Our Neighbors in the Service
Lake Park, Ia.—Bert Morphew, 20, son of Mrs. Drexel McClure, was killed in action in the South Pacific, March 16. News was received here just two years after he enlisted in the army. He is survived by his mother here; his father, Fae Morphew of Nora Springs, Ia., and three brothers, Dalton Morphew, a marine; Kenneth Morphew, in the air corps, and Corwith Morphew, Nora Springs.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 23, 1945
Lake Park Obituaries
Pvt. Lambert Morphew
Lambert Lynton Morphew, son of Fae and Alma Heur Morphew, as born Dec. 17, 1924 at Nora Springs, Iowa, and passed away March 16, 1945 on the Island of Luzon in the Philippines while in the service of his country. He had reached the age of 21 years, two months and 27 days.
He lived at Nora Springs until he was four years old and moved with his parents to Plymouth, Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa and at the age of fourteen years moved to Lake Park, Iowa in 1938.
Bert, as he was familiarly known here, attended school here and was carrier for the Des Moines Register for several years. He was employed for about two years at the Ed Lawrence Dairy and then worked on the Ernest Reetz farm and vor Belle LcLaren south of town.
In the fall of 1942, Bert went to Glendale, Calif. where he worked at the war plant of the Acro Metals Corporation of Burbank, California.
He joined the Army April 16, 1943, and took his basic training in California as a member of the 126th Infantry regiment of the Red Arrowmen of the 32nd Division. He left the states in October of 1943 and landed in Australia in November. From there he went on to Melonic Bay, New Guinea. He went to Goodenough Island, Saidor, Aitape and there he was taken ill with typhus fever. He was sent to a Hospital at French Haven in Gro Bay, New Guinea where he remained for six months. In January 1945 he was sent back to his company in the Phillipines (sic). It was while he was on duty with the Motor Patrol at Sapinit, Luzon he was hit by shrapnel and killed on March 16th, 1945 after serving twenty-three months.
Bert always had a pleasant sunny disposition which brought joy to his family and friends. He did not choose to go to war but never complained about his lot of shirked his duty. He always sent reassuring words home to his mother since he never was given a furlough before going over seas.
He was buried in an American Cemetery near Santa Barbara, Luzon, and now at the request of his mother, he is home at last.
His passing is most deeply felt by his mother, Mrs. Drexel McClure of Lake Park and three Brothers, Kenneth Morphew of Denver, Colorado; Dalton Morphew of Lake Park; and Corwith Morphew of Charles City. His youngest brother Billie died March 13, 1942 at the age of 7 years.
His is also survived by his father Fae Morphew of Nora Springs, and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held from Knowles Funeral home at 1:30 P. M. Wednesday, Feb. 9 1949 and at the Methodist church which he attended, at 2:00 P. M.
Rev. L. J. Runion, pastor of the Methodist church, and Rev. Carl Sinning, pastor of the Presbyterian church and chaplain of the American legion, had the sermon. The American Legion had full military rites at the graveside.
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, February 17, 1949, Page 14
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Reetz attended funeral services Wednesday for Lambert Morphew, Lake Park soldier whose body has been returned from overseas.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, February 17, 1949, Page 1
Lambert “Bert” Lynton Morphew is buried in Silver Lake Cemetery, Lake Park, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
