1945 . . .
LeMars Sentinel
January 2, 1945
Lieut. John Joynt Back To Shore Duty After Nine Months
A press bulletin from the Navy public relations office at New Orleans, Louisiana, gives the following information concerning Lieut. John Joynt, who is stationed at New Orleans:
“Lt. (jg) Martin J. Joynt, USNR, 29, of Des Moines, has returned to the Armed Guard Center here after nine months duty afloat as commander of the Navy gun crew aboard a merchant vessel that delivered war cargoes to ports of the United Kingdom.
Assuming active duty on February 3, 1943, the Armed Guard officer received indoctrination at Dartmouth and Princeton and attended Armed Guard School at Gulfport, Miss., prior to his assignment to this center.
Prior to entering the service Lt. Joynt was employed as a deputy collector for the Internal Revenue Department at Des Moines. He received the bachelor’s degree from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, in 1937, and the law degree from the Des Moines College of Law in 1942.
He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. M. J. Joynt of 351 Central Ave., LeMars. His wife, the former Marjorie Burns, and their son live at 713 11th St., West, in Des Moines.”
LeMars Sentinel
January 5, 1945
MEMORIAL FOR PVT. JENNINGS
To Be Held On Sunday Afternoon
Memorial services for Pvt. Donald Jennings, who was killed in a plane crash at Chengtu, China, December 25, will be held Sunday afternoon, January 7, at 2:30, at the Church of the Nazarene. Rev. A. Ulmet, pastor of the church, will be in charge of the services.
Donald Jennings, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jennings, was born in LeMars and grew to manhood here, graduating from the LeMars high school.
The survivors are his parents; three brothers, Sgt. Walter Jennings, Pratt, Kansas; Robert C. Jennings, S2/c, somewhere in the southwest Pacific; and Charles S., Sunnyside, Calif.; and a sister, Leona.
Sgt. Walter Jennings arrived Wednesday evening and will be here for the memorial services.
LeMars Sentinel, January 12, 1945
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DONALD JENNINGS LAST SUNDAY
Approximately 175 local residents paid their last respects to a local youth, Donald Jennings, who made the supreme sacrifice of his nation. This service was held Sunday, January 7, in the LeMars Church of the Nazarene with the pastor, the Rev. Aleck G. Ulmet, officiating. Special music was furnished by Mrs. Clarence Reeves Jr., soloist, and Mrs. George Reeves who accompanied her at the piano. Mrs. Reeves sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “Only Wait.” Rev. Ulmet spoke briefly on a test from Isaiah 61:1-3. His subject was, “To Comfort All Who Mourn.” He read from the nineteenth Psalm and the fourteenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel for the scripture reading. Immediately following the prayer of benediction, C. B. Plummer, representing the American Legion, presented Mrs. Walter Jennings, mother of the boy, with a large American flag. Immediately following this ceremony, “Taps” was blown outside the church which formed a touching conclusion to the service. The American Legion, which attended the service in a body, formed two lines in the vestibule while those in attendance filed out between them.
FORMER LE MARS BOY KILLED IN BOMBER CRASH IN ITALY
Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Dempster, of Union township, received word that their nephew, Lt. Clifford Clark, was killed in a bomber crash, December 4, in Italy. Lt. Clark was the son of Mrs. Eva Hanssen, of Ladonia, Mo., and a grandson of the late Adam Clark, who lived south of LeMars. He was born in Stanton township, but the family moved to Minnesota when he was a boy. He has two brothers in the service, George Clark and Ronald Clark, and also two sisters, Lois and Beulah.
LeMars Globe-Post
January 15, 1945
PVT. BECKMANN IS BACK IN ACTION
Pvt. Herman Beckmann, of Akron, previously reported to be missing in action during the recent German offensive in Europe, turned out to be only temporarily separated from his command, and the War Department has notified his parents at Akron that he has returned to duty.
The Akron soldier became separated from his unit during the confused fighting attending the German offensive, but continued the battle by temporarily joining another unit. After the offensive was stopped he made his way to his own outfit.
MILBRODT IS MISSING IN ACTION
Herman Milbrodt received the news Saturday that his son, George Milbrodt, is missing in action as a result of the recent German offensive.
An Akron soldier, Herman Beckmann, similarly reported to be missing in action, has been found again. He was temporarily separated from his unit, but reported back for duty as soon as he made his way through the German lines. There are hopes that George Milbrodt may be similarly able to get back.
The missing soldier is about __ ½ years of age, and has been overseas four or five months, in an infantry unit.
LIEUT. ROBERT REEVES GIVEN BRONZE STAR FOR ARMY WORK
Release Says He Showed Efficiency and Devotion To Duty.
With the 80th Infantry Div. in France—Major General Horace L. McBride, commanding general of the 80th Infantry division, has announced that 2nd Lt. Robert E. Reeves of Co. A., 305th medical battalion, has been awarded the bronze star for meritorious service in France.
During the period 11 Oct 1944, to 15 Nov 1944, 2nd Lt. Reeves distinguished himself in performing his duties as litter and liaison officer in an outstanding manner, and his willingness to expose himself to constant danger has been responsible for the efficiency of his company’s evacuation system. The fearlessness, leadership and constant devotion to duty displayed by 2nd Lt. Reeves reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.
Lt. Reeves is the son of Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Reeves residing at 334 1st Ave. SE, LeMars. He is unmarried. He entered the service on April 6, 1943.
PASS EXAMS The following passed their physical examinations for the draft in the pre-induction call at Fort Snelling, January 8: LeRoy H. Jones, Sioux City. Lowell R. Bellwood, Akron. Kenneth E. Rees, LeMars, R. 5. Gordon W. Gerling, LeMars, R. 1. Edwin W. Hanstein, Sioux City. Orval J. Grasz, LeMars, R. 5. Floyd E. Huls, Akron. Nelson Hutton Jr., Craig. Rolland J. Luken, LeMars. Orville J. Tapper, Akron, R. 3. Roman J. Langel, LeMars, R. 1. Heino B. Bunjes, LeMars. Oliver R. Ketterling, LeMars. |
LT. J. MORRIS GETS FIVE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS TO AIR MEDAL
An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England—First Lieutenant John T. Morris, 20, of LeMars, bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress has been awarded the 5th oak leaf cluster to the air medal at this 8th air force base in England. The presentation was made by his group commander, Lieut. Colonel Wm. J. Wrigglesworth, of Eau Claire, Wis.
