Three From Waterloo Die in Action
Three Waterloo men Thursday were listed as killed in action, two in Europe and one in the Pacific. They were:
Marine Pfc. Jack L. Padget, 18, Iwo Jima.
Pfc Robert B. White, 19.
First Lt. James Edward Elmo Buker, 22.
Private Padget, son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Padget, Black Hawk road, died Mar. 1 of wounds received in action on Iwo Jima, according to a telegram received from his commanding officer.
This is the first Waterloo casualty reported from that battle.
He enlisted Jan. 22, 1944, when 17 years old and took his basic training at San Diego, Cal. He was sent to the south Pacific in June without having a furlough and participated in the Tinian invasion. He was hospitalized a short time for an infected foot and later spent some time in a rest camp.
The last letter his parents had received was written “sometime in February” aboard a ship. In the letter he stated that he was heading for action but could give no details.
Born Apr. 24, 1926, in Waterloo, [Page 2] the son of Claude and Rachel Padget, he attended East high school and was employed by the Rath Packing Co.
Surviving besides his parents is one sister, Mrs. Robert Destival, who with her son, James, is residing with her parents while her husband, T-4 Destival, is serving overseas.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, March 08, 1945, Page 1 (photo included)
Memorial Services for Pfc. Jack Padget
Planned for Sunday
Memorial services for Marine Pfc. Jack L. Padget will be conducted at 2 p. m. Sunday in Grace Methodist church, with Rev. Harley W. Farnham, pastor, officiating.
Private Padget was killed in action Mar. 1 on Iwo Jima. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Padget, Black Hawk road.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, March 22, 1945, Page 5
THANKS
PADGETS: We Wish to Thank Our many friends and relatives for their kindness and flowers in the death of our beloved son and brother, Marine Pfc. Jack L. Padget, and we especially thank the Rath Co. employees for the lovely picture of our Jack. It’s our most prized possession. Mr. and Mrs. Claude Padget; Sgt. and Mrs. Robert Destival.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, March 28, 1945, Page 14
