Sioux City Marine Wounded in Action
The reason Hollis V. Francis of the United States Marine Corps had to rely on a buddy to write a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.C. Francis of Winside, Nebraska was revealed this week.
A telegram from Washington received by Mr. and Mrs. Francis said the marine had suffered three shrapnel wounds in the side and arm—a far different story from the injured man’s excuse that “a broken finger” kept him from writing anything himself. No mention of a broken finger was in the telegram.
The young Nebraskan enlisted from Sioux City. His parents formerly lived here.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, January 10, 1942
Killed or Wounded—
WAR TRAGEDY STRIKES HOME HERE
Casualties Bring the Battle Closer to the Midwest
The COLD hand of sorrow has been laid on the hearts of many American mothers and fathers since that December Sabbath when the Japanese attacked Oahu, and parents of Sioux City and the surrounding territory have felt their share of grief over the boys who aren’t coming back.
Two Sioux City youths are “missing in action” and several have been wounded in action in the Pacific ocean. Sioux City residents had relatives either killed or wounded.
No Official Lists
Compilation of a list of casualties since the war began is difficult because all information concerning the sailors and soldiers involved must come from relatives. No official casualty lists are being issued.
Wounded in Action
At least two Sioux City youths were wounded in early Pacific action—Hollis V. Francis, marine, son of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Francis, 1106 McDowell street, and Jack Downing, a navy baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Downing, 1401 Nebraska street.
Hollis was wounded in the side and arm by shrapnel, but wrote his parents that he suffered only a broken finger. Downing was injured in both legs at Pearl Harbor and nearly lost one leg. Both Francis and Downing are in California hospitals. The latter’s wife went to California to be at his bedside.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, January 18, 1942