Lt. Morris is the son of Dr. and Mrs. James Morris of 500 First Avenue SW, LeMars. He received his bombardier’s wings in March, 1944.
The official citation read, “For meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombardment missions in the air offensive against the enemy over continental Europe. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Lt. Morris upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.”
LeMars Globe-Post
January 18, 1945
WAR DEPARTMENT FORGOT TO INFORM PARENTS OF PRIVATE BOB CROWE’S DEATH IN ACTION
Been Reported “Slight-Wounded” In France, Sept. 26
Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Crowe, living in Wernli addition, received a telegram Tuesday from the War Department which states:
It is with deep distress that we must inform you a report has now been received, which states that your son, Pvt. Robert F. Crowe, died Sept. 26 in France as the result of wounds received in action. The Secretary of War asks that I express my deep sympathies to you in your terrible loss, which has been made doubly hard to bear through unavoidable delay in reporting it from the theater of operations. Permit me to add my own personal expression of condolence. oncluding letter follows immediately. ~Dunlap, acting the Adjutant GeneralThis telegram came as the climax to a period of great uneasiness which began October 11, received a telegram stated:Regret to inform you your son Pvt Robert F. Crowe was slightly wounded in action Sept. 26 in France. You will be advised when reports of condition are received. ~J. A. Ulio, the Adjutant General
The confusion in the War Department evidently caused the report of Pvt. Crowe’s death to have been overlooked, and the telegram stated that he was slightly wounded was put out instead. As a result, the primary letter, which would have been sent out a few days later, which would have corrected the error, was never sent.
The last letter received from Pvt. Crowe was dated Sept. 19, and in this he wrote to his parents:
Dear Folks: Will drop a few lines to let you know that I am getting along o. k. I guess it has been some time since I got to write. I have had a heck of a time trying to keep up with my address. The one I have now I know will be changed again one of these days. But I am used to that now. The last time I got a letter from you was July 7, so it has been a long time no mail.
HOPED FOR QUIET.
I saw Stub just before I left England. (This was Merton Jessen, of Merrill. They were drafted for the war at the same time, and left together.) It sure seemed good to see some one a fellow knows. Stub and I will probably end up in Berlin the next time we meet—but I hope in Merrill, and soon. Some place where it is rather quiet. [end of letter quote]
Pvt. Crow was in a replacement pool as he wrote that letter, and must have been sent to the front lines very shortly afterward.
Pvt. Crowe was born at Merrill, Aug. 1, 1921, one of twins. The other twin died at the age of 9 days, and Robert was the only child Mr. & Mrs. Crowe had.
He attended elementary school at St. Joseph’s in LeMars, and later attended school at Merrill. He was employed by the Clarke Construction Co., at the time he was drafted. He also had worked at the Sioux City air base, at the bomber base at Ft. Meade, Neb., and on government jobs in Texas.
The War Department’s reply acknowledging an error had been made in reporting Pvt. Crowe killed came after Mr. Crowe had written and asked for some word of his son. Mr. and Mrs. Crowe had been expecting to hear from him daily, as they presumed he was recovering in a hospital from his “slight wounds.” When no letter came, they began to worry, and the government eventually confirmed their worst fears.
A FORMER KINGSLEY BOY IS REPORTED KILLED IN ACTION
Cpl. Kingsley Blaine Bowers, 34, formerly of Kingsley and Moville, more recently of Beresford, S.D., a son of Mrs. Ethel Miller, 1422 Pierce street, Sioux City, was killed in action in Belgium, Dec. 24, while fighting with an armored division of Gen. Patton’s Ninth Army.
The soldier was born in Moville, Ia., July 13, 1910. He was the husband of Mrs. Ruby Bowers, of Beresford.
Also surviving are seven sisters, Mrs. Helen Everingham, Mrs. John Dean, Mrs. Harold Neeley, Mrs. Franklin Boblit, all of Sioux City;; Mrs. Royal Haas of Denver, Colo, and Mrs. Lee Grasshoff of San Antonio, and Mrs. Phyllis Hinkle of Des Moines; and two brothers, Charles Foster, who received a medical discharge from overseas service and who now resides in San Francisco, and Pvt. Verlyn Foster, in the air corps in England.
The young man attended school in Kingsley and Moville. Before going overseas in August of 1944, he was stationed at Ft. Knox, Ky.
LeMars Sentinel
January 19, 1945
PARENTS NOTIFIED OF DEATH OF SON, ROBERT F. CROWE
Killed During Action In France, September 21
Pvt. Robert F. Crowe, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Crowe, died of wounds received in action in France on September 26, 1944, according to word received by his parents from the War Department on Tuesday.
He was in the infantry and had been in service for two years. He received his training at Camp Cooke, Calif., a camp in Tennessee, Pine Camp, New York, and in Pennsylvania. He was home on his last furlough in December, 1943. He went overseas in February, 1944, and had been in France about a month. His last letter to his parents was written in September.
Mr. and Mrs. Crowe received a telegram from the War Department October 11 informing them that their son had been slightly wounded on September 26. They received no word until the telegram Tuesday, January 16. The telegram read as follows: “It is with deep distress, I must inform you a report has just been received which states your son, Private Robert F. Crowe, died September 26, in France as a result of wounds received in action. The Secretary of War asks that I express his deep sympathy to you in your terrible loss, which has been made doubly hard to bear through unavoidable delay in reporting it from the theatre of operations. Permit me to add my own personal expression of condolence. Confirming letter follows immediately.” ~Signed, Dunlap, Acting Adjutant General.
Robert Crowe attended public school at Merrill and St. Joseph’s school in LeMars. The Crowe family lived on a farm near Merrill and moved to LeMars about a year ago. Before entering the service, Robert was employed by the Clark Construction company at Merrill. He is survived by his parents.
