Sioux Cityan Died In Action
Corporal G.W. Cochran Killed in Italy, His Parents Learn
Corporal Gordon Wayne Cochran, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Cochran, 2012 W. Palmer avenue, was killed in action “in defense of his country,” the secretary of war informed them in a telegram. The action was on February 10 in Italy. No additional details were contained in the message.
Corporal Cochran went with the national guards from Sioux City to Camp Claiborne in 1941 and from there to Ireland, England, Africa and Italy. He was born March 16, 1918, at Wagner, S.D. and attended Roosevelt and West junior schools and Central High School here. He was a truck driver for the Sioux City Tribune until he left Sioux City.
Surviving are the parents and a brother, Hubert A. Cochran, seaman second class in the navy, who was stationed at Bremerton, Wash, when he last wrote home.
Mr. and Mrs. Cochran received a letter from their son Gordon sent from Italy January 10, which had been written December 29. In it he told of having been hospitalized in Africa to jaundice and being released back to his company.
The secretary of war informed Corporal Cochran’s parents that a letter would follow the telegram.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 12, 1944
Services Honor Corporal Killed in Italian Area
Memorial services were held Sunday morning at Whitfield Methodist church for Corporal Gordon W. Cochran, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cochran, 2012 W. Palmer Avenue, who was reported, killed in action February 10 somewhere in Italy.
Rev. Harry M. Burns, pastor, officiated at the services. “Corporal Cochran,” said the pastor in speaking of the youth’s sacrifice, “gave his all to save womanhood, manhood and children from slavery and barbarism.”
A member of the Sioux City unit, 133d infantry, of the National Guard, the young corporal served a total of seven years in uniform and had been in action four months until he was killed. He was born March 16, 1918, at Wagner, S.D. and came to Sioux City with his parents when two years of age. He was educated in public schools here. A brother, Hubert, is in the navy stationed at San Francisco.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 27, 1944 (photo included)
Gordon Wayne “Wayne” Cochran was born Mar. 16, 1918 to Roy and Alice D. McFarland Cochran. He died Feb. 10, 1944 and is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy.
Cpl. Cochran served with the U.S. Army 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division and was MIA/KIA and awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
