bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Roster > Other WWII Era Dead, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 9 Feb 2023.
Listees in this two-part webpage are not included in the Roster Records portion of the WWII Roster module but are included in the Roster Residences portion.
Part 1 - Deaths While in Service
  • The official United States WWII period began on 7 December 1941 and ended on 31 December 1946.
  • Those listed below died while in service either shortly before or shortly after this period, but nevertheless were found elsewhere in lists of WWII dead and in my opinion warrant inclusion here.​​​
Pottawattamie Area Deaths While in Service Shortly Before or Shortly After World War II
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† Goltry, Clayton Arthur (served as Galtry Clayton A), SN 6-863-125, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 25 Jan 1915 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Charles A. Goltry & Cora Marie Tillman of Glenwood; entered service 18 Feb 1937 from Glenwood; reenlisted 18 Feb 1940; bur. Glenwood Cem.
  • Anti-Tank Troop, 2nd Cavalry Regt., Ft. Riley, KS; DNB 2 Jul 1941 at Fitzsimmons Army Hosp., Aurora, CO. 
  • Notes: appears on 1946 War Dept. list of WWII deaths for Mills Co., IA.

† Hazard, Harry Edward, SN 2-380-471, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 2 Jun 1899 Bassett, Rock Co., NE; s/o Frank E. Hazard (d. 1904) & Nettie H. Link; bur. Atlantic Cem., Cass Co.
  • d. 3 Mar 1941 Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX.
  • Notes: WWI veteran of 90th Inf. Regt., 20th Inf. Div.; appears on 1946 War Dept. list of WWII deaths for Cass Co., IA.

† Olesen, Margaret Frances, SN L-703453, US Army WAC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Oct 1913 Avoca, Pott. Co.; d/o Jens C. Olesen & Lillie Maassen of Avoca; entered service 10 Oct 1943 from Avoca; bur. Graceland Cem., Avoca.
  • Asst. Adjutant, Ground General School, Ft. Riley, KS; d. 19 Jul 1947, Brooke Army Hospital, San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX, nephritis.
  • Notes: sister of Herbert Olesen, life-long resident of Avoca; secretary of Pottawattamie County #2 Draft Board in Avoca before enlisting; appears in the Gold Star section of Service Record for World War II, Avoca and Community.
Part 2 - Pottawattamie Area Deaths After Release from World War II Service
  • Below sep. denotes separation from service; this was generally a discharge but sometimes a change from active duty to reserve status. Elsewhere, Big Pigeon's WWII Roster module uses (vet.) for veteran. 
  • We will never know how many of these deaths were attributable to psychic or physical wounds incurred during military service.
  • The major source for this webpage is ancestry.com's database Iowa WWII Bonus Case Files for Beneficiaries.
  • The term service related cause in the bonus case files can be misleading. It often means the individual became ill before separation, not that military service caused the illness. 
  • Currently the latest death date herein is 14 December 1949. ​
Pottawattamie Area Early Deaths after Separation from World War II Service (61 deaths)
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† Adams, David Jackson, SN 961-57-24, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • b. 15 Sep 1925 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o Oscar J. Adams & Sarah E. McIntosh; entered service 12 Dec 1943 from Missouri Valley; sep. 4 May 1946; m. Jacqueline M. Brewer 1946, one child; bur. Rose Hill Cem., Missouri Valley.
  • foreign service Dec 1944 - Apr 1946, unit unknown; d. 29 Aug 1947 rural Missouri Valley; lack of oxygen while working in a deep well.

† Aylsworth, James Franklin, SN 37-472-721, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 23 Oct 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o William A. Aylsworth & Barbara A. Grieder; m. Wanda P. Henderson 1939, two children; entered service 9 Feb 1943 from Co. Bluffs, sep. 23 Dec 1944; bur. location unknown.
  • 698th Medical Collecting Co., Camp Rucker, AL; d. 18 Nov 1947 at home, Co. Bluffs; coronary occlusion.

† Barritt, Glen Hough, SN 322-05-01, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 8 Jan 1904 Crescent, Pott. Co.; s/o Burl C. Barritt (d. 1940) & Stella M. Hough; m. Vay I. Stauffer 1923, three children; entered service 25 Jan 1944 from Co. Bluffs, sep. Nov 1945; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • foreign service Oct 1944 - Nov 1945, unit unknown; d. 5 Aug 1949 Co. Bluffs; metastasized lung cancer.

