James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

I recall Mr. Hall's 9th grade Math class.  Yes, it was in one of those building modules in back of the old high school on Douglas and 70th. I regret to say I was a nightmare student, restless, distractable, difficult...I think I got something like 90+ detention slips that year from my classes, including more than a few of these from Mr. Hall. Looking back, I'd have to say I was probably (what we'd call today) ADHD, not mean or deliberately disrespectul or insubordinate, but bored and inattentive, disinclined to sit still, more linclined to talk to my classroom neighbors, throw paperwads at the trash can, and just generally be disruptive...And it was during one of those after-school detentions that he sat next to me and asked what I wanted to be when I finished school, what I wanted to do.  I remember he joked that he went into teaching because there weren't jobs like he had during the war - shooting a machine gun.  I'm sure he told me other things I can't now recall, but that's one point I remember.  I know he was trying to be a friend - or at least friendly - and looking back I feel a bit sad that he felt he had to strategize a way to get my cooperation in class.  Sorry, not enough details about him I can remember to help you pin down his military unit...But you remeinded me of my experience of him. Nice guy. Didn't deserve what I brought to him that year.  He and Mr. Denman deserve medals (smile).

Jim Grover (Class of 1968)

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Speaking of Mr. Denman, he and his family lived on 48th Street Place, just a block from where I lived on 48th Street, before I moved to Urbandale.  I remember he had a daughter, Linda.  Mr. Denman was the JV football coach my sophomore year, Fall of '64, and I remember his favorite thing to say was, "Run one they don't know, Oppedal."  Mark was our "blocking back" and called the plays on offense.  Later on he was the Cinnabun guy at Merle Hay Mall.  Wow! . . . . the brain is a strange thing!!!!

Susan Jacobs (Batterton) (1969)

I recall Mr. Hall's math class. I had him in eighth grade. When I was in ninth grade and had trouble with algebra, I went to him and asked if he would help me because I loved math and I just couldn't understand much of what my algebra teacher was teaching. He tutored me after school on his own time. I have told his story for over 50 years. He must have really loved teaching and kids. I'm so grateful for his kindness even to this day over 50 years later. I'm glad others remember him too. I look forward to reading any information you find on him. He never shared anything personal with me, just math, so I can't help you find anythng on him. What an interesting background for a Junior High Math Teacher!

Chris McDougal (1985)

I'm not sure if this is the same teacher or not but a Mr. Hall was either my science or math teacher at the "new" Jr. High on Aurora during the '80 to '81 school year. If this is the same guy he was on the shorter side heighth-wise (maybe 5'6") and wore glasses. At the time I had a major interest in WWII aircraft and kept bringing a book about B-17s to class every day. Mr. Hall stopped at my table and looked at the book a bunch of times and we chatted about the B-17 each time. Again, if this is the same person, he told me he was a ball turret gunner on B-17s and thus the interest in that book. To be honest after the first time he stopped and looked at the book I kept bringing it so he would be distracted from teaching. Let me know if this seems to be the right teacher. I think I know his first name.

Update (9/22/25): It took me a while to get back to this. I researched who I thought to be Mr. Hall before making that initial post and just came across what I found at that time so I wanted to put it up here while it's on my mind. What I found started with a listing of the middle school teachers during the '80 to '81 school year on Newspapers.com. Mr. Hall's first name appears to be Walter with middle initial W. I used that to figure out on Ancestry.com that his full name was Walter Wayland Hall. I then found the Iowa WWII bonus application that he submitted and it confirmed he served the Army Air Force. Ancestry also led me to a Find a Grave memorial for him (passed away in 1999). If you go to that website and search for memorial 168754792 that's it. I did not find any photos of him but that memorial does link to another memorial that has a photo a brother (Charles). From what I recall (which is not perfect after 45 years) I see some similarity to the teacher. Did I definitely identify him? Seems to me it is likely but I can't be one hundred percent certain and just thought I would share what I know.

Douglas K. Oscarson (1972)

Chris - Your description of Mr. Hall is what I remember about him too. He was always very interested in WW II.

Jeff W. Lamb (1969)

Just wondering if you are talking about Mr. Brown who taught junior high math and science. He was in WW2 and often talked about it??

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Jeff:  I spent a lot of time with Craig . . . . Baseball, football and basketball.  Great guy and I really enjoyed him.  As I recall, he was left-handed, and I can still see him doing handstands in the cafeteria/Phys Ed/all-purpose room (before there was a gym).

