Earl was born in Plattsmouth, NE, attended St. Johns Catholic School and Plattsmouth High. When his older brother left home, he helped his widowed mother with their small farm, all with one work horse. He was 16 when his father died in a work related industrial accident. The farm was eventually sold and they moved into town. His hobby was the new field of communication, and being self-taught, Earl earned an amateur radio license -- first license issued in Cass County, NE.
WWII brought a call-out for radio trained individuals, and he was among some 25,000 qualified into the armed forces reserves, attending what is now the Junior College in Milford and the University of Minnesota. After entering active service in the Signal Corps, as a pre-radar instructor at a base in California, he later transferred to the Air Corps in England, in aircraft control. He was involved in D-Day planning and analysis. He was among the invasion force (D-Day +6) serving at forward airfields ... France, Belgium, Holland, Germany. The tinkering with radios from his youth served him well, having to sometimes design, build and service equipment on the run. He and his team even scratch built a mobile control bus.
He talked little about his war experiences, but we do know he rode a (German Luftwaffe) motorcycle in the Alps with his pet dog behind him, and earned his Bronze Star taking enemy fire during airfield support for the Battle of the Bulge. From his small journal: "The enemy planes were so close to the ground, I could see not only the Nazi cross, but the jerks looking down." (He lived because as he ran down the landing strip extinguishing lights at night, they strafed the "wrong" side of the lit field.)
Earl was in Illesheim, Germany on V-E Day and Munich on V-J Day; by then having 87 points -- 2 over the required 85 to go home. He was awarded a Belgium fourragere (military unit award), but was told he had to go pick it up in Belgium. Passed on it, to be sure he was aboard the USS West Point troop transport for his final trip home.
Arriving back in the U.S. on Oct. 3, 1945, he quickly caught up for lost time by marrying Lutie Whetstone of Omaha, on Oct. 27th. They moved to Southern California, where Earl immediately secured a job with the (then) Western Electric Co. One company his whole career, he retired in 1982 as an analyst. They bought a house in Alhambra their first year together, keeping it until 1958, when they moved to Temple City, remaining in the same home for the rest of their lives.
Earl was active with the Boy Scouts, with son Dale. 1960 Scout Master for Troop 167, St. Luke's Catholic Church, Temple City; San Gabriel Valley Council.
As computers came into use, he again was self-taught, running multiple machines, including tracking ham radio repeater traffic. He was a great help for their church, getting the office into the computer age.
They never forgot their roots. When Earl passed away, he was still subscribed to the Plattsmouth newspaper, which he read every week for over 60 years. He attended at least three high school reunions.
They both worked tirelessly for their children and a long list of volunteer groups, setting both example and challenge for the kids to always remember to pay it forward.
Father of Kathryn, Dale, Richard, David
Lifetime Ham Radio Operator
- silent key W6VHU
http://www.silentkeyhq.com/main.php?p=bin/NSKALookup.php&dlnk=&call=W6VHU&uid=1351304478755951
- volunteer Temple Police Station
- volunteer Pasadena Rose Parade (40 years)
- Ramona Radio Club (1954)
- San Gabriel Valley Radio Club
- AARL Life Member (60+ years)
Knights of Columbus (1948-2009),
Alhambra & Temple City, CA
WWII Veteran -- Sergeant, U.S. Army
Bronze Star, 9th Flying Control Squadron.
Six campaign stars.
WWII brought a call-out for radio trained individuals, and he was among some 25,000 qualified into the armed forces reserves, attending what is now the Junior College in Milford and the University of Minnesota. After entering active service in the Signal Corps, as a pre-radar instructor at a base in California, he later transferred to the Air Corps in England, in aircraft control. He was involved in D-Day planning and analysis. He was among the invasion force (D-Day +6) serving at forward airfields ... France, Belgium, Holland, Germany. The tinkering with radios from his youth served him well, having to sometimes design, build and service equipment on the run. He and his team even scratch built a mobile control bus.
He talked little about his war experiences, but we do know he rode a (German Luftwaffe) motorcycle in the Alps with his pet dog behind him, and earned his Bronze Star taking enemy fire during airfield support for the Battle of the Bulge. From his small journal: "The enemy planes were so close to the ground, I could see not only the Nazi cross, but the jerks looking down." (He lived because as he ran down the landing strip extinguishing lights at night, they strafed the "wrong" side of the lit field.)
