Alvin J. Ferneding

World War II

Alvin Ferneding was born on August 7, 1921, on a farm between Templeton and Manning. His parents were Frank and Rose (Schlichte) Ferneding. Alvin attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton and was engaged in farming his uncle’s farm when he registered for the military draft.

Alvin was inducted into the US Army on August 26, 1942, at Camp Dodge, IA. He was assigned serial number 37 426 323. The US Army had witnessed the attacks of the German Luftwaffe on England as well as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Its reaction was to greatly expand its anti-aircraft capability. Alvin was sent to Camp Callen near La Jolla, CA. This facility became a primary location for a thirteen-week training cycle in anti-aircraft skills. By November 9, 1942, Alvin had been sent to Camp Haan near Riverside, CA. This base was much larger and supported additional training activities. Alvin was part of Battery F of the 507th CA AA (coastal artillery anti-aircraft) Battalion. As training progressed, Alvin was permitted to visit his parents in Templeton during April, 1943.

On July 25, 1944, Alvin was assigned to Battery B of the 643rd AAAAW (anti-aircraft artillery) Battalion at Fort Bliss near El Paso, TX. It seems that this unit provided training for troops being added to anti-aircraft units in the Army. On October 18, 1944, Alvin was permitted to travel to Iowa for his marriage to Rita Dentlinger at St. Augustine Church in Halbur. By this time, Alvin had been promoted to Corporal.

Alvin returned to Fort Bliss. On February 28, 1945, he was transferred to Company C of the 22nd Armored Sp Trng Battalion at Fort Knox, KY. There he was trained for overseas duty. He departed the US on June 17, 1945, for the South Pacific. He was assigned to the 186th Infantry Regiment of the 41st Infantry Division. This unit was being trained to be part of the invasion of Japan. On August 8, 1945 (two days after the Hiroshima attack), he arrived on Palawan Island which is part of the Philippine Islands.

After the surrender of Japan on August 14, 1945, the 186th Infantry quickly transitioned to the army of occupation. The first occupation troops arrived in the Hiroshima area about October 6, 1945, landing at Hiro and securing the Kure Naval Yard. Their mission was to establish control of the area, ensure compliance with the surrender terms and demilitarize the Japanese fighting forces. It did not include cleanup or radiological decontamination. Alvin’s unit established headquarters about 5 miles southeast of Hiroshima. Troops occasionally patrolled the destroyed area of the city but Alvin’s participation in this activity is unknown.

In January, 1946, Alvin was ordered back to the United States. He arrived in Seattle, WA on February 3, 1946, aboard the “Hermitage.” He was discharged from the US Army on February 11, 1946. He returned to Templeton and farming. In 1948, he and his family moved to the farm northwest of Templeton that he farmed for the rest of his life. He died in Carroll on November 29, 2004 at age 83. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.