Young Soldier Killed in Crash
Earl (sic--Earle) Jeffers Reported Victim Of Accident
A broadcast over the radio yesterday stated that Earl (sic--Earle) Jeffers, 22, of LeMars, was killed in an accident when an army transport was upset near Monterey, California.
The youth who enlisted in the army last August was stationed at Fort Ord, California, and was in artillery service.
His father, Fred Jeffers, of this city, had not been informed of the accident last night.
The unconfirmed news of the tragedy was first conveyed to him by neighbors who had been listening in the at the news broadcast period.
Earl (sic--Earle) Jeffers grew up in LeMars and was a graduate of the 1939 class in LeMars high school.
Source: LeMars Sentinel, Friday, December 20, 1940, Page 1, Column 3:
Military Honors For Earle Jeffers
Body of Accident Victim Sent Home
Confirmation of the report broadcast over the radio Wednesday that Earl (sic--Earle) Jeffers of LeMars had been killed while on duty in the army was received in a telegram Friday afternoon by Fred Jeffers of this city, father of the young man.
The telegram came from Fort Ord and asked about disposition of the body.
Earl (sic--Earle) Jeffers was fatally injured Wednesday when an army transport was upset near Monterey, Calif., and he was thrown under the wheels.
The body will be brought here for burial and was expected to arrive late last night or this morning when funeral arrangements will be made.
The dead youth will be accourded a military funeral.
Born In Washington Township
Earle Deane Jeffers was born in Washington township, this county, April 17, 1917, and attended the LeMars public school and graduated in the class of 1939 and then attended Western Union college and later worked at Alcester, S. D.
He enlisted last June at Denver, Colo., and was assigned to the 19th enginers corps at Fort Ord, Calif.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jeffers, two sisters, Ruth and Winifred, and a brother, Donald.
Earle Jeffers was a member of Company K, Iowa National Guard, before volunteering for service in the regular army.
Source: LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, December 24, 1940, Page 1, Column 3
Final Rites For Young Soldier Here Sunday
Fred Jeffers of this city received a telegram Thursday saying the body of his son, Earl (sic--Earle) Jeffers, killed Wednesday of last week, would arrive in LeMars December 28.
Funeral services will be held at the First Presnyterian church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 with Rev. F. P. Pfaltzgraff officiating.
Military honors will be accorded the youth who died in military service near Fort Ord, Calif., when an army transport in which he was riding was upset and he was crushed beneath the wheels.
The arrangements are in charge of Luken's funeral home.
Source: LeMars Sentinel, Friday, December 27, 1940, Page 1, Column 4:
Last Rites for Young Soldier
Earle Jeffers Victim of Fatal Accident
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the First Presbyterian church for Earle Jeffers, who was killed while on duty in military service at Fort Ord, California, December 18. Rev. F. P. Pfaltzgraff officiated at the service.
The pallbearers were fellow members of Company K, Matt Levins, Vincent Conway, Robert Hathaway, Cloyd Zeig, Robert Becker and Lee Becker.
Military honors were accorded at the graveside and a volley by a firing squad and taps by a bugler sounded as the casket was lowered to the grave.
Private Chas. Martin, a member of the nineteenth engineer corps and a comrade of the death (sic-dead) youth, accompanied the body to LeMars.
Mrs. Lucy Millard, Dorothy Millard and Elmer Millard of Hawarden and William Howes of Sioux City came to attend the funeral.
Source: LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, December 31, 1940, Page 1, Column 2:
18 KNOWN DEAD FROM PLYMOUTH
Speaking at the city cemetery Decoration Day, Morse Hoorneman gave the names of 18 Plymouth countyans reported killed in action, or died in line of duty in the present war.
No complete record has been compiled of Plymouth County wounded and prisoners of war. Those listed as dead are those whose bodies have actually been recovered, or those missing in action under circumstances which preclude the possibility that they may be alive as prisoners. The dead are:
KENNETH PAULIN, of LeMars.
EARL JEFFERS, of LeMars.
GLEN K. COLLINS, whose parents live in Akron and who worked in Plymouth County before he went into the service, and who was a member of K Company.
HAROLD MACK, of LeMars, who is reported missing, for whom hope has, I believe been given up.
DONALD LANGENDORFER, of LeMars.
DONALD BEY, of Akron.
JOSEPH KONZ, who was formerly from Remsen.
JAMES MONTAGNE, of Akron.
DONALD HARNACK, of Remsen.
EILERT W. SEGGERMAN, of Remsen.
HERMAN STOOS, of LeMars.
WILLIAM ROSENOW, of Merrill.
LEO ROLFES, of Craig.
RONALD CAREY, of LeMars.
WALTER REICH, of Struble.
ROY McCARTHY, Westfield.
CLYDE PELTON, missing in action.
Mr. Hoorneman quoted from a letter received a few weeks ago by The Globe-Post from members of K Company, then already in action in Tunisia, in which they made it clear that fighting forces in the field rely upon, and need all of the support they can get from home.
“This letter,” he said, “in which are included the thoughts of boys we all knew—some of whom are no dead—and others wounded—is flecked with mud—Tunisian mud. It is the very soil in which many Americans, who have paid the supreme sacrifice, now lie buried. When I read over these lines, which convey clearly that our boys out there—and on many another front—often feel that we have forgotten them—I experience a feeling of poignant regret.”
But, the speaker added, the opportunity to make our fighting forces feel that we appreciate their sacrifices and are with them heart and soul, is a continuing opportunity. He urged that more and caring letters by written to men in the fighting services.
Previously to the ceremony at the city cemetery, a program was given at St. Joseph cemetery and the speaker there was Rev. Bauer, of St. James parish.
Fr. Bauer’s theme was the eroding and negative effect of the red. He pointed out that a hatred does not win wars and does not build enduring peace, but hatred is a handicap, rather than an asset, in any war effort. He warned that hatreds now during the present war may be carried over into the ensuing negotiations, and sow the seeds for future wars.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, May 31, 1943
Earle Deane Jeffers was born Apr. 17, 1917 to Fred W. and Winnie Treen Jeffers. He died Dec. 18, 1940 and is buried in Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