My sophomore year, Coach Brown had me pitch against Valley, probably because he figured we didn't have a chance.  The Valley pitcher was Jim Van Dyke, newscaster Russ Van Dkye's son.  Late, we were behind 2-1, just couldn't get another run in.  Craig was on third, and I got a hit.  Trying to force a run, I rounded first and stopped between first and second, got in a rundown, and I kept waving for Craig to break for home.  He did not.

Craig also replaced me at middle linebacker against SE Polk, before their new high school/stadium, after John Danks showed what a big mistake Coach Burgett made in making me a starter.  Danks did the same thing to Craig, and Craig was not a happy camper on the bus ride home.

Two years later, we were the first to beat SEP, and on their own field.  

Timothy J. Lyons (1968)

UHS FOOTBALL FALL 1967 / CLASS OF 1968

JIM, YES WE DEFEATED SOUTHEAST POLK TWICE. ONCE ON THEIR HOME FIELD AND ONCE ON OURS. WE ALSO DEFEATED ANKENY TWICE. THE SUBURBAN CONFERENCE HAD DISBANDED WHICH GAVE US A VERY DIFFERENT SCHEDULE.  ENED UP 8-0.

NOTABLES: GARRY GRAHAM..MIKE CONNELLY..GLENN RICHARDSON..SCOTT STANFIELD..DANNY CHRISTENSON..MIKE LUCAS..STEVE PASCHAL..AND OTHERS 

TIMLYONS / CLASS OF 1968

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but when I was playing, Fall '64 through Summer '67, we were in the Suburban Conference: Urbandale, Johnston, Saydel, Carlisle, North Polk, and SE Polk.  We were rated to be undefeated in Fall '66, but stuff happened, and we got beat by Johnston, Carlisle and Saydel.  Saydel was good, Carlisle had Jim Sinclair, and Johnston was lucky.  My first game against SEP, Fall '64, was at their old field before the new high school was finished. John Danks kicked my butt, and I got to play the rest of the year on Junior Varsity. Monday afternoons with no crowd was not very motivating.  We were the first to beat SEP, Fall '66, at their field.  Tom Hansen, Mike Connelly, Gary Hintz, John Rizzuti, Eric Blockus, Ron Naeve, Rich Custer, Mike Lucas, Danny Christiansen, et al . . . . 

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

I don't think I was there for this, but that's my Yamaha 80 on the wing.

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

Greetings and Happy Veterans Day.

RE:  Mr. Hall - Urbandale Junior High School 8th grade math teacher and WWII Veteran. 

Thank you very much Jim Grover (UHS 1968); Susan Jacobs (Batterton)(UHS 1969); Chris McDougal (UHS 1985); Doug Oscarson (UHS 1972); and Jeff Lamb (UHS 1969)  for all your valuable comments and clues about Mr. Hall.  They are very much appreciated!

I stand corrected, I had incorrectly assumed - for the past 58 years - that Mr. Hall was a WWII D-Day U.S. Army 82nd Airborne or 101st Airborne paratrooper based on what he had described in detail - on one particular day - during our math class (probably in the Fall of 1967 around Veterans Day) about those partroopers. 

One of our students in class had made an inappropriate  comment out loud about WWII Veterans that instantly changed Mr. Hall's demeaner.  Whie visibly upset, Mr. Hall kept his cool and began to briefly describe in detail - to the whole class - what unimaginable hardships and challenges those Allied paratroopers faced as they parachuted behind enemy lines in Normandy, France.  I mistakenly assumed that Mr. Hall must have been there to give us such details.  

Now back to the present.  With the extremely valuable help of your  clues and comments, I was recently able to contact and speak by phone with Mr. Hall's son John and daughter Barbara, both now retired teachers.

Among many other things, they positively confirmed the following about their dear Dad and WWII Veteran, Mr. Hall:

Staff Sergeant (S/SGT) Walter Wayland Hall; Born 01/04/1925

U.S. Army Serial Number 37685890; Enlisted on July 24, 1943 (age 18)

Military Occupation Specialty:  612 Amorer/Gunner/Togglier

Ball Turret Gunner (BTG) on Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Heavy Bombers assigned to :

601st Bombardment Squadron - 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Based at Nuthhampstead, England (AAF-131)

8th Air Force

U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF)

Europen Theater of Operations (ETO)

World War II

Mr. Hall received the Air Medal on 12/16/1944 (coincides with the onset of the Battle of the Bulge)

Last military posting:  2126 Army Air Force Base Unit, Larado Army Air Field, Texas (2126 AAF BU) a.k.a. "Central School for Flexible Gunnery" - a gunnery training facility for Boeing B-29 Superfortress Heavy Bomber aircrews.

