Walker Army Air Field Collection
Collection
Identifier: MS 022
The collection consists of administrative documentation for Isidore Windholz (1907-1984) from his employment at the Walker Army Air Field, as well as publications generated during his employment for the staff of the facility from 1943-1946. Personnel records include pay receipts, promotion and transfer forms, efficiency ratings, leave requests, job descriptions and lists of related duties. Publications include 'Buck Sheet', 'Walker Talker', 'Gremlin Post', and Pathfinder, from 1940-1945. Published materials are mostly available digitally, with links included for remote access.
Digital Collections - FHSU Scholars Repository – Digitized Copies of Materials
Content Disclaimer: The primary source materials contained in the Fort Hays State University Special Collections and Archives have been placed there for research purposes, preservation of the historical record, and as reflections of a past belonging to all members of society. Because this material reflects the expressions of an ongoing culture, some items in the collections may be sensitive in nature and may not represent the attitudes, beliefs, or ideas of their creators, persons named in the collections, or the position of Fort Hays State University.
Digital Collections - FHSU Scholars Repository – Digitized Copies of Materials
Content Disclaimer: The primary source materials contained in the Fort Hays State University Special Collections and Archives have been placed there for research purposes, preservation of the historical record, and as reflections of a past belonging to all members of society. Because this material reflects the expressions of an ongoing culture, some items in the collections may be sensitive in nature and may not represent the attitudes, beliefs, or ideas of their creators, persons named in the collections, or the position of Fort Hays State University.
Dates
- 1943-1945
Conditions Governing Access
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
Extent
3 Cubic Feet
Expand All
History
Isidore Windholz was born March 27, 1907, to Martin Windholz and Catherine M. Sander-Windholz of Emmeram, Kansas. Isidore was a graduate of Hays High School and earned a teaching certificate allowing him to work as a public-school teacher in Ellis County. While teaching, he met and married Pauline Erbert in a triple ceremony with his brothers Wendelin and Anselm. The Associated Press distributed the story of Isidore negotiating with a jeweler to buy three wedding bands at once, and the story appeared in newspapers across the country in the Fall of 1936. Isidore continued working as a teacher for years, listing Teacher as his occupation in both the 1930 and 1940 US Federal Census.
Following the entry of the United States into World War II, military operations expanded across the country in 1942. Walker Army Air Field, located Northwest of Walker, Kansas operated from 1942 to 1946 as a processing and training site for United States Army Air Forces Bombardment Groups and B-29 Superfortress pilots and crew. Isidore Windholz worked at the Walker Army Air Field from 1943 to 1946 as a civilian employee functioning as a storekeeper, supply clerk and a supervisor. During this employment, Isidore collected issues of ‘Buck Sheet,’ ‘Walker Talker,’ and ‘Pathfinder’ as well as documents related to his employment with the United States Armed Forces.
The ‘Buck Sheet’ was the original newsletter produced for the base employees in January and February of 1943. The ‘Walker Talker’ replaced the ‘Buck Sheet,’ with the first issue published on Friday, March 5, 1943, as the official news publication of the Walker Army Air Field. The ‘Gremlin Post’ was until 1944 a section created especially for the 400th Sub-Depot within the ‘Walker Talker’, at which time the content was incorporated into the larger publication. Publication of the ‘Walker Talker’ continued weekly on Fridays until December 1943 when publication moved to Saturdays. Publication then moved to the second and fourth Saturdays after the Japanese surrender in August 1945. The final edition of the ‘Walker Talker’ was published on December 8, 1945.
Windholz continued his employment with the military until receipt of a ‘Reduction in Force’ notice, dated October 25, 1946, notifying him of the elimination of his position. His last day of active duty was November 20, 1946. Following his employment at Walker Army Air Field, Mr. Windholz worked primarily as a car salesperson for dealerships in Hays, such as Gagelman Motor Co., O’Loughlin Motors, and Lungren Chevrolet. Isidore and Pauline Windholz continued to live and work in Hays, where they raised their children. Isidore helped establish the Hays High Plains Kansas Chapter of the Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing of America in 1967. Mr. Windholz retired in 1971, eventually moving to St. John’s Rest Home in Victoria where he passed away in 1984.
Following the entry of the United States into World War II, military operations expanded across the country in 1942. Walker Army Air Field, located Northwest of Walker, Kansas operated from 1942 to 1946 as a processing and training site for United States Army Air Forces Bombardment Groups and B-29 Superfortress pilots and crew. Isidore Windholz worked at the Walker Army Air Field from 1943 to 1946 as a civilian employee functioning as a storekeeper, supply clerk and a supervisor. During this employment, Isidore collected issues of ‘Buck Sheet,’ ‘Walker Talker,’ and ‘Pathfinder’ as well as documents related to his employment with the United States Armed Forces.
The ‘Buck Sheet’ was the original newsletter produced for the base employees in January and February of 1943. The ‘Walker Talker’ replaced the ‘Buck Sheet,’ with the first issue published on Friday, March 5, 1943, as the official news publication of the Walker Army Air Field. The ‘Gremlin Post’ was until 1944 a section created especially for the 400th Sub-Depot within the ‘Walker Talker’, at which time the content was incorporated into the larger publication. Publication of the ‘Walker Talker’ continued weekly on Fridays until December 1943 when publication moved to Saturdays. Publication then moved to the second and fourth Saturdays after the Japanese surrender in August 1945. The final edition of the ‘Walker Talker’ was published on December 8, 1945.
Windholz continued his employment with the military until receipt of a ‘Reduction in Force’ notice, dated October 25, 1946, notifying him of the elimination of his position. His last day of active duty was November 20, 1946. Following his employment at Walker Army Air Field, Mr. Windholz worked primarily as a car salesperson for dealerships in Hays, such as Gagelman Motor Co., O’Loughlin Motors, and Lungren Chevrolet. Isidore and Pauline Windholz continued to live and work in Hays, where they raised their children. Isidore helped establish the Hays High Plains Kansas Chapter of the Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing of America in 1967. Mr. Windholz retired in 1971, eventually moving to St. John’s Rest Home in Victoria where he passed away in 1984.
Content Disclaimer
The primary source materials contained in the Fort Hays State University Special Collections and Archives have been placed there for research purposes, preservation of the historical record, and as reflections of a past belonging to all members of society. Because this material reflects the expressions of an ongoing culture, some items in the collections may be sensitive in nature and may not represent the attitudes, beliefs, or ideas of their creators, persons named in the collections, or the position of Fort Hays State University.
- Author
- Samantha L. Harper
- Date
- 2023-09-15
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Fort Hays State University Special Collections Repository