Perry Chief: Mr. and Mrs. Clabe Wilson, who live two miles southeast of Perry, are entitled to have a service flag in their window with five stars on it – three of them gold.
One of the hardest hit local families by the war, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson lost three sons during the recent world conflict. Another son was recently discharged from the navy and a fifth is still in the service.
Flight Officer Claiborne Junior Wilson, 20, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, was killed in a plane accident Aug. 9 last year, at Aloe Field, Victoria, Texas.
Word has been received from the War Department that Lt. Dale R. Wilson, 24, who has been reported missing in action since Nov. 27th, 1943, is now presumed dead. He was on a mission to Wewak, New Guinea.
Dale received his wings at Roswell, New Mexico in Feb. 1943, and left for overseas in July of the same year. He served with the Fifth Air Force and was stationed at Port Morsby, New Guinea.
The War Department has notified the Wilsons that their son, Lt. Daniel S. Wilson, 22, who was previously reported missing in action Feb. 19, 1945, is now reported killed in action on that date in a plane crash over Schwangerg, Austria.
Daniel received his wings at Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona. He left for overseas in Oct. 1944 and was based with the 15th Air Force in Italy.
Two other sons of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson also served with the armed forces.
Delbert Wilson, 30, who had the rating of electrician’s mate first class in the navy, is now home discharged after being in the service four years. Previous to his second enlistment, he had served in the navy four years.
Chief Electrician Donald Wilson, 29, who has been in the navy 12 years, is now stationed at Seattle.
Source: Perry Daily Chief, February 6, 1946 (photos included)
War Department Reports 7 As Dead
Washington, D.C.—The War Department Monday announced the names of six Iowans as dead in the European regions and one in the Pacific area.
In the European theater are S/Sgt. Paul O. Hartkopf, Atlantic; Sgt. Donald D. Rohloff, Delta; Lt. Robert L. Sill, Fort Dodge; Lt. Carl W. Heline, Marcus; Lt. Daniel S. Wilson, Minburn; and Sgt. Mark R. Reynolds, jr., Shellsburg.
In the Pacific region was M/Sgt. Willard E. Vander Maaten, Orange City.
Source: The Des Moines Register, February 26, 1946
5 Wilson Bros - featured on the Dallas County Freedom Rock Minburn, Iowa. Painting done by Iowa artist, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen.
Daniel Sheridan Wilson was born May 21, 1923. He died Feb. 19, 1945 and has a cenotaph in Violet Hill Cemetery, Perry, IA. He is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart.
2nd Lt. Wilson served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 37th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group.
Sources: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
