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November 2017 THE BEACON Page 9
Gerhard Deddens
Gerhard Deddens grew up on a farm in Germany where he was educated until eighth grade . As was customary in that time , Mr . Deddens continued his education as an apprentice for a baker . Little did he know that learning how to bake would forever change the course of his life .
The Deddens family was visited by friends from Oldenburg , Indiana who suggested that young Gerhard come back with them and bake in their bakery . Mr . Deddens traveled from Germany to beautiful Oldenburg , Indiana where he planned to spend two to three years , and then return to Germany .
Things did not go as he had planned .
After living in Oldenburg for seventeen months , Mr . Deddens purchased a shiny , new 1955 Chevrolet . Then he received a notice to report for the draft . In 1954 , he joined the army and left his beautiful car behind .
Mr . Deddens reported to Ft . Thomas , and then moved to Ft . Knox where he was trained to operate tanks .
Nick Ullrich
Nick Ullrich
Nick Ullrich was born in 1947 , the son of Mr . and Mr . John F . Ullrich of Aurora .
He has four brothers , Bill , John , Roger , and Kevin .
Mr . Ullrich entered the U . S . Army in 1967 and was discharged in 1969 .
Mr . Ullrich attended basic training at Fort Knox and his advanced infantry training at Fort Polk . He was then deployed to Vietnam where he honorably served as a sergeant and squad leader with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade at Chu Lai and with the 199th Light Infantry in the Mekong Delta . Their specialty was combat air assaults into landing zones with Huey Helicopters .
Mr . Ullrich is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal with ‘’ V ’’ device for valor for heroism in ground combat and a Purple Heart for wounds received against
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ALUTE TO THE MILITARY
Gerhard Deddens
He loved the training and shooting 90 caliber rounds . Mr . Deddens mentioned to his captain that he had a car that he would like to bring on base , and the captain agreed . This changed everything for Mr . Deddens . He was able to provide rides and taxi his fellow soldiers wherever they wanted while earning a little extra money .
Four months later Mr . Deddens ' captain came to him and said , " I understand you are a baker . How would you like to bake for us ?" This saved Mr . Deddens from combat on the front lines .
Mr . Deddens moved to Camp Stewart near Savannah . He received his citizenship after ninety days of service as promised . For two years he did what he loved best and baked for the troops . His hours were from 3:30-9 A . M .
enemy forces . Mr . Ullrich also earned the National Defense Medal ; Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Stars ; Vietnam Campaign Medal ; Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm ; a Presidential Unit Citation and four Unit Citations . He was awarded the Combat Infantryman ’ s Badge , and also the Expert Badge with the M-14 and M-16 .
Mr . Ullrich ' s brother , John , was a member of the U . S . Navy . They were in Vietnam at the same time for four months but didn ’ t get to see each other . They did , however , enjoy one telephone chat which wasn ’ t very easy to do in Vietnam .
Nick and his wife , Judy ( Carroll ), were married in 1970 . Judy Ullrich is a retired school teacher from the South Dearborn School System . Mr . Ullrich became an Eagle Scout in 1963 under Buck Crontz and later became the Scoutmaster of Troop No . 637 . He has been in that position for forty years and has helped thirtysix Boy Scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout .
Mr . Ullrich had the honor of being one of the wreath presenters at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in 2011 while on a trip with fifty Southeastern Indiana veterans . which gave him time to bake for the executives . Having his car proved to be a bonus because he could travel to the executives ' homes , and bake for them while being well paid .
Between 1955 and 1957 Mr . Deddens saw twenty to thirty soldiers leave his unit every day . He signed up several times but kept being moved down the list . Finally , he asked why and learned that the executives didn ' t want to lose their star baker !
Upon being honorably discharged from the Army , Mr . Deddens returned home and resumed his career at Kramers Bakery . He married the owner ' s daughter , Frances Kramer , in 1960 . They had three daughters and a son and were blessed with fifty-four years of marriage .
When asked what he thought of his military experience , he replied , " I was lucky to have held the position that I did . They were the best time of my life , and I made great friends . It was all about favors from the kitchen ."
Mr . Deddens has not baked since 1989 , but many still remember the the baker who made them smle .
Alice Schuler
Alice Schuler
A long time resident of Aurora and Army Veteran was a member of the W . A . C . Mrs . Alice ( Steele ) Schuler has an imposing appearance in uniform today just as she did in 1943 .
Mrs . Schuler joined the Army in 1943 during WWII and completed her basic training at Ft . Oglethorpe . She was then posted at Taunton , MA in the Quartermaster Corp . She was honorably discharged in 1945 .
Mrs . Schuler was familiar with Cincinnati and chose to move to the area . Sometime later she met Willis Schuler from Moores Hill on a blind date , and they married in 1946 . They have three children , four grandchildren , and one great-grandchild . At age 91 , Mrs . Schuler is a member of the “ Kitchen Band ” and plays the washboard with thimbles .
Alice was chosen to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while on a trip to Washington , DC .
Sgt . Earl G . Sommer
Sgt . Earl G . Sommer , son of John Henry and Adelia Sommer , was born on Sept . 20 , 1920 . He grew up in Bear Branch and worked on the family farm until entering the Army in 1942 and serving in the Korean War .
In 1943 Sgt . Sommer was assigned to the India China Division as an Air Corps supply Clerk . The India China division was the only outside source of supplies for the Allied troops fighting in China . The ICD of which Sgt . Sommer was a vital part , flew war materials over the “ Hump ” of the Himalayas in giant transport planes such as C-54 ’ s referred to as Skymasters . This mission was considered the world ’ s most dangerous route because of the treacherous weather and the craggy terrain .
Sgt Sommer was noted in the newspapers as an integral part of moving vast supplies from his base in India to China . At one point , his team shattered its record of crossing the “ Hump ” to transport supplies . For the third time in 5 days , the Skymasters made extensive trips over the “ Hump ,” often carrying more than 655,000 pounds of supplies . They set the record with
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Sgt . Earl G . Sommer
forty-nine trips . During the four years of his enlistment , Sgt . Sommers sent letters to his future bride , Aldine . He was not allowed to reveal his location in his letters , which were always read by his superiors . To let Aldine know of his whereabouts , he changed his middle initial in his signature each time until he spelled out India ! A few times during the four years , Aldine took a train all the way to Mexico to meet Sgt . Sommer . Upon his return in 1946 , they were wed .
The Sommers settled into farm life in Bear Branch and raised two beautiful children , Bob and Barb . Mrs . Sommer often commented that she knew when her husband was coming because she could hear him singing . A very happy family indeed .
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