Plans are being made for a memorial service to be held in Merrill next week.
HUSBAND OF FORMER LE MARS RESIDENT REPORTED MISSING
Relatives in LeMars received word this week that Lt. Larry Vogt has been reported by the War Department as missing in action since December 24. Lt. Vogt was on flying missions over Germany at the time of this report.
Lt. Vogt is married to Miss Florine Nemmers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Nemmers, who left a few weeks ago to make their home in Denver. Mrs. Vogt is living with her parents there.
INFANTRYMAN BADGE AWARDED TO PFC. ROBERT BECKER
According to a press bulletin sent out from the 319th Infantry Headquarters in France,Pfc. Robert L. Becker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alwin Becker, has been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. Pfc. Becker is a graduate of LeMars high school and entered the service June 10, 1943.
LT. ROBERT REEVES GIVEN BRONZE STAR
For Efficiency And Devotion To Duty
With the 80th Infantry Division in France.—Major General Horace L. McBride, commanding general of the 80th infantry division, has announced that 2nd Lt. Robert E. Reeves of Co. A, 305th medical battalion, has been awarded the bronze star for meritorious service in France.
During the period October 11, 1944, to November 15, 1944, 2nd Lt. Reeves distinguished himself in performing his duties as litter and liaison officer in an outstanding manner, and his willingness to expose himself to constant danger has been responsible for the efficiency of his company’s evacuation system. The fearlessness, leadership and constant devotion to duty displayed by 2nd Lt. Reeves reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.
Lt. Reeves is the son of Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Reeves, residing at 334 First Ave. SE, LeMars. He entered the service on April 6, 1943.
SON OF MERRILL COUPLE MISSING IN ACTION IN GERMANY
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Jessen of Merrill have been notified that their son, Pfc. Merton (Stubs) L. Jessen has been missing in action in Germany since December 16. He was a radio operator with an armored division. The Jessens have another son in the service, T/S Donald M. Jessen, who is in the field artillery and is overseas.
LT. VARENHORST, FLYING LIBERATOR OVER GERMANY, HAS BEEN GIVEN CITATION
Flown Numerous Missions Over Enemy Territory
Shown at the controls of his B-17 Flying Fortress “Luscious Lady,” is Second Lieutenant LaVerne C. Varenhorst, 24 year old co-pilot from LeMars. (photo included with this news article)
Lt. Varenhorst has recently been awarded the Air Medal of “meritorious achievement” during Eighth Air Force bombing attacks on vital German industrial targets and military installations. The official citation accompanying the award commented on the “courage, coolness and skill displayed by Lt. Varenhorst upon these occasions” as reflecting “great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.” The presentation was made by his group commander, Lieutenant Colonel Wm. J. Wrigglesworth of Eau Claire, Wis.
As a member of the 447th Bomb. Group, a unit of the Third Bombardment Division, the division that was cited by the President for the now historic England—Africa shuttle bombing attack on the Messerschmitt factories at Regensburg, Germany, Lt. Varenhorst has flow numerous missions in this toughest theatre of aerial warfare.
FATHER NOTIFIED OF DEATH OF SON IN FRANCE
Hayes Barr received a telegram from the War Department January 6, advising him that his son, Pvt. Junior Barr, had been slightly wounded in action in France, December 19. On January 16 another telegram advised Mr. Barr that his son had died as a result of his wounds on December 27. Pvt. Barr had been in service less than a year and had been overseas only about four months.
ELVIT FALK DIES IN FLIGHT OVER FRANCE, JANUARY 1
Has Been in Europe Since Last August
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Falk of Elgin township were notified by the War Department Monday, January 15, that their son, Lt. Elvit Falk, had been killed over France, January 1. Elvit was a co-pilot on a B-26 bomber with the Ninth Air Force.
Lt. Falk entered the service on September 21, 1942, and received his training at Victory Field, Vernon, Texas. He was sent to Ireland in August of last year and from there was sent to France.
Elvit was born in Plymouth County in May, 1920, and attended school in LeMars where he graduated from high school in 1939. He was married June 27, 1942, to Dorothy Berkenpas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Berkenpas, of Seney, who with a two year old son, Robert Dwayne, survives him. He is also survived by his parents and one sister, Jean, at home.
Prior to entering the service, Lt. Falk was a welder in the shipyards at Berkeley, California.
LeMars Globe-Post
January 22, 1945
R. TREINEN IS CASUALTY
Remsen Boy Killed in Crash Landing In Oregon
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Treinen, Remsen farmers, received word Saturday evening that their son,Lieut. Richard Treinen, was killed in a plane crash in Oregon.
Lieut. Treinen was a pilot of a fighter plane and according to the few details received, he was killed in making a crash landing. The young man had been in the Army Air Corps for about a year.
VAN GORP RECOVERING FROM BROKEN LEG AND WOUNDS
Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Van Gorp, living 4 miles north of Oyens, have received a letter from their son,Pfc. Lloyd Van Gorp, stating that he is now in a hospital in England recovering from a leg wound and broken leg received in action October 26, 1944, at Luxemburg.
Pfc. Van Gorp sent home his Purple Heart decoration, and also the bullet which surgeons extracted from his leg. He said he is getting along fine and is walking around on crutches, but it was rather rough for awhile.
After he was wounded gas gangrene set in, but that is all over now, and his family hopes that he may be sent home.
MEMORIAL SERVICES AT SENEY FOR LIEUT. ELVIT WAYNE FALK
Memorial services for Lt. Elvit Wayne Falk will be held at the Seney Methodist church on Wednesday, January 24, at 2 p.m. Commander C. B. Plummer and an honor guard of the American Legion will be there and will present an official American flag to the family.
Elvit Wayne Falk was born May 17, 1920, and was killed in action over France January 1, 1945. He attended grade school at Elgin No. 5 and graduated from the LeMars high school with the class of ’39.
On June 27, 1942, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Berkenpas at Reno, Nev.
Prior to his enlistment in the air corps on Sept. 21, 1942, he was employed at a shipyard in Richmond, Calif.
