Saucon Valley Defenders Reports
October 1942, 43, 44, 45
What a difference a War Makes. Take a look at what was happening in our hometown during four years of war as depicted in the excerpts from October V-Mails below.
Parades, Halloween at Home, Beautiful Fall Weather, High School Soccer, Alumni Serving, War Drives, and Elections!
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1942-October – Hellertown
In the golden October sunlight, yellow leaves drift down in the blue air, and the hills are smoky with haze. Wild asters grow deep along the country roads, and the woods are filled with bayberry and bittersweet. The wild mixture of beautiful colors against old stone walls nearly makes one accept autumn. The schools opened on September 8th, with 377 students enrolled in high school and 496 in elementary grades.
Soccer at the local high school ramps up during the week of October 5th. The first game against the Lehigh Frosh will be played in Bethlehem. Due to transportation difficulties, only six major games are scheduled. The team personnel include Lash, possibly as goalie; Mowrey and Goldberg as potential fullbacks; Werkheiser, Marcez, Johnson, Flok, and Fonner as possible halfbacks. The most challenging aspect will be the forward line, as there are few linesmen with enough experience and drive to make the team function cohesively. The potential linemen are Robert Yob, Mease, Schneider, Pundiak, Richards, Keller, Hirkach, and Pasternak. At a meeting of the Lehigh-Northampton League, it was agreed that basketball will be played during the upcoming season. The league will include the following teams: Copley, South Whitehall, Wilson, Nazareth, Fountain Hill, East Stroudsburg, and Hellertown.
October 1943 - Halloween
Well, I guess you know by now that the 3rd War Loan Drive went over the top. The response in your hometown, especially in the schools, was good. It seems that the people—most of them—want to do their part. Outside of a few chiselers and careless individuals, we recognize our duty, whether it's buying bonds, saving scrap, or donating to deserving causes. We want you to know we are behind you.The latest check-up shows that 162 alumni of H.H.S. are currently serving. H.H.S. will have both boys' and girls' basketball teams this year. Recent actions by the Board of Education allow these teams to participate in an inter-scholastic schedule. It is now known that the boys will again compete in the Lehigh-Northampton League.
October 1943 - Halloween
Township Division
The folks from District No. 3, which includes Polk Valley, Wassergass, and Lower / Saucon, kept 'on the ball' during the past month and plan to dedicate their plaque, probably on October 10th. The plaque for the area will be placed at the crossroads in Ironville, better known as Wassergass, and will list the names of 55 men in the Army and 7 in the Navy. Somehow, the lads and lassies from this area are not inclined to join the specialized branches of the Armed Forces. Two additional names, Kenneth Bergstresser and Thomas Vuksta, Jr., have been received beyond those already mentioned in our letters.
All of the folks on the "home front" are supporting this work, and in District No. 3, Jacob Raab, Chairman, is assisted by Mrs. Clarence Reiss, Mrs. Floyd Brader, Jr., and Mrs. Mae I. Quier. We take great pleasure in dedicating this issue to those 62 "Fighters for Freedom" from District No. 3, and sincerely pray that our small efforts may help them in some way to accomplish the big job that all of you are determined to see end in VICTORY.
October 1944 – Halloween
Township Division
We are always receiving great letters from you folks on the 11Fighting Front, and like the 1GALS1, some are quite tricky. P.F.C. Charles Wimmer really made the headlines: 'BINGEN AND LEITHSVILLE HOLD REUNION IN NEW GUINEA." It seems that 1Chuck, who is a G.I. cook, had some visitors recently in New Guinea. His visitors included none other than his brother Allen, Maynard Klotz, Earle Sutton, and Warren Miller from Leiths-ville and “Eddie”Hock from Bingen. What a small world!
October 1945 - Halloween
Hellertown Division
Nature in all its beautiful colors of yellow, red, and brown has bedecked the hills and fields surrounding our little town. Though the tapestry of leaves is breathlessly beautiful, we close our eyes to what must come. Falling leaves and the falling year—beauty is going the way she came. Saying goodbye with no sigh, no tear (it is the empty wind you hear). It is also election time. The election for town officials as well as certain county offices is just a week away. The office of chief burgess probably offers the most interesting contest. The Republican party has nominated Howard Hess, a local businessman, while the choice of the Democratic party is Morris J. Dimmick, the veteran burgess. Almost daily, as you go downtown, you meet someone in or just out of uniform who a short time ago was either on foreign soil or in camp. Many are home on extended furloughs with the hope their discharge will follow soon and lead to a happy return to civilian life. Halloween again was a big event for the kids, and they showed more enthusiasm than at any time in many past years. The American Legion Band, with a good number of musicians, furnished the main part of the music. Prizes were awarded, and as usual, the treat at the firehouse followed the parade. The prizes and refreshments were gifts from local civic organizations and civic-minded citizens.
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