Honorably Discharged on 10/22/1945

Retired from teaching and moved to Hamburg, Iowa in 1987 (age 62)

Passed on 01/18/1999 (age 74)

Of course, there is much much more to Mr. Hall's life story.  Most importantly, all of you know - from your own experiences - that he was a good man. 

Thank you Mr. Hall for all you have done for our Urbandale community and country!

Sincerely,

Anthony N. Woloch

UHS Class of 1972

James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

Thanks so much, Anthony, for following up on Mr. Hall's background.  Your initial post had me curious, and I appreciate now knowing.

I expect he retired to the little town of Hamburg for family reasons, but am saddened that he passed at only 74 (Idon't know that I would have said that 20-30 years ago, but I'm now 75 myself).

Blessing on this (day after) Veterans Day.  Your info came at an appropriate time.

Jim Grover, Class of '68

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Hamburg, Iowa:  My Dad, who served in the Pacific in WWII, grew up in Hamburg, and I visited family there as a kid. My Dad's brother, my Uncle Carl, also served in WWII.

My Dad served after he graduated from Simpson College, where he played football.  Simpson Letter Wiiners:  Beasley, Leo - 1941.

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

You are most welcome Jim Grover (UHS 1968).

None of this would have been possible without Chris McDougal's suggestion that our UJHS 8th grade math teacher "Mr. Hall" may have been "Walter Wayland Hall".

Attached is a September 1944 photo of Mr. Hall's orginal B-17G air crew - known as "Palant's Gang" taken in Alexandria, LA before they deployed overseas to England.  Ball Turret Gunner (BTG) Sgt. Walter Hall is standing in the back row, 4th person from the left side; 3rd person from the right side.

See the 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association's website:  https://www.398th.org for this photo and related information, including Mr. Hall's original B-17 Pilot 1st Lt. Sam H. Palant and Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) # 13907 dated April 18, 1945.

MACR # 13907 concerns the Friday  April 13, 1945 mid-air RDX bomb explosion - fortiutously not involving Mr. Hall because he had already completed his required 35 missions - just the day before - as a substitute BTG for another B-17 air crew's mission flown on Thursday April 12, 1945.  Mr. Hall flew on April 12th (his normal day off) because there was a shortage of gunners.  Note the April 13, 1945 incident was just a few short weeks away from Germany's formal surrender on VE-Day May 8, 1945.

Lest we never forget the service and sacrifice of our Veterans.

Wishing you Many Happy Years!

Sincerely,

Tony

Anthony N. Woloch, UHS Class of 1972

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

S/SGT WALTER W HALL

601-398BG 8AF USAAF

WORLD WAR II - ETO

James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

The picture - Great discovery, Anthony. I remember Mr. Hall as kind of a smalish man, but the picture has him looking pretty average with the rest of the crew. I hope his work as a teacher was a rewarding job. I can only think back to his class as being a challenge for both of us. But it was a hard year for me and all my teachers, I think - remembering Mr. Denman for English as well.

Thanks again for the digging.  You make me wonder what the WW2 experiences had been for the rest of our teachers in 1963...Mr. Denman, Mr. Cox, Mr. Thompson (principal that year for me, I think)...

Jim  

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

You are welcome Jim.

I didi not realize Mr. Cox (my 8th grade Science teacher Fall 1967 - Spring 1968); my 9th grade Assistant Principal Fall 1968 - Spring 1969) and Mr. Brown (9th grade Earth Science teacher Fall 1968 - Spring 1969) were both Veterans.

Mr. Cox appeared to be younger than Mr. Hall (born in 1925).

Mr. Brown appeared to be somewhat older than Mr. Hall or even my Dad (born in 1922).  Mr. Brown sure knew a lot about Iowa geology. .

What can you tell me please about each of their military service and/or full names?

Regards,

Anthony N. Woloch

UHS Class of 1972

James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

Hi Anthony.  No, no, I didn't mean to imply these teachers all served in WW2.  I was just curious IF they did, it would be interesting to know how.  Yes, I agree Mr. Cox would have been a bit too young to have served, in my opinion.  I think he was in his early 30s in the early- to-mid 60s. I do wonder about Mr. Brown though.  Liike you, I thought him very old to me in 1964 when I had him for General Science; so it's possible he was too old for WW2? 

