Leon J. Sorensen Obituary 2007 ~ Originally from Mt. Pleasant

Three Third Generation Descendants of Pioneers ~ Shared by Lee R. Christensen

Photo of three third generation descendants of pioneers

 L to R  Mary Jane Christensen,

great grandniece of CCA Christensen,  

Barbara Beckstrom, 

great grandniece of Peter 
Monsen 

and Beth  Lund,

great grandniece of C N Lund. 

 About 1930.  

All graduates 
of Hamilton Grade School,  

Mary Jane 1933, Barbara and Beth 1934.    

All three 
still alive.

Lee's Memories

The Following comes from Lee R. Christensen's book: "You Knew Me As Buddy and other Tales"
His book is a compilation of letters he has sent to friends over the years.  His memories of going to school at Hamilton Elementary, North Sanpete and Wasatch Academy are filled with his wonderful humor.

Lee's Memories

Lee's Memories of the National Guard Encampments and Girl's Strawberry Pickin' and more.....

Camp Williams 1930   (picture added by Kathy)

Picking Strawberries (Picture added by Kathy)

Letter to the Pyramid From Lee R. Christensen ~ January 20, 1993

Eric L. Clitheroe ~ Another Wasatch Academy Graduate -1927 ~ Making Headlines at Wasatch, Westminster, Coe College and Purdue University

Eric was an honor student with the following credits to his name:

And in the Salt Lake Telegram May 24 1928, we find him making headlines again

            Salt Lake Telegram 1928-05-24 Elections Held at Westminster

In 1937 we find him In Carroll Iowa to speak at Presbyterian Pulpit

Newpaper:

Carroll Daily Herald

Publication Date:

Friday, August 20, 1937

Newspaper Location:

Carroll, Iowa, United States Of America

Dr. Eric Clitheroe , Parsons College, To Speak Aug. 29 Will Fill Presbyterian Pulpit Here; Noted Scholar, Speaker FIELD PIECE SHOWERS DEATH ON TIENTSIN-So casually do Japanese troops take the battle.

In 1948 we find him as a Guest Minister from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Salt Lake Telegram 1948-08-20

Rev. Gwaltney returned Monday

 from his vacation Guest minister

during his absence was Dr.

Eric Clitheroe professor of Bible

studies Coe college Cedar Rapids

Iowa

And beginning in 1951, we find him at Purdue University, Indiana.  

And a Scholarship in Philosophy Continues to this day in his name.

Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University

The Eric L. Clitheroe Scholarship in Philosophy

This merit scholarship was created in 1987 in honor of Prof. Eric L. Clitheroe, who was a member of Purdue’s Philosophy Department from 1951 to 1973. Each year, it awards at least $500 to an outstanding undergraduate philosophy major. Friends and former student’s of Prof. Clitheroe’s established the initial endowment for this scholarship.

Eric died June 1986, Lafayette, Ind.    

Much  thanks goes to Lee R.  Christensen for helping me out with this post.  

Lieutenant Commander William E. Hall, USNR, (1913-1996) Medal of Honor Winner

Lieutenant Commander William E. Hall, USNR, (1913-1996)

William E. Hall was also a graduate of Wasatch Academy ~ Class of 1932

William Edward Hall was born on 31 October 1913 in Storrs, Utah. Graduating from University of Redlands, in California, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve from his native state in May 1938. After flight training at Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Long Beach, California and at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, in September 1939 he was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned in the rank of Ensign. He then reported to Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5) on board USS Yorktown, his assignment until February 1942.

 In early February 1942, soon after the United States entered World War II, he took part in raids on Japanese bases in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. Later in that month he transferred to USSEnterprise and, in April, was sent to Scouting Squadron Two (VS-2), operating from USS Lexington.

On 7 and 8 May 1942, Lieutenant Junior Grade Hall and his squadron participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea. His dive bombing skill contributed to the destruction of the Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho on the Seventh. The following day, as U.S. and Japanese carriers exchanged attacks, he aggressively engaged superior numbers of enemy planes, resulting in the shooting down of three. Despite serious wounds, he brought his SBD "Dauntless" scout-bomber safely back aboard his ship. For his "extreme courage and conspicuous heroism" on these occasions, Hall was awarded the Medal of Honor.

During most of the rest of 1942, Hall recovered from his injuries at the Naval Hospital, San Diego, California, receiving promotion to Lieutenant during this time. Early in 1943 he began duty as an instructor at the Naval Air Station, Daytona Beach, Florida. Achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander in March 1944, he served for a few months at Naval Air Station, Miami, Florida, then transferred for staff duty at Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington.

