Three More Waterloo Men Casualties
Waterloo casualty lists Saturday included Pfc. Arvine E. Benedict, 20, killed in action; Staff Sgt. Norman D. Gibbs, 19, missing; and Staff Sgt. Wallace Lichty, 22, wounded for the third time.
Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Gibbs, 514 West Second street, have been notified that their son, Staff Sgt. Norman D. Gibbs, has been missing in action over Yugoslavia since Jan. 15.
He has been serving as a waist gunner and assistant engineer with the 15th Air Force in Italy since December, 1944.
A January, 1944 graduate of West high school, he entered service the following month and trained at Sheppard field, Tex., and Las Vegas, Nev., before receiving his final flight training at Macdill field, Tampa, Fla. He is a former Courier carried boy.
His brother, Staff Sgt. Clifton R. Gibbs, is stationed at Weingarten, Mo.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, February 04, 1945, Page 13 (photo included)
Arvine Benedict Memorial Today
Memorial services for Pfc. Arvine E. Benedict, killed in action Jan. 7, in Belgium while serving as a paratrooper with the 17th airborne division, will be at 10 a. m. today in First Methodist church, with Dr. Gilbert S. Cox, pastor, in charge.
Private Benedict, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Benedict, 1526 West Fourth street, who had been overseas since August, 1944, qualified as a gliderman in December, 1943, and in January, 1944, received his certificate as a parachutist. He entered France on Christmas day and entered battle with Patton’s Third army on New Year’s day.
He was killed by small arms fire while serving as a walky-talky messenger at Bastogne, Belgium. He was buried in an American cemetery at Grand Failly, France with full military honors.
He has been awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and the certificate of merit which was signed by the late president, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
His brothers, Robert an aviation student at Roswell, N. M., and Gerald of Minneapolis, Minn., arrived late Friday to attend the service. The latter’s wife accompanied him here.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, May 05, 1945, Page 15
Bodies of 5 Waterloo Men Back in U. S.
The bodies of five fallen Waterloo soldiers, one from Cedar Falls and six from other northeast Iowa towns have been returned to the United States, the war department said Wednesday.
Included in the long list of 7, 572 Americans returned to their home soil for reburial were these five Waterloo men: Pfc. Arvine E. Benedict, 1526 West Fourth street; Pfc. Carl J. Demuth, 820 Wellington street; Tech. 5th Gr. Raymond L. Larsen, 1008 West Second street; Pvt. Clarence R. Leaman, 203 East Thompson avenue; and Pvt. Percy F. Stevens, 101 Front street.
The bodies were returned aboard the United States army transport, Carroll Victory, the war department said.
Armed forces dead originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in France, Belgium and Holland are among those brought back to this country. There were 135 from Iowa.
The army stated that each next of kin was notified in advance of arrival of the vessel, and would be notified again after arrival of the remains at the regional distribution centers of the American graves registration service.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, November 17, 1948, Page 7
Benedict Body Due Tuesday
The body of Pvt. Arvine E. Benedict, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Benedict, former Waterloo residents, will arrive here Tuesday for burial. Pvt. Benedict was killed in action while serving as a messenger with Co. A, 193rd glider infantry, 17 airborne division, in the Battle of the Bulge, Jan. 7, 1945.
Arvine Everette Benedict was born Sept. 26, 1924, in Waterloo, the son of Clarence and Ethel Benedict. He attended West high school, and entered the army upon his graduation from school in 1942.
Surviving are his parents, now of Benedict, Minn.; four brothers, Gerald E. and Robert L., both of Minneapolis, Minn.; Max E., Walker, Minn.; and Forrest C. 616 ½ West Sixth street; and one sister, Maxine, also of Benedict, Minn.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body will be taken to Locke funeral home upon arrival here. An honor guard will be furnished by Waterloo Amvet post No. 19.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, December 26, 1948, Page 3
DEATHS
PVT. ARVINE E. BENEDICT
Funeral services for Pvt. Arvine E. Benedict, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Benedict, former Waterloo residents, will be at Lock funeral home at 2 p. m. Wednesday. Rev. Gilbert S. Cox, pastor of First Methodist church, will officiate and burial will be in Elmwood cemetery. An honor guard from Amvet Post No. 19 will also attend.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, December 28, 1948, Page 2