Earl was in Illesheim, Germany on V-E Day and Munich on V-J Day; by then having 87 points -- 2 over the required 85 to go home. He was awarded a Belgium fourragere (military unit award), but was told he had to go pick it up in Belgium. Passed on it, to be sure he was aboard the USS West Point troop transport for his final trip home.
Arriving back in the U.S. on Oct. 3, 1945, he quickly caught up for lost time by marrying Lutie Whetstone of Omaha, on Oct. 27th. They moved to Southern California, where Earl immediately secured a job with the (then) Western Electric Co. One company his whole career, he retired in 1982 as an analyst. They bought a house in Alhambra their first year together, keeping it until 1958, when they moved to Temple City, remaining in the same home for the rest of their lives.
Earl was active with the Boy Scouts, with son Dale. 1960 Scout Master for Troop 167, St. Luke's Catholic Church, Temple City; San Gabriel Valley Council.
As computers came into use, he again was self-taught, running multiple machines, including tracking ham radio repeater traffic. He was a great help for their church, getting the office into the computer age.
They never forgot their roots. When Earl passed away, he was still subscribed to the Plattsmouth newspaper, which he read every week for over 60 years. He attended at least three high school reunions.
They both worked tirelessly for their children and a long list of volunteer groups, setting both example and challenge for the kids to always remember to pay it forward.
Father of Kathryn, Dale, Richard, David
Lifetime Ham Radio Operator
- silent key W6VHU
http://www.silentkeyhq.com/main.php?p=bin/NSKALookup.php&dlnk=&call=W6VHU&uid=1351304478755951
- volunteer Temple Police Station
- volunteer Pasadena Rose Parade (40 years)
- Ramona Radio Club (1954)
- San Gabriel Valley Radio Club
- AARL Life Member (60+ years)
Knights of Columbus (1948-2009),
Alhambra & Temple City, CA
WWII Veteran -- Sergeant, U.S. Army
Bronze Star, 9th Flying Control Squadron.
Six campaign stars.
Earl was born in Plattsmouth, NE, attended St. Johns Catholic School and Plattsmouth High. When his older brother left home, he helped his widowed mother with their small farm, all with one work horse. He was 16 when his father died in a work related industrial accident. The farm was eventually sold and they moved into town. His hobby was the new field of communication, and being self-taught, Earl earned an amateur radio license -- first license issued in Cass County, NE.
WWII brought a call-out for radio trained individuals, and he was among some 25,000 qualified into the armed forces reserves, attending what is now the Junior College in Milford and the University of Minnesota. After entering active service in the Signal Corps, as a pre-radar instructor at a base in California, he later transferred to the Air Corps in England, in aircraft control. He was involved in D-Day planning and analysis. He was among the invasion force (D-Day +6) serving at forward airfields ... France, Belgium, Holland, Germany. The tinkering with radios from his youth served him well, having to sometimes design, build and service equipment on the run. He and his team even scratch built a mobile control bus.
He talked little about his war experiences, but we do know he rode a (German Luftwaffe) motorcycle in the Alps with his pet dog behind him, and earned his Bronze Star taking enemy fire during airfield support for the Battle of the Bulge. From his small journal: "The enemy planes were so close to the ground, I could see not only the Nazi cross, but the jerks looking down." (He lived because as he ran down the landing strip extinguishing lights at night, they strafed the "wrong" side of the lit field.)
Earl was in Illesheim, Germany on V-E Day and Munich on V-J Day; by then having 87 points -- 2 over the required 85 to go home. He was awarded a Belgium fourragere (military unit award), but was told he had to go pick it up in Belgium. Passed on it, to be sure he was aboard the USS West Point troop transport for his final trip home.
Arriving back in the U.S. on Oct. 3, 1945, he quickly caught up for lost time by marrying Lutie Whetstone of Omaha, on Oct. 27th. They moved to Southern California, where Earl immediately secured a job with the (then) Western Electric Co. One company his whole career, he retired in 1982 as an analyst. They bought a house in Alhambra their first year together, keeping it until 1958, when they moved to Temple City, remaining in the same home for the rest of their lives.