He received his primary training at Vernon, Texas. Basic at Garden City, Kansas, and his advanced training at Altus, Okla., and was graduated March 2, 1944 and received his commission as second lieutenant and his silver wings. He arrived overseas the middle of August and received additional training in Ireland. He was co-pilot on a B-26 (Marauder bomber.) At the time of his death he was based in France.
Besides his wife and two year old son, Robert Duane, he leaves to mourn his loss his parents and sister, Jean, besides a host of other relatives and friends.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS SUNG AMID FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES
Captain Linden Sievers, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Sievers, is now stationed in the Philippines. Writing to Rev. A. Noack of Remsen on Dec. 26, he states, “Our voyage from Guam to a rest area was rudely interrupted and we landed on the Philippines. Since being here we have been continually on the move following the lines. A tremendous amount of work has been done by our unit, the work turned out by our surgeons has been just short of miraculous. In a position like ours we have a good view of what the cost of war really is in human suffering and death. Our Christmas was spent like any other day. The church services were the only indication of what day it was. Christmas Eve our Chaplain gathered a group of men from surrounding units (our own were too busy) and went among the wards singing carols. It was very impressive seeing men dressed in fighting clothes armed with rifles singing carols. The patients certainly enjoyed it. With these small changes in routine, the lump in many throats was a little larger than usual. Our mail has not reached us for over a month and of course our Christmas packages are still conspicuous by their absence. We hope that the next few days will bring them. The last mail received was from October and the Remsen Bell newspaper from late July. May the New Year bring this war to a close!!”
SOLDIER’S NEWS
A son born, to Donald W. Lucken, WT2/c, U.S. Navy, and wife, at the Hawarden hospital, Jan. 14, 1945. Mrs. Lucken is the former Darlene Robertson.
Staff Sergeant M. Susemihl is now back on duty with his original unit in Puerto Rico, after a furlough that was lengthened by a bad attack of rheumatism last fall. When he reported back to duty, the Army hospitalized him. The last part of his hospital stay was at Miami, Florida, and he had recovered completely before he was reassigned to the Caribbean base.
According to a press bulletin sent out from the 319th Infantry headquarters in France, Pfc. L. Becker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alwin Becker, has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. Pfc. Becker is a graduate of LeMars high school and entered the service June 10, 1943.
Paul Burgen, butcher at the A & P store, will leave Wednesday Jan. 24, for Ft. Leavenworth, Kans., where he will report for duty in the Navy. Mrs. Burgen and two children will return to Omaha and lived there while Mr. Burgen is in the service.
Technical Sergeant Al M. Gengler, who spent nearly two years as member of an anti-aircraft battery in the ice and fog-bound Aleutians, and who spent a 21-day furlough in the M. W. Gengler and Leo Singer homes, has gone on to North Camp Hood, Texas, where he rejoined his unit, and where he will be assigned to new duties after a rest period. Mrs. Gengler accompanied him to North Camp Hood, and will remain there if she can find a suitable place to stay.
Joe Schiefen, MM 1c, arrived at Hawarden to enjoy a leave at the home of his mother, Mrs. Margaret Wilkison and other relatives. He has completed a year of service in the South Pacific, having joined the Navy four years ago. He first served on a heavy cruiser for two years and the past two years has been on a light cruiser.
A War Department list includes the name of Pfc. Lloyd Van Gorp of LeMars among soldiers suffering wounds in action in the European area.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed. M. Johnson, whose home is near Hawarden, have received a telegram from the War Department, informing them that their son, Lieutenant Raymond Johnson, 27, was killed in action on Leyte island Dec. 6, 1944. Lieut. Johnson was in the infantry, and had been in the Pacific war zone for two years. His widow is a welder in a war plant in Oregon. He is also survived by his parents and two brothers both of whom are in the service.
S/Sgt. Cyril Groetken has notified his mother, Mrs. Henry Groetken that he has arrived at the Arlington hotel, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, where he is being given a medical checkup. He states that he will be kept in the United States for six months before being sent overseas again.
Captain Arnold Boeding, U. S. Army Chaplain, was in LeMars last week for a visit with his sisters, Sr. Cyril at the Sacred Heart Hospital, and Sr. Mary Helen, at Oyens. He left Saturday night for Dubuque, after which he will report to the air base at Wichita, Kansas. Capt. Boeding has just returned to the United States after prolonged services in New Guinea.
Lt. Harvey Locer, first sergeant of the original K company, who is home on furlough after long service in the Aleutian islands, will report Jan. 24, to Camp Swift, Texas, where he will rejoin his company. He said all of the men taken out of the Aleutians are going to get a chance to soak up some Texas sunshine before they are assigned to new duties.
WESTFIELD MAN SUFFERS WOUNDS
Cpl. Roy Warnsing Reported Hurt On German Front
(By Special Correspondent) Cpl. Roy Warnsing, serving in the U. S. Infantry, was slightly wounded in action on the French-German battle front on December 15, 1944. Word has been received by relatives here that he is making normal recovery. Cpl. Warnsing, before the war, was engaged in farming east of town.
Pfc. John Beaubien of the U.S. Marine Corps, who returned to the United States on October 23, 1944, after spending two years in the South Pacific, left here for Hastings, Neb., after a 30-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Beaubien. He is credited with taking part in seven battles. He also has three brothers in the service: Seaman 2c Philip Beaubien in Hawaii, Pvt. Bernard Beaubien in Camp Robinson, Ar Beaubien with the combat engineers in France.
FRIEND OF SOLDIER IS ALSO AMONG CASUALTIES
In Thursday’s issue The Globe-Post printed a story on the death, in action, of Robert Crowe, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Crowe, which occurred on Sept. 26, 1944, but who had erroneously been reported as “slightly wounded” by the War Department.
In his last letter, written a week before he was killed, Pvt. Crowe wrote to his parents:
I saw Stub (Merton Jessen of Merrill) just before I left for England. It sure seemed good to see someone a fellow knows. Stu and I will probably end up in Berlin the next time we meet—but I hope in Merrill. Some place where it is rather quiet.”
