October 11, 1951

PFC.JOHN W. KAMPSCHNEIDER
KILLED IN KOREA

   Mrs. Theresia Kampschneider of Dodge received a sad message Wednesday morning, informing her of  the death of her son, Pfc. John W. Kampschneider  on Sept. 16.  The message stated only that he was killed in action in Korea and that a letter would follow.
   Pfc. Kampschneider was a member of Co. "G", 23 Inf. Regt which unit had been in severe action on "Heartbreak Ridge".  Previous letters from him had stated that he had been in action at that point.
   He had been overseas since last April, entering the service in November, 1950.  He was 25 years of age.
   Surviving him are his mother, Mrs. Theresia Kampschneider of Dodge and five brothers, George and Victor of Howells; Leonard and Alfred of Dodge; and Edward of Clarkson.
   His father died in 1945     



November 18, 1951

POSTHUMOUS AWARD BY
PRESIDENT TO 
PFC. JOHN KAMPSCHNEIDER

  The "Purple Heart" medal for wounds which resulted in his death, has been awarded posthumously by President Truman to Pfc. John Kampschneider, and sent to his mother, Mrs. Theresia Kampschneider of Dodge.
   The citation accompanying the medal states "The President of the United States has awarded posthumously The Purple Heart to Pfc. John W. Kampschneider, for wounds received in action resulting in his death Sept. 16, 1951, when he received multiple body wounds from fragments of an enemy mortar shell, while defending his company's position in the vicinity of Satea-ri, North Korea".
   Mrs. Kampscneider also received letters of condolence from John's immediate commander Capt. Jess K. Johnson, commanding Co. "G", 23rd Inf. Reg.; from General Matthew Ridgway, supreme commander in the Far East; Chaplain (Col.) John J. Mullaney, Hq. Corps, U. S. Army and from the Secretary of the Army.
   Capt. Johnson assured Mrs. Kampschneider that her son had been a valuable soldier in the defense of the principles of freedom and had not flinched in the performance of his duties while in the face of extreme dangers. 
 



May 22, 1952

  Mother Receives Her Son's Medals - On Sept. 16, 1951, Pfc. John Kampschneider fell while in action in Korea on Heartbreak Ridge.  Last week his mother, Mrs. Theresia Kampschneider of Dodge recieved his personal effects, including his medals of valor aside from the Purple Heart medal which reached her several months ago.  Among the medals she received last week were the Korean Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star, a Combat Infantryman's United Nation's Service medal, and the Korean Service medal - all in honor of a gallant American soldier, who fell at the call of duty.
         
    
   

      
    

PFC. JOHN W.
  KAMPSCHNEIDER
        RITES AT OLEAN

   Funeral  rites  for Pfc. John W.
Kampschneider  of  Dodge  were
held Wednesday morning at 9:30
in  the   Humlicek  Funeral Home
at   Dodge  with   the  solemn  re-
quiem  mass  at 10 o'clock in Sa-
cred Heart Church   at Olean, Fr.
Wm.Klein, pastor, was celebrant
assisted  by  Fr.  Oborny  and Fr.
Dickes.   Burial  was  in   Sacred
Heart cemetery.
   Pall   bearers    were     Marvin
Kampschneider,   Rudy    Kamp-
schneider, Alred Ernesti, Vincent
Dirkschneider,   Nick     Steffens-
meier,  Fred Stueter, Irvin Vogel
and Quarino LaPorta.
   Conferring     full  military   hon-
ors  were Legionnaires and V. F.
W. members  of Dodge, who fur-
nished colors,  guards and firing
squad.  Taps was sounded by A.
J. Clement with the echo by Dick
Roberts.   A  large  delegation of
Legion  members  from  Howells
also attended in a body with their
colors.  All members were in uni-
form.
   The  body  arrived  at    Dodge
Sunday  evening  when    Dodge
veterans  organizations  met  the
train  at  North  Bend  in  uniform,
to  escort  the  remains to Dodge.
Cpl. Weston D. Aleridge  of   Sa-
linas, Calif., was the army escort 
from Oakland, Calif.,  where  the
body  arrived several weeks ago
from Korea.
   Pfc. John Kampschneider was
born  Jan.  31, 1926, on  a  farm
northwest of Dodge. He attended
school at Olean and remained on
the  farm  until  after  his  father's
death in 1945.   Before   entering
the service he had been employ-
ed at Norfolk.
   He  entered  the  service  Nov.,
1950 at Ft. Riley, Kansas and re-
ceived   his  army  training  at Ft.
Eustis, Virginia, going  overseas
to   Korea  from  Washington  on
April 17, 1951.  He saw consider-
able   action  in  the   vicinity    of
Satae-ri, Korea,  and   was killed 
by a mortar  shell at Heart Break
Ridge   on   Sept. 16, 1951.   He
was  posthumously awarded the
purple heart.
   Surviving  him are  his mother,
Mrs.  Theresia  Kampschneider,
Dodge;  five   brothers,  George,
Victor  and   Edward,    Howells;
and   Leonard   and  Alfred     of
Dodge.                                                     
                
