Enlistment July 20, 1942
Discharge October 8, 1945
Even the Censor Approved Manning Clubwomen's Idea
An Army Censor doesn't mind much - not even a good idea that crops up among the
letters which pass through his hands. That fact will be attested by the Wa-Tan-Ye Club of Manning which has a note from him to prove it.
It all happened like this. In an effort to be of service to Manning's soldiers
and sailors the Wa-Tan-Ye Club sent out, some 160 letters
to servicemen offering for the sum of one dollar each to make up and send a
Mothers' Day corsage to the soldier's mother. The corsage was to consist of defense stamps and a pink carnation.
Numerous replies were received, one of them being a letter from Grant
Grundmeier with three postscripts attached. In his letter Grundmeier said he'd
like to have a corsage sent not only to his mother but also to his wife's
mother. Then he added a postscript. "One of my buddies read this letter
and wants a corsage sent to his mother."
Then another postscript with the same request.
And then this last postscript: "This is the censor. I think this is a
wonderful idea. Send one to my mother, too."
The club has been active in war work including the school war drive and the
making of boutonnieres for service fathers.
Carroll Daily Times Herald Carroll, Iowa May 11, 1943
Service Men Write Letters Home
Grant Grundmeier Writes
In a recent letter to his wife, Grant Grundmeier writes that he is
for the U.S. Navy 100 percent and thinks it's the best place to be. Grant says:
"Hiked 3 and a half miles to Lake Michigan and never saw so much water in my life.
Saw the Detroit Tigers play the Great Lakes team. There were about 10,000
sailors there and when the band played the National Anthem
they all stood at attention. It was surely a beautiful sight.
Have a doctor over at the hospital they call the '"dart thrower."'
When a fellow steps up he throws his arm back and throws the needle at it. He is
really a straight shot and you can't even feel the needle. Working on a
mimeographed paper which is put out every week. There are 12 of us on the
staff. It is printed on 8 1/2 x 14 with 2 sheets on both sides and we publish 1000 copies."
August 13, 1942, Manning Monitor
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Grant Grundmeier Manning Monitor December 18, 2003 Memorial services will be held for Grant Grundmeier on Friday, December 19,
2003 at 11:00 a.m. at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood, Iowa with Reverend Richard
Jensen officiating. Military honors will be at the funeral home by "Our Buddies VFW
Memorial Post #6779" of Northwood. Grant Louis Grundmeier was born on March 8, 1921, in Manning, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Hulda (Jensen) Grundmeier. He attended and received his education in the Manning schools, graduating from Manning High School. After completing his schooling he owned and operated the Manning Shopper. He was united in marriage to Pat Lawbaugh on January 25, 1941, in Harlan, Iowa. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy on July 20, 1942, and served overseas in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theater until his honorable discharge on October 8, 1945. After his honorable discharge he returned to Manning, Iowa, and worked with his dad in his hatchery. In the early 1950's, the family moved to Northwood, where they owned and operated the Grundmeier Hatchery until his retirement in 1969. Grant became a professional photographer with studios in Northwood and Osage, specializing in portrait, wedding and school photography for 30 years. After his retirement he worked part-time at the True Value Hardware Store in Northwood. He enjoyed writing, cooking, canning, attending his fruit trees, reading, learning and
encouraging, but his great love and enjoyment was spending time with his family and
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter, Peggy Grundmeier. Survivors include his wife, Pat Grundmeier of Northwood; his children, Sigrid of Phoenix, Arizona, Gary of Kansas City, Missouri, and Patrick and his wife Roz of Gilbert, Arizona; four grandchildren: Michele Nelson of Arlington, Washington, Donelle Buchsbaum and her husband David Moctezuma Fernandez of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lisa Buchsbaum of Milan, Italy, and Ryan Grundmeier-Isidora and his wife Irene of Minneapolis, Minnesota; three sisters, Lorraine Hargens of Manning, Iowa, Shirley McConnell of Springdale, Arizona, and Joanne Moore and her husband Gale of Yuma, Arizona, a brother, Gerald Grundmeier of Mentone, California; as well as other relatives and friends. |
Drilling In Sand
Grant Grundmeier says that drilling in sand three inches deep, should do something for a fellow.