It is not know if Pfc. Jessen and Pvt. Crowe met again, or whether Pvt. Jessen knew of his friend’s death. Pvt. Jessen, a radio operator in an armored division, has now been reported missing in action in Germany as of Dec. 16, 1944. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Jessen of Merrill, have another son, Technical Sergeant Donald M. Jessen, who is overseas with the field artillery.
SENIOR SURVIVING OFFICER REPORTS ON STANLEY NEUBRAND
Stanley L. Neubrand, radarman third class, son of Mrs. Clara Neubrand of this city, was in the thickest part of the battle for Leyte, according to word reaching Mrs. Neubrand from Lieut. R. C. Hagen, senior surviving officer of the U.S.S. Johnston.
The Johnston, a destroyed, was sunk along with the Princeton aircraft carrier and several other smaller ships in the invasion of Leyte.
The Johnston went down under heavy cross-fire between the Japs and Americans on October 25, 1944, and Radarman Neubrand was reported missing in action on November 28. Captain Evans was in command of the Johnston and he is unaccounted for.
Lieut. Hagen’s letter to Mrs. Neubrand contained the following:
“Stanley L. Neubrand, radarman 3/c, is still unaccounted for. We were in the battle for three hours before the order came to abandon ship and were 50 miles from land when we did abandon the destroyer. We were in the tick of battle at the time—and I couldn’t offer you any encouragement as to the safety of your son.”
Stanley was a radar man on the destroyer and during the naval battle; he was either in the radar room or at his battle station, the forward gun on the deck of the destroyer.
Mrs. Neubrand is writing for the addresses of two boys whom Stanley had mentioned meeting in previous letters. They were also members of the Johnston’s crew and if they are survivors, they perhaps would have a little more news about Radarman Neubrand.
GEO. DORR, MARCUS, LISTED AS MISSING
The following letter written by S/Sgt. George Dorr to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Dorr of Marcus, came five days previous to the letter from the War Department which stated their son was missing in action.
With reference to the episode on Cebu Island, George writes:
“A lot of excitement has happened since I last wrote. Rules and regulations prevent explanation. About the worst I can remember was baling out, seems like a nightmare. From the time of baling out until rescued, my mind is pretty much of a blank. I thought I might get home, but no soap. Will have to go to Australia to rest. Had lots of mail and boxes on arrival. Thank everyone for everything. Have one of two choices—finish flying or three years on the ground.”
ANOTHER AKRON SOLDIER MAKES THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
Another name has been added to Akron’s growing list of war causalities this week. Hayes Barr and family were notified in a message from the War Department in Washington that his son, Pvt. Junior Herbert Barr, who was reported a week ago Saturday to have been slightly wounded in action with the U. S. armed forces in France on December 19, 1944, had passed away on December 27, 1944, which was just the day before his nineteenth birthday anniversary. Word of the young soldier’s death came as a grievous blow to Mr. Barr and family, and they have the sincere sympathy of the community in their bereavement, says the Akron Register-Tribune.
Junior Herbert Barr was born at St. Paul, Minn., December 28, 1925. At the age of four months he came with his parents to Hawarden, Ia. Where they lived for one and a half years and then moved to Akron, which has since been his home. He grew to young manhood here and enlisted in the Army on December 28, 1943, leaving for training February 14, 1944, at Camp Croft, S.C. Last August Pvt. Barr was home on a 15-day furlough, and a few days after returning to Camp Croft he was sent overseas to England and then to France, where he served his country in the armed forces and finally made the supreme sacrifice.
Those left to mourn his loss are, his father, Hayes Barr; three sisters, Maurine, Betty and Frances, and one brother, Robert, all of Akron; his mother, Mrs. Goldie Barr, of Waterloo, Iowa; and his grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Kelly, also of Waterloo, as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends.
PFC. THOMAS MEYLOR WOUNDED IN ACTION
Pfc. Thomas E. Meylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Meylor, has been reported wounded in action somewhere in Germany says the Marcus News. Thomas is with the 29th Infantry division. He received the wound in his leg when hit by shrapnel.
PVT. RAYMOND GERINGER OF MARCUS IS MISSING IN GERMANY
Mrs. Raymond Geringer received a telegram from the War Department Sunday, January 14, which stated that her husband, Pvt. Raymond Geringer, has been missing in action in Germany since Dec. 16, 1944, says the Marcus News.
Pvt. Geringer entered the service March 22, 1944, at Camp Dodge, Des Moines. He received his basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif., where he remained until August. He then was transferred to Fort George D. Meade, Md., and later to Indiana.
He embarked in October and landed in England shortly after. Mrs. Geringer had not received any notice of her husband being in Germany, therefore the telegram came as a great shock to her.
Pvt. And Mrs. Geringer have two children, Delores aged 12 and Wesley, aged 7.
LeMars Sentinel
January 23, 1945
KENNETH MARIENAU RECEIVES GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
Headquarters, 13th AAF, Southwest Pacific—On duty for more than twenty-four months,Technician Fifth Grade Kenneth F. Marienau, son of Mrs. Anna C. Marienau, 200 5th Avenue South, LeMars, Iowa, has been presented the Army Good Conduct Medal for “exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity.” He is a munitions worker with a unit of the 13th AAF Service Command, operating in the South and Southwest Pacific.
Corporal Marienau entered the Army in September, 1942, and he served at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, prior to departing overseas.
In civilian life, the soldier was employed as an automobile mechanic. He is a graduate of Athol high school, Athol, South Dakota.
RICHARD TREINEN, REMSEN MAN, DIES IN PLANE CRASH
Was With Army Air Forces At Redmond, Oregon
Word was received on Sunday of the death of Lt. Richard Treinen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Treinen of Remsen, who was killed in a plane crash near the Redmond Army Air Base at Redmond, Oregon, on Saturday. Lt. Treinen was a fighter pilot on a P-38 and P-51.