Earl was active with the Boy Scouts, with son Dale. 1960 Scout Master for Troop 167, St. Luke's Catholic Church, Temple City; San Gabriel Valley Council.
As computers came into use, he again was self-taught, running multiple machines, including tracking ham radio repeater traffic. He was a great help for their church, getting the office into the computer age.
They never forgot their roots. When Earl passed away, he was still subscribed to the Plattsmouth newspaper, which he read every week for over 60 years. He attended at least three high school reunions.
They both worked tirelessly for their children and a long list of volunteer groups, setting both example and challenge for the kids to always remember to pay it forward.
Father of Kathryn, Dale, Richard, David
Lifetime Ham Radio Operator
- silent key W6VHU
http://www.silentkeyhq.com/main.php?p=bin/NSKALookup.php&dlnk=&call=W6VHU&uid=1351304478755951
- volunteer Temple Police Station
- volunteer Pasadena Rose Parade (40 years)
- Ramona Radio Club (1954)
- San Gabriel Valley Radio Club
- AARL Life Member (60+ years)
Knights of Columbus (1948-2009),
Alhambra & Temple City, CA
WWII Veteran -- Sergeant, U.S. Army
Bronze Star, 9th Flying Control Squadron.
Six campaign stars.
WWII brought a call-out for radio trained individuals, and he was among some 25,000 qualified into the armed forces reserves, attending what is now the Junior College in Milford and the University of Minnesota. After entering active service in the Signal Corps, as a pre-radar instructor at a base in California, he later transferred to the Air Corps in England, in aircraft control. He was involved in D-Day planning and analysis. He was among the invasion force (D-Day +6) serving at forward airfields ... France, Belgium, Holland, Germany. The tinkering with radios from his youth served him well, having to sometimes design, build and service equipment on the run. He and his team even scratch built a mobile control bus.
He talked little about his war experiences, but we do know he rode a (German Luftwaffe) motorcycle in the Alps with his pet dog behind him, and earned his Bronze Star taking enemy fire during airfield support for the Battle of the Bulge. From his small journal: "The enemy planes were so close to the ground, I could see not only the Nazi cross, but the jerks looking down." (He lived because as he ran down the landing strip extinguishing lights at night, they strafed the "wrong" side of the lit field.)
Earl was in Illesheim, Germany on V-E Day and Munich on V-J Day; by then having 87 points -- 2 over the required 85 to go home. He was awarded a Belgium fourragere (military unit award), but was told he had to go pick it up in Belgium. Passed on it, to be sure he was aboard the USS West Point troop transport for his final trip home.
Arriving back in the U.S. on Oct. 3, 1945, he quickly caught up for lost time by marrying Lutie Whetstone of Omaha, on Oct. 27th. They moved to Southern California, where Earl immediately secured a job with the (then) Western Electric Co. One company his whole career, he retired in 1982 as an analyst. They bought a house in Alhambra their first year together, keeping it until 1958, when they moved to Temple City, remaining in the same home for the rest of their lives.
Earl was active with the Boy Scouts, with son Dale. 1960 Scout Master for Troop 167, St. Luke's Catholic Church, Temple City; San Gabriel Valley Council.
As computers came into use, he again was self-taught, running multiple machines, including tracking ham radio repeater traffic. He was a great help for their church, getting the office into the computer age.
They never forgot their roots. When Earl passed away, he was still subscribed to the Plattsmouth newspaper, which he read every week for over 60 years. He attended at least three high school reunions.
They both worked tirelessly for their children and a long list of volunteer groups, setting both example and challenge for the kids to always remember to pay it forward.
Father of Kathryn, Dale, Richard, David
Lifetime Ham Radio Operator
- silent key W6VHU
http://www.silentkeyhq.com/main.php?p=bin/NSKALookup.php&dlnk=&call=W6VHU&uid=1351304478755951
- volunteer Temple Police Station
- volunteer Pasadena Rose Parade (40 years)
- Ramona Radio Club (1954)
- San Gabriel Valley Radio Club
- AARL Life Member (60+ years)
Knights of Columbus (1948-2009),
Alhambra & Temple City, CA
WWII Veteran -- Sergeant, U.S. Army
Bronze Star, 9th Flying Control Squadron.
Six campaign stars.
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