Remember When?

“Lost” World War II Medal Presented

Richard J. Edwards of La Grange was awarded the China War Memorial Medal by James H. Shen, the Republic of China’s ambassador to the United States, at the annual convention of the Flying Tigers of the 14th Air Force Association in New Orleans. Known as the lost decoration of World War II, the medal commemorated service in China by American military personnel. Authorized as Circular No. 166, U.S. Forces, China Theater, dated 22 September 1945, it was prepared for distribution by the Chinese government at the end of the war. However, the hasty American demobilization, plus the general confusion then existing in China, apparently caused the documentation to be misdirected, lost or overlooked. The medal was generally considered a myth for a number of years.

An early Sunday morning fire destroyed a large barn and its contents about a mile west of Swiss Alp. Local firefighters answered the 1:30 a.m. alarm, along with firefighters from Schulenburg, but the structure was beyond saving. A quantity of hay and an automobile stored in the building also burned. The structure was on the farm owned by Mrs. Eugene Kahanek.

According to the final draft of a socio-economic study of the Fayette Power Project by Teknekron Energy Resource Analysts, the county could add 16% or $8.3 million to its 1978 income, and about 6% annually thereafter when the new facility was staffed and operating.

No decision had been reached on whether to begin construction of a second 600-megawatt generating plant at the Fayette Power Project. Before the Lower Colorado River Authority committed itself, an assured fuel supply would need to be in place for the life of the bonds issued to finance the project. Of the 15 proposals being considered for a fuel supply, all but one were for out-of-state coal.

In an attempt to satisfy concerns expressed by the Texas Water Rights Commission, the Lower Colorado River Authority’s board of directors approved amendments to a proposed contract to sell water to the South Texas Nuclear Power Project. Attorneys for the LCRA and Houston Lighting & Power, the project manager for the 2,500-megawatt nuclear power project to be built near Bay City, made the contract changes. In June 1974, HL&P, acting as project manager for the cities of Austin and San Antonio and for Central Power & Light in the nuclear plant construction, applied for a permit to use 102,000 acre-feet of water from the Colorado River to fill and maintain the plant cooling lake.

Ernest J. Hensel, a farmer in the Bluff area, was elected as a director on the board of the Fayette Water Supply Corporation. Hensel replaced Kenny L. Stork, whose term had expired.

The peanut committee of the Fayette County Farm Bureau was sponsoring a meeting of peanut growers on Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Warda Church picnic grounds to discuss the possibility of creating a peanut commodity group within the framework of the Farm Bureau.

Another candidate entered the contest for constable of Fayette County Precinct 3. The candidates were: Tony Olmos, 41; Frank Medina, 47; and Bob Krejci, 37. They were vying for the post held by incumbent Bud Robinson.

The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed by Pope Paul VI, and presented to the people of the U.S. by the Bishop of Fatima, was visiting cities and towns of the San Antonio Archdiocese under the sponsorship of the Legion of Mary and cooperating Catholic organizations. The statue would be at Hostyn Feb. 4-5.

The La Grange Leopard Booster Club, formerly the Quarterback Club, along with several other local organizations, was co-sponsoring a banquet to honor the state AA champion La Grange Leopard Football team members, coaches and managers. It was planned for Saturday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Hermes School Cafeteria.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Minnie Koopmann, 84, of La Grange; Joseph P. Baron, 72, a native of La Grange; Kavanaugh Kainer, 62, a Fayette County native; Mrs. Beulah E. Maxwell, 73, of La Grange; and Mrs. Agnes Supak, 72, of Fayetteville.

Army Second Lt. John W. Mode, whose wife, Constance, lived in La Grange, was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Butzbach, Germany. Lt. Mode was a forward observer with Battery B, 2nd Battalion of the division’s 3rd Field Artillery.

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Koether observed their 25th wedding anniversary at the American Legion Hall in La Grange on Saturday evening, Jan. 24. Mr. and Mrs. Koether were married in the Prairie Valley Lutheran Church on Jan. 20, 1951, by the late Rev. R. Heise.

The Wallhalla Home Demonstration Club honored one of its members and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz Eckert, on their 40th wedding anniversary on Friday evening, Jan. 23, at the Home Demonstration Club Building at the Fairgrounds in La Grange. Musical hits of the 40’s played in the background as guests arrived.

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