Lt. Treinen entered the service on February 23, 1943, and took his training at Jefferson Barracks, Mo.; McAllister College, St. Paul; Santa Ana and Chico Field, California; and Luke Field, Arizona, from which base he was graduated and received his wings May 23, 1944. From there he was sent to the Portland air base and about two months ago reported to his station at Redmond.
Lt. Treinen was born on March 31, 1923, on a farm near Remsen. He attended St. Mary’s high school in Remsen from which school he was graduated in 1940. Prior to entering the service he was working on his father’s farm near Remsen.
Besides his parents, Lt. Treinen is survived by five brothers and four sisters: Roman at Compton, Calif.; Charles Jr., stationed at Ft. Bliss, Texas; Kenneth, John and Gerald, at home; Mrs. Gerald Cach, Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Lewis Cach, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Robert Bachmann, of Granville, Iowa; and Miss Shirley Treinen of Chicago.
Funeral arrangements have not been made pending word from the War Department.
LeMars Globe-Post
January 25, 1945
LAVERNE HAMES WOUNDED
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Hames have received a War Department telegram informing them that their son,Pvt. Laverne Hames, was “slightly wounded” Jan. 9 in the fighting in Luxemburg. The telegram said he would write from the hospital and give them his new address. Pvt. Hames is 23 years of age. He was a farm worker before he entered the Army and went overseas last March.
LIEUTENANT LINDSEY HAD A BUSY DAY!
Leyte, Philippines, (Delayed)—First Lieutenant Duane A. Lindsey, of Merrill, Iowa, Marine fighter first Marine aircraft wing pilots called to this busy, full day over the Philippines recently.
Lieutenant Lindsey got his first Jap plane and had a direct bomb hit on a large enemy transport and helped send it to the bottom of the Visayan sea.
Lieutenant Lindsey was among the group of MFrine aircraft wing pilots called to this crucial battle area to support army air units which have been fighting Jap airmen for almost two months. With their Corsair planes equipped to carry 500 to 1,000 pound bombs, the Marines can execute bombing missions as well as engage enemy pilots in the air.
In the recent bombing mission, Lindsey was part of a strike, with army pilots which completely routed a good-sized Jap convoy, sinking two destroyers, one transport and two cargo ships, and damaging two other cargo ships which the Japs were forced to beach on the west coast of Leyte.
Lieutenant Lindsey, 23, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Art Lindsey of Merrill. He was formerly a student at the University of Minnesota.
FUNERAL OF LIEUT. CHARLES TREINEN AT REMSEN SATURDAY
~Correction: His name should be Richard Treinen, not Charles Treinen
Ollie Pick, commander of the American Legion post at Remsen, and John Raveling, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, have announced joint plans by these organizations and auxiliaries for the funeral of Charles (sic Richard) Treinen, which will be held at Remsen at 10 a.m. Saturday. Lieut. Treinen was killed in an Army plane crash in Oregon.
All organization members, World War II men and auxiliary members are requesting to meet at Legion hall, Resmen, at 9:20 a.m. An honor guard will meet the train. The body is accompanied by an officer from the Oregon camp.
HOPE ARISES THAT LIEUT. ELVIT FALK MIGHT BE ALIVE
Memorial services which were to be held for Lieut. Elvit Falk at Seney were cancelled when members of his family received letters from Mrs. Robert Fowler, Chadron, Ohio, mother of a gunner on the plane which Lieut. Falk was co-pilot; Mrs. D. L. Morse, Buenopark, Calif., mother of an engineer, and Mrs. Garth, mother of a gunner.
These relatives of crew members wrote that they had been informed by the War Department of their sons’ deaths, only to get letters a little later from the boys themselves saying they were alive and in a hospital.
The letters from the crewmen expressed the hope that “the original messages had been corrected, indicating that they knew a mistake had been made. Lt. Falk was not mentioned, but in view of the fact that they other crew members had been falsely reported to be dead, there seems to be a good chance that the report of Lieut. Falk’s death may prove to be an error, too.
FIANCE BLANCHE HAWKINS, KILLED
Lieut. LeRoy W. Keizer Died in Action Against Jap on Leyte
Lieut. LeRoy W. Keizer, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerben Keizer of Hawarden, a former LeMars boy, grandson of Mrs. Edith Darville of LeMars; nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Darville, and of Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Weber, and fiancé of Miss Blanche Hawkins of LeMars, was killed in action December 6 on the island of Leyte, one of the Philippines.
The news came in a message from the War Department received by the parents Sunday night.
In addition to the survivors named above, there are two brothers and a sister, Eugene Keizer of Princeton, N.J., Doris and Milton Keizer, at home.
Lieut. Keizer was a member of the Methodist church at Hawarden, joining the church in 1937. He served for two years as teacher of a Sunday school class for teenage boys.
Hiss marriage to Miss Hawkins was to have taken place after the war.
In a letter dated December 1, 1944, a few days before his death, Lieut. Keizer wrote his parents as follows:
“We are on the Philippines now. So far, all we have had is mud and rain, and it really makes it tough to live in pup tents, as we are doing.
Speaking of mud, you have never and probably never will, see anything like this. It’s unbelievable. We are getting a birdseye view of some action and yesterday our fighter planes shot down an enemy bomber right over our area. Enemy planes are over three or four times daily, but they don’t bother our area.”
LeRoy Warren Keizer was born on August 18, 1920, on a farm in Plymouth County. He attended rural schools in Plymouth and Sioux counties until ready for high school. He took his freshman and sophomore years in the Fairview, S.D. high school. When his parents went to Hawarden in December 1935, he entered Hawarden high school and was graduated with the Class of 1937. Then, for two years, he worked in his father’s seed store.
In September, 1939, he took up the electrical engineering course at Iowa State College at Ames. In March, 1943, he graduated in the upper fourth of his class with a bachelor of science degree. While at Iowa State, he took an active part in college activities. For two years, his Iota Ward softball team won the all college intramural championship. During the year 1941-42, he served as pre4sident of the Ward Intramural council.
While still a student at Iowa State, he went to Omaha, Neb., and enlisted as an officer in the signal corps, starting his training on April 16, 1943, t Fort Monmouth, N. J. Later he went to Ashbury Park, N.J. He then took four months of intensive training at the General Electric Corporation’s radio and electronics school for signal corps officers at Schenectady, N.Y.
