Cpl. Merle Barrows’ Body
Arrives in City Saturday
The body of Marine Cpl. Merle R. Barrows, 31, son of Mr. and Ms. Roscoe A. Barrows, 532 Wyoming street, will arrive in Waterloo Saturday at 10:30 a. m. it was learned Thursday.
Scheduled to arrive on the Chicago Great Western railroad, the body of the marine is the first of Waterloo’s war dead to be returned from an overseas cemetery
The body was returned from foreign soil in the funeral ship, Honda Knot, which docked at San Francisco, Cal., recently.
Lt. Warren Rand, Waterloo army recruiting officer, said four of his enlisted men will serve as an honor guard at the railroad station. Staff Sgt. Emil G. Bukowsky is the escort and will arrive with the body.
Funeral services will be Monday at 1:30 p. m. at Kearns Garden chapel with Rev. Milton Nothdrft, pastor of Linden Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial park cemetery. The American Legion will conduct a memorial service at the cemetery.
The late Corporal Barrows was killed Nov. 20, 1943, in the battle of Tarawa in the Pacific theater of war.
He was born Nov. 16, 1912, the son of Anna and Roscoe Barrows, in Eagle township and attended public schools at Geneseo before enrolling at the Gates Business college in Waterloo, which he attended for two years.
At the time of his enlistment in the marine corps in 1941, the late Corporal Barrows was employed by the Sherwood Floral Co.
A member of the Linden Methodist church, he is survived by his parents and two brothers, Ralph, Route 4, and Dale, of Chicago, Ill.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, November 06, 1947, Page 21
Saturday Is Proclaimed Mourning Day
Saturday will be a day of civic mourning for Waterloo’s war dead Mayor Robert Buckmaster proclaimed Friday afternoon.
The body of Marine Cpl. Merle R. Barrows, 31, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe A. Barrows, 632 Wyoming street, first to be returned here from an overseas cemetery, is due to arrive in the city at 10:30 a. m. Buckmaster requested that all flags be flown at half mast in honor or all the war dead of the city.
Following is the text of the proclamation:
WHEREAS, on Saturday, Nov. 8, 1947, the first of the returning war dead will arrive in the city of Waterloo, Ia., and
WHEREAS, this event vividly reminds us of the tremendous sacrifices made by these fallen heroes to protect democracy and our way of life,
THEREFORE, I proclaim Saturday, Nov. 8, 1947, as a day of civic mourning and request that all flags be flown at half mast in honor of all the war dead of our community.
ROBERT BUCKMASTER,
Mayor.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, November 07, 1947, Page 6
The body of Marine Cpl. Merle R. Barrows, first of Waterloo’s war dead to be |
First of War Dead Returns to New Grave
Monday to See Waterloo’s First Service for Men Brought Back.
The body of Marine Cpl. Merle R. Barrows came home yesterday.
Scores of citizens, and an honor guard stood in silent reverence as the flag-draped casket was lifted from a railroad coach. Throughout the city flags were at half mast, Mayor Robert R. Buckmaster having declared yesterday a day of mourning for the historic occasion.
The body of the late Cpl. Barrows arrived at 12:50 p. m. yesterday via a Chicago Great Western train from Kansas City, Mo.
Marine Sgt. Emil G. Bukowasky was the government’s escort.
Present in the solemn crowd were the late corporal’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe A. Barrows, 632 Wyoming street, a brother, Ralph, and his wife, of Route 4.
First to Return.
Representatives of the local army recruiting office, the American Legion, the American Legion auxiliary, the Disabled American Veterans and the United States Navy and Marine corps, were also at the railroad station to assist in moving the casket from the train to the waiting hearse.
The late Corporal Barrows is the first of Waterloo’s many war dead to be returned from foreign soil and it was a sad occasion as the serviceman’s parents wept at the sight of the casket with it’s American flag draped across it.
Funeral services will be tomorrow at 1:30 p. m. at Kerans Garden chapel with Rev. Milton Nothdrft, pastor of the Linden Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park cemetery and the American Legion will conduct memorial services at the grave.
