Five North Iowans Presumed to Be Held Captive by Japanese
NAVY REVEALS LIST OF NAMES
Sailors, Marines in U. S. Outposts Thought Captured by Enemy
WASHINGTON, (AP) – The navy disclosed Thursday that 56 Iowans, including 30 enlisted naval and marine corps men and 26 civilians, are presumed to be prisoners of war of the Japanese. Five North Iowans are included on the list. They are:
ERNEST CHRISTIAN VALE, naval pharmacist’s mate third class, of Lake Mills [Winnebago Co.], taken at Wake Island;
EARL R. HANNUM, marine technical sergeant (aviation), of Floyd [Floyd Co.], taken at Wake Island;
FLOYD ELLIS JAMES, marine corporal, of Thornton, [Cerro Gordo Co.] taken at Wake Island;
GEORGE DONALD MOLLOY, marine sergeant, of Marble Rock [Floyd Co.], taken at Wake Island;
GORDON J. KRYSEN, of Calmar [Winneshiek Co.], a civilian taken at Wake Island.
The sailors and marines were stationed in United States’ outposts in the Pacific and in China at the time of the Japanese attack Dec. 7, the report said, while the civilians all were working on defense construction on Wake Island.
The navy said it is difficult to determine the exact status of all persons stationed at those locations because of the disruption of communications at the time of the attack.
“From available lists and information up to or near the time of attack, those persons not otherwise accounted for are presumed to be prisoners of the Japanese,” the statement said.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Thursday, Feb. 19, 1942
Iowa War Casualties
(Official OWI reports on State’s Army, Navy Losses in all theaters of action.)
Army Liberated Prisoners of War—Japan.
Pfc. Frank H. Devivo, Council Bluffs;
Pfc. Dale T. Minger, Wadena;
Sgt. Conrad T. Peterson, Badger;
Pvt. Robert J. Kelly, Remsen;
Pfc. Owen R. Kobert, Griswold;
Pvt. Donald R. North, Marne;
Pfc. Robert W. Pfaff, Burlington;
First Lieutenant William D. Rose, Sioux City;
Pfc. Robert J. Sewell, Sioux City;
Captain Robert S. Wray, Mount Pleasant.
Army Dead—European.
S/Sgt. Helmer W. Gangestad, Webster City;
Pvt. Peter Hart, Mason City;
Pvt. Glenn W. Keller, Ottumwa.
Civilian Personnel Liberated From Japanese Custody.
Frank S. Brewster, Laurens;
Gordon James Krysan, Calmar.
Source: Carroll Times-Herald, October 8, 1945
