Iowans Returning to U.S. on Queen Mary
Ship Is Due On Thursday.
NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP)—The following Iowa soldiers are expected to arrive here Thursday on the Queen Mary.
Authorities emphasized the list is not corrected as of the sailing date, cannot be rechecked on arrival and relatives or friends should not contact the port of debarkation or newspapers for further information. The Iowans follow:
[Excerpt]
Grinnell—Pfc. George E. Gauss.
Source: Des Moines Tribune, Monday, July 30, 1945
George 'Eldred' Gauss & wife Grace
**Eldred's granddaughter, Gretchen Gauss, has graciously shared the above photographs & the book she composed of the letters sent home by Eldred Gauss to his wife, Grace. The following is a quote from Gretchen: "My grandparents lived in Grinnell Iowa and my grandfather served in WWII. When he passed I found a box of letters. My grandmother Grace (Johnson) Gauss (Montezuma) had saved all the letters from George 'Eldred' Gauss. I scanned them all in and created a book. It can be located from the links below. I would be honored if this could be included in the Iowa WWII project!"
George Eldred Gauss
Born: 02 Aug 1914
Died: 21 Jan 1998
Off-site Link to the Book of Letters
To Gretchen—Iowa in WWII is pleased & honored to include your Grandfather’s Tribute page on this website and also the link to his Letters! Thanks for sharing!
**Gretchen shared also--Is it possible to mention that he earned a Purple Heart?
On December 25, 1944 Eldred was wounded in Luxembourg. This would have been during the Battle of the Bulge. Through the letters I learned he was grazed in the head by a bullet, something he never mentioned. The telegram to my grandmother (attached) was not transmitted until Jan 17, 1945. I can't begin to imagine how she felt when she received this document. She was so many miles away in Iowa with three small boys to care for.
WWII Bonus Case File
Enlisted: 08 May 1944
George E. Gauss
Born: 02 Aug 1914
Married
Camp Dodge Herrold
Date of departure from U.S. was 22 Oct 1944
Date of return to the U.S. was 02 Aug 1945.
Date of separation was 11 Oct 1945.
Source: ancestry.com