After a few months of training in the field at Camp Murphy in Florida, Robins Field in Georgia, and Camp Kerns in Utah, he shipped overseas to New Guinea, where he was stationed for a short while in different locations. He was finally placed in charge of a group of men on a small Netherlands East Indies island, attached to the air force. In the latter part of November, he was transferred to Leyte island in the Philippines.
LeMars Sentinel
January 26, 1945
MEMORIAL FOR PVT. ROBERT CROWE
To Be Held On Saturday Morning
Memorial services for Pvt. Robert F. Crowe, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Crowe, of LeMars, who died of wounds received in France on September 26, 1944, will be held Saturday morning, January 27, 1945, at 9:30 o’clock in the Church of the Assumption, Merrill, with Rev. Zeno Reising officiating. Members of the American Legion, Olson and Halweg Post, No. 125, of Merrill, will be in charge of the graveside services.
Robert Crowe attended public school in Merrill and St. Joseph’s school in LeMars. The Crowe family lived on a farm near Merrill prior to moving to LeMars about a year ago.
Pvt. Crowe was employed by the Clark Construction company at Merrill before entering the service.
MERRILL BOY RECIEVES AWARD
Wesley Frels, Two Years Overseas
Chief Warrant Officer Wesley F. Frels, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest F. Frels of Merrill, has been awarded the bronze star for meritorious service.
CWO Frels entered the service in April, 1941, and he received his training at Camp Claiborne and Camp Dix. He went overseas August, 1942, and is with the First Army headquarters and is at present stationed in Belgium, and has been in Luxemburg, France, and England. He was warded the bronze star in December.
In civilian life he was employed at the Schaefer Pen Co., in Ft. Madison following his graduation from Iowa State College in 1939.
FORMER PLYMOUTH COUNTY BOY KILLED
Lt. LeRoy W. Keizer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerben Keizer of Hawarden, was killed in action on December 6, 1944, on Leyte in the Philippines.
Lt. Keizer was born on August 18, 1920, on a farm in Plymouth County and attended rural schools in both Plymouth and Sioux counties. The family have the sympathies of everyone.
LeMars Globe-Post
Monday, January 29, 1945
DATE FOR MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE SET
Memorial services will be held for the late Lieut. LeRoy W. Keizer, former LeMars boy, who was reported last week as killed in action Dec. 6, 1944, on the island of Leyte.
Memorial services have not immediately been arranged because of the possibility that the initial report might be modified later. A number of errors in transmission have made it seem advisable to withhold action on preliminary reports which are sometimes subject to correction. (Picture included courtesy of Hawarden Independent)
More Pictures of Plymouth Countyans In Uniformed Services
[photo only of these servicemen and women published here]
Top Row (left to right): Ambrose Hansen, Alfred Hansen, Laurence Hansen, Cletus Hansen, Leonard Hansen, Royal Hawkins, Duane Hawkins
Bottom Row (left to right): Bill Boyle, Harold & Jack Mulford, Harriet Mulford, John Morris, Harlen Heeren, Robert Glaser, Wayne Dack
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MR. & MRS. E. HANSEN HAVE FOUR SONS IN SERVICE
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Hansen, 434 Fourth Ave. SE, are looking forward for a welcome visit with their son, Pfc. Lawrence Hansen, who has been overseas for almost three years. They have four sons in the armed forces, and Pfc. Lawrence called them Friday morning from somewhere in the states, saying he would arrive home soon. He was on the war front in Italy and has been granted a rotation furlough.
Cpl. Alfred Hansen is home on furlough from Geiger Field, Wash., and has been ordered to report back February 1. He wired for an extension of time in order to visit his brother.
The two other sons are Pvt. Ambrose Hansen, somewhere in France and Cpl. Leonard J. Hansen, somewhere in the Pacific area.
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Cpl. Orville W. Nanninga, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Nanninga of Seney is greatly enjoying a furlough with his parents and other relatives in the vicinity. Cpl. Nanninga spent the past 33 months in the southwest Pacific. Mr. and Mrs. Nanninga also have a son, Howard A. Nanninga, MOMM1/c stationed at Norfolk, Va.
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SITTING ON AN OLD GERMAN BED, JOEL SHEPHERD JOTS LETTER
From Where He Sits, Le Mars Looks Like a Swell Place
By Joel Shepherd, Red Cross Field Agent
I should type you a letter but we are all packed ready to move. And I am sitting here on an old German bed waiting for a truck to haul my things to my new location. So this can not be very legible.
There is too much that censorship rules do not permit me to say, but I will try to tell some things of interest. Our trip across was uneventful. We were all excited when we came to Straight of Gibraltar. But it was night and we could not see much. The lights of Tangiers looked most cheerful, off in the distance.
The Rock itself was not lit up and all we saw was a mountain. An eerie sight was the Zeppelin flying around with red and green lights—apparently to give us guidance.
It was cloudy the next day and we could only dimly see the African coastline as we steamed along many miles off shore.
Finally, we turned to the north and headed for our port. We landed at Marseilles on Friday, Dec. 8, two weeks exactly from boarding time. And two weeks without seeing land is long enough for me. I did not get seasick and think I would very much enjoy a luxury liner. But a troop transport—no.
We landed at Marseilles about 10:15 a.m. but did not get unloaded until noon. Then under full pack we walked a mile, dragged another mile, then I hardly know how we made the last mile. Anyway, we made it to a motor pool where we were loaded into trucks and driven about 22 kilometers out to our staying area.
The country is nice around there for scenery—resembling some of our western desert areas. Mountains in the distance and some nice valleys. The port area of the town was badly damaged by shells, but the rest of the town was not bad.
Distinctly foreign, it was most interesting to me. All buildings are of stone or tile, tile roofs, yards enclosed with stone walls or steel fences, winding, dark narrow streets—almost no real modern buildings. Hotels and buildings are cold, as there is little coal or wood around. The Americans and their allies have taken over the town—second largest in France.
