English Girl Asks About Youth
Somewhere in England a young girl is anxiously awaiting the answer to a question asked the Chamber of Commerce here Monday morning. Floyd Willette, secretary of the chamber, referred a letter to the board of supervisors seeking information about LeVerne Paulsen, who was killed in action July 29 in France. The letter from a girl in Milwaukee was on behalf of the English girl whose letters to Paulsen had been returned and stamped “Deceased.”
Supervisor Henry Johnk of Avoca immediately recognized the youth as a nephew of Bob Russman, a former caterpillar operator for his part of the county and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Paulsen of Avoca.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday, November 16, 1944, p. 6
Return Body of Hancock Soldier
The body of Pfc. Laverne H. Paulsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred G. Paulsen, route 2, Hancock, arrived in New York Wednesday aboard the U. S. army transport Eric G. Gibson. Paulsen was killed in action in France on July 29, 1944. He was 23 years old.
Pvt. Paulsen entered the service on Nov. 27, 1942, went overseas on June 3, 1943, served in Africa and Italy before going into action in France. He graduated from Avoca high school in 1939.
Paulsen was on of 15 Iowans returned aboard the Gibson, which was scheduled to doc in New York at 1 p. m. Wednesday. He has been buried in a U. S. military cemetery at LaCambe, France. The only other southwest Iowan to be returned on the Gibson was Pvt. Melvin R. Hess, son of Robert E. Hess, route 1, Jefferson.
The body of the Hancock soldier will be sent to the Chicago quartermaster depot, thence home for burial.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday, January 21, 1948, p. 2
Plan Avoca Rites for Pvt. Paulsen
AVOCA – The body of Pfc. Lavern (sic) H. Paulsen, returned from France aboard the army transport Eric G. Gibson, will arrive in Avoca Friday noon and services are planned for Sunday at 2 p. m. at the First Lutheran church in charge of the Rev. Joseph Gerlt. Blust-Berthusen funeral home will handle arrangements with the American Legion conducting military rites at the graveside.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Paulsen of route 2, Hancock, young Paulsen, 23, was killed in 1944. Also surviving are his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Paulsen and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Russman of Avoca.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday, February 05, 1948, p. 9
Pvt. Laverne H. Paulsen is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
