Lavaca County During WWII
In October 2005, The Lavaca County Historical Commission held its Ninth Annual Alton C. Allen Historical Conference. The title of the conference was “On the Home Front: Lavaca County in World War II.” This is a series of articles that highlight different projects undertaken by the residents of Lavaca County to support the war effort. They were written by Brenda Lincke Fisseler and printed in the quarterly published by the Victoria County Genealogical Society.
An On the Home Front Snapshot
January through March 1942by Brenda Lincke FisselerWith the United States entry into World War II in December of 1941, the repercussions of the war were felt on the home front immediately. American citizens were asked by their government to alter their way of living in both subtle and radical ways. Day to day life for Americans all over the United States was changing and Lavaca County was no different.
Beginning in January of 1942, citizens of Lavaca County responded to the war effort in various ways. County government began instituting changes required by the Federal government such as local tire rationing boards. The local board was housed on the second floor of the Lavaca County courthouse and the appointees were local citizens such as L. H. Meinert, E. E. Bushek and Arthur H. Kasper. The committee immediately swung into action. By early February, the board had granted 63 tire applications and by early March, 266 applications for tires and/or tubes had been approved.
Also in early January, the program for the sale of defense bonds and defense saving stamps was unveiled in the local newspaper, the Hallettsville Tribune. In a series of articles, the local citizenry was informed that Frank Scofield, the state administrator of the program, announced that $326,000,000 worth of defense bonds and defense savings stamps was the minimum allotment for Texas which averaged out to approximately $50.00 for every man, woman and child in the state of Texas.
In a companion article, Leon Kahanek, the Lavaca County chairman announced that the quota set was $780,800 which averaged out to approximately $31.00 per person.
Local citizen and groups responded without hesitation. Local grocer, Jaro Kafka, took $1000.00 worth of dimes he had saved, added $46.50 in pennies and the balance in loose change and purchased a $1500.00 National Defense Bond. The sale of the bond was made by the Peoples State Bank. About two weeks prior, Kafka purchased a $500.00 bond from the local post office.
Kafka, who had been saving the dimes since 1937, solicited the aid of Dave Fink, Attorney William Allen and Pete Brom to help count the dimes and Freddie Appelt to wrap all the change which took over two hours to complete.
At its regular monthly meeting in January, the Hallettsville Chamber of commerce announced plans to push the sale of National Defense Bonds in Hallettsville and the entire county. At the meeting, Leon Kahanek, chairman of the sale of defense bonds for Lavaca County, and Supt. C. S. Hereford explained the Payroll Allotment Plan. This plan is a voluntary pledge by each employee to allow his employer to deduct a certain percentage of his earnings with which the employer is to buy defense bonds and stamps for the employee. The Chamber also announced that it would purchase two $100.00 "G" Series of Defense Bonds out of the special fund.
Other community groups became involved in the program. The local garden club pitched in to buy a $25.00 Defense Bond and made a $5.00 donation to the Red Cross. School students were also involved. In March, it was announced that the students of Hallettsville High School and grammar school had purchased $357.50 worth of bond and stamps in the previous three weeks with plans to purchase more.
In an another attempt to support the war effort, the people of Lavaca County were praised in the local newspaper for their support of the War Relief Fund under the banner of the American Red Cross. The article was written by E. S. (Pat) Kelly, chairman of the War Relief Fund in Lavaca County. As early as January 6, 1942, the Fund Drive was in full swing though out the county and to date $1,350.00 had been collected. The county was organized according to towns and school districts and chairman had been appointed for each rural school district.
Local citizens were helping the Red Cross in other ways as well. In February the members of the local bridge club voted to disband and give their services to the local Red Cross every Tuesday. In March of 1942, Hope B. Finklestein wrote a detailed article depicting the various wartime activities undertaken by the Lavaca County chapter of the American Junior Red Cross. The group was currently collecting scrap materials, buying defense stamps, guarding their health and their tongues.
The old adage of "waste not, want not" was never more evident than during the way years. Early on, citizens were being urged to collect scrap of many types, including iron, steel, rubber, burlap and bailing wire. Locally, Mr. O. E. Hermes, the chairman of the Lavaca county USDA defense board, was reminding farmers that they were not being asked to give their scrap to the country, but instead to sell it at prevailing prices for immediate defense use.
Hermes was involved in other home front activities including the Food for Victory campaign that included peanut farming. A "Peanuts for Defense" meeting was held in March and was attended by approximately 150 farmers. At the meeting it was explained to the attendees that the peanut program was being inaugurated for the purpose of furnishing oil for defense due to the shortage of vegetable oil. The goal for peanuts in Lavaca County was set at 485 acres for nuts and 3736 acres for oil. Thrashing problems were discussed. At the time, three thrashing machines were operating in Yoakum and the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce was in the process of purchasing a thrasher so farmers could have their peanuts thrashed in Hallettsville for a nominal fee.