So many uniforms—all nationalities. Being a port town, it is a tough place. Reports are that 1000 soldiers per month disappear there! Some are found in the bay, many never found, some are AWOL’s. There are 43,000 licensed prostitutes—no one knows how many others. Army gave very strict rules as to soldier’s conduct.
The Army maintains a splendid billeting service throughout France. Due to the shortage of foods and blackmarket—all eating places are off limits to uniformed men.
Civilians have to have ration points to buy food—or anything. We sometimes talk shopkeepers out of it and eat. I stayed in two hotels in Marseilles—neither was good. But it was free, furnished by billeting service.
This service also gives you a mess ticket and you may eat there by presenting your ticket. Meals are good, supervised by Army, and cost you 15 francs or 30 cents. That is all except for service men who eat for 10 cents.
Red Cross people are civilians. Most of the time in Marseilles, I stayed in staying area—out on a hill in a tent. Cold, and inconvenient but we got by. Food was good but standing up, holding a mess kit, when you have to wear gloves to eat—well, it is a field soldier’s lot. We were thankful we only had one air raid alarm. Ack-ack guns barked but the plane was too high—observation.
When we left Marseilles, we did not know whether to be glad or sorry—combat is not pleasant to most people. I have now traveled close to 1000 miles in France. And I have been in German territory between Metz and Saarbrucken. Can’t say that I was a sufficiently hardened soldier to enjoy the “thrills.”
The French people in central France were most happy over their liberation. They almost “ate up” the first American troops who were driving out the Germans. And no one could pay for meals or wine. The soldiers would exchange K-rations for a hot meal and wine.
Where the British and U. S. air forces caught the Germans in convoy north of Marseilles—have never dreamed of seeing such destruction. Thousands of wrecked vehicles—strewn all along the sides of the roads where our bulldozers had pushed them.
And the villages were, some of them totally destroyed. But the people were not embittered—they waved cheerfully at us as we drove by.
French roads, I imagine, were beautiful until American vehicles tore them up. Trees all along—in southern France all the roadside trees were similar to the eucalyptus. Farther north it is a tree similar to the walnut. In one battle area, I saw live stock, dead, still unburied.
We came up the Rhone valley, and in some places it is beautiful. I would love to see those terraced mountain sides when fruit is in full bloom. Mostly vineyards, however, thicker than the wheat fields of Kansas.
In Alsace it is mostly meadows and, potatoes, cabbage, turnips, etc. The people live mostly in villages and go out from early to late to work in the fields. I have seen two tractors in all France, but horses, oxen, burros and goats and dogs hitched up to carts. And more bicycle—tandem and 3 wheeled—ridden by old men and old women, miles and miles out in the country.
DiJon and Nancy have huge, beautiful Red Cross clubs. At Nancy they feed coffee and donuts to thousands daily. Then the hot showers—how the GI loves it.
Christmas Eve was bad for me. I did miss my family so much—and the friends in LeMars. I was in an old theater and tried to enjoy the Russian girls dancing with GIs. Much gaiety but the GIs had been on the line for 135 straight days. And we were relieving them—so the release was noisy to say the least. We had one alarm which caused some excitement but the windows and doors rattled at only one blast.
Soon we were in full blast again. I received no mail from Dec. 15 until Jan. 1. And have never seen a Globe-Post. I had some letters and one package yesterday and two letters from my wife today. I am so sorry about Clarence Roseberry—a great loss to LeMars. Also Bill Lynch.
The coldest weather we have had is zero. Believe this climate is similar to Iowa’s.
My work is unorganized as yet. I plan to work much with Army’s special service officer. I have my own jeep now furnished by Red Cross. So I can at least—get around—when the MPs tell you where to go. We move so often I never get oriented so I can find my own way around.
We get little news—were discussing the Rose Bowl and realize they would be playing January 2—our time.
Go give my regards to everyone in LeMars. Sometimes I think I would give a small fortune to see my worst friend, if I have one.
Gee, but LeMars looks great in retrospect. I sure hope to see them all soon. And I hope the Globe-Post catches up to me soon.
LeMars Sentinel
January 30, 1945
FINAL WORD RECEIVED BY LETTER SATURDAY
Final word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Falk of Elgin township, informing them of the death of their son, Lt. Elvit Falk, in a flight over France on January 1.
They were informed of this tragedy several weeks ago but last week received further word stating the possibility that he might still be alive. However, another letter received on Saturday stated that the pilots in the flight went down with the plane.
Memorial services will be conducted Sunday afternoon, February 4, at 2 o’clock, at the Methodist church in Seney. Rev. James Lombard will have charge of the services.
PARENTS NOTIFIED SON WAS WOUNDED
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Hames of Remsen received word yesterday from the adjutant general’s office of the War Department, informing them of the wounding of their son, Pvt. Luvern J. Hames, in action in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, on January 9. The message said the lad was but slightly wounded and that hospital address and further details would be sent them soon. Pvt. Hames entered the Army September 7, 1942, and is with the infantry. He went overseas in March, 1944.
LeMARS MAN LEAVES FOR NEW LOCATION
William Brodie, CAA, who has been stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., has been in LeMars visiting his family for several days. He also visited his mother, Mrs. Malcolm Brodie, who is seriously ill in Rochester.
Mr. Brodie is a civilian automotive adviser whose job it is to inspect equipment for soldiers going overseas.
Mr. Brodie has recently been transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, and left for his new station on Sunday.
FORMER AKRON BOY KILLED IN ACTION ON LEYTE ISLAND
Word has been received of the death of Pfc. William Francis Burnight, second son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Burnight of Los Angeles, Calif., former residents of Akron. He was the grandson of Mrs. Sadie Stinton and Mrs. Delia Burnight of Akron.
Pfc. Burnight was a Paratrooper of the 187th Glider Infantry and was killed in action on Leyte Island, of the Philippine Islands, on December 6, 1944. Besides his parents, he is survived by three brothers, James Burnight, of the U.S. Marine Corps; Virgil T. Burnight, S 1/c, of the U.S.N.R.; and Cecil Burnight, at his home in Los Angeles.
