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Title: John "Jack" M. Bangerter
Dates: ca. 1948-1960
Collection Number: MSS 11231
Quantity: 4 feet and oversize
Abstract: Consists of printed material, photographs and slides from Bangerter's service in the Navy and his career working for the Western Electric Defense Project Division of Bell Telephone Company installing and testing radar and communication systems on the DEWline (Distant Early Warning) in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.
Provenance: The John "Jack" M. Bangerter collection was donated to the Museum Division of the State Historical Society of North Dakota by John's sister, Lois Meierding, on October 30, 2013. The collection was transferred to the State Archives from the Museum Division on February 13, 2014.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed. Permission to use any radio or television broadcast portions of the collection must be sought from the creator.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Related Collections: Museum accession 2013.00105 and PAR 2013120.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
John "Jack" M. Bangerter, 84, Bismarck, died February 19, 2013, at St. Alexius Medical Center. John was born May 16, 1928, at Wabasso (MN) to Louis and Estella (Simning). He was raised and attended school in Wabasso. John enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1947, serving on several ships, primarily the USS Ingersoll DD652. He was due for discharge in 1951, was extended until 1953 due to the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1953.
After discharge, John attended Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis (MN), for two years and studied electronics. He then went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, and was transferred to Western Electric Defense Project Division and worked in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland for three and one-half years installing and testing radar and communication systems on the DEW line (Distant Early Warning). He was then transferred back to Northwestern Bell at Rugby (ND), then to Harvey (ND) and Garrison (ND).
John married Victoria Srur on February 16, 1962, at Rugby. The couple made their home in Garrison until 1964, when he was transferred to Bismarck and where he worked for Northwestern Bell (later known as US West). He retired from AT&T in 1984. John enjoyed hunting and fishing, traveling to several western states and Canadian provinces in pursuit of the elusive trophy, and also enjoyed the hunting and fishing in ND. He collected and worked on firearms as a hobby. John was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Amvets, National Rifle Association, and Communication Workers, an annual member of the American Legion and the Eagles.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
Thanksgiving and Christmas menus from the U.S. Naval Training Station, Norfolk (VA) 1948
Certificate of Radio training completion February 26, 1949
Special request to go home 1949
Certificate recognizing that John Bangerter engaged in the Amphibious Airborne Invasion of Vieques, Puerto Rico March 8, 1950
The Cadmanian, vol. 2, no. 7, March 30, 1950
Standard Transfer Order to USS Cadmus 1951
Program from recommissioning of the USS Ingersoll, Charleston Naval Shipyard May 4, 1951
Certificate of completion of a Shore Fire Control Party (Naval) Course in the Gunfire Support School December 14, 1951
Blank Navy pay receipt (n.d.)
Box 2: Photographs
11231-001 Portrait of Graduating Class 9-49 Radio School, U.S. Naval Base, Norfolk (VA) (John Bangerter is fourth from the left in back row) ca. 1949
11231-002 John Bangerter and Joe Fletcher aboard the USS Ingersoll, sea trials off Charleston (SC) (copy) May 25, 1951
11231-003 John Bangerter working on DEW line, probably in Canada ca. 1957-1959
11231-004 Moulder copying, John Bangerter in background with transmitter 1951
11231-005 USS Missouri alongside for supplies (copy) 1951
11231-006 USS Philippine Sea CV-47 (copy) 1951
11231-007 Pettigrew tuning small transmitter (copy) 1951
11231-008 John Bangerter sending out a transmission (copy) July 1951
11231-009 Baker and Hydern turning transmitter (copy) 1951
11231-010 Bernard enjoying a cup of coffee (copy) 1951
11231-011 USS Ingersall DD 652 (information about the ship on back of photograph) (copy) ca. 1943
11231-012 Morning of the invasion (copy) 1951
Box 3: DEW line slides ca. 1960
11231-014 - 11231-026 Unidentified
11231-027 - 11231-033 Landing into Alaska by plane
11231-034 - 11231-042 Landscapes
11231-043 - 11231-044 Cities, Harbor
11231-045 - 11231-053 Dog Sleds
11231-054 - 11231-070 Beginning construction of the DEW line
11231-071 - 11231-082 Living quarters
11231-083 - 11231-086 Shoveling out snow
11231-087 Canada
11231-088 - 11231-388 Unidentified
(oversize in map case drawer)
11231-013 Panoramic portrait of Co. 264 -E.N. Deneen, B.M.C.-P.L. Brown, M.M.C. Co. Commanders, U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes (IL) August 30, 1948
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