Former Mason City Officer
Reported Killed in Action
Lt. Richard Grow First
Reported Missing in December
First Lt. Richard L. Grow, formerly of Mason City, was reported killed in action over the Netherlands, according to word received here Tuesday. He had previously been reported missing on Dec. 22, 1943.
Lt. Grow was born in Mason City on Aug. 17, 1920, and attended the Harding school and was a junior in high school here when his family moved to Waterloo. He was graduated from the West Waterloo high school in 1937. He attended Iowa State college at Ames for 3 years and entered the army air corps in March, 1942.
Lt. Grow received his commission at Moore field, Tex., on Nov. 10, 1942, when he was graduated as a pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt. He was married on Dec. 31, 1942, to Dorothy Colli, Windsor Locks, Conn. He leaves a 6-month’s old son, Terry Wayne, whom he has never seen.
Surviving besides hi wife and son are his mother, Mrs. Ruby R. Grow, 808 ½ East State; his father, Sam A. Grow, formerly purchasing agent at Decker’s and now of Waterloo; and a brother, Robert W. Grow, in the army attending the ASTP program at College station, Tex., studying medicine.
Lt. Grow holds the air medal, oak leaf clusters and notification has been received that he is getting the distinguished flying cross. He was with the 8th air force in England and received his latest award for meritorious service in completing 20 sorties over enemy-occupied Europe.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Wednesday, July 05, 1944, Page 11 (photo included)
Memorial Is Conducted by W. R. C.
At the Women’s Relief Corps meeting Tuesday afternoon in the Legion hall, with Mrs. C. E. Sherwood presiding, memorial services were held for 15 service men who had lost their lives in defense of their country.
A memorial table was arranged by Miss Betty Russell with flags, patriotic emblems, and garden flowers. A blood plasma fund container was in the center with a placard, “In Memoriam to a Fallen Hero.” Mrs. Sherwood gave the names who were Pfc. John M. Garcia, Platoon Sgt. William C. Cross, Pfc. Roy J. Schultz, Sgt. Cecil Waldmoe (sic, should be Woldmoe), Pharmacist’s Mate Maurice T. Hurlt, Sgt. Robert H. Anderson, Sgt. Robert D. Fowler, Signalman Dale E. Wentworth, Sgt. Harvey McDougle, Cpl., Keith E. Dye, Pfc., Wallace Spinger, Pvt. Harry Paxton, First Lt. Richard L. Grow, Pvt. Harold Frazier, Staff Sgt. Ernest Ruhnke.
Mrs. Erma Hewitt placed the corps check of $7.50 in the container and led in the Lord’s prayer. Mrs. Hugh Stevens placed a piano solo, “America, The Beautiful.” The additional check brings the total for blood plasma fund to $132.50.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Wednesday, August 02, 1944, Page 6
NOTE: Lt. Grow was interred at Ardennes American Cemetery, Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium.
