What do I think of when I hear the stirring song, "God Bless America"? Most people of my generation would answer: "Kate Smith" - but not me. My answer would be: "Carl Zeidler!" If you were not from Milwaukee, you most likely never heard of him. Some young Milwaukeeans never have, either.
Carl Zeidler was the mayor of Milwaukee in 1942. He was young, unmarried and very handsome. He was well liked and especially popular with the ladies.
Mayor Zeidler, 2nd from left, with help from 3 small patriots, below.
One day, at the 37th Street School, where I was a student, it was announced that Mayor Zeidler was going to pay us a visit. At age 12, I could not have cared less.
All we ever heard was "How handsome he is." The girls swooned over him. Wasn't it bad enough we had to put up with them swooning over Frank Sinatra? Then this outsider with all his glamour and allure is coming to our school. I wasn't doing too well, as it was, being noticed by any girl and he steals all their hearts. Frankly, he made me sick.
Dick Fowler, Webmaster, is in the middle row, 2nd boy from the left.
So the day came when Mayor Zeidler came to our school. We were ushered into the auditorium, and Mr. Zeidler gave a speech that was compelling to all of us - even us boys. He admonished us to go all out for the War Effort and urged us to support our country in any way we could. He said we should always do our best at anything we tried to do. He was so sincere, outgoing and dedicated.
At the conclusion of the program, after we sang a few songs, the mayor stood up and led us in the singing of "God Bless America." I don't think there was a dry eye in that auditorium. From that day on, "God Bless America" became synonymous with Carl Zeidler, to me.
After the program, Carl Zeidler gave out autographs. I was thrilled to have received one of them, which I still have to this day. It is the only autograph of anyone that I possess.
Shortly after the visit to our school, Mayor Zeidler joined the Navy and became a Lieutenant on a small ship. His ship, the S.S. La Salle, was lost off the coast of Africa in 1942 and never heard from again.
From: http://www.armed-guard.com/ag82.html
"Some ships didn't make it to the Gulf. The ammunition-laden American steamer La Salle was one of those routed across the South Atlantic and around the Cape of Good Hope, but she never arrived at her destination, becoming one of the mystery ships of World War II. La Salle was probably the victim of a submarine that also failed to return, for no clue to the vessel's fate was obtained from German submarine records after the war. The Armed Guard officer, Lieutenant (junior grade) Carl F. Zeidler, had resigned as mayor of Milwaukee in order to enter the Navy."
To this day he is sadly and fondly remembered by all of us who knew him.
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