Home security was also a high priority and varied efforts were made to insure home front protection. In early January of 1942, the War Department urged the formation of Air Craft Observation Posts in every Texas County. The posts were to be established for the purpose of detecting enemy aircraft. While there was not an immediate need for the posts, volunteers were encouraged to establish the posts so that they could be activated when necessary. The War Department selected the following locations in Lavaca County for observation posts: Gandy Bend School, Sublime, Shiloh School, Stacy School, territory one mile west of Charlottenburg School, Friendship School, Terry School, Salem School, territory one mile east of Ezzell, Fitch School and territory two miles southwest of Worthing.
In another effort to insure protection from potential enemy aircraft, the air raid wardens in Hallettsville met and elected officers. The following officers were elected: C. L. Barnes, Chief Air Raid Warden, Rev. McDaniels Assistant Chief and Bill Ehlers, secretary. Prior to the meeting, the city of Hallettsville had been divided into eight zones with a senior warden in each zone. The group decided to hold a meeting the second and fourth Monday of each month.
Citizens were becoming involved in other local wartime efforts. One hundred and ninety-four individuals had registered for Civilian Defense duty in Hallettsville. Lavaca County had also conducted registration, but numbers were not available at that time. Also plans were being made to conduct a blackout through out Lavaca County in the near future and the local chamber of commerce strongly urged local businesses and firms to abide strictly by war time to conserve power and money.
By early March, sugar rationing became a reality. The local newspaper, the Hallettsville Tribune, informed its readers that sugar-rationing registration would begin for merchants on March 9th and 10th and for civilians March 18th to 21st, 1942. The sites selected for the registration were the local public schools. The same boards that were handling tire distribution would be used to supervise the work at the schools and the County and City School superintendents were asked to make arrangements for the registration and provide an accurate estimation of the population to be registered at each site.
On a somewhat lighter note Justice of the Peace Oscar Shoemake was appointed explosives agent for Lavaca county, an assignment probably not in his job description when he decided to campaign for the office.
Also, instruction were printed in the local newspaper on the proper procedure to follow when finding a pigeon. According to the press release, if a citizen should find a carrier pigeon with a band marked "U.S." on its right leg, here's what you do. Don't telephone the army. And don't try to read the message it carries, if any. That might be a military secret.
Sources
"Air Craft Observation Posts," Hallettsville Tribune, 6 January 1942: 4.
"Air Raid Wardens Elect Officers," Hallettsville Tribune, 13 February 1942: 1.
"American Junior Red Cross," Hallettsville Tribune, 17 March 1942: 2.
"Average of $50 For Each Person in Bond Buying," Hallettsville Tribune, 13 January 1942: 1.
"Blackout for Lavaca Planned," Hallettsville Tribune, 30 January 1942: 1.
"C. of C. Pushes Sale of Defense bonds," Hallettsville Tribune, 13 January 1942: 1.
"Farmers' Interest in Peanuts Here Points to Extensive Peanut Raising," Hallettsville Tribune, 3 March 1942: 1.
"Farmers Urged to Collect Scrap," Hallettsville Tribune, 16 January 1942: 1.
"Garden Club Buys Defense Bonds," Hallettsville Tribune, 16 January 1942: 4.
"Judge Shoemake Is Explosives Agent," Hallettsville Tribune, 6 March 1942: 1.
"Kafka' Dimes for Defense," Hallettsville Tribune, 13 January 1942: 1.
"194 Register Here For Home Defense," Hallettsville Tribune, 30 January 1942: 1.
"Peanut Machine," Hallettsville Tribune, 10 March 1942: 1.
"School Students Buy Defense Bonds and Stamps," Hallettsville Tribune, 31 March 1942: 1.
"63 Tire Applications Granted For Tires By Board," Hallettsville Tribune, 3 February 1942: 1.
"Sugar Rationing Starts in March," Hallettsville Tribune, 27 February 1942: 1.
"Tire Rationing Board Appointed," Hallettsville Tribune, 6 January 1942: 1.
"Tire Rationing Board in Court House," Hallettsville Tribune, 30 January 1942: 1.
"266 Applications For Tires Approved," Hallettsville Tribune, 6 march 1942: 1.
"War Relief Fund Drive On," Hallettsville Tribune, 6 January 1942: 1.
"What To Do If Pigeon of U.S. Found," Hallettsville Tribune, 13 March 1942: 1.
Foster Field and Lavaca County
Partners on the Home Frontby Brenda Lincke Fisseler
Foster Army Air Field located six miles northeast of Victoria, was an advanced single-engine flying school established in the summer of 1941. The field was originally known as victoria field until it was renamed Foster Field on January 15, 1942 in memory of Lt. Arthur L. Foster. Foster was an Army Air Corps instructor who was killed in a crash in 1925 at Brooks Field.
