Introduction
Arthur Frederick Ballinghoff was born February 17, 1917 in Camden, New Jersey to Frederick and Sadie Ballinghoff. He lived in East Camden most of his life. His parents had lived at 27 Morse Street in 1914, but when his father registered for the draft in June of 1917, the family, which included an older sister, Evelyn, lived at 733 Fern Street in North Camden. The family had relocated to 737 Fern Street by January of 1920, before returning to East Camden. The Ballinghoffs were residing at 2950 Cramer Street, the corner of North 30th and Cramer Streets, by 1924 and were still there as late as 1969.
Arthur F. Ballinghoff was inducted into the United States Army on November 25, 1940, reaching the rank of Corporal before being honorably discharged. He was one of the first seventeen men from Camden to be drafted. Both Arthur Ballinghoff and another of the seventeen, Theodore N. Guthrie, became a member of the Camden Fire Department after the war ended. He served overseas with the Antitank Company of the 114th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, and saw action in Southern France, Germany, and Austria. He returned to the United States aboard the Queen Elizabeth in July of 1945, and to Camden upon leaving the military.
The 1947 Camden City Directory shows Arthur Ballinghoff living with his parents at 2950 Cramer Street in East Camden. He was then working as a warehouseman at the Cashan & Co., Inc. food products business at 207-209 Kaighn Avenue.
Arthur F. Ballinghoff was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on March 15, 1948 and reported for work the next day at Engine Company 8 on Kaighn Avenue. His first cousin, Joseph Ballinghoff Jr., had joined the Fire Department in 1938 and was serving with Engine Company 3 at that time. Arthur Ballinghoff remained at Engine 8 until February 16, 1950 when he was reassigned to Ladder Company 2, which was quartered in the same building. On June 15, 1951 Arthur Ballinghoff was reassigned to Ladder Company 1 at Fire Headquarters, North 5th and Arch Street. After almost two years at Ladder 1, his request for a transfer to East Camden was granted, and Arthur Ballinghoff was sent to Ladder Company 3 at North 27th and Federal Street on June 5, 1953. At the end of that year he was reassigned to Engine Company 9 at the same East Camden location, and remained with Engine 9 until March 4, 1966 when he was returned to Ladder Company 3. Arthur Ballinghoff retired after 24 years of service to the City of Camden on May 1, 1972.
The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory lists Arthur Ballinghoff at 306 North 37th Street in East Camden. By October of 1959 he had moved to 38 Church Street. Arthur Ballinghoff later moved to 2835 Benson Street.
On November 24, 1962 Fireman Ballinghoff was cited by Public Safety Director Bedell for taking part in the rescue of three children.
In his later years Arthur Ballinghoff resided in Pine Hill, New Jersey. He died on December 9, 1989 and was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey. He was survived by his wife, Evelyn, who joined him on August 19, 1990.
Army Takes 17 City Youths In 1st Draft Call
Camden Courier-Post —
Survivors of List of 24 Begin Year’s Training At Fort Dix
6 FAIL TO PASS TEST; 7TH AWAITS DECISION
Camden’s first 17 peacetime trainees slept under army blankets in army tents at Fort Dix last night—soldiers at last.
This morning, after being questioned on sundry subjects, they will be issued uniforms and emerge—looking like soldiers.
They reached Fort Dix at 6:10 o’clock last night by bus and had their first taste of army coffee and sandwiches. After a wait of two hours they passed through the initial receiving station and at 8 o’clock ate their first army meal. They were issued blankets and toilet articles, assigned to tents. And so to bed the first members of Uncle Sam’s great draft army that by next June will reach 780,000 men.
The 17 are the survivors of a list of 24 called to service here yesterday morning. Six failed to pass the medical examination and one was held until today for further questioning. Members of the first contingent are: Harry Boody, Jr., 21, of 301 Liberty street; Cecil Graves, 35, of 819 South Second street; Joseph H. Ward, 27, of 2011 Federal street; John M. Bowers, 28, of 128 North Twenty-second street; Arthur F. Ballinghoff, 23, of 2950 Cramer street; George Borland, 30, of 2305 Howell street; Valdo Zannoni, 21, of 614 Point street; Leonard Buffetta, 22, of 604 Point street; William F. Fournier, 26, of 424 Bailey street; Joseph W. Milgala, 23, of 913 Mechanic street; Luca R. D’Oria, 21, of 820 Haddon avenue; James E. Wright, 25, of 541 Washington street; William DiBello, 26, of 621 Henry street; John S. Zawila, 21, of 1471 South Ninth street; Edward J. Haab, 35, of 201 South Sixth street; Theodore N. Guthrie, 25, of 840 Fern street; and Bernardo S. Doganiero, 24, of 274 Division street. Rejected: Jesse Massi, 30, of 813 South Fifth street; Joseph H. O’Hara, 23, of 864 Lois avenue; John Mohollen, 26, of 57 York street; Harvey Goodwin, 35, of 1107 Federal street; Robert Stockdale, 25, of 209 North Ninth street; and Charles A. Williams, 35, of 203 State street. Held for further questioning: Herman Foster, 35, of 819 South Second street.