Hall also briefly served with the Night Attack Combat Training Unit, Pacific, during the War's final months. For his last duty station, he was ordered for staff duty with Commander Fleet Air, Western Pacific in September 1946, from which he was released from active duty a month later. William E. Hall remained in the Naval Reserve for nearly another decade and a half, retiring in November 1960. He died on 15 November 1996 and is buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Hall

Verl Johansen

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                                           Lee

Repost by Popular Demand "And It Comes Out Here".

Kathy:  Re your news  clip "And it comes out Here".  Peter ought to be ashamed playing an easy to blow  one pound clarinet while Elna carried the heavy twenty-five pound sousaphone  that takes massive puffs  to go "woof  woof".  In my day Bry Jacobs played the  big instrument in the high school band and we  did not have one in our Hamilton  band.  The clarinet was popular both bands and we had many Benny Goodman  imitators.   On page 39 of my book I talk about three of them.      lee

A re-post of Hamilton Grade School Poets with additional insights from Lee R. Christensen

This is a re post with added insight from Lee R. Christensen added below in blue

 Comment from Lee R. Christensen Re: Poetry of Students, David Gunderson’s Collection: As usual, I may be stretching it, but: PM Nielsen shown as District Supervisor had a daughter, Margaret, who returned to North Sanpete High School about 1937 to teach English and girl’s PE.. PM, about then, living in Salt Lake City and a widower married Etta Rolph Peterson, a widow and originally from Mt Pleasant featured on theses pages as a young girl. Margaret I think was the producer, director and chorographer of the NS High dance revues. One number featured Joe Matson and a partner and could have made Broadway. Another one starring Lynn Paulson and buddies was unintentionally pure burlesque. Lee


Kathy: In an earlier comment I mentioned Margaret Nielsen who joined the North Sanpete High School staff for the school year 36-37. That was a sparkling year for new faculty at the school, most of it home grown. Eugene (Granny) Peterson, quarterback on the team in 1928, returned as coach. Grant Johansen returned as history/civic teacher and later was elected mayor. Harry Sundwall, from Fairview, was the typing/ short hand teacher and later a nationally recognized professor at Arizona State Univ. Margaret moved on to become the third or forth highest ranking WAC in WW2. lee

Lee Comments About Camp at San Luis Obispo

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Lee R. Christensen Recently Comments:

  Reading your posted news clip “Camp San Luis Obispo” where a dozen or so artillerymen from Mt Pleasants Btry “D” are mentioned recalled, for me, that pre war summer of 1941.

. Mt Pleasants National Guard unit, Btry D, was called up for Federal service 3 March 1941 with the rest of the California/Utah 40th Division under the 1940 Draft Act.. National Guard units were called up for “one year” and men 21 to 35 drafted for one year.

National Guard units prior to call up were at about ½ strength – when we went to summer camp we hired cooks – only two of our four howitzers were manned. So on call up we had many vacancies. Locals and near locals joined to get their year of military service over with in a home town unit. Prior to call up I do not recall anyone from Spring City, Fountain Green and certainly no one from Indianola in the unit. Jacob Houtz joined from Indianola, Vernal Christensen along with a half dozen others from Spring City and Cliff Anderson form Fountain Green. Some out of County students from Snow College, Walt Goodwin from Wayne County, joined Btry D rather than the Ephraim Band or the light artillery Manti unit. Some long range thinkers may have seen a war in our future but most of us just wanted our year of military service out of the way so we could get on with our lives.

Another big recruitment plus for Btry D was the local CCC camp. At least half a dozen men from there joined and in the case of Jones Belcher from Alabama we got an experienced military cook. Two others from the news clip, Clyde Tucker and John Milner were CCC transfers, both southern, Georgia and Tennessee.

The extension of The Draft Act, by one vote, late summer of 1941 meant the national political leadership was getting serious about the possibility of war. The extension meant National Guard units and draftees could be sent overseas. In October, prior to Pearl Harbor, Mt Pleasants Btry D along with the rest of 2nd Bn 222 FA, Richfield and Cedar City, was alerted for assignment to the Philippine Islands, code name “Plum” to sail from San Francisco, 10 Dec 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor intervened and the Unit had a totally different history as Btry “A” 204th FA.

Lynn Poulsen and Lee R. Christensen Reminisce

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Frank Lee Pritchett Captures Senior Division Crown of Jr. Pentathlon Finals

Comment from Lee R. Christensen ~~~

Kathy: A great story. I've always considered this event the number one athletic activity of my Jr hi school years. It allowed marginal (would be) athletes to compete - but seldom beat - the real athletes. As I remember, there was a computed co efficient for each competitor based on age, weight and height. That times your event performance score gave you a score for that event. The five events (?) shot put, broad jump, 40 - 50 yd dash, hi jump and the 1 - 2 minute basket ball shoot.

