Pfc. Jerold Bond Was Killed
In Action in France, Aug. 18
Overseas Since May, 1943,
Had Served in Africa and Italy
Pfc. Jerold R. Bond, whose wife and son, Jimmie, live with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Holub, 530 11th N. E., was killed in action in France on Aug. 18, according to a telegram received from the war department Sunday. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Bond, 302 12th S. E.
Pfc. Bond entered the service in January, 1943, and went overseas in May of the same year. Before serving in France he had been in Africa and Italy. He was with the armored division.
Prior to entering the service, Pfc. Bond was employed at Jacob E. Decker & Sons. He has 2 brothers serving with the army air forces, Cpl. Lloyd Bond, airplane mechanic at Grenier field, N. H., and Cpl. Howard Bond, recently graduated from AAF gunnery school at Fort Meyers, Fla.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, September 25, 1944, Page 3 (photo included)
Purple Heart and Silver Star
Given Posthumously to Bond
Citation Letters Tell How Soldier
Met Death on Battlefield, France
The purple heart and silver star for gallantry in action that cost him his life have been awarded posthumously to Pfc. Jerold R. Bond, killed in action in France last August. The purple heart decoration was received here in January by Mrs. Bond, who with her 3-year-old son Jimmie, makes her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Holub, 530 11th N. E. A letter from Pfc. Bond’s division chaplain was also received by Mrs. Bond.
“At the request of the president,” wrote Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to Mrs. Bond, “I write to inform you that the purple heart has been awarded posthumously to your husband, Pfc. Jerold R. Bone, cavalry, who sacrificed his life in defense of his country.”
The citation accompanying the silver star award read as follows:
“For gallantry in action. On Aug. 18, 1944, near . . . France, when his platoon was subjected to severe small arms and mortar fire from a company of advancing enemy infantry, Pfc. Bond left his position of partial cover and moved out on an exposed road.
“Here he set up and fired his mortar at the advancing enemy, causing them to disperse and seek cover. He then moved, still exposed, toward the rear for more ammunition, when he was struck and mortally wounded by small weapons fire. Largely because of his courageous action the enemy attack was broken and his platoon was able to continue the advance”
“Jerold was laid to rest in a beautifully located cemetery [Rhone American Cemetery, Draguigan, France] that is kept spick and span,” wrote Chaplain Ralph J. Smith of the 3rd infantry division. “Full military honors and a religious service conducted by myself were rendered at his graveside.” The chaplain added that he was not allowed to divulge any information than that given.
Pfc. Bond entered the service in Jan., 1943, and went overseas in May of that year. Besides France, he had served in Africa and Italy.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, March 08, 1945, Page 15
MEMORIAL RITES HELD FOR
THOSE WHO GAVE LIVES
Rogness Speaks for Services
Held at Music Hall for 12
The great problem in rehabilitation of men in service will be to find something to do as significant as the services they have given on the battlefield, the Rev. Alvin N. Rogness, pastor of Trinity Lutheran church, said at the monthly memorial service Sunday at Music hall, commemorating those members of the army, navy and marine corps who have given their lives in the service of their country.
“The minds of these boys often reach high points of service that these things for which we fight shall live, even if it costs their life blood to have them live,” said Mr. Rogness.
“We have honor today those whose lives have been cut short by war. It is the price man pays for not having walked the ways of God. God did not make war. He didn’t desire their death. It is not wrong for us to say that God may take the blood shed by these and cleanse the earth of such pillage that has been our lot for several years.”
. . . The program was sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, with W. V. Clausen, commander of the post, in charge. Mrs. Harold Sayder sang 2 selections, accompanied by Mrs. Morris Laird at the piano.
The offering of symbolic tribute and roll call of departed comrades was given by Comdr. Clausen and this was followed by the presentation of flags and Gold Star citations to the next of kin assisted by H. A. Austin of the American Legion and by Cpl. Beverly Myers and Pvt. Jean Morley, WAC recruiting officers.
Those honored Sunday were:
Robert Harold Anderson
Jerold Richard Bond
Keith Ellsworth Dye
Willard Earl Dunton
Mickel John Garcis
Eugene Hall Kirshbaum
Louis Joseph Pion, Jr.
Ernest Hall Ruhnke
Robert Vance Ulin
Cecil Thomas Waldmoe
Lester Lee Williams
John Raymond Gagnon
The ceremony was concluded by the firing squad under 1st Sgt. Frank Shobin, with Major Jack Cheyne sounding taps. The next ceremony will be held the final Sunday in November.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, October 30, 1944, Page 11
Jerold Richard Bond was born May 6, 1921 to Lewis J. and Anna Marie Sorenson Bond. He died Aug. 18, 1944 and is buried in Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France.
Pvt. Bond served in World War II with the U.S. Army 3rd Reconnaissance Troop, 3rd Infantry Division and was KIA in France. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
