MISSING IN ACTION
Marvin J. McLaughlin, seaman 1/c, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McLaughlin, 706 Washington S. W., is missing in action in the south Pacific, according to a message received here from the war department.
Seaman McLaughlin was assigned to his ship and left the States last December. He entered service in April, 1944, and took his boot training at Farragut, Idaho. Later, on Oct. 21, 1944, he was graduated from quartermaster school in Gulfport, Miss., and given his present rating. He passed his 19th birthday last May 26.
His brother, Merle, 17, also in the navy, is stationed in San Francisco.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, June 05, 1945, Page 7 (photo included)
MASON CITYAN, 19, IS KILLED
in ACTION WITH U. S. NAVY
Marvin McLaughlin Previously Reported Missing In Action
Marvin J. McLaughlin, seaman 1/c, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McLaughlin, 706 Washington S. W., lost his life as a result of enemy action in the Pacific [Okinawa] on May 3, his parents were notified by the war department. He had first been reported missing on that date.
The message stated that a careful review of all facts available relating to his disappearance led to the conclusion that there was no hope of survival. It was asked that the name of his ship and station were not to be divulged.
"I was very fond of your son as were all of us who knew him," Lt. T. L. Wallace, navigator on McLaughlin’s ship, had written Marvin's parents. "He was far above average in intelligence and industry, and had he lived would have been rated Quartermaster 3/c on the first of June. He performed his duties aboard ship to the entire satisfaction of both the commanding officer and myself. We have felt his loss keenly both personally and as concerns the efficiency of the ship."
Seaman McLaughlin was assigned to his ship and left the States last December. He enlisted in the navy in April, 1944, and took his boot training at Farragut, Idaho, and later was graduated from quartermaster school in Gulfport, Miss.
He was graduated from Rockwell high school and attended A.I.B. at Des Moines for 6 months. He was a member of St. Joseph's church here. He passed his 19th birthday last May 26.
Besides his parents he is survived by 2 brothers, Merle, seaman 2/c in the navy, and Martin at home; also 3 sisters, Margaret Ann, Mary Ellen and Marlys, all at home.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Tuesday, August 07, 1945, Page 1
Joint Memorial Service Sunday
Joint public memorial service honoring 4 men of the armed forces who recently gave their lives in combat will be held Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock at Music hall. The Rev. Merle S. Dimath, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene, will give the eulogy. Miss Ellen Smith will be soloist.
Burial flags from the U. S. government will be presented to Mr. and Mrs. George V. Black, foster parents of Pvt. Joseph W. Black, who died in Lorraine, France, last October; to Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Engleman for their son, Emmon, fireman 1/c, killed in the Pacific in April; to Mr. and Mrs. William Kasik for their son, Pfc. Joey Kasik, declared dead after a year’s missing in action in France; and to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McLaughlin for their son Marvin, seaman 1/c, killed near Okinawa in May.
Gold star citation scrolls from the national department of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and flowers from the 2 organizations will also be presented to the next of kin. The service will begin with a 5 minute prelude.
Honor guard and firing squad for the service will be furnished by volunteers from Company E of the Iowa state guard under the command of Capt. Leslie Whipple. Buglers of the day are Raymond Holtz, Arthur Erickson, Esther Ruhnke and Dean Schmidt.
All veterans organizations will attend in a body with their colors and are required to be at Music hall at 3:45. After the service at the hall the organizations will go to Central park for the 13th retreat of the season. The Clausen-Worden post of the American Legion will have charge of the retreat.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Friday, August 24, 1945, Page 7
Petty Officer Marvin Joseph McLaughlin is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Source: ancestry.com