† Baxter, Robert Dale, SN 316-38-05, US Navy, Mills & Pott. Cos.
  • b. 28 Jan 1916 Hastings, Mills Co.; s/o Harry C. Baxter & Bertha M. Bailey (d. 1916); after mother's death, her three children lived with Baxter grandparents in Hastings through early 1920s, moving to father and stepmother's household in Co. Bluffs bef. 1928; entered service 25 Sep 1939 from Co. Bluffs; sep. & admitted to Veterans Hosp. 17 Jun 1947; m. Miriam E. Bell of Waverly, IA in King Co., WA 1945; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Served on USS Langley, USS Childs, USS William B. Preston, USS Cortland, & USS Tranquility; Coxswain on Preston, a seaplane tender, when it left Cavite, Philippines on 30 Nov 1941; d. 18 Jul 1948 San Fernando Valley Veterans Hosp., Los Angeles, CA; tuberculosis diagnosed in 1945.

† Bichel, Edward Henry, SN 37-121-114, US Army Air Force, Mills Co.
  • b. 16 Feb 1910, Oak Twp., Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o William A. Bichel (d. 1935) & Anna C. Kay (d. 1913) of Oak Twp.; entered service 20 Apr 1942; sep. 28 Sep 1945; bur. Mineola Cem., Mills Co.
  • 335th Bomb Sqdn., 95th Bomb Gp., Eighth Air Force, based at Horham Airfield, Suffolk, England; d. 9 Jun 1949 in hospital, Co. Bluffs; effects of alcoholism.

† Bird, John Henry Jr., SN 18-001-201, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 20 Mar 1916 Yuma Co., CO; s/o John H. Bird Sr. (d. 1916) & Lilly B. Stilwell; family returned to Irwin, Shelby Co. after father's death; entered service 16 Dec 1940 from Irwin via Ft. Logan, CO; sep. 24 Aug 1943; bur. Rose Hill Cem., Kirkman, Shelby Co.
  • served with Shipping Co., Armored Replacement Training Ctr., Ft. Knox, KY; d. 24 Jan 1948 at Veterans Hosp., Hines, Cook Co., IL after 3.5 month hospitalization; Hodgkins disease diagnosed while in service.

​† Blackwell, Kenneth Chester, SN 321-46-19, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • b. 3 Jan 1919 Stickney, Maries Co., MO; s/o Albert L. Blackwell & Ada V. Bell; family moved to Shelby Co. in early 1920s; entered service 20 Aug 1940 from Defiance, Shelby Co.; sep. 19 Jul 1947; reenlisted on unknown date; bur. Harlan Cem., Shelby Co.
  • served on USS Waxhaw (AN-91), USS Marblehead (CL-12), and USS Charles R. Ware (DD-685) and at Great Lakes Naval Training Station at time of death; d. 8 Nov 1948 Waukegan, Lake Co., IL; auto went out of control after passing, left the road, and hit a tree.​​

† Bray, Gordon Lee, SN 37-653-155, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Oct 1922 Linton Twp., Allamakee Co.; s/o Glen V. Bray & Ruby Dundee; family moved to Weston, Pott. Co. in late 1920s; entered service 5 Jan 1943 from Rt. 3, Co. Bluffs; separated 21 Sep 1944; m. Annabelle S. Coffelt 1946, one stepchild; bur. Neola Twp. Cem.
  • 327th Harbor Craft Co., Army Transportation Corps, stationed in Charleston, SC; did not accompany unit when it left for the CBI Theater in Mar 1944; disabled, d. 16 Oct 1948 Mercy Hospital, Co. Bluffs of nephritis; living at Rt. 1, Underwood, Pott. Co. at time of death. 

† Brooks, Newell Harvey, SN 621-90-41, US Naval Aviation, Pott. Co.
  • b. 23 Jun 1925 Co. Bluffs; s/o Harvey L. Brooks & Irene M. Wallraf; entered service 19 Jun 1923 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 4 Apr 1946; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • stationed at Naval Air Station, Hilo, Territory of Hawaii Mar 1944 - Mar 1946; d. 27 Dec 1948 Mercy Hospital, Co. Bluffs, suffered from rheumatic fever; gunshot suicide.

† Burkhalter, John Winfield, SN  37-447-802, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 30 Mar 1922 Lewis, Cass Co.; s/o Bernard Lyle Burkhalter Sr. & Letha G. Mudra; entered service 14 Dec 1942 from Lewis; sep. 19 Nov 1945; bur. Oakwood Cem., Lewis.
  • ETO service in Hq. Battery, 46th FA Bn., 5th Inf. Div. & in divisional artillery, 103rd Inf. Div.; d. 24 Feb 1946 three miles E of Walnut, Pott. Co.; killed instantly with crushed skull in a traffic accident.

