimpfer, Bryan Arnold, Charles Raudenbush; NAVY - Leon Brown, Michael Tapajcik, Steve Machkow, Wm. A. Hartnett, Paul Kovach, Granville Strauss, Leo Mataitis, Calvert Unangst, Jr., Kenneth Rice, Ernest Kovacs, Machael Hildebrandt; MARINES - William Szabo; MERCHANT MARINE - Charles Bergey; MARITIME SERVICE - Leon Fulton
April 18, 1944 - Pfc. Albert W. Hoppes is receiving the monthly news in China.
June 1944 - Raymond Gozzard, Sl/c “somewhere at sea" is now striking for Quartermaster 3-c. He says, “I am fine and can’t complain.”
August 17, 1944 - When school opens, Mr. Frank Myers will replace Mr. Stricker in the Shop, and Miss Caroline Bealer will take the place of Mrs. Beatrice Stackhouse as our Latin teacher.
August 17, 1944 - Cpl. Albert W. Hoppes, in China, · writes that it is great to be sitting in this far-off corner of the world and read how the other Hellertown fellows are doing.
October 1944 - High School soccer got off to a start against Liberty H. S. The score was 5-0, not in our favor. No alibis, according to Coach Robert Hoppes.
October 1944 - Raymond E. Gozzard, Q.M. 3/c, tells of receiving our newsletter and birthday greeting in a foreign port.
December 1944 - Leon A.Brown, M3/c sends regards to everyone from the U.S.S. Baham. Michael, J. Tapajcik, M.M/3c, is also serving on the Baham.
1945
April 1945 - An organization called the Hellertown War Memorial Fund, Inc., is in the process of being formed. At a meeting at the H. S. last week, the following officers were elected to serve the group: Pres. M. E. Illick; Vice Pres. George Solomon; Recording Sec., Lucille Bean; Financial Secy., Rodney Baugh; and Treas., Thomas A. Peffer.
July 1945 - Stanley J. Weikel, a member of the High School Faculty, has been called to service in the armed forces by his draft district.
September 1945 - Stanley Weikel, a member of the U. S. Navy, and Paul Weaver with the U. S. Army, called at the high school during the past month.
We are seeking more stories about our Greatest Generation Educators for our Back-to-School article. If you have any, please reply to this blog so everyone can share.
Especially if you know which courses these teachers taught, please let us know by replying to the blog. Also, pass along the blog address to anyone who might be interested!
Enjoy the History!
Ken Bloss & Dan Ruth