HISTORIES: "To Our Service Men, Living & Dead" of Barron, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Mott 7 July 2000 ==================================================================== To Our Service Men, Living and Dead In 1860, Barron County had a population of only 13, and in 1870, five years after the Civil War ended, the population was only 539. Obviously, the county could not have sent many men to the Civil War. In those early days most of the men working for Knapp Stout and Company lived in the county and only during the months when logging crews were working and during the spring log drives on the rivers. They left the county and lived elsewhere during the remainder of the year. No doubt many of these men enlisted and served in the Union armies at some time during that long struggle. We do know that many former Civil War soldiers moved into Barron and Barron County after that war was over. They played a very important part in laying the foundations of the county and this community. Among those men were many of our most industrious and public spirited citizens. Today, all are gone-- they have answered the last roll-call. They sleep "the sleep that knows no breaking," out in Wayside Cemetery and in a score or more other final resting places, within this county. The Spanish-American War was of short duration and comparatively few men were engaged. These veterans of that war were living in Barron not very long ago; J.W. Pitzer, Jack McKain, Nick Gasper, Dr.W.F. Goddard and A.J. Osborne. Today, Jake Clemans is the sole survivor, living in Barron. In World War I, about 2,000 men from Barron County answered their country's call. After we declared war it lasted for about 19 months. In that war, 50,000 American soldiers gave "the last full measure of devotions." Nearly 200,000 were more or less seriously wounded. The Pearl Harbor attack, early in December, 1941, plunged us into World War II. This war lasted 3 years and 9 months after we entered it. Some 4,000 men and women served from Barron County in this war. About 235,000 American soldiers laid down their lives on battle fields all over the world. Approximately 566,000 were wounded. In the early fifties, we fought the Korean War. Some 1,100 men from Barron County served in our armed forces in this war. Battle deaths totaled nearly 28,000. The wounded totaled 77,600. We must never forget these young men who laid down their lives so that we might live in peace and freedom. "They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun, and in the early morning, We shall remember them." Sometimes we hear that American youth has grown soft with too much ease and indulgence which we find today, in our way of life. In these last two wars our youth met determined and well armed foes, on land, on sea and in the air. In Africa and Europe our armies faced the most terrific military machine which was ever loosed upon the world. In the far flung islands of the Pacific, in sea and air battles and in steaming jungles and in the bitter cold of the rugged land of Korea, our young soldiers met a fanatical foe who fought with religious frenzy. No enemy soldier who ever faced an American soldier in combat has ever questioned the valor and fighting ability and endurance of our fighting men. Sgt. Rollin B. Curtis was chosen "Wisconsin's Outstanding Soldier" in 1922. As part of this honor he received a free trip to San Francisco, California. In 1918, while serving in Germany, he was awarded the coveted, French Croix de Guerre. In 191, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His military service award was rendered in World War I. Capt. Norman Skogstad served in the 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force, during World War II. He went overseas in June, 1944. By the time the war ended in Europe, he had shot down 12 German planes and had become commander of a squadron and was one of the leading pilots in the Mediterranean theater. He was awarded the ETO Ribbon with seven battle stars, the ATO anti-submarine patrol decoration, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with 17 clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also awarded the presidential unit and Silver Star for gallantry in action. --From the Souvenir Historical Album of the Barron Centennial-1960 (used by permission)