Underwood Man Killed IN Action
Sgt. Eldred O. Welbourn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey L. Welbourn of Underwood, was killed in action in Europe on Dec. 25, according to word received by his parents.
Sgt. Welbourn previously had been listed as missing in action. He was graduated from Underwood high school, and had received his degree in commerce at the University of Iowa.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Duane; a sister, Mrs. Dallas Guild, both of Underwood; and his grandmother, Mrs. Bertha Vallier of Council Bluffs.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Tuesday, March 13, 1945, Page 5
Plan Memorial for Sgt. Welbourn
Memorial services for Sgt. Eldred O. Welbourn, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Welbourn of Underwood, will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Broadway Methodist church, the Rev. Louis E. Watson officiating.
Sgt. Welbourn was aboard the troopship which sank in the English channel on Christmas day, 1944. He entered the service in September, 1943, and was trained at Fort Benning, Ga. He was with the infantry.
He is survived by his parents, one brother, Duane, and one sister, Mrs. Dallas Guill, both at home.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday, June 21, 1945, p. 6
Eldred Orville Welbourn was born Jan. 5, 1923 to Harvey Lloyd and Sadie Marie Vallier Welbourn. He died Dec. 25, 1944 and is buried in Hazel Dell Cemetery, Council Bluffs, IA. He is memorialized at the tablets of the Missing, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
Sgt. Welbourn served in World War II with the U.S. Army 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
