Remembering World War II Heroes: Finnish-Americans from Hubbardston killed in action

HUBBARDSTON – According to the “History of the Town of Hubbardston” by Leo J. Sullivan, written in 1993, the most important immigration trend in the town’s history was that of the Finns. The early part of the 20th Century saw a large influx of Finnish immigrants move into the town.

“Most of the early Finnish immigrants to Hubbardston found their way here via industrial centers such a Worcester or Gardner, where they worked to accrue the capital with which to buy the farm that so many of them craved,” Sullivan wrote.

As these Finnish men married and had families, their sons would go on to enlist in and serve during World War II, with many of them giving their lives for the adopted countries of their parents.

Hubbardston resident Robert Meagher learned of the loss of his brother Earl during World War II via telegram. He spoke also about the heartbreak felt by many of those Finnish families who received the same tragic news about their loved ones via a telegram.

“Those were Finnish people who couldn’t read or write, yet they got the same piece of paper like that (telegram) at their door,” he said. “Could you imagine the condition of the people when they got something like that and couldn’t read it? My heart goes out to those people.”

Soldiers with surnames like Ketola, Mannisto and Rasinen, whose parents were born in Finland, suffered a similar fate.

This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes.

Pfc. Allen O. Ketola (1923-1945) 

Allen Onni Ketola was born in Worcester on March 28, 1923 to Finland-born parents Onni Edwin and Anna (Liukkonen) Ketola. He grew up on Steele Street in Holden and graduated with the Class of 1940 from Holden High School. After graduation, he entered the employ of Norton Co. in Worcester, prior to registering with the Army on June 30, 1942.

Pfc. Ketola enlisted at Fort Devens on Feb. 22, 1943 and entered the Army on March 1, 1943, receiving his boot training at Camp Croft, South Carolina, and at Camp Carson, Colorado. He then went to California before being sent to Kiska in the Aleutian Isles, enrolling in the Ski Troops.

While he was away, his family moved to Hubbardston in the spring of 1944. He arrived home on furlough that summer before going to the Pacific Area and on to Luzon.

Pfc. Ketola was serving with the 27th Infantry in the 25th Infantry Division when he was killed in action on Luzon in the Philippines on Feb. 10, 1945, according to a telegram from the War Department received by his parents. At the time his brother Toivo was with the Army in Italy, while his twin brothers, Donald and Carlton, lived in Hubbardston.

He was buried in Hope Cemetery in Worcester.

Sgt. Elmer V. Mannisto (1921-1945) 

Elmer Valentii Mannisto was born on April 1, 1921 in Hubbardston, the youngest of a family of seven born to Matti and Amelia (Santala) Mannisto, who were both natives of Finland. The family which lived on Worcester Road included his brother John, and sisters Taimi, Helen and Pearl.

He also had a brother Toivo who died at the age of 37 in 1941 and a sister Viola McGinlay who died in 1931 at the age of 25.

Elmer was a graduate of Worcester Boys Trade School and was employed by Crompton and Knowles in Worcester.

He entered the service in October of 1942 and the following spring was sent overseas for active duty, He served in the North African and Sicilian campaigns, and the D-Day Invasion, spending two years overseas.

In August 1944, while serving in France, he was wounded in the lower extremities when struck by an artillery shell with fragments lodged in his buttocks and hip. He was hospitalized in England for eight weeks while his wounds were treated before being discharged in September of 1944.

Following his furlough, he returned to active duty and was sent to Germany.

It was while stationed with the 82nd Recognizance Battalion, 2nd Armored Division in Monchengladbach, Germany that Sgt. Mannisto was reportedly killed on March 17, 1945.

“Elmer was placed with a regimen made up of a bunch of rebels, from what our family learned, and he was considered a Yankee from the north” said Jane (Kataisto) Frederico, who was a great niece of Mannisto.

“We’re not sure if he may have been struck by friendly fire from his own men, either when he was initially wounded or when he died,” she added.

Mrs. Frederico’s grandmother Taimi Mannisto was Elmer’s sister. Her father, John Kataisto, was born in October of 1920, while Elmer was born in April of 1921 and – although six-months younger – he was John’s uncle.

Sgt. Mannisto was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Limburg, the Netherlands.

“It was rather ironic that he was born on April Fool’s Day (April 1) and died on St. Patrick’s Day, which was actually the day after the Finnish celebration for St. Urho,” Mrs. Frederico noted.

Comments and suggestions for Remembering Local World War 2 Heroes can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Rd. Sandwich, MA 02563.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Allen Ketola, Elmer Mannisto, two from Hubbardston killed in World War II