Beatrice in Gage County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
World War II
We Answered the Call
— 1861 - Today —
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
1. World War II Marker
December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States declared war. On December 11, 1941, the United States declared war on Germany and Italy. Gage County residents served in Europe and in the Pacific. They fought in major battles, received honors, became prisoners of war, were wounded or killed in action. Some served behind the lines as nurses, clerks, cooks, truck drivers, and airplane mechanics; others worked with communications and intelligence.
We were young and you just did it because you were expected to....
Beatrice resident Eldon Goble,
April 25, 2005
[Some photo captions follow]
1. Margaret Brewster (center) enlisted in the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps at the beginning of WWII. She served in several commands during the war and was among the first group of women officers selected for entry in the regular Army in 1943. She gained the rank of Lt. Col. and retired in 1965.
2. Home on furlough, summer 1944, Elmer Virgil Emal with Shirley Jean Siems, Mary Margaret Schuster, and Karen Schuster.
3. Lucile Totsch enlisted in the WAVES in June 1943 and was stationed in San Francisco and Honolulu.
4. Eldon Goble of Beatrice is first from the left on the wing of the plane at an occupied German airfield.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. 40° 15.27′ N, 96° 44.814′ W. Marker is in Beatrice, Nebraska, in Gage County. Marker is along the walking path in Beatrice Veterans Memorial Park, at South 6th Street (US Hwy 77) and Veterans Memorial Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 South 6th Street, Beatrice NE 68310, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Beatrice's Own - Civil War and the Spanish-American War (a few steps from this marker); War Efforts at Home (a few steps from this marker); Freedom Fighters (a few steps from this marker); Containing Communism - The Berlin and Cuban Crises and Vietnam (a few steps from this marker); World War I (within shouting distance of this marker); Beatrice's Own - Company C 134th Infantry Regiment Nebraska National Guard (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial Drive (within shouting distance of this marker); Fighting Communism - Korea and the Cold War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beatrice.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
2. World War II Marker
Photographed By Unknown, circa 1942/45
3. Photo 1 on World War II Marker
Courtesy of Gage County Historical Society
Photographed By Unknown, 1944
4. Photo 2 on World War II Marker
Courtesy of Shirley Jean Siems
Photographed By Unknown, circa 1942/45
5. World War II Marker
Courtesy of Lucile Totsch Starkey family
Photographed By Unknown, 1945
6. Photo 4 on World War II Marker
Courtesy of Eldon Goble
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
7. Combat Soldier Statue near World War II Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 709 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 13, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
