Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Allpress of Leon received a telegram Tuesday morning advising their son, Sgt. William Allpress had been slightly wounded. Sgt. Allpress, who was with the first contingent of American soldiers to land in Ireland, participated in the Tunsian battles in North Africa. He was wounded in action on an Italian battle front.
Source: Leon Journal-Reporter, Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, November 18, 1943
Sgt. William L. Allpress, who has been with the famous 34th division, is now in the United States. Sgt. Allpress telephoned his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Allpress of Leon Friday evening. Sgt. Allpress was with the first contingent of American soldiers to land in the Tunisian battles of North Africa and the invasion of Italy. He was wounded in October, 1943, in Italy. He has been in various hospitals during the past seven and one half months. He is now in the Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, New York, and expects to son be transferred to a hospital here in the Midwest.
Source: Leon Journal-Reporter,
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
June, 1944
Sgt. William Allpress who was recently returned to the United States from seven months in a hospital in Italy is now at the Chick hospital in Clinton. He writes his parents, Mr. and Mr. O. L. Allpress of Leon he expects to come home for a short visit.
Source: Leon Journal-Reporter,
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, July 06, 1944
Sgt. William Allpress, who recently returned to the United States from over two years’ duty in the European area, arrived Saturday afternoon for a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Allpress, his sister, Dorothy, and other relatives here. He departed Tuesday for Washington to visit before returning to Clinton where he will receive further treatment for his injured leg at the Shick hospital. He was injured in Italy. Besides the purple heart he is wearing are three stars in the European ribbon. They represent action in three major campaigns, Tunisian, Sicilan and Italian.
Source: Leon Journal-Reporter,
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, July 29, 1944
MISS DOROTHY DENHART AND SGT. WILLIAM ALLPRESS WILL WED IN FALL
Mrs. Howard Denhart of Mount Ayr announces the engagement of her daughter, Miss Dorothy of Pasco, Washington, to Sergeant William Allpress, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Allpress of Leon.
The wedding will take place in the autumn. Miss Denhart has a war defense job in Washington.
Sgt. Allpress, who was overseas for over two years in the Mediterranean theatre returned to the United States for treatment at the Schick hospital in Clinton. Sgt. Allpress visited Miss Denhart during a furlough early this month.
Source: Leon Journal-Reporter,
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
August, 1944
MISS DOROTHY DENHART AND SGT. WILLIAM ALLPRESS WED IN WASHINGTON
The marriage of Miss Dorothy Denhart, of Pasco, Washington, daughter of Mrs. Howard Denhart of Mount Ayr, and Sgt. William Allpress, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Allpress of Leon, took place in the Bethany chapel of the Central Methodist church at seven o’clock the evening of August 11, in Spokane, Washington, after a rather exciting experience by both the bride and the bridegroom.
Dr. Charles MacCoughey read the double ring ceremony in the presence of select friends. The bride wore a light blue dressmaker suit with brown and white accessories and an orchid corsage. The string of pearls she wore was a gift from the bridegroom.
Miss Rita Mapes of Hanford, Washington, was the bridesmaid. She wore a beige and rust coat dress ensemble with brown accessories and the corsage of talisman roses.
Eugene E. Riggin of Richland, Washington, was the best man. Both the best man, the bridesmaid and the bride had been government witnesses before a federal grand jury in Spokane prior to the wedding.
The bridal party included Mr. and Mrs. George Meier of Richland, Washington. The wedding guests and the bridal party enjoyed a four-course dinner at the Italian Gardens in the Davenport hotels at Spokane following the ceremony.
The young couple spent a few days at the Couer-D. Alene hotel prior to their departure for Leon. Sgt. and Mrs. Allpress will be at home in Clinton after August 25. Sgt. Allpress is still receiving treatment for wounds suffered in Italy, at the Schick hospital in Clinton.
The following article taken from the Spokesmen’s Review describes Cupid as getting U. S. Marshal’s aid:
“The United States marshal’s office proved last week it wasn’t devoting all its time to law enforcement, Elvin L. (COP) Daniel, deputy marshal, turned cupid to assist in six-year romance between a soldier and his girl. The girl had been called to Spokane to appear as a government witness before the federal grand jury.
“She is Dorothy Denhart, who came originally from Iowa and has been employed at the commissary department at Hanford. She and her fiancé, Sgt. William Allpress from Iowa, visited the marshal’s office early in the afternoon, after Miss Denhart had been excused as a witness, to inquire about a marriage license.
“They had arranged for a minister and witness, but were not aware of the three-day marriage law in this state. The sergeant, who had just returned from 26 months duty overseas, told the officers his leave would be up the next day and that he was to report to an army hospital for further treatment of wounds he received in action. Daniel got on the phone.
“Marshal Wayne Bezona called judges in the city who stood firm on their agreement not to waive the law and declined to marry the couple. Discouraged and unhappy, the couple stood beside “COP” with their fingers crossed while he put in a call to Judge W. N. Nevins in Davenport.
“I believe the law should make some consideration for the sergeant.” Judge Nevin said. ‘I’ll not only issue a waiver and marry them, but I’ll keep my office open for awhile after five o’clock waiting for them to arrive.’
“Gratefully the six-foot soldier and his pretty bride-to-be rushed out of the marshal’s office for Davenport, with the best wishes of the staff following them. Miss Denhart said she plans to return to Iowa to be near the sergeant, who will be sent to a middle western hospital.”
Source: Leon Journal-Reporter, Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
1944
