Paul was inducted into the Army on February 4, 1943, when he was 34 years old. He trained at Fort Dodge, Texas, and San Francisco, California, and went on maneuvers in Louisiana. In May 1944 he was shipped overseas and landed in New Guinea with the 32nd Division. He was wounded in the leg while fighting against the Japanese on the Island of Luzon, Philippines, on March 29, 1945. Paul recalls: "We were marching up a hillside under fire which took about three hours to get to the top. When we were at the top of the hill, my job was to cover the other troops as they went around the hillside. This is when I was shot in the leg by a Japanese machine gun. I didn't even realize I was shot until it was time to go down the hill." Pfc. Vetter received his medical discharge from Camp Carson, Colorado in 1945. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon, Purple Heart, three battle stars, two overseas bars, Combat Infantrymen Badge and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star.
Back: Orland Joens, Merlin Struve
Middle: Harold Reinke, Roger Eich, Harry "Bony" Hargens, Elmer "Burley" Joens, Carl Rostermundt
Front: Melvin "Toots" Grimm, Gene Strathman, Dean Noble, Paul Vetter
Pfs. Paul Vetter, son of Mrs. Minnie Vetter of Manning, has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the Japanese in the Philippines.
|
Manning Monitor article ------ 1943
On Maneuvers In Louisiana Manning Monitor article ------ 1945
Receives The Purple Heart PAUL VETTER GETS MEDICAL DISCHARGE Pfc. Paul L. Vetter, son of Mrs. Minnie Vetter of Manning, has received a medical discharge from Camp Carson, Colo. He left for service in Feb, 1943 and in May 1944 was sent overseas land landed in New Guinea. He was wounded on Luzon the 29th of March of this year. He was with the 32nd division.
He has the Asiatic-Pacific theater campaign ribbon, good conduct ribbon, the purple heart,
three battle stars, 2 overseas bars, the combat infantrymen badge and the Philippine
Liberation ribbon with one star. PAUL VETTER GETS MEDICAL DISCHARGE HOSPITAL CENTER Camp Carson, Colo. (Special to The Monitor) Pfc. Paul E. Vetter, son of Mrs. Minnie Vetter of Manning, a veteran of overseas service in the Asiatic-Pacific theatre, today received a medical discharge here. Prior to his discharge he had been convalescing at the hospital center here, one of nine units in the United States. Arcadia Service News Pvt. Vernon Noelck of Arcadia and Pfc. Paul Vetter of Manning, cousins, were honored at a picnic Sunday noon in the Carroll Park. Pfc. Vetter recently returned from overseas. Pvt. Noelck is on furlough, enroute from Camp Hood Tex. To Fort Riley, Kans. Participants included Mr. and Mrs. Emil Noelck and Jane of Kimballton, Mr. and Mrs. William Noelck and William, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Noelck and Duane, all of Gray; Mr. and Mrs. Ermer Noelck and Deanna, Mrs. Minnie Vetter, Martha and Frank, Ronnie and Betty Peters, and Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Jurgensen, Manning, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Noelck, Warren, Myron and Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. Hannes Herrman and Mr. and Mrs. Jahn Lussman of Westside, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kies, Violet, Gladys and Francis, Wall Lake; Mr. and Mrs. William Thies and Anna, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Thies and Larry, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Sampson, Robert, David, John, Arnie, Mary and Jimmie, Denison; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Vetter and John and Mr. and Mrs. August Noelck and Violetta. Arcadia. |
 parents of Paul August, son of Frank and Bertha Schultz Vetter, was born July 3, 1880 south of Arcadia, Iowa. He married Minnie Noelck, daughter of Joachim and Maria Mattes Noelck, February 22, 1905 in Arcadia. Minnie was born in Germany July 19, 1887, and at the age of three came to America with her parents, who settled near Arcadia. After their marriage they moved to a farm near Halbur presently occupied by David Musfeldt. Mr. Vetter died April 3, 1931. Mrs. Vetter continued to live on the farm until she moved to Manning in 1942 with her family. They were the parents of seven children: Esther, Frank, Paul, Martha, Louis, Alice and August Jr., who died in infancy. Esther married Henry P.F. Peters and lives in Manning. They owned the Peters Tavern, and have a son, Ronald, and a daughter, Betty. Frank was in the Armed Service and after his discharge worked for the Carroll County Maintenance Department. Paul was also in the Armed Service for three years and received the Purple Heart for injuries received in Luzon. He was employed at the Ohde Funeral Home in Manning. Martha was the proprietor of the Corner Cafe in Manning for 15 years. Louis resides at Sherman Oaks, California and has a son, Mark. He was in the Navy for four years and worked at Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, California for several years. Alice is married to Francis Young and lives at Westside, Iowa. They were the parents of seven children: Gary, who died at the age of four, Wayne, Mary Kay, Bruce, Colleen, Dale and Beth. Mrs. Minnie Vetter died March 21, 1977.
Source: Halbur, Iowa 1983 Centennial Book |
In Memory of Paul Vetter
Visitation
Sunday, May 6, 2007, 4 - 8 PMCasket Bearers Brad Nobiling, Scott Nobiling, Wayne Young, Bruce Young, Dale Young, Ron Peters
Interment with Military Honors Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa
American Legion Emil Ewoldt Post 22
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517
Paul Bernhard Emil, son of August and Minnie (Noelck) Vetter, was born March 27, 1910, near Halbur in Washington Township, Carroll County, Iowa. He was baptized on May 15, 1910, and confirmed March 18, 1926, at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia. Paul attended rural school at Washington Township District No. 1 near his home, after which he helped his father on the family farm. In 1942, Paul moved into Manning with his family.
In 1942, Paul enlisted with the United States Army and served with the Red Arrow Division in the Philippines during World War II. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart, and attained the rank of Private First Class before receiving his honorable discharge in 1945. Upon his return to Manning, Paul worked for Carroll County for one year and then began to work for Ohde Funeral Home until his retirement in about 1980.
Paul stayed active in his retirement and enjoyed refinishing furniture, building wren houses, working on puzzles and visiting with family and friends. He is a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Manning. After a brief illness, Paul died on Friday, May 4, 2007, at Manning Regional Heathcare Center, at the age of 97 years, 1 month, and 7 days.
Besides his parents, Paul was preceded in death by three brothers: August Jr. in infancy; Louis Vetter and Frank Vetter; two sisters Alice and husband Francis Young and Esther and husband Henry P.F. Peters; a nephew Gary Young; a niece Mary Kay Young Douglas; and a great-nephew Matthew Douglas.
He is survived by a sister Martha Vetter of Manning; nieces and nephews: Ron Peters and wife Jen of Ames; Betty and husband Don Nobiling of Westside; Mark Vetter and wife Kim of Orange, California; Wayne Young and wife Shirley of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Bruce Young and wife Deb of Hopewell, Virginia; Colleen Musfeldt of Scranton; Dale Young of Westside; Beth and husband Tom Frazier of Denison; and many great nieces, great nephews, other relatives and friends.