1943: Bad Missouri River flooding is being predicted

Shortly after the first of April 1943, people living along the Missouri river in Cedar county were facing what was predicted to be the worst flood since 1881. Water was flowing over Homewood Park north of Wynot and a number of families living on low ground were forced to evacuate.

Meanwhile, the area around Laurel was bone dry and people were worried about grass fires. On April 2, the Laurel fire department was called to the Fred Hansen place north of town. On April 4, they were called to the Ingvar Skovbo farm to put out a grass fire. On April 7, they were called out three times. A grass fire at the state shed in the south part of town burned the tires off of a machine. Another grass fire in the east part of town destroyed Bert Craig’s barn and was threatening the house. Later that day, the department was called to another grass fire six miles south of town near the Flag school. “ One thing is certain is that it’s too dry to burn weeds and thistles,” said Editor Allison. “We ought to know as we have been chasing grass fires all day with the fire department.”

Later in April, the department was called to a chicken house fire in Dixon. Whether the chickens were rescued or turned into fryers was not reported. Another fire was reported on the bridge north of Dixon. The department also was called to Walmar Johnson‘s blacksmith shop on Main Street to put out a fire on the roof.

In one of her periodic letters to the Advocate, Laura Lyons mentioned that people were traveling to Sierra Madre, a suburb of Los Angeles, to see a 50 year old Wisteria vine that was in bloom. The vine which was purchased for $.75 in 1894, is now 130 years old and covers more than an acre. Currently it is the world’s largest single flowering plant and people still come to see it when its 1.5 million purple flowers bloom in March and April.

Pete Stewart, who worked at the Peck & Company elevator (later, Laurel Feed & Grain), suggested that farmers plant popcorn. Stewart said there was an immense demand for popcorn from the armed forces at guaranteed prices.

Weather forecasts were banned from radio stations on the grounds that enemy submarines lurking offshore might pick up the broadcasts and use them to plan bombing raids on American targets.

Families and friends who wish to correspond with servicemen in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard were asked to use V-Mail instead of regular mail. Letter sent by V- Mail were photographed on rolls of microfilm which were then flown oversea and printed at the destination.

Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Anderson received official word that their son had been killed in the South Pacific in November 1942. Harold Anderson had previously been listed as missing in action.

Good Friday was observed with special union services in the Presbyterian church. Other participating churches included the Danish Lutherans, the United Brethren of Logan Center, and the Methodists of Laurel and Dixon. Each pastor was allotted 20 minutes to hold services with breaks in between so people could enter and leave.

Cedar County was ranked first in the state in per acre barley yields in 1942.

Revised draft classifications were published. Men classified 1-A were subject to immediate induction. 2-A were deferred because of occupation in activities supporting the war effort or vital to the maintenance of civilian health. 2-B were deferred because of occupation in war plants. 2-C and 3-C were deferred because of essential agricultural work. 3-A deferred fathers of children born before September 14, 1942. 3-D were deferred because induction would cause hardship to dependents. Men classified 4-F were rejected as mentally, morally, or physically unfit.

Clyde Jewell of Concord was reported wounded in action in North Africa. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

A story about Pvt. Dale Brogden of Laurel appeared in the Sioux City. Journal of April 25.

Brogden said he expected to live a dog’s life for the duration of the war. Brogden, who was training war dogs for the military, said he would rather face a machine gun than one of his dogs.

From Editor Allison’s column: “We blinked our eyes Sunday evening and took a second look. We didn’t have anything to drink yet there it was — a bicycle built for two with Izzy Sudbeck sitting on the rear seat and pedaling for dear life, while his son Harold sat up front and let the old man do all the work. Hadn’t seen one of those tandem bikes in years. Used to have a lot of fun with them when we were a kid.”

“There ought to be a law against long trucks parking on Main Street any time, let alone Wednesday and Saturday nights. We don’t care whether or not they are purveyors of bug juice (beer) or whether they are piled high with pop bottles, egg cases, and butter tubs. We have signs at each end of Main Street stating there’s to be no truck traffic. Let’s put the trucks back in the alleys.”

“A wave of indignation and anger swept this country following the announcement of the murder of some of our airmen who bombed Tokyo. Since when is it a crime for American airman to bomb Japan after the killing that went on at Manila, Hong Kong, and other places? And the Germans have been threatening to use the same tactics if we do not stop bombing their cities.”

Three of the eight US airmen captured after the Doolittle bombing raid on Tokyo in April 1942 were executed.