After Foster Field was dedicated in 1942, its influence on Lavaca County's home front response was felt almost immediately. As was true all over Texas and the United States, local citizens immediately began involving themselves in projects that would support their hometown boys and the war effort in general. Sales of Defense bonds and stamps, scrap drives, rationing boards and Red Cross Days were only some of the patriotic projects undertaken by the citizens of Lavaca County with assistance and support from Foster Field.
One very public demonstration of this support was the presence of the U.S. Army Band from Foster Field at several Lavaca County events. In May of 1942, the Hallettsville Tribune reported that the U.S. Army Band from Foster Field in Victoria would be playing throughout the parish picnic at Sweet Home. The band consisted of thirty-five men who would be playing military and other music. It was noted that other soldiers would also be present at the picnic. All proceeds from the day, which would also include a patriotic rally, two meals and a carnival, would be invested in U. S. War Bonds.
The following August, the band was advertised as the highlight of the Hallettsville Fall Trade Days and War Bond Rally scheduled for September 15th. The band was to perform two concert that day, one at 11:00 a.m. and the second at 2:00 p.m. A number of Army Air Corp officers would also be present at the event. In addition, a squadron of U. S. Army planes from Foster Field would stage a sham battle over Hallettsville.
The Foster Field orchestra was the musical entertainment for a Thanksgiving Day United War Chest Fund benefit dance held in Hallettsville in November of 1943. It was noted that the members of the orchestra were welcomed with a meal at Appelt's Drive-In when they arrived for the dance.
When a decision was made in June of 1942 that an emergency landing field would be located near Hallettsville, the military authorities from Foster Field worked side by side with local civic authorities. Major S. S. Devall, Captain James Goodbar and Captain McMurray of Foster Field worked with members of the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce and City Council. The group visited several possible sites and selected the Zapalac field as the best location for the landing field. The Chamber of Commerce then leased the field and plans were made to install a lighting system. Until a lighted field could be arranged, the local fire department was instructing its members how to react if a distress signal was received from a plane. The above-mentioned Major Devall and a Lieutenant Mallory even flew to Hallettsville and landed on the Zapalac field to test the suitability of the location.
According to Captain James Goodbar, advanced student flyers from Foster Field would be told that an emergency field was located near Hallettsville and if they should develop trouble they would be instructed how to signal for assistance.
In December of 1943, the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce invited every Lavaca County school to participate in a gigantic scrap metal drive to begin on December 1st and end on December 14th. Cash prizes were offered to the schools gathering the most scrap metal. it was announced that Army trucks from Foster Field would be in Hallettsville on December 15th ready to visit any school having scrap metal.
The stories above are only a sample of the many ways that Foster Field and its personnel influenced and assisted the "home front" response in Lavaca County during World War II.
In Short Supply
Tire Rationing and Scrap Rubber Drives During WWIIBy Brenda Lincke Fisseler
During World War II a phenomenal amount of personnel and raw materials were required to wage a war on two fronts each half a world away. Materials needed for the war effort were given overseas priority. Production was increased, but to augment production, consumption on the home front needed to be curtailed. Thus rationing became a necessity and a reality.
Various defense activities were being suggested by the national government and the defense coordinators in various cities and counties were appointing local citizens to serve on boards that would oversee rationing activities on a county level.
One of the first local boards was established less than a month after Pearl Harbor. A tire rationing board was appointed in early January 1942 in a meeting attended by County Judge Paul Fertsch and local mayors, J. G. Traxler of Hallettsville, Ad. Richter of Shiner and E. C. Fehrenkamp of Moulton, serving in their capacity as defense coordinators. Also present were L. W. Sheckles city manager and Walter Afflebach chairman of civilian defense both of Yoakum. Tire rationing had been instituted by the national government due to a severe shortage of rubber, the raw material necessary for tire production.
Appointed to the local Tire Rationing Board was L. H. Meinert, local stockman; E. E. Bushcek, Yoakum secretary of Retail Merchants Association and Arthur H. Kasper, a Shiner manufacturer. These three men had been selected in order that the three principle groups, agriculture, retail and manufacturing, were all equally represented on the board.
The rationing board was located on the second floor of the Lavaca County courthouse in an office formerly occupied by the Justice of the Peace Oscar Shoemaker. At the end of January 1942, it was announced by L. H. Meinert, chairman of the local board, that initially applications for tires should be made through the mail. Meinert continued that it was hoped that when the local board was in place that the State Board would furnish a person to keep the office open full time at which time applications could be made in person.
As Meinert hoped, the Tire Rationing Board was soon keeping regular office hours being open each day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The public was reminded that three to five days were necessary for applications to be acted upon.
