CRASH KILLS CLEAR LAKE SOLDIER
VAN FLEET ONE OF 5 VICTIMS IN CAR COLLISION
Company H Member and 3 Other Soldiers Hurt Fatally in Missouri
Pvt. Marion Van Fleet, Clear Lake, of H Company, 133d infantry, was one of four soldiers killed in an automobile collision six miles south of Farmington, Mo., on highway 61 at 3:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The soldiers were part of a large contingent of Camp Claiborne, soldiers on their way home for furlough.
The four service men were the sole occupants of the one car, which was headed north. The other three soldiers were: First Lieut. T. R. Cohen and Corp. Chester M. Ryan, both of St. Louis, and Private Morris Serrell Bugg, address unknown.
One occupant of the other car in the crash apparently headed southward, was killed and others injured. Robert Tucker, Fredrickstown, Mo., was dead, and Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, Ironton, Mo., were taken to the hospital, while Helen Rollins, Frederickstown, 19, and two-year-old daughter, suffered cuts and bruises.
Who the drivers were of the two crash cars, Missouri state police could not determine.
First news of the crash came on a short-wave radio broadcast transmitted to the Mason City police station Sunday. Later a more complete report was received by the Globe-Gazette from the Missouri state patrol at Kirkwood, MO.
The bodies were taken to the Niedert funeral home at Farmington, Mo.
Private Van Fleet, who enlisted in the national guard in July, 1940, was to have been one of the 100 guardsmen of the Mason City companies home for a furlough.
His mother, Mrs. Grace Van Fleet, formerly worked at the I. O. O. F. home but a month ago transferred to the soldier’s home at Marshalltown. His grandmother, Mrs. Mollie Pickens, formerly lived at Clear Lake but a month ago moved to Alden, where she now lives with a daughter, Mrs. Walter McFarlane.
Private Van Fleet’s parents were separated several years ago. His father is living at Bremerton, Wash., working on a defense project. His brother Merle and sister Mabel live there with the father.
Mrs. Charles Hazelett and Ollie Van Fleet of Mason City are his aunt and uncle, sister and brother of his father.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Monday, October 13, 1941, Page 1 (photo included)
CLEAR LAKE BRIEFS
Merle Van Fleet, who arrived from Bremerton, Wash., to attend funeral services for his brother, Pvt. Marion Van Fleet, at Iowa Falls, Oct. 16, plans to leave Monday for Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Van Fleet, a former Globe-Gazette carrier boy, is visiting Carl Richey and other friends a few days.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Thursday, November 06, 1941, Page 29
NOTE: Pvt. Marion Van Fleet was interred at Alden Cemetery, Alden, Iowa.
35 Cerro Gordo Men Killed in Action in 2 ½ Years of War
Memorial Day this year marks almost 2 ½ years since the United States entered World War II. Of the more than 11 million men serving with the U.S. armed forces at home and overseas, it is estimated that Cerro Gordo county has contributed 4,100 men.
Killed in camp:
Pvt. Marion Van Fleet, in automobile collision near Farming-Sparta, Wis., October, 1941.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, May 30, 1944