Seymour Jensen, coach and principal , North Sanpete Jr High was the early promoter and coach for this event. This event also led to a 3 day Jr Hi group trip to the big, big, city or Salt Lake. For many of us it was our first trip to Salt Lake City. Billy Hansen, Lynn Sheppard and Duane Schovil were three that I remember as SLC competitors , 35 - 37 . My congratulations to Peter for making the cut 1953. lee 

Vietnam Wall ~

Vietnam Wall First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. It should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals. This really is an amazing web site. Someone spent a lot of time and effort to create it. I hope that everyone who receives this appreciates what those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country. The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes. Those who remember that time frame, or perhaps lost friends or family can look them up on this site. Pass the link on to others, as many knew wonderful people whose names are listed. http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm




Amazing, impressive and touching.  I had not known that both Fairview and Mt Pleasant had a man killed in Vietnam.    lee



FAIRVIEW, UTAH:




1LT GARY RUEL MOWER




~~~

MOUNT PLEASANT, UTAH:




SP4 BRENT HAL Mc ARTHUR



We found another one today. Jimmy Lee Larsen, Mt. Pleasant, died on his birthday. He is listed from Salt Lake by mistake. The family has tried to have that changed to Mt. Pleasant, but to no avail.

Mt. Pleasant, Utah:
Jimmy Lee Larsen

Specialist Four
3RD PLT, D CO, 3RD BN, 12TH INFANTRY, 4 INF DIV
Army of the United States
18 March 1944 - 18 March 1969

If there are others, please let us know. . pandk@cut.net.

Lee Remembers the "Class of '34".

Kathy: My book ”You Knew Me As Buddy” is more or less dedicated to my Hamilton grade school Classmates of 1934; considered by at least two of us to be the “greatest” class in the schools history. And probably by many others because on at least two occasions the class was given the responsibility of enforcing school rules on a large, older group.

When we were third graders the powers that be set up a “kangaroo” court system to enforce playground rules. Charged violators were assembled in a classroom/courtroom where they were tried and sentenced before a judge, who as I remember was a fifth grade teacher. The third graders were to maintain order in the courtroom. This activity lasted about three weeks.

When the "Class of '34" was in eighth grade North Sanpete High School joined the Traffic Patrol bandwagon and started a traffic control program. The "Class of '34" were to be the Enforcers. One of the big goals of the program was to stop the high school students from cutting across State Street at the bridge to the candy store corner. At noon of the first day a squad of us eighth graders with our new flags walked over to the bridge and the NE corner of Main and State to begin this new operation.



I was with two others at the bridge and here comes the noonday stampede of students headed for downtown. Remember, we had one hour for lunch. The Enforcers at the corner never saw a student. The Enforcers at the bridge never stopped one. I don’t know that any of them even asked us what our flags were for, and they never saw them again. The Program lasted just the one day.   .......Lee R. Christensen

Washington Maneuver Includes 100,000 Men

Lee writes:


 This news article is describing the war maneuvers of Aug 1941. For these war games Mt Pleasant’s Btry D 222nd FA Regt motored north to Western Washington from San Luis Obispo. A year earlier, summer of 1940 while still a National Guard unit, the Btry went by rail from Mt Pleasant to a tent camp near Centralia Washington for a similar exercise.


A story to go with the maneuver article. In August 1941 of the four Btry D gun Sgts I was the junior Sgt. The Btry had just been issued three big 4 ton Diamond T’s to pull our 155mm howitzers . As the jr sgt, my section got a small 2 ½ ton 6x6. As we were getting ready to move out on this 2000 mile road march the Division Commander called me over and asked if our small truck was up to the job. I told him that with DelRay Sorenson as our driver it would be no problem. It wasn’t. The commanding general was Maj Gen Ernest J Dawley who went on to command the American VI Corp in the invasion of Italy. A photo of the gun section, with DelRay, was posted earlier on this site and well after we had a Diamond T truck.

L.R. Christensen ~ Funeral Services in Maryland ~ July 1960

L.R. Christensen was the father of Lee R. Christensen, a frequent poster here.  We found the obituary, Lee furnished the photo.  Thankyou Lee

Lee and Beth Reminisce ~ about Mt. Pleasant

from Lee R. Christensen's Book:
"You Knew Me As Buddy"

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Lee R. Christensen's photos Taken from his book "You Knew Me As Buddy".

Lt. Lee R. Christensen















Howitzer Section, Mt. Pleasant Battery World War II





Howitzer Section, Mt. Pleasant Battery Utah National Guard, 1935


