"Red Arrow" Division.Veteran Dies

Arden L. Koehler served in the Pacific Theatre as a Staff Sergeant in U.S. 32nd "Red Arrow" Division from 1941-1945.  He died peacefully this past Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the age of 94 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  The Red Arrow Division started out as the Wisconsin National Guard but expanded to include other units from the Midwest, particularly Michigan when World War Two broke out.  Like many of his fellow Wisconsin soldiers, Mr. Koehler was a farmer and a descendent of German immigrants.  Like most of the obituaries of these survivors of the war who have died in recent years, his obituary states the simple facts about his war-time service.  Much is left unsaid.  For many in the Red Arrow, they would have moved with MacArthur from Australia to battles in New Guinea and through the South Pacific to the battles and landings at Leyte Gulf (Leyte Island in the Visayas) and Lingayan Gulf in Luzon, norwest of Manila.  They then fought their way to and into Manila.  A highlight of his obituary: "He was able to be out in the field last week, helping with the wheat harvest."  Filipinos would appreciate that.