26 FROM IOWA LOST IN ACTION
WASHINGTON, D. C. (AP)—The War Department Saturday listed 26 Iowa soldiers as missing in action in the European and Mediterranean theaters. They were:
EUROPEAN.
Algona—Staff Sergeant Robert W. Thompson.
Audubon—Sergt. Donald C. Munksgaard.
Boone—Second Lieutenant Robert W. Ward.
Cedar Rapids—Pvt. (f.c.) Harvey H. Wehde.
Council Bluffs—Corp. Dale E. Gustafson.
Des Moines—Pvt. (f.c.) Lester W. Pfannkuch.
Dubuque—Lieut. Arthur C. Toepel.
Gladbrook—Second Lieutenant Elmer C. Dudolski.
Iowa City—Lieut. Col. Don L. Weiss.
Keystone—Pvt (f.c.) Orlean E. Koeppen.
Knoxville—Capt. Richard A. Gee.
Marshalltown—Second Lieutenant Marion A. Gard.
Mason City—Capt. William C. Whorley.
Menlo—Pvt. (f.c.) Kenneth L. Powell.
Pella—Pvt. (f.c.) David M. Thomas.
Sewal—Staff Sergeant Dallas G. Couchman.
Shenandoah—Lieut. Ralph E. Deweese.
Sioux Rapids—Flight Officer Joseph Meleky.
MEDITERRANEAN.
Delta – Staff Sergeant Leonard D. Tygart.
Dubuque – Pvt. William E. Hoffman; Lieut. Robert T. Moran.
Ionia – Pvt. Vern F. Abel.
Iowa City – Second Lieutenant Vincent C. Hogan.
Marshalltown – Pvt. (f. c.) John J. Gannon.
New Market – Pvt. (f. c.) Leroy F. Teeters.
Webster City – Staff Sergeant John F. Baker.
Source: The Des Moines Register, August 27, 1944
Vern Fred Abel was born Jan. 18, 1924 to Carl and Christina Schroeder Abel. He died Oct. 14, 1981 and is buried in North Lawn Cemetery, Fort Dodge, IA.
Vern served with the U.S. Army in World War II.
Source: ancestry.com
