Memorial Will Be Held Sunday for Pfc. Pickell
Services at Gruver Presbyterian Church
Memorial services for Pfc. Willis E Pickell who was killed Sept. 20 in Germany will be held Sunday afternoon, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m. from the Presbyterian church in Gruver with the Albert Husted in charge.
Members of the American Legion, the American Legion color guard and the United Service Women of Gruver will attend the memorial service.
Entered Army in 1942
Private Pickell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Pickell of Gruver and entered the service July 17, 1942. He had never had a furlough and had been in active service on the Tunisian front and in several other invasions. Shortly before he met his death, Private Pickell had been in Belgium.
He received his basic training in the quartermaster corps at Fort Frances E. Warren, Wyo., leaving there Oct. 20, 1942 to be transferred to Fort George G. Meade, Md. He left the United States Dec. 11, 1942, and was sent directly to North Africa.
Reported Missing Once
Feb. 20, 1943, Private Pickell was reported as missing in action on the North African front and the news was received March 15 by his parents. However, on March 28, the Pickell family received a telegram from the government stating that their son had been back on active duty in North Africa since March 2. The message telling of his death came in September.
Pickell is survived by his parents, three brothers and six sisters.
Source: Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 7, 1944
Memorial Held Sunday for Pfc. Willis Pickell
Memorial services were held Sunday afternoon in the Presbyterian church of Gruver for Pfc. Willis Eugene Pickell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Pickell of Gruver, who was killed in action Sept. 20 in Germany.
The American Legion, American War Dads and the American Legion color guard of Estherville attended the memorial service. The Rev. Albert Husted was in charge of the service and was assisted by the Rev. J.M. Kennedy of Estherville.
Mrs. Henry Whitacre, oldest sister of Private Pickell, pinned a gold star on the service flag in the Presbyterian church.
A Christian flag and an American flag will be presented to the Gruver Presbyterian church by the Northern Lumber company of Gruver. Private Pickell ws employed by that company before his entrance into the service. Other gifts also are being presented in his memory.
Source: Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 21, 1944
Willis Eugene Pickell was born Sept. 24, 1918 to Eugene and Mabel C. Shaw Pickell. He died Sept. 30, 1944 and is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.
Pvt. Pickell served in World War II with the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division and was KIA and awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