Killed at Tarawa.
Killed in the invasion of Tarawa island, Nov. 20, 1943, the late corporal [Page 20] had participated in fighting at Tuagi and Guadalcanal.
His body was returned to this country on the funeral ship, Honda Knot, which docked at San Francisco, Cal, recently.
He was born in Eagle township, Nov. 16, 1912, the son of Anna and Roscoe Barrows and attended schools at Genesco before enrolling at the Gates Business college in Waterloo. At the time of his enlistment in the marine corps in 1941, he was employed by Sherwood Floral Co.
A member of Linden Methodist church, he is survived by his parents and two brothers, Ralph, Route 4, and Dale of Chicago, Ill.
Among those at the station to assist were Lt. Warren Rand, Technical Sgt. Ralph K. Wertz, Technical Sgt. Everette F. Haddock, Staff Sgt. Howard D. Kirkpatrick, Staff Sgt. Earnest Sampson, all of the army recruiting office; Ralph Ehrig, commander of the local American Legion post, Lawrence Alcock, Sam Guynn, and Ben Allgood of that organization; George Cain, commander of the Disabled American Veterans; D. L. Conkey of the navy; and Mrs. Allgood of the Legion auxiliary.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, November 09, 1947, Section 2, Pages 13 & 20
| Members of the American Legion escort stand at attention in final salute Before the flag-draped casket of Marine Cpl. Merle R. Barrows who was re-buried Monday – on the eve of Armistice day – in Memorial Park cemetery. Barrows fell at Tarawa Nov. 20, 1943. |
Corporal Barrows Rests In
Ground He Died to Save
By Bob McHugh
Courier Staff Writer
The body of a fallen marine – Cpl. Merle R. Barrows – completed its journey half-way around the world and was laid to rest in Memorial Park cemetery Monday at 2:45 p. m.
Rev. Charles J. Gunnell, in the colorful uniform of the American Legion, intoned a final benediction at the graveside after the Legion firing squad fired a three gun salute over the flag-draped casket.
The dignified service was climaxed by taps which were played at the grave and softly answered by a distant bugler. The echoing return was gently muted by a freshly fallen blanket of snow which draped itself over the cemetery during the day.
An American Legion escort of 18 stood at attention by the grave until the last bugle note was played.
Gathered under the snow-covered canopy which sheltered the grave was a small group of close friends and relatives, including the late corporal’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe A. Barrows, 632 Wyoming street. A brother, Ralph and his wife, of Route 4, and a brother Dale, Chicago, ill., were also present.
Cpl. Barrows was 31 years old when he fell at Tarawa Nov. 20, 1943. He had previously fought at Guadalcanal and Tulagi.
Rev. Milton Nothdurft, pastor of Linden Methodist church, conducted funeral services at Kearns Garden chapel. Friends, relatives and representatives of veteran’s organizations began to fill the little chapel at 1 p. m.
The American Legion, Amvets, Veterans of Foreign wars and their auxiliaries sent delegates to pay homage to Waterloo’s first returned war dead.
Atop the casket, decked with yellow chrysanthemums and red and white roses, was a picture of the fallen marine.
As the silent crowd gathered for the services, Mendelssohn’s Consolation was played. Rev. Mr. Nothdurft put the theme of the music to words in what he said was a “message of courage and consolation.” He likened the late corporal’s experiences in war to those of a “pioneer in search of truth.”
“In The Garden” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” were sung by Mrs. Ray Deeds and Mrs. Wayne Teeter who were accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Vincent Barto.
Pallbearers who carried the casket the final steps of its journey of more than 8,000 miles were Ray and Joseph Daringer, Harold Nation, Charles Herman, Paul Sherwood and Peter Taylor.
A small procession of cars left the funeral home and drove slowly out West Fourth street at 2:20 p. m.
By 3 p. m. soft, moist snow flakes were removing the stains of footprints in the quiet, snow-covered cemetery.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, November 11, 1947, Page 3
