Schwerbel, John

John married Selig, Minnie Mary 3 Mar 1916. Minnie (daughter of Selig, Charles and Paummeress, Sena "Ricka") was born 12 May 1885, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; died 10 Feb 1968, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; was buried , Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1920 Census: 1920, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1930 Census: 1930, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Education - High School: 1934, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Military Service: Between 15 Oct 1940 and 25 Dec 1944; WWII, 1LT, Company D, 127TH Inf. Regt.
• WWII Army Enlistment Records: 15 Oct 1940
• Letter: 3 Apr 1943; Appleton Post Cresent News
• Obituary: 25 Jan 1944; Appleton Post Crescent
• Find A Grave: Aft 25 Dec 1944

Notes:

1920 Census:
Gustave Doeffler 30
Minnie Doeffler 34
Ralph Schwesbel 3 step son

1930 Census:
Minnie Doerfler44
Harold Doerfler9
Ralph Schwerbel13
Lena Selig83

Education - High School:
Appleton High School Class of 1934

Military Service:
born 1 Sep. '16 at Appleton, WI (hometown); mother Mrs. Fred Kubitz, Route 1, Appleton; graduated Appleton H. S. in '35; worked for Appleton Post-Crescent when he entered active service; member of VFW; joined Wis. Nat. Guard ca. '35; was SGT in Co. D, 127TH Inf. at Appleton, WI on 15 Oct. '40; SN 20646461; battlefield commission?; new SN O-888233; letter to home describing rest camp in Australia post-Buna printed in Post-Crescent 3 Apr. '43; KIA 25 Dec. '44 by sniper on Leyte, Philippines; interred at Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, WI

WWII Army Enlistment Records:
Name:Ralph C Schwerbel
Birth Year:1916
Race:White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country:Wisconsin
State of Residence:Wisconsin
County or City:Winnebago

Enlistment Date:15 Oct 1940
Enlistment State:Wisconsin
Enlistment City:Appleton
Branch:Infantry
Branch Code:Infantry
Grade:Corporal
Grade Code:Corporal
Component:National Guard (Officers, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source:National Guard

Education:4 years of high school
Civil Occupation:Unskilled occupations in printing and publishing, n.e.c.
Marital Status:Single, without dependents
Height:68
Weight:166

Letter:
1LT Ralph C. Schwerbel, from Appleton, Wisconsin and assigned to Co. D, 127TH Infantry, wrote a letter home describing his unit's return to Australia and described some of his experiences in the rest camp. His letter was printed in the Appleton Post-Crescent on 3 Apr. '43:

"The welcome music of Appleton's band rang out as we hit dock in Australia some time ago and it really was a treat to hear it after nothing but jungle rhythm and native shouts for quite awhile. Townspeople cheered the returning soldiers and it was a great feeling to get back to the mainland after arduous months in the much publicized New Guinea campaign. The Australian Red Cross filled us with ice cream, fresh fruits, cigarettes and, second only to the ice cream as a treat supreme, ice cold bottles of coke. To top that off, a few hours later we again hit the line for a delicious meal of steak, mashed potatoes, more fruit and pudding. It was a real field day on food for a pack of hungry Yanks.
"We are taking things a bit easy now, located on a beautiful white sand beach with clear, blue breakers of the Pacific rolling in to make ideal surfing. Food at camp is excellent and plentiful. All in all, we're having a swell time prior to polishing off the rough edges learned from combat experiences before we have another go at Tojo's little brown men.
"Noticed that Sergeant Stan Bethe is wearing the arm band of special police detailed for this temporary camp. Most of the boys are regaining the weight they sweated off in the tropics. I suppose it won't' be too long before I'll be sporting my set of triple chins again.
"The big news concerns Captain Edmond Bloch of Neenah, former commanding officer of Company H. He's now commanding the second battalion and was twice decorated for gallantry in action. Young, athletic, bronzed and likeable, Ed has received the silver star and the oak leaf cluster in addition for a second display of heroism. It really makes a fellow proud to work with men like him and others who have done excellent work in the recent campaign.
"The men got three months pay and the results of canteen sales will give you the story. Over 4,500 pints of ice cream, hundreds of cases of coke and a small truckload of candy bars were sold in about an hour. We can get plenty of fresh fruit from local vendors. The lads consume plenty of the plums, grapes, apples, bananas and huge pineapples which are available.
"I found in a visit with the Appleton boys that Bill Fiebelkorn was made a sergeant, George Jaeckels a technician fifth grade and Frankie Brueggemann and Don Vanderlois two stripers. Vanderlois and Fiebelkorn are acting as life guards on the beach in our rest area."
1LT Schwerbel had joined the Wisconsin National Guard in 1935, the same year he graduated from Appleton High School. He was a SGT in Co. D, 127TH Inf. at Appleton, WI, when 32D Div. mobilized on 15 Oct. '40. It is unclear if he received a battlefield commission during the Battle of Buna or if he completed OCS before his unit was deployed to New Guinea. 1LT Ralph C. Schwerbel was later KIA on 25 Dec. '44 by sniper on Leyte, Philippines.

Source; http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2-5.html

Obituary:
SchwerbelRalph9/1/191612/25/1944Post Crescent1/25/19451

Find A Grave:
Name:Lieut Ralph C. Schwerbel
Birth Date:1 Sep 1916
Birth Place:Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States of America
Death Date:25 Dec 1944
Death Place:Philippines
Cemetery:Riverside Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place:Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States of America
Has Bio?:N