26 FROM IOWA LOST IN ACTION
[excerpt]
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.
Source: The Des Moines Register, August 27, 1944
Lester William Pfannkuch was born Dec. 10, 1910 to William and Gertrude Brothers Pfannkuch. He died June 16, 1944 and is buried in Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France.
Pvt. Pfannkuch served in World War Ii with the U.S. Army 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division and was KIA in France while serving his country. He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
