3 WATERLOO MEN KILLED IN ACTION
[Among] Waterloo men Friday were added to the list of those killed in action . . . Vernon A. Nation, signalman third class.
Nation, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse L. Nation, 1524 West Fourth street, was killed in action in service of his county somewhere in the Pacific, a navy department telegram informed his parents Friday.
A graduate of West high school in 1941 and former employee of the John Deere Tractor Co., he enlisted in the naval reserve in April, 1942. He received his boot training at San Diego, Cal., and advanced training at the University of Illinois, Champaign.
He served nine months in the Pacific and early in 1944 transferred to the Atlantic and participated in the first Allied landing in France. In July, 1944, he returned to the Pacific and took part in the battle of the Philippines.
He was a member of the United Brethren in Christ church.
Surviving besides his parents are two brothers, Virgil, 1147 Ackermant street, and Pfc. Roscoe, at Camp Bowie, Tex., also three sisters, Mrs. Glen Lentz, Cedar Rapids, Ia., Mrs. Gerald Hinson, 651 Dawson street, and Mrs. Elmer Warren, 108 1/2 Irving street.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, January 19, 1945, Pages 1 & 2 (photo included)
Memorial Services for Vernon Nation
Memorial services for Vernon A. Nation, signalman first class, who lost his life while on duty on a destroyer near the Philippines, Jan. 6, will be conducted at 2 p. m. Sunday at Graves Memorial United Brethren church.
Rev. Lloyd Dutro, pastor, will conduct the service in memory of the sailor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jess Nation, 1524 West Fourth street.
Nation, who enlisted on Apr. 4, 1942, received boot training at San Diego, Cal. He served on a troop transport for about a year and was then transferred to a destroyer on convoy duty.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, February 16, 1945, Page 5
Petty Officer Vernon Arthur Nation is memorialized at the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