  
      

Col. John J. Mullaney 
Corps Chaplain 

General M. B. Ridgway 
United States Army
October 19, 1951   

Capt. Jess K. Johnson 

October 13, 1951 

 "How are the peace talks going"

            "Everyone should spend time 
                                 in the front lines
                                           so no one ever has to"
   "I'm alright"

                "I would rather be on that Oliver right now"   

     His quotes:


     John had written many letters to his mother Theresia.  Letters that she treasured very much as she touched them to hold onto the remembrance of his life.
     He was devoted to her, starting with "Dear Mom," and signing "Love John."  They were written during his service in the states and his service in Korea.  John gave up his life as he was "killed in action" on September 16, 1951 at Heartbreak Ridge.
     Uncle Johnny was indeed a hero in our young minds.  These actions were preserved in our memories for all these years.  Memories of stories that were told about what happened and his life in the service.
     Fifty years had passed.  And nieces and nephews have wondered what happened to the letters and correspondence that Grandma held onto.  Sacred to her.
     Then fifty years and one day after Uncle Johnny's funeral the letters were found - preserved in an attic.  We are eternally grateful to Aunt Wilma (Studnicka) Kampschneider for providing a safe place for this treasure.
     As we read the letters, we were filled with emotions.  We laughed when he described Army life, bought a watch and lost the watch.  That was Johnny.  We cried when he was moved to the front lines.
     He wrote about close calls, getting shot at, being scared, cold and hungry.  He wrote about not having his shoes off for two weeks, sore and tired.  Life was: the rain, sitting in a foxhole half full of water, living in the open and spending 60 days in the front lines.  He wrote about being at the Punch Bowl, Pork Chop Hill, and closing the Kansas Line.  The hills were steep and rugged.  John was a machine gun operator and was due to make rank.  He had great respect for the Chaplins.  Letters and packages from home were welcome.  Buddies were killed or wounded.
     He said in context, "Everyone should spend time in the front lines so no one ever has to."  And his repeated question, "How are the peace talks going?"  Through all this he tells her that he was alright and not to worry.  That was Johnny.  But then the letters stopped!!!  His mother was notified of his death on September 26th.
     John W. Kampschneider was a hero.  He leaves a legacy of bravery and dedication to the service of his country--to preserve a way of life for friends and relatives who knew him and generations to come.  This is evident in his letters to Mom.
     Eternal rest grant upon him, O Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon him.
                                                           
                                                           Written by Mary Ann Kampschneider Svitak


     His letters are published in the book Honored Post WWII Heroes of Pebble Valley, A Compilation of Patriotic and Community Service written by Alex Meyer of Snyder, Nebraska.  This book is a must read.   
       
    
        
         

                                                             
                                                          


          





 Kampschneider family       1950

John            children standing       standing by door                                       
Vic(hiding)   Donna-Mary Ann      Alvin-Theresia-Leonard 
Ed                Yvonne-Lumir          Roma-Diane-George-Frances    

                                seated                                floor 
                                Shirley-Judy-Bohamilla      Jimmy-Carol-Ralph
                                Wilma-Theresa-Janet         Marlene-Kenneth
                                                                           Larry-Melvin 

brother Alfred took the picture   Georgene-at college
                                       Karen-Kevin-Debra-Gary born later
           
     Johnny came home during the Christmas holiday 1950 after basic training.  It was the first time we saw him in uniform.  He wore it with pride.  He thanked us for the letters we had written to him and said to continue to write who was at the dance or who won the ballgame.  Or who made a home run.  And he would write to us.  Little did we know it would be the last time we would see him.  The rest is history.    

  

1945
Edward, Alfred, John  mother Theresia  George, Victor, Leonard

leaving a space for her recently deceased husband, Ferdinand pictured to the right. 


     His father passed away on July 10, 1945 at which time his mother moved to Dodge.   


     He farmed with his family and worked various jobs.  He enjoyed going to dances at the local ballrooms and playing baseball.  He was well over 6' tall and a lanky lad.  The many friends, buddies and cousins his age spent their time socializing with all the activities in a small town area.  He was only 6 years older than the oldest niece with other nieces and nephews close behind.  He was a very fun loving uncle and we enjoyed him very much.  Johnny was always teasing and picking on us "little" ones.  That was Johnny.  Unfortunately some of the younger nieces and nephews never knew him.  We dedicate this to those of us who did, and preserve a legacy to those who did not.   

     John William Kampschneider was born on January 31,1926 to Ferdinand and Theresia (Liekhus) Kampschneider.  They lived on a farm four miles northwest of Dodge, Nebraska.  He was the youngest of six sons born to the family.  His brothers were George, Victor, Leonard, Edward and Alfred.  The family attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Olean, rural Dodge, Nebraska, and he received his elementary education at the church's Academy.


  Pictured are Edward, Leonard, Victor, George
                                    John, Alfred

                                    about 1934-36