Local stories of sacrifice as Army celebrates 250 years Saturday

(SOUTHEAST INDIANA) – Today marks the 250th birthday for the United States Army. 

The Army was formed on June 14, 1775 by the Second Continental Congress. 

Over the years, many have served and some gave all.

Here are a few stories of Army soldiers who grew up in Batesville:

Urban Wintz - World War II 

The Batesville High School graduate had a passion for playing the Oboe in a band. 

Urban was working in Connersville when he was drafted into the Army in October of 1942. 

Around Christmas of 1943, he received orders to go to Europe in the midst of World War II.

The 28-year-old was among the heroes in Normandy when he made the ultimate sacrifice on July 20, 1944. 

Urban’s funeral took place in Batesville just a few days after his parents were notified. 

Pfc. Wintz was a member of the 51st Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division.

Urban is buried at Normandy American Cemetery in Plot D, Row 23, Grave 13. 

Harold Narwold - World War II

Harold had to trade in his baseball glove for an Army-issued service rifle. 

He was playing in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system when he received his draft notice on the same day as his wedding on April 18, 1942. 

Narwold left for Europe in 1943 and served under General George Patton in the 5th Division Artillery Unit. He fought in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe campaigns. 

He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, European African and Middle Eastern Theater Ribbons, Service Strip, 3 Overseas Service Bars and 5 Bronze Service Stars. 

Narwold was discharged in 1945 and returned to Batesville. He never played professional baseball again as he went to work for Union Furniture for 42 years. 

He served on Batesville City Council and was a member of the American Legion, VFW and St. John’s United Church of Christ. He passed away in 1994. 

Anthony Siefert- World War I 

Like many veterans, Pfc. Anthony Siefert seldom spoke of his service to our country. 

However, his family discovered a war journal from World War I after he passed away in 1977. 

Pfc. Siefert arrived in France on June 27, 1918, with the U.S. Army’s 116th Infantry, 29th Division, 58th Brigade. 

As his unit made their way to the front line, Siefert wrote, “Aerial bombs dropped near company’s office.” He later noted, “Were given a hot reception of heavy artillery barrage from the enemy.” 

Pfc. Siefert wrote about his travels in Europe, the horrors he and his fellow soldiers endured, and the obstacles they overcame. 

“Sustained a loss of one officer killed, one officer wounded, and one officer gassed. Enlisted men – 15 killed, 34 wounded, and 14 gassed,” Siefert wrote. 

In another passage, “We were subjected to considerable artillery fire from the enemy’s large caliber guns inflicting a loss of five killed and seven wounded.” 

By October 23, 1918, casualties had whittled his company down to less than two platoons. 

The following day, dozens of men were killed, wounded or gassed during a horrific battle. Pfc. Siefert documented that his company stayed on task between the constant shelling of artillery and enemy infantry attacks. 

The October 24 battle was fought without air support, “which not only deprived our artillery of observations, but permitted the enemy aviation to mark our lines and harass us with machine gun fire as well.” 

The Great War, later known as World War I, ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Armistice Day, which America still celebrates as Veterans Day. 

“Received news of the signing of the armistice at 11:30 a.m. Great rejoicing among the French people. Church bells rang for one hour steady and at 15 minute intervals during afternoon and evening,” Anthony Siefert wrote on November 11, 1918.

Pfc. Siefert also made a significant impact after the war in Batesville. He founded the Batesville VFW Post and served as its first Commander. 

Excerpts from his journal were published by his granddaughter, Sue Siefert, for the Batesville Area Historical Society.

Chad Keith (Operation Iraqi Freedom)

Chad Keith enlisted in the Army prior to graduating from Batesville High School in 2000.

He was a member of the 2-325th Infantry, Company D, 82nd Airborne Division.

Friends recall how humble and artistic he was and how he was always up for a new adventure. 

Chad once had the chance to meet President George W. Bush, shook his hand, and told him, "I'm going to be you one day."

Sgt. Keith made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation on July 7, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Francis Firsich - World War II

Francis Firsich graduated from Batesville High School in 1942. By the end of 1943, he had given his life for our country. 

The last letter his parents received from him was dated November 22, 1943. 

Within a week, he was reported missing and later declared dead after his ship was struck by a torpedo in the Mediterranean Sea on November 27. 

