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John Duff Ellian
Lilah Crowe2020-04-18T13:41:39-05:00
- Name: John Duff Ellian
- Location of Birth: Ashland, WI
- Date of Birth: June 9, 1922
- Date of Death: June 15, 1967 Duluth, St. Louis , Minnesota
- Parents: Elmer Ellian & Beryl Bluntach Ellian
- High School and Class: 1940 Greenway High School, Coleraine MN
- College: University of Minnesota
- Highest Rank:
- Branch: Air Force
- Other Branch: Weather Observers School
A.S.T.P. (Army Specialized Training Program)
- Date Sworn In: April 1943
- Place Sworn In:
- Date of Discharge: February 9, 1946
- Place of Discharge:
-
Units and Locations:
| Start Date |
End Date |
Unit(s) and Location(s) Served |
| |
|
Sheppard Field, Texas |
| |
|
Chanute Field, Illinois |
- Military Awards:
Weather Observer's School
A.S.T.P (Army Specialist Training Program)
- Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: MN
Name: John Duff Ellian
Race: White
Age: 20
Birth Date: June 9, 1922
Birth Place: Ashland Wisconsin
Residence Place: University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN
Registration Date: June 30, 1942
Employer: Student University of Minnesota
Weight: 145
Height: 5’8”
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Rosemary Trombley
Bovey Press April 2 1943 Dean Herdman left this morning for the Armed Forces. Dean enlisted in the Navy. Yesterday Johnny Ellian left also. My best wishes go out to all you young boys in your new adventure and may God watch over you at all times. See all of America and then come home and tell us about it.
Bovey Press July 16 1943 Rantoul Ill. June 24 1943 to Bovey Service Mens Club: Dear friends—Guess it’s about time I wrote again or you folks back home will begin to think I don’t appreciate all you’re doing for myself and the rest of us.
After spending a long eleven weeks down at Sheppard Field Texas, I finally received my shipping orders and wound up here at Chanute Field. While I was down in Texas I had the lucky experience of coming in contact with Bill Trebnick and Tom Nye. It sure was swell to see somebody from back home. They came in after I did and left about a week before I received my orders, also I served under Lt. Vincent Nyberg, who is now stationed at Sheppard Field, so I guess I was luckier than most fellows, t have so many friends from back home in the same camp.
When we first arrived in Sheppard Field we went through a classification procedure and I was lucky enough to qualify fro Weather Observers School and also for A.S.T.P. (Army Specialized Training Program). After about two weeks of detail work, including K.P. we will start going to school. There are about 60 of us attending this class in Weather School, it will last up to ten-twelve weeks.
While we are here we are allowed a day and one half off. Since we are only three hours train ride from Chicago most of the fellows will be going up there. Also we are fairly close to St. Louis, so might eve take that on.
the camp here is quite different from the one in Texas. The main difference is that there is green grass and trees here. All we had there was dust, and rain. It was impossible to keep our selves or our clothes clean. This camp is an old one and is just a Technical Training Center. There are about 50,000 men here but the accommodations are very nice.
I want to thank all you folks at home for so many nice birthday cards and different things. It is hard to write and thank each one individually so I’ll thank all of you at this time.
Also, I’ve been receiving the Bovey Press regularly and I like it very much, especially the Service Men’s Page. I’ll enclose my new address so it can be sent to me here.
It’s getting late and I have sixteen hours of K.P. ahead of me tomorrow so will close for now. Thanks again for everything
Sincerely John Ellian.
- Wars Involved:
World War II
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
John Ellian died on June 15, 1967, in St. Louis County Minnesota and is buried at Lakeside Presbyterian Cemetery, Duluth Minnesota
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