July 16, 1942, Manning Monitor
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Manning Monitor articles ------ 1943 Grant Grundmeier is serving with the hospital corps at the Great Lakes Training Station. Grant Grundmeier Official U.S. Navy Photo hospital apprentice, first class. He is one of 494 men who were graduated. Basic training at the Hospital Corps School includes the study of anatomy and physiology, hygiene and sanitation, materia-medica and weights and measures, first aid and bandaging, nursing, transportation of casualties and dietetics.
The honor man, a graduate of Manning High School, managed his own advertising and
mimeographing business for three years prior to his enlistment in the Navy. Grant Grundmeier Writes From Maryland Naval Center To the American Legion and Manning Monitor: "First I want to express my appreciation to both of you for sending me the home town news It cuts down the miles between here and home to be able to read news about people you know You know, no state prints as good newspapers :as Iowa does All I've seen from other states (the boys here all receive papers) are so darn full of stock reports etc, that I can't even recognize any good news material in them Especially so here in the east. There isn't a heck of a lot to tell about the hospital except that it is new and very modern in structure as well as equipment The hospital corpsmen who come here, take basic training in actual work in the hospital and then request specialized work such as dentistry, laboratory work etc.
About 50% of the corpsmen are selected for sea duty either with the marines or the fleet.
We naturally don't see much of the war here but we see the results of it. Many marines
from Bataan and Guadacanal are hospitalized here. Grant Grundmeier Honor Man Great Lakes , Ill. Grant Louis Grundmeier, 21, of Manning, Ia., was graduated from recruit training, Wednesday, Aug. 26, as honor man of his company at the U. S. Naval Training Station.
Grant, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Grundmeier operated a mimeograph here for three
years before enlisting several weeks ago as a seaman first class. Through a series of
aptitude tests given the 130 men of his company, he has been selected to attend one of
the Navy Service Schools. Drilling In Sand Grant Grundmeier says that drilling in sand three inches deep, should do something for a fellow. Manning Monitor articles ------ 1944
Grant Grundmeier P.M 2-c W Grant Grundmeier Writes A letter written to a group of friends has been received from Grant Grundmeier and the following interesting excerpts are taken from it: "The Monitor supplies ample news concerning scrap, bond, etc., drives and it certainly proves that. Manning is a real town. People unite and work together towards one aim and the ultimate end is always success. No one quite understands the meaning and
importance of the various drives until they're on the receiving end, where our fate is
decided by their success. This is too much of a total war, with subsequent total destruction
and the companion factor that there must not be a shortage of anything!
"I'm glad I joined the Navy. I like the sea, the adventure and excitement. There's a bit of
beauty mixed with general quarters at sunrise and sunset ---- or the swells of the ocean
and pitch of the ship. Our bow has actually risen and fallen as much as 40 feet for hours
at a time. Grant Grundmeier Writes In a recent letter to his wife, Grant Grundmeier writes that he is for the U. S. Navy 100 per cent and thinks it's the best place to be. Grant says: "Hiked 3 and a half miles to Lake Michigan and never saw so much water in my life. "Saw the Detroit Tigers play the Great Lakes team. There were about 10,000 sailors there and when the band played the national anthem they all stood at attention. It was surely a beautiful sight. "Have a doctor over at the hospital they call the dart thrower: When a fellow steps up he throws his arm back and throws the needle at it. He is really a straight shot and you can't even feel the needle.
"Working on a mimeographed paper which is put out every week, there are 12 of us on the
staff. It is printed on 8 1/2 x 14 with 2 sheets on both sides and we publish 1000 copies. A daughter was born Sunday to Phm. 1-c Grant and Mrs, Grundmeier at Patuxent River Naval Air Station hospital, Maryland. Manning Monitor articles ------ 1945
Another Veteran In Business Here
Clarence Grundmeier of Kruse Hatchery carries an announcement reporting the return of
his son, Grant, to the force at his establishment. Recently receiving an honorable
discharge after years of navy service as a pharmacists mate. |