The Camden detachment was part of a total of 131 reaching the fort, including 15 from Manhattan, 16 from the Bronx, 54 from Newark, 12 from Elizabeth and 17 from Trenton. A detachment of 160 from Rochester failed to arrive owing to faulty train connections. All were greeted by a reception committee composed of army officers, the 71st Infantry band and Company G, 71st Infantry. The trainees were escorted to the initial receiving station, where they were registered and given preliminary army instructions in pamphlet form.
(Continued from Page One)
All Cleared by 8 p.m.
The first 25 men to clear the receiving station were served supper within an hour after their arrival. The last of the draftees did not clear the station until 8 o’clock.
This morning they will have breakfast of oatmeal, French toast, syrup, jam, milk and coffee. Next they will undergo a psychological examination, to be followed by a general examination on family background, talents, ambitions and past activities. These tests are designed to fit each man into his proper niche in army life. Then will come the uniforms, and the making of soldiers will begin.
Camden’s first quota came from Board No. 7, wards 1, 2, 10; No. 8, wards 11, 12; No. 9, wards 3, 5, 6; No. 10, wards 4, 7, 9. The trainees underwent final physical examination at the Naval Militia Armory, after which those passing were inducted into the service by Capt. Charles Seltzer, of the army induction station. The oath they took follows:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America; that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever, and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles of war.”
This oath, taken under the Selective Service Act, differs from that taken by the regular recruits to the Army only in the omission of a phrase concerning the term of enlistment and one referring to “bounty, pay and rations.”
Feted by City Rulers
After the induction the Camden boys were taken to Kenney’s Cafe, 531 Market street, where they were the luncheon guests of the City Commission. There, Major Allyne M. Freeman, speaking as the representative of Lt. Col. Lee Sumner, in charge of the army recruiting station here, told them:
“Learn to smile, not to grumble and grouch. You will never be asked to do anything unlawful, but you must obey orders, no matter how hard the job. You must obey, otherwise the army would be a mob.”
As the boys left Camden in an army bus after the luncheon, they were cheered by many who had gathered to wish them luck. Parents, brothers, sisters, sweethearts and friends were there to cheer them on the way.
A similar sendoff is planned in Gloucester tomorrow for a group of 12 men who will leave the headquarters of Board No. 3, Broadway and Monmouth street, at 8:30 a.m. Mayor John F. Gorman, of Gloucester; Mayor R. D. Cranston, of Mt. Ephraim; Mayor N. C. Courtney, of Brooklawn; church pastors, the Gloucester High School band, students, relatives and friends will compose the cheering group.
Gloucester Trainees
Those who enter the service are: William E. Hughes, William J. Maurer, Robert B. Black, Harry Proposki, Benjamin E. Morris, Joseph F. Marini, William D. Spence, William C. Randolph, John F. Gorman and Joseph E. McCann, all of Gloucester; Richard V. Buck, of Mt. Ephraim, and Paul Cipolone, of Brooklawn.
Yesterday’s contingent was the first of the draftees to report for duty. It consists of 18,700 men. Most of the first group will be used to bring Regular Army regiments to full strength. Later, men will be sent to replacement centers, 21 of which are being constructed. The registration totals 16,500,000, from which places were drawn by lottery.
‘I Do Solemnly Swear That I Will Bear True Faith . . .’
And Here’s His Primer on Soldiering
Camden’s first draftees now have a chance to burn the midnight oil over preliminary instructions of the U.S. Army. They received their copies at Fort Dix last night. They are shown grouped around Pvt. Edward Quinn, and Arthur F. Ballinghoff, 23, of 2950 Cramer street, heading the line, receives his copy first.
Camden’s First Group of 17 Conscripts Inducted Into U.S. Army
Camden’s first group of 17 conscripts (top) being inducted into the U.S. Army yesterday before its departure for Fort Dix. The oath of allegiance is being administered by Capt. Charles Seltzer, of the Camden induction station. He is surrounded by members of the Camden city commission. John S. Zawila, 21, of 1471 South Ninth street, is shown (below), receiving his beddings at Fort Dix from Pvt. Otto Muller, of the medical detachment at the receiving station.
Woman Gas Victim Saved by Camden Rescue Squad
Camden Courier-Post —
Woman Gas Victim Saved by Camden Rescue Squad
The hour-long effort of a fire department rescue squad Friday night saved a woman who tried to kill herself by gas.
Police said Mrs. Florence Marshall, 46, of 330 North Tenth Street, locked herself in the bathroom and turned on a gas jet. They added she was despondent because her daughter, Eva, 22, was planning to marry and leave home.
A son, William, 19, broke down the bathroom door and dragged the mother from the room. Patrolmen John Voll and Harrison Wilkinson were called and summoned the rescue squad headed by Captains Godfrey Patterson and George Boone.
It took the squad an hour to revive Mrs. Marshall by artificial respiration. She was taken to Cooper hospital and later to police headquarters, where she was released for a hearing Monday on a charge of attempted suicide.
Other members of Rescue Squad 1 are George Baxter, William Watkin, John Mogck, Edward Brendlinger, Arthur Ballinghoff, Christopher Moll, Edwin Decker, Carl Wirtz, Robert Olesiewicz, John Kolessar and Raymond Banford.
Fire Department Service Cards
Fire Department service card for Arthur F. Ballinghoff, front
Fire Department service card for Arthur F. Ballinghoff, back