Mr. and Mrs. Mike Goergen of Granville received a telegram from the War Department Thursday evening advising that their son Emil was killed in action on Luzon Island March 31st.
The entire community was shocked by the news of the death of this brave soldier, one of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Goergen in the service of our country.
Arrangements have not been made for a memorial mass pening further notification. In the telegram there was a slight error in the spelling of the name which was given as "Pfc. George Emil B"--but since the telegram was correctly addressed to Mr. Mike Goergen, the family have very slight hope that there can be any mistake as to the identity of their son. The message stated that a confirming letter would follow.
Emil was born July 20th, 1918 on the Goergen farm southwest of Granville and was 26 years of age at the time of his death. He was inducted into the army Nov. 6, 1942, receiving his training at Camp Robinson, Ark., Ft. Bliss, Tex. and Camp Roberts, Calif. He was with the First Cavalry Div. mentioned in the daily papers as taking part in the battle for Manila.
He was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Goergen and is survived by his parents, five brothers and one sister, namely: Joe and Leo of Granville; Cpl. Norbert in New Guinea; Sgt. Ray in Germany; Annie at home; Otto S1/c at Jacksonville, Fla. who have the heartfelt sympathy of the Granville and Alton communities in the loss of a devoted son and brother and splendid soldier.
Source: Alton Democrat, April 26, 1945
Emil Bernard Goergen was born July 20, 1918 to Michael Anton and Susan M. Schumacher Goergen. He died Mar. 31, 1945 and is buried in Keokuk National Cemetery, Keokuk, IA.
Pvt. Goergen served with the 12th Cavalry in World War II.
Source: ancestery.com
