Memorial Services Set for Capt. Wallace
Independence, Ia. – Reburial services for Capt. Leroy A. Wallace, United States marine corps reserve, who was killed in action Mar. 2, 1944, on Bougainville, will be at 2 p. m. Friday in First Presbyterian church, with military honors. Burial will be in the family lot at Quasqueton.
The body will arrive at 4 p. m. Tuesday in Independence and will be at the Swan funeral home until the time of service.
Captain Wallace was born at Rouleau, Saskatchewan, Canada, July 4, 1919. He came to the United States with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Romulus A. Wallace, in 1923 at the age of four years. He attended public schools and graduated from Independence junior college in 1939. He attended Iowa State college [present-day Iowa State University at Ames] and was a junior when he enlisted in the navy June 27, 1941.
He received primary CAA training at the Iowa State college and received his private pilot’s license June 15, 1941.
Captain Wallace was ordered to duty in September, 1941, at Wold Chamberlain naval reserve base at Minneapolis, Minn. He was there for several months when he was transferred to Corpus Christi, Tex., for further training. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the USMCR and received his wings Sept. 4, 1942, then was ordered to Miami, Fla. for advanced training in dive bombing.
He sailed overseas Nov. 18, 1942, and was stationed at the Hawaiian islands, Midway island, Samoa, New Hebrides, then at Empress Augusta bay, Bougainville, where he was killed.
Captain Wallace was promoted to first lieutenant Apr. 12, 1943, and to captain Jan. 4, 1944.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific campaign and Victory medals. He was active in the Boy Scouts and was a member of troop 47, Independence and a member of First Presbyterian church.
His father preceded him in death.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, October 07, 1947, Page 8 (photo included)
Independence Church Presented Memorial
Independence, Ia. – On Sunday at the Presbyterian church, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Heiland presented a cross and candelabra in memory of Mrs. Heiland’s son, Capt. Leroy Wallace, marine corps reserve.
Former Marine Sgt. James Wilson and Former Quartermaster 3/c Dwight Burkhart escorted Mr. and Mrs. Heiland to the rostrum where they unveiled the cross and candelabra and presented it to the church.
Mrs. Jean Eischied sang “To The Cross I Turn My Eyes,” after which Rev. W. H. Kettliz gave the dedicatory prayer and the choir sang the dedicatory anthem.
At noon Mr. and Mrs. Heiland entertained a dinner for Mr. and Mrs. P. T. Castle and family of Reinbeck; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Walters, Cedar Falls; Mrs. Katie Butterfield, Walker; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Zimpfer and son, Winthrop; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Rosene, Rowley; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kimerly and son; and Mr. and Mrs. Vern Sanford, all of Rowley.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, October 14, 1947, Page 9