If I had their first names, I could do a little research on them.  I've had good luck sometimes with my genealogy links.

As for Mr. Denman, I have an obituary for him that says he was in the Marine Corps, but it appears he would have been a bit young for WW2, but not perhaps for Korea. From the  Des Moines Register, Nov. 29, 1991:

Inline Image Not Displayed

I'd be curious to know what he did in the Marines.

Blessings.

Jim

James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

Anthony, okay, I see that my screen shot of the obit for Mr. Denman didn't make it to my post.  He died in November 1991 at 62 years old. He seemed older than 35 to my young eyes in 1963, so I went to ancestry.com and found him:

Robert R. Denman, b. 22 Dec 1928 in Des Moines. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1946, and was discharged in January 1948, so he wouldn't have seen any action. But his age in 1963 would indeed have been 35-ish.

Do you know the first names of Mr. Cox and Mr. Brown, both common names so without first names a search would be challenging.

Jim

Charles P. Woods (1971)

I lived next to "Mr. Brown".  His name was Joesph Henry Brown, as I recall. Buried in McDivett Grove on Meridith Drive. As to "Mr. Cox", he went on to become the Superintenant of the school system.. Dr. John Cox.

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

Thank you Jim Grover (UHS 1968) and Charles Woods (UHS 1971) for sharing your information about former Urbandale Junior High School (UJHS) teachers:  Mr. Joseph Henry Brown, Mr. Robert R. Denman and Dr. John Cox.

Mr. Denman's name sounds familiar, however, I cannot recall ever having him as a teacher at UJHS.  What subject(s) did Mr. Denman teach at UJHS?

One of the olderst WWII Veterans I had the pleasure of knowing was born in February 1911 and he served as a Tec 5 Corporal in Pacific Theater of Operations. 

Thus, I am very interested to learn more about the possible military service of Mr. Joseph Henry Brown - my 9th grade Earth Science teacher at UJHS during the Fall 1968 - Spring 1969 Academic Year.

Wishing you all a very Happy & Safe Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Anthony N. Woloch, UHS Class of 1972

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

To:  Jeff W. Lamb (UHS 1969)  You mentioned Mr. Brown "was in WW2 and often talked about it".  Please share your memories of what Mr. Brown said to you about his military service.  Thank you! 

James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

Hi Anthony and Jeff. I tried locating the specific Joseph H. Brown that taught at Urbandale, but there are a couple of the same name that pop up in my genealogy source.That birth date of Feb 1911, was that of him?  Need a bit more info. . Was his wife's name Elizabeth?  If not, would you happen to know, and children's names too if you know.  I'll keep looking with this.

As for Dr. Cox. I also didn't have any clear results in geneagy searches, but I hit on his name kind of frequently in the Des Moines press between 1968 to 1990. He was a new Science teacher in 1963, promoted to Asst. Principal - a new position - in 1968 with a salray of $10,000 for an 11-month contract.  By 1974 I find he is a Principal, and by 1984 Superientendent of Urbandale schools.  Then an article in Aug 1990 says he quit, effective Sep 28, to take a job as Superintendent n Fountain-Ft. Carson, Colorado. After that, I lost him. Can't find newspaper archives that have him in Colorado. However, that same article said he was 49 years old (which would have placed his birth at 1941), wife's name was Nancy, and his children's names are Christopher and Cammie, both graduates of Urbandale (apparently 1990 time-frame). He would have been too young for either WW2 or Korea, and Vietnam didn't kick off until he was already at Urbandale.

Fun searches.

Jim

James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

Oh, Mr. Denman.  Anhony, you asked where/what he taught.  He'd been at the school for a number of years, I think. It seems to me he was teaching when I had my 20th alumni reunion in 1988.  But he was my English teacher in 8th grade - 1963-64. And wrestling coach. One day, I pissed him off by chewing gum in his class (after a bit of rowdiness, I must admit), and he bodily picked me up and hauled me to the trash can to spit it out!  Woke up the class, I can tell you LOL.

Jim

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

Hi Jim,

Thank you for sharing your latest research!

The WWII - PTO Veteran, born in February 1911, that  I was referring to had nothing to do with our Urbandale teachers -  except to demonstrate how old some of our WWII Veterans were - compared to our Urbandale Junior High School teacher Mr. Brown who appeared to be much older than our math teacher Mr. Hall born in 1925.

Interesting that Dr. John Cox eventually became the Superintendent over Fountain - Fort Carson public schools in Colorado.