2 NORTH IOWANS KILLED IN HAWAII
Mason City’s First, Hancock County First War Death Reported
North Iowa’s second and third World war II deaths were reported Tuesday. Both men were sailors and lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor naval engagement.
Guy Wayne Carroll, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter G. Carroll of Lehigh addition, Mason City, is Mason City’s first casualty in the war. Carroll, a quartermaster second class, lost his life aboard the ill-fated destroyer U. S. S. Shaw. He has been in the navy six years.
Wilbur Theodore Smith, son of Frank Smith and Mrs. Pearl Smith of Crystal Lake, is Hancock county’s first war casualty. He has been in the navy one year. No report has arrived on his brother, Orlan Floyd Smith, who was on the same ship. Both were seamen second class.
Cerro Gordo county and North Iowa’s first World war II fatality was Melvin Laskowski, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Laskowski of Sheffield.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, December 16, 1941
Wilbur and Arlan (sic Orlan) Smith of Crystal Lake Die in Attack
CRYSTAL LAKE – Mr. and Mrs. Frank Smith received a telegram Tuesday morning stating that their son, Wilbur Theodore, lost his life in action for his country on the Pacific.
A short time later another word arrived that their son, Arlan (sic Orlan) Floyd, too, had lost his life in action on the Pacific. Both boys were second class seamen and on the same ship. Wilbur was 22 years of age and joined the U. S. navy Jan. 6. Arlan was 20 and joined the U. S. navy Feb. 10.
The boys were at Pearl Harbor when last heard from. A card arrived from them Tuesday night after word of their deaths.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Thursday, December 18, 1941 (photos included)
