Ludwig "Louie" Hammer

1924 - 1988

Pfc. Hammer was inducted into the Army in 1943 and discharged in 1946. He trained at Camp McCain, Mississippi, and took advanced training with the Engineers of the Second Army. He went to Oklahoma City University for a course in Army Air Force instruction that lasted five months and then was appointed Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Force. He was transferred to San Antonio, Texas, before heading overseas to work on planes, including B-29s. Louie was part of an Air Corps repair unit on an island in the Pacific and one day he needed some extra tools to work on one of the planes.
He left the work area to tell his superior officer about the needed tools to repair the plane, and as he was talking to the officer, the repair hangar was completely destroyed by an explosion. They saw a Japanese soldier, who placed the explosives in the hangar, running from the area. Louie saw action in the Western Pacific including Iwo Jima. He was a member and 1955 commander of the VFW Post 3517 in Manning, having been a charter member of that group's ceremonial team.

As remembered by Margaret (Hammer) Bilsten - sister to Louie
Louie was a part of the Air Corps repair unit on one of the Islands in the Pacific and one day he needed some tools he didn't have to work on one of the planes. So he left the repair area and went to his superior officer to let him know about the tools needed to repair the plane. As he was talking to his superior officer about the needed tools the repair hanger was completely destroyed by an explosion. They saw a Japanese soldier who placed the explosives in the hanger running from the area.
So if it wasn't for the lack of proper tools to fix the plane, Louie would have never left the hanger and would have been killed in the explosion.

Funeral services for Ludwig 'Louie" Hammer were held Tuesday, February 16, 1988, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. Reverend Kenneth C. Haydon officiated the service with Karen Kahl as organist.
Interment was in Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison with Tom Remmes, Dave Littleton, Randy Saunders, Bob English, Ron Johnson and Robert Pedersen as casketbearers.

Graveside military honors were by V.F.W. Post 3517 and Emil Ewoldt American Legion Post 22, both of Manning.

Funeral arrangements were by Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison. Ludwig "Louie" Hammer was born March 8, 1924, at Davenport, Iowa, the son of Louie and Hilda Volquartsen Hammer. As a young child he moved with his parents to Dow City, Iowa, living there briefly before moving to Manning. He spent his formative years in Manning graduating from high school there with the class of 1942.

During World War II, Louie served his country in the United States Army seeing action in the western Pacific including Iwo Jima.

Following his discharge in 1946, he returned to Manning and worked for his father painting. He then became an auto body man, working in Manning and later in Walnut. In 1956, Louie moved to Denison, Iowa, and was employed as a bodyman at the Chevrolet Garage.
June 16, 1963, Louie was united in marriage with Anita Poleske in the Chapel at the Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. This union was blessed with two daughters, Becky and Barbi. They made their home in Denison where Louie continued his employment with the Chevy Garage until retiring in 1986. Louie died Saturday morning, February 13, 1988, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time of his passing he had attained the age of 63 years, 11 months, and five days.

He was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison where he served as an usher. He was also a member of the V.F.W. Post 3517, Manning, Iowa, having been a charter member of that group's ceremonial team.
Louie was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Russell Hammer. Left to cherish is memory are his wife, Anita of Denison, Iowa, his two daughters, Becky and Barbi Hammer, both of Omaha, Nebraska, his mother-in-law, Anna Poleske of Westside, Iowa, and five sisters, Ruth and her husband, Ward Jensen of Manning, Margaret Bilsten of Manning, Delores Hammer of Denison, Florence and her husband, Charles Christiansen of Dow City, and Dorothy and her husband, Donald Grundmeier, of Westside. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Manning Monitor article------ 1943

Stationed In Mississippi
Ludwig Hammer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lou Hammer, writes that he is now located at Camp McCain, Mississippi. He is well and likes army life fine.
He also sends greetings to his Manning friends.

Ludwig Hammer at Camp McCain
Ludwig Hammer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lou Hammer of Manning, writes from Camp McCain, Miss., where he is now stationed, thanking the American Legion and the Monitor for the home paper.

Ludwig writes that he has completed his basic training and is now taking advanced training. He is in the Engineers of the Second Army. He says, I feel fine and am proud to be a small part of the greatest army in the world."

Ludwig has registered for a transfer to the air corps and will report to the Aviation Cadet Examining Board at Memphis, Tenn.
He sends regards to all his old friends at home and wishes them good luck.

Ludwig Hammer in Air Training
Ludwig Hammer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louie Hammer of Manning, is now in Oklahoma City University for course of Army Air Force instruction lasting approximately five months prior to his appointment as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Forces.

During this period he will take numerous academic courses, as well as elementary flying training.
Upon completion of the course he will be classified as a pilot navigator or bombardier and go on to schools of the Flying Command for training in these specialties.

Ludwig Hammer at San Antonio A.S., Ludwig Hammer has been transferred to San Antonio, Texas.
Here he will be classified as navigator, pilot or bombadier in the air corps.

Manning Monitor article------ 1944

Manning Cigarets in South Pacific
On a recent business trip to Carroll, Lou Hammer made the acquaintance of W. A. Hauie of Carroll who was home on furlough from the South Pacific, and was informed that his company had been issued cigarettes which were sent through the Manning Chamber of Commerce.

This gift sent out by a neighboring town was not only a great surprise to him but also a consolation.
The residents and contributors to the cigarette fund in Manning can feel assured that all money contributed for this purpose is going toward a good cause and all tobacco companies in America are instrumental in placing the cigarettes at the disposal of men in the service in the, United States and abroad.

Manning Monitor article------ 1945

On A Jap Island Somewhere in the Western Pacific
April 22, 1945.
Dear Sirs:
I wish to take time out to thank you and the Legion for the home town paper. I enjoy reading about things that happen at home. I especially enjoy reading about the other fellows and, what they are doing wherever they are. Sometimes I get a whole arm full of mail, then again I get only a few. That's because of the mail situation out here.
They told us not to expect mail at times.
All available space here is needed for supplies, but mail does not take a back seat. When it's brought in it comes in a big bunch.

This place (censored) taken and there are still very many Japs on this island. At least one needs to carry his rifle when a group moves from one place to another.
The weather here is about the same as we have at home. At times it's cool and rainy, then it gets warm. The grass is coming out pretty green, just like at home. But the trees here will never grow again. There isn't enough of them left to start. They are torn and splintered to pieces by fire and shells and bombs. Or rather, they were.

Lately I've been working on the B-29s that have been giving the, Japs in Tokyo quite a headache. Our fighter planes here sure are giving the Jap pilots a good fight, and the Japs generally end up on the bottom after the fight.
I want to send my greetings to all my friends at home.
Sincerely yours, Ludwig Hammer.