In January of 1942, sixty-three tires were granted to applicants by the county rationing board. The county’s quota was sixty-four. The sixty-three applications were all for replacements of un repairable tires. First to apply was August Meister, a farmer living near Yoakum, second was Dr J.J. Austin the third was Willord Haynes.
By early March, office hours at the board had been extended to 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. Joe Srubar had been appointed bookkeeper-typist for the local board by the Civil Service Commission.
By March 6th, 266 applications, aggregating 387 tires and 310 tubes had been approved by the Lavaca County Rationing Board.
Along with tire rationing, county citizens were also being encouraged to collect and recycle scrap rubber. In a March 17, 1942 American Junior Red Cross article written by Hope B. Finklestein, the Lavaca County Chairman, Miss Finklestein reminded her readers that salvaged rubber released new rubber for military use. She also stated in her article that old rubber was serviceable for shoe heels, hose, bicycle tires and other articles for civilian use.
The June 19th, 1942 edition of The Lavaca County Tribune reported that 25,000 lbs of rubber had been collected in Hallettsville during the first four days of the rubber campaign that had begun on Monday, June 15th. The Humble Station was leading the list in Hallettsville with 6000 lbs bought in. J. C. Strauss bought 3000 lbs followed by Schott’s Blacksmith with 2000 lbs, Henry Fabian with 2150 lbs, Anton Pavlu with 2000 lbs, 1500 lbs by both Grafe & Hemmi and Bennett’s Gulf Station, 1000 lbs by Picha’s Station and Melnar’s Gulf Station, with 600 lbs by Drozd & Schilhab and 500 lbs by Buss Station rounding out the list.
Also to encourage citizens to participate in the scrap rubber movement, local Sinclair agent, J. E. Timm, ran a two column advertisement in the local newspaper reminding the readers to bring in all their scrap rubber and they would receive one cent a pound for scrap rubber.
By June 23rd the number of pounds of scrap rubber collected in Hallettsville had reached 51,550. J. C. Strauss and Anton Pavlu lead the buyers here with 12,000 lbs apiece bought at their filling stations. Second is the Humble Station where C. R. Hrncir had purchased 8,500 lbs.
By July 1 of that year, the rubber salvaging campaign in the country reached 80,000 lbs according to the reports submitted by the filling stations in Hallettsville. While the amount was considered passable, citizens were encouraged not to withhold their rubber in hopes of obtaining a better price per pound. In a local newspaper article, readers were reminded that if they did not turn in their salvage rubber, that the government would be forced to take the rubber from them including possibly the tires off their automobiles.
A week later, the scrap rubber collection in Lavaca County, excluding Yoakum, had reached 216,428 lbs and in the city of Yoakum alone, 160,000 lbs had been collected.
While many, many citizens participated in the rubber drive, some made the drive a personal quest. For example, the local Hallettsville newspaper applauded the efforts of Anton Pavlu of Lavaca County. Anton had brought in 20,000 lbs of rubber himself including the largest tire brought in during the campaign, a 153 lbs tire belonging to Willie Wagner of Breslau.
In July of 1942, the original membership of the Tire Rationing Board was changed from three members to seven members and the name changed to War Price and Rationing Board. The expanded board included Chairman L. H. Meinert and Paul Renger of Hallettsville, J. W. Cook and A. C. McCown of Yoakum, A. H. Kasper and Arno Wagner of Shiner and George von Lienen of Moulton. The name change reflected the expanded role of the Board in the community. The Board was now completely responsible for tire and sugar rationing in addition to all other rationing activities. The office was relocated to the third floor of the Lavaca County Courthouse.
Sources
“American Junior Red Cross – Home Defense,” Hallettsville Tribune, 17 March 1942: 2.
“Largest Tire Bought Here Weights 153 lbs,” Hallettsville Tribune, 14 July 1942: 1.
“Rubber Salvage Reaches 80,000 lbs.,” Hallettsville Tribune, 3 July 1942: 1.
“Rubber Salvage Reaches 50,000 Mark,” Hallettsville Tribune, 23 June 1942: 1.
Sinclair Refining Company, advertisement, Hallettsville Tribune, 19 June 1942: 4.
“Sixty Three tire Applications Granted For Tires by Board,” Hallettsville Tribune, 3 February 1942:1.
“Tire Rationing Board Appointed,” Hallettsville Tribune, 6 January 1942: 1.
“Tire Rationing Board in Court House,” Hallettsville Tribune, 30 January 1942: 1.
“25,000 Lbs. Rubber Collected Here,” Hallettsville Tribune, 19 June 1942: 1.
“266 Applications For Tires, Tubes Approved," Hallettsville Tribune, 6 March 1942, 1.
“216,428 lbs. Old Rubber Collected,” Hallettsville Tribune, 7 July 1942: 1.
“War Price and Rationing Board,” Hallettsville Tribune, 10 July 1942: 1.