† Cary, Harry Keith, SN 37-763-588, US Army, Pott. & Cass Cos.
  • b. 4 Oct 1922 rural Carson, Grove Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Robert L. Cary & Lenore Bolton; family moved to rural Griswold, Wright Twp., Pott. Co. in late 1920s; entered service 5 Mar 1945 from Griswold; sep. 7 Jul 1946; service credited to Cass Co.; m. Thelma L. Woolard Dec 1944, one child; bur. Carson Cem.
  • service details unknown; d. 25 May 1948 near Griswold, Waveland Twp., Pott. Co.; truck overturned on highway, crushed chest.

† Casson, John Raymond Jr., SN 17-063-992, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 May 1920 Rt. 1, Neola, Hardin Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o John R. Casson Sr. & Margaret C. Underwood; entered service 20 Apr 1942 from Hardin Twp.; sep. 16 Feb 1946; bur. Hardin Twp. Cem.
  • 2518th Army Air Force Base Unit, Central Flying Training Command; d. 3 May 1949 Hardin Twp. 12 miles E of Co. Bluffs on Highway 6; auto left the road and rolled over.

† Champlin, Harold Joy, SN 37-260-821, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Dec 1918 Co. Bluffs; s/o William H. Champlin & Emma C. Schneider; entered service 9 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; two overseas tours; invalided home Aug 1945; separated 16 Oct 1945; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • military service details unknown, d. 31 Mar 1946 Douglas Co. Hospital, Omaha; suicide. 

† Combs, Richard Aaron, SN O-733148, US Army Air Force, Mills Co.
  • ​b. 16 Apr 1920 Nebraska City, Otoe Co., NE; s/o Aaron B. Combs & Sylvia Ann Swisher; family moved to Pacific Jct., Mills Co. in 1920s; entered service 10 Sep 1940 from Pacific Jct.; sep. 25 Oct 1945; m. Margery D. (Phillips) Taylor 1949, one stepchild; bur. Glenwood Cem., Mills Co.
  • overseas service Mar 1943 - Apr 1944, unit unknown; 236th AAF Combat Crew Training Squadron (VH) at Pyote AFB, Monanans, TX; d. 24 Sep 1949 Omaha, NE; gunshot suicide after killing wife.
​
† Curnes, Alvin Hezekiah, SN 648-65-57, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 19 Jan 1906 Osceola, Clarke Co.; s/o Fred F. Curnes & Anna L. Valentine; m. Inez M. Goodrich 1936; moved to Co. Bluffs ~ 1940; entered service 14 Oct 1942 from Co. Bluffs; separated 29 Sep 1944; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 61st Naval Construction Bn., South Pacific; d. 25 Sep 1948 Co. Bluffs; cerebral hemorrhage.

† Curran, Walter Francis, SN 648-59-74, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 5 Oct 1909 Portsmouth, Shelby Co.; s/o Walter F. Curran (d. 1928) & Alice C. Walker; m. Eilene Stapleton 1930 in Mills Co., div.; m. Irene Lappe 1935, one child, div. Nov 198; m. Edna May Scott Nov 1948 in Omaha, two stepchildren; entered service Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 2 Oct 1945; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • served in South Pacific on USS Steele (DE-8); d. 12 May 1949 at home Co. Bluffs; suicide by rifle, had been despondent since leaving service.
​
† Desmond, Bernard Patrick, SN 37-112-517, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 10 May 1916 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o Patrick J. Desmond (d. 1946) & Margaret Rebecca Leslie (d. 1934); family lived in Atlantic until father retired; entered service 2 Feb 1942 from Des Moines, sep. 1 Dec. 1945; m. Lois M. Hess 1947 Co. Bluffs; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • overseas service 28 Mar 1944 - 20 Nov 1945, unit unknown; d. 10 May 1947 Washington, Washington Co.; fire in railroad bunk car.
  • Notes: Nephew of George Leslie, from whom my parents bought our Avoca, Iowa farm.

† Donahoe, John "Jack", SN 37-029-424, US Army, Plymouth Co.
  • b. 16 Oct 1910 LeMars, Plymouth Co.; s/o John S. Donahoe & Margaret E. Kern; entered service 6 Sep 1942 from LeMars; sep. 31 Jan 1945; m. Helen M. Hansen of Harrison Co. Dec 1945 & settled in Kansas City, two children; bur. Memorial Cem., LeMars.
  • 1755 Service Command Unit, Camp Clark POW camp, near Nevada, MO; d. 6 Apr 1948 Kansas City, MO; carbon monoxide poisoning.

