Seaman Dale Holmes Talks with
“Missing” Harlan Barrett of C. F.
Cedar Falls – In a letter to friends here, Dale Holmes, seaman in the south Pacific and former fireman here, stated that he had talked with Harlan Barrett, son of Al Barrett, Grant street, the first man from Cedar Falls to be reported missing in action. While his people here have not been informed of Barrett being alive, Holmes states that he is expected to see him again soon.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, June 26, 1945, Page 12
Pfc. Harlan Barrett
Killed In Philippines
Cedar Falls – Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Barrett, 717 Grant street, Cedar Falls, received a telegram Monday from the war department informing them that their son, Pvt. Harlan A. Barrett, previously reported missing in action on May 7, 1942, was killed in the Philippine islands on Oct. 31, 1942.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Monday, October 08, 1945, Page 16
Harlan A. Barrett Died in Philippines
Cedar Falls – Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Barrett received a telegram from the government confirming the death of their oldest son, Pfc. Harlan A. Barrett. The telegram said he died Oct. 31, 1942. He had previously been missing in action since May 7, 1942.
A letter followed the telegram stating that he died at Lanao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
The parents had received a cable from him a few weeks after Pearl Harbor that he was safe, and a letter in March which had been written some time during this space of time. Sent without a date or postmark, it didn’t tell his parents of his whereabouts. In May they received word that Harlan was missing in action and since that date they had heard nothing.
Harlan was born at New Hartford, Jan. 29, 1920, and with his family moved to Cedar Falls in 1924. He attended Miner grade school and was graduated from Cedar Falls high in 1939.
After his graduation he enlisted in the army air corps, Nov. 27, 1939. He received training in Sacramento, Cal., until April 27, 1940, when he went overseas. He arrived in the Philippines, where he joined with the 28th bombardment squadron at Clark field.
Harlan was a member of the Methodist Sunday school in Cedar Falls.
Surviving are his parents, a brother, Claire, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jens Jensen and Mr. and Mrs. George Barrett. A sister, Carol Jean, died in 1930.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, November 13, 1945, Page 15 (photo included)
NOTE: According to World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1946 database, Pfc. Barrett was detained at Japanese Prison Camp No. 504 where he died. There is a stone in his memory at Greenwood Cemetery, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