Enlisted Club Dance 1941

Lee's Memory of A.E. Jones

Like all of my activities then and now I started clarinet playing with great enthusiasm.  Reached quickly a very modest plateau which I maintained through eighth gradne and then dropped off freshman year high school.  I was never better than last chair clarinet section and in 6th had 4th graders ahead of me.



I played away from the band in public twice.  First in a 5th grade class program I played a solo, "There's an Old Spinning Wheel."  When it could have been Phil Squires , a duet before his mother's social club.  Why me?  When it could have been Phil Squires.  Even Wayne is wondering that today.  I was so bad at keeping time that Wayne put his foot on mine to tap the beat.  Again, there was no encore.  But as I remember, we finished together.



By eighth grade, Junior High I was an accomplished faker.  Or maybe Paul Webgb, the band leader, didn't care.  I wasn't ruining the performance for the rest of the band.  Then, even today as I write this I'm starting to squirm in my chair.  A.E. Jones, the district Superintenant , a former music teacher visited the band practice.  He immediately notice the lack of so much as a twang from the faker in the clarinet section.  The rest of the band hour was devoted to the musical education of Lee Christensen.  Paul Webb's contract was not renewed and the rumor around town was that the faker in the clarinet section was responsible.  A.E.'s son, Kenneth was one of the 4th graders ahead of me in the section.



I was never much of a performer.  As a sophomore seven of us danced as Snow White's dwarfs in  Margaret Nielson's dance revue.  We were so out of step, everyone thought it burlesque.  Newel, Billy Beck and Lyn Poulsen were three of the hoffers.  Because I wore glasses, I was Dumbo of the group. 



And then in an all male senior year, one act play, performed but once at assembly I forgot my lines.  Because I couldn't hear the prompter, I pulled the script from my pocket; looked up the forgotten line and read it.  Haberbosch still remembered forty years later when he saw me at our 40th (Class Reunion at Wasatch).  Told me he gave up directing after that.



Years earlier after one of my on-stage performances, A.E. Jones corrected my presentation.  This was at an Armistice Day Assembly, probably  eighth grade, where L.R. Christensen Jr. dressed as a WW1 soldier was telling the audience how the war started.  I kept confusing Serbia with Siberia.  After my presentation A.E. took me aside and explained the difference.  I doubt that I wrote the script so we must have had a confused teacher.  A.E. probably wondered why with about eighty teachers in the District he had to be the one to straighten out the Christensen kid.



I don't know what happened to A.E. and his family after they left Mt. Pleasant.  He was at one time president of Carbon Junior College.  He died in San Luis Obispo, California so may have been affiliated with Cal-Poly the university there.  He was an outstanding educator, but good as he was he couldn't make a clarinet player out of me.  L.R.

Mt. Pleasant's Btry A 204th FA Bn

Here are two photos of a howitzer section from Mt. Pleasant's Btry A 204th FA Bn taken on or motoring to the Yakima Firing Center March/April 1942.

North Sanpete service men are: 1st photo: DelRay Sorenson left of truck, front left John Seeley, Leo Truscott behind John, Clay Bagley sitting on tailgate and Lee Christensen hand on hip>. 2nd photo: John center front,, Lee to the right and Leo scratching a woodtick bite. Clay is 2nd from left, back row;. Both Clay and DelRay from Moroni.

Lee R. Christensen Adds Further Information About Lieut. Dick Ericksen

And our Friend Lee  R. Christensen adds:

  Dick Ericksen was one of three Mt Pleasant boys who learned to fly in 1938/39 and the three may be the first locals who learned to flyt;. The three, Dick, Leon Holman and Don Nielson , all 1938 high school grads took flying lessons thru Snow College sponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 which may also have paid for the Mt Pleasant airport completed 1938.

Both Dick and Don went on to become military pilots flying for the Army Air Corp . Leon was heard to say "Had I been born to fly I would have had feathers:" and was not known to have flown other than as a passenger ever again.

Dick was well known as a "flyer" around Mt Pleasant years before he took flying lessons;. In the 1930s both grocery stores, Erickson's and Johanson's, delivered their groceries to your kitchen door. Dick was the driver for Ericksons and probably started at age 14 or earlier;. State street was un paved and mostly ungraded until summer of 1938 and was the rub a dub champion of the streets universe;. Dick was well known for driving it at high speeds hoping to just brush the tops of the washboard ridges;. No one did it better than Dick;. But good as he was he frequently broke every egg in his delivery.

Lee and Beth Reminisce -

Our Friend, Lee R. Christensen Introduces Himself (letter to Dorothy Jacobs Buchanan)