Season’s Greetings, 1942

from the Saucon Valley Defenders Committee

Picture yourself, young, probably just out of Hellertown High School, likely never having traveled far, and suddenly World War II breaks out. Here you are, in some foreign land—either in Europe, the Pacific, or at a military base in the USA.  

It's December 1942, and even though you're not in Saucon Valley, you still want to celebrate the holidays. Having a buddy in a foxhole or on a ship is good, but nothing beats being home for the holidays!

Then comes this Season's Greetings from your hometown Saucon Valley Defenders Committee. You probably know there's a fruitcake on its way to you along with other goodies from Saucon Valley and your family.

We’re sure you’ll pass the V-Mail greetings to your friends and wish them a Happy Holiday season as well!

Below is the greeting sent to our enlisted men and women in 1942. The war is just beginning, and emotions are running high. We had a wonderful Saucon Valley Defenders Committee to share their greetings with you.

Check out the V-Mails available on the blog to see how this holiday was shared with our Hometown Heroes in 1942.

Merry Christmas, Ken Bloss & Dan Ruth 

December 2025

            “Who’s Who” - in the V-Mails from 1942-1948
                                 (sent out by the Saucon Valley Defenders)

The majority of Hellertown and Lower Saucon service men and women featured in the Saucon Valley Defenders V-Mail are listed below.  Not all names have been captured here but it is worth looking through to see if you recognize anyone.

Businesses, organizations, teams, and local town names are listed in the second half of Who’s Who.

If you want to find a reference to someone listed, just access the V-Mail searchable file provided in the V-Mail Blog.

 

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👉 For the full stories, download the searchable Adobe PDF from the blog. 👈

                  (ignore the informational caution that "pops up" - and click DOWNLOAD)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3y1RYzkrJtzy6o3yOFo80ayYs1lvrv_/view?usp=sharing 👈

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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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👉 For the full stories, download the searchable Adobe PDF from the blog. 👈

                  (ignore the informational caution that "pops up" - and click DOWNLOAD)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3y1RYzkrJtzy6o3yOFo80ayYs1lvrv_/view?usp=sharing 👈

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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.

A look back at September 1942 and what the Saucon Valley Defenders Committee wrote in the Sept. 4^th V-Mail to keep our local troops in service worldwide updated on Saucon Valley’s Homefront activities. (See the complete V-Mail below.)

Here is the big picture of what the war-torn world looked like in September 1942.

• Japan was at its high point militarily, controlling much of Asia and the Pacific.
• The Allies were on the defensive almost everywhere, except for small morale-boosting actions like the Doolittle Raid.
• The real turning points were still ahead (Coral Sea, Midway, El Alamein, Stalingrad), but April 1942 was the moment when both sides were preparing for those decisive battles.

Highlights of the Saucon Valley Defenders Committee V-Mail, Sept 4, 1942

• Corn is plentiful, and Clam Bakes and Corn Roasts come into their own.
• A Donkey Ball Game was sponsored by the Junior Women and Business Men of Hellertown, with a crowd of 1,200 people. 
• Borough Civil Defense Program equipped Wolf School, American Legion, and the Fire House as First Aid Stations.
• Miss Alianore Long, School Nurse, is now a nurse in the U.S. Army.
• Chas Fulmer, James Hulak, and Homer Derr enlisted in the Marines.
• Nicholas Kolinetts has been reported missing by the Navy Department.
• Sad news came to the family of Chas. Kemmerer was notified that their son, Henry, was missing.
• The following boys have passed their physical examinations and were immediately inducted into the Service: Wilson Werst, Norbert Bergstresser, Harvey Laubach, Thomas Washko, Marvin Benner, Geo. Sabo, Gilbert Kiefer, Martin Kershner, Leon Transue, Chas Wimmer, Paul Mindler, and Joseph Kardos.

Please see the V-Mail dated September 4, 1942 (below). 
There is much more detail and local news in this edition. 

Imagine, as you read this, what it would be like to be a service member halfway around the world (in the Pacific or Europe) receiving this Saucon Valley News. 

Thank you, Saucon Valley Defenders! 

Ken Bloss (and Dan Ruth)

9/11/25

 

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