Cedar Falls Boy Paratrooper Now
Cedar Falls – Pvt. Cleo B. Helm, son of Mrs. Ethel Mixdorf, 505 4th avenue, Cedar Falls, has won the right to wear wings and boots of the United States army paratroops. He has completed four weeks of jump training at Ft. Benning, Ga., during which he made five jumps from a plane in flight, the last a tactical jump at night involving combat problem on landing.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, November 05, 1944, Section Two, Page 21
Pvt. Cleo Helm, Paratrooper,
Is Killed in Action
Cedar Falls – Pvt. Cleo Helm, paratrooper, was killed in action in Germany, according to a telegram received by his mother, Mrs. Ethel Mixdorf, 505 Fourth avenue. Previously he had been reported missing in action, March 23, He joined the merchant marines in 1941 and transferred to the army paratroopers in 1944. Private Helm went overseas in January, 1945.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, April 12, 1945, Page 5 (photo included)
Four Northeast Iowans Casualties
Casualty lists released by the navy and war departments for publication Saturday contained the names of four northeast Iowans.
Reported among dead in European regions was Pvt. Leo (sic) B. Helm, son of Mrs. Ethel Mixdorf, 505 Fourth avenue, Cedar Falls [Black Hawk County].
Army wounded in European regions included:
Second Lt. Shirley J. Duran, son of Mrs. Adeline L. Duran, Charles City [Floyd Co.];
Sgt. Fred E. Mollenhour, husband of Mrs. Ruth Mollenhour, Vinton [Benton Co.]:
and Sgt. Lyden C. O’Day, brother of Mrs. Maxine A. Serry, New Hampton [Chickasaw].
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, Sunday, April 28, 1945, Section Two, Page 18
Private Helm’s Body Returning To Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls – The body of Pvt. Cleo R. Helm, who lost his life in action overseas, is schedule to arrive here for reburial, according to word received Tuesday by the Jungkunz-Nelson funeral home. It is to arrive 5:40 p. m. Thursday and will be taken to the funeral home to await burial.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, April 19, 1949, Page 21
Cleo R. Helm’s Rites
Saturday at Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls – Final rites for Pvt. Cleo R. Helm, local boy who met death overseas action in the last war, are to be at 2 p. m. Saturday at the Jungkunz-Nelson funeral home, according to arrangements completed Thursday.
Rev. G. E. Melchert, pastor of Trinity Lutheran church of Waterloo, will conduct the service. The local post of the American Legion will have charge of the military service. Burial will be made in Fairview cemetery.
Young Helm, son of Mrs. Ethel Mixdorf, 1404 Iowa street, was born in Cedar Falls Feb. 1, 1920.
He was a paratrooper in the army when he met his death Mar. 25, 1945, in action somewhere in Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star
A half-brother, Sgt. Claude Mixdorf, is in the army service in Trinidad. There are also four sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Drenth and Juanita Mixdorf, both at 1404 Iowa street; Mrs. Faith Heiser, Waterloo, and Mrs. Fay Brandt, San Clemente, Cal.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, April 21, 1949, Page 23