Before his parents were officially notified by the U.S. War Department, they found out the terrible news when they received a letter from a fellow soldier. 

Francis played in the BHS band and graduated from the Ohio Mechanics Institute prior to his Army induction on March 9, 1943. 

He was the third Batesville boy to lose his life in World War II.

Irvin Placke - World War II

More than 90,000 American troops were held prisoner of war (POW) in the European Theater during World War II. Among them, Batesville native Irvin Placke was held POW under German control for four months.

Placke entered the U.S. Army on April 1, 1943 and served 14 months and 17 days overseas during WWII.

He received three Bronze Stars while serving and was honorably discharged on November 28, 1945.

Prior to military service, Irvin graduated from Batesville High School in 1941 but started his schooling much earlier than his peers. 

After the death of his mother, a teacher by the name of George Munchel, who taught eight grades in a one-room schoolhouse, asked Irvin’s father, “What are you going to do with that boy since your farming all day?”

Irvin’s father did not have an answer so Munchel said, “Send him to school with the rest of the kids.”

Irvin was age 3 at that time. 

Long after his time in the military, Placke was a well-known rural mail carrier in Batesville for 34 years.

Zola Schumacher - World War II

American women did more than just send their boys off to war during World War II. They made significant contributions both at home and in uniform.

Preparing for potential manpower shortages, Congress established the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942. It was converted to active duty status in the Army in July 1943, and for the first time, females were entitled to the same rights and benefits of their male counterparts.

For Batesville native Zola Schumacher, it meant she was on the forefront of history as being among the first women other than nurses to serve in the U.S. Army.

Schumacher enlisted in the WAAC in 1943 and she was pictured in the Cincinnati Times-Star newspaper during her swearing-in ceremony.

She served stateside during the war, working in mailrooms which freed up men to fight. While most WAAC's served in the United States during WWII, others went overseas including the women who landed in Normandy just weeks after D-Day.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “The contribution of the women of America, whether on the farm or in the factory or in uniform, to D-Day was a sine qua non of the invasion effort.”

Zola achieved the rank of Captain before her honorable discharge in 1946.

After the military, she worked many years in Indianapolis before retiring from Romweber Furniture.

Albert Fullenkamp - Word War II 

Albert Fullenkamp was born on February 2, 1921 and was employed with the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg when he entered the Army on August 15, 1942.

He trained at Ft. Bragg, NC and Camp Meade, MD before he was sent overseas on March 4, 1943 to the North African Campaign.

While serving in a field artillery battalion in France, he discovered a broken telephone line knocked out by enemy artillery fire which interrupted battlefield communications. With no regard for personal safety, he immediately repaired it in the midst of gunfire. That action led to a Silver Star for bravery. 

Sgt. Fullenkamp was discharged on August 15, 1945. He and his wife, Kathleen, had three children, Lanny, Lynn and Luke. Sgt. Fullenkamp passed away in April 1985. 

The Fightin’ Mollauns - World War II

Staff Sgt. Alphonse Mollaun, of Batesville, knew two of his brothers were stationed in the European theater but had no idea where they were. Or how close they were to him.

Alphonse was serving in Luxembourg when he was wounded on September 7, 1944. 

“I was standing on top of an armored tank when a shell hit. It threw me about 40 feet. I landed on my knee and crushed it,” he recalled. 

He was transferred to a hospital in England. 

Meanwhile, Sgt. Albert Mollaun had been in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge when he was wounded in the right arm on December 20, 1944. He was sent to a hospital in England for recovery. 

While Albert was in the hospital, he received a visit from his other brother, Julius Mollaun, who was stationed nearby that hospital. 

Julius informed Albert that their brother, Alphonse, was hospitalized just 18 miles away.  

They decided to hitchhike to his hospital for a surprise visit! 

“Alphonse almost jumped out of bed when he saw us,” Julius wrote home.

“I don’t know how my brothers ever found me in the hospital. It’s most impossible. I didn’t even know where I was myself,” Alphonse said. 

A nurse took a picture of the three reunited brothers which is pictured above.

Shortly after, Alphonse returned to the United States with a Purple Heart. Julius and Albert returned to their military units.  

Two other brothers, Paul and Eugene “Flud”, also fought during WWII. 

All five brothers eventually received their honorable discharge and safely returned to Batesville.