Sgt. Rummells Injured Serving On U. S. Bomber
Staff Sgt. Glenn Rummells of Muscatine was seriously wounded in action in a foreign combat zone while serving as a tail gunner on a bomber, according to word received here this week.
Sgt. Rummells has been in the service since last September with a bombing squadron and his last communication came from the second evacuation hospital in England, relatives said.
According to first word received here from a nurse at the hospital, relatives were advised that Sgt. Rummells was seriously ill. A second communication from another nurse and from the hospital chaplain also told of his illness.
On May 22, however, Sgt. Rummells had apparently recovered to such an extent that he was able to write a note himself. He explained he had been shot twice in the stomach while on combat duty and that he was to undergo an operation at the hospital the following week which was expected to speed his recovery.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Rummells, 1209 Lucas street, and a brother of Charles Rummells, 906 East Eleventh street. His wife, the former Evelyn Plum, is now residing with her parents near Lone Tree.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 3, 1943 (photo included)
MEDALS, CITATIONS AWARDED TO MEN FROM THIS LOCALITY
Ribbons, crosses and emblems earned for heroism while serving a nation at war will adorn the uniform of many a warrior from Muscatine and community when he returns from battle in World War No. 2.
For this area’s fighting sons have already earned a distinguished collection of awards. News stories from war centers have told of the acts of these men who have won distinction in battles—on the land, on the sea, and in the air.
From the most remote battle areas and from the most active theaters of war have come news stories of citations bestowed for heroism, for acts “beyond the call of duty,” and other commendable performances of young men who have gone forth from this community.
Many will be wearers of the “Purple Heart,” an award made for injuries suffered while on duty.
For some, the actions which merited official recognition, brought physical injuries—injuries so serious they meant the end of the war insofar as the individual hero was concerned.
Others, who suffered wounds of a lesser degree, recovered sufficiently at hospitals abroad to permit their re-entry into actual combat duty. For sulfa drugs, blood plasma and penicillin have spelled the difference between life and death, between slow and rapid recovery to many who were injured.
Some of the wounded from this area have returned to hospitals in this country to undergo further treatment and the possibility of return to war theaters or final discharge from the service.
The list of those who have suffered injuries or incurred ailments while in training in this country has added to the numbers of Muscatine service men who have already received honorable discharges or are scheduled for release from military service.
A partial list of those who suffered injuries while in active service abroad or while on duty in camps of this country, gathered from information supplied to the Journal are listed here:
Staff Sgt. Glenn Rummells of Muscatine was seriously wounded in action in a combat zone while serving as a tail gunner on a bomber. He had been in the service since September of 1942, with a bombing squadron and his last communication came from the second evacuation hospital in England.
Sgt. Rummells had been shot twice in the stomach while on combat duty. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Rummells, 1209 Lucas street, and a brother of Charles Rummells, 906 East Eleventh street.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Annual Edition, December 30, 1943
Glen Rummells was born Aug. 15, 1912 to John Richard and Agnes M. Plumly Rummells. He died Feb. 25, 1993 and is buried in North Prairie Cemetery, West Liberty, IA.
Glen served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 8th Air Force.
Source: ancestry.com