† Edie, Marion Robert, SN 317-06-35, US Navy, Mills Co.
  • b. 11 Apr 1916 Emerson, Mills Co.; s/o David A. Edie (d. 1941) & Hebe L. Johnson; entered service 18 Nov 1940 from Emerson; sep. 14 Jun 1944; bur. Emerson Cem.
  • 133rd Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; d. 14 Dec 1949 Sioux City, Woodbury Co.; spine broken in natural gas explosion at Swift & Co.; 21 died.

† Edie, Roland Lewis, SN 20-706-760, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 30 May 1918 Emerson, Mills Co.; s/o David A. Edie (d. 1941) & Hebe L. Johnson; entered service 25 Mar 1944 from rural Emerson; sep. 22 Mar 1947; bur. Emerson Cem.
  • overseas service Jan 1945 - Feb 1946 on USS Colbert (APA-145) in Pacific; d. 4 Jun 1947 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; section hand fell off railroad car on Chicago Burlington & Quincy RR bridge and drowned in East Nishnabotna River during June 1947 Iowa floods.

† Fagan, Burnett Cross, SN 37-260-687, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 5 Sep 1920 Page, Holt Co., NE; s/o Ralph M. Fagan (b. Shelby, Shelby Co.) & Mary L. Cross; father Methodist minister; family lived in numerous rural Nebraska locations before moving to SW Iowa in late 1930s; entered service 9 Sep 1942 from Elliott, Montgomery Co.; sep. (invalided out) 17 Jul 1945; bur. Hillside Cem., Elliott.
  • overseas service Jan 1944 - Jan 1945, theater & unit unknown; shrapnel wound Jun 1944; d. 17 Jan 1946 Methodist Hosp., Omaha, metastised testicular cancer.

† Falconer, Max Clyde, SN 871-97-90, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • b. 9 Feb 1925 Corning, Adams Co; s/o Clyde R. Falconer & Martha M. Kerkmann; family moved to Anita, Cass Co. in late 1920s; entered service 23 Jul 1943 from Anita; sep. 9 Apr 1946; bur. Evergreen Cem., Anita.
  • stationed at US Navy Operating Base Adak, Aleutian Islands, Alaska Territory; d 22 Jun 1946 Anita, suicide from gunshot.

† Fedor, Joseph James, SN 872-24-08, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 4 Oct 1925 Omaha, NE; s/o Frank Fedor & Rose Takas; family moved to Co. Bluffs bef 1930; entered service 12 Nov 1943 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 15 Apr 1946; m. Bertha Lorraine Jacobsen 1946, div.; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • USS Sumter (APA-52), Pacific Theater; d. 19 Jan 1949 Pioneer Trail, Lewis Twp., Pott. Co.; car lost control, flipped three times, and hit a light pole.

† Feller, Marvin Julius, SN 872-09-79, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 21 May 1925 rural Honey Creek, Boomer Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Julius J. Feller & Alma M. Reese; family moved to Co. Bluffs in early 1930s; entered service 24 Sep 1943 from Co. Bluffs; released 9 Apr 1946; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • d. 21 Jul 1946, Co. Bluffs; auto accident.

† Fisk, Aaron Ervin, SN 37-121-296, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 23 Jan 1906 Aitkin Co., MN; s/o William Fisk & Mary Susan Cooper of Minnesota; lived Co. Bluffs; m. Frieda Loah Bowen 1926 (d. 1941); two children (d. 1927 & 1945); entered service 21 Apr 1942 from Co. Bluffs; released 3 Aug 1943; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 8th Evacuation Hospital, Morocco; returned to US and discharged; d. 24 Jan 1945, Veteran’s Hospital, Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE, organ failure.

† From, Glen Ferdinand, SN 37-694-403, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 4 May 1900 Omaha; s/o Charles F. From & Hilma Nelson, both b. Sweden; m. Mildred V. Mack 1933 in Pott. Co., one child; entered service 3 Apr 1944 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 6 Dec 1945; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 3706 AAF Base Unit, Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, TX; d. 20 Jan 1948 Co. Bluffs; gastro-intestinal hemorrhage.

† Gardiner, Kenneth Earl, SN O-327472, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 16 Oct 1898 Essex, Page Co.; s/o Everett Gardiner & Bertha Griffiths (d. 1937); m. Eva A. Rumery 1922, one child; entered service 13 Jan 1941 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 15 Aug 1945; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 440th Army Air Force Base Unit, Santa Maria CA, Fourth Air Force, no overseas duty; d. 13 Mar 1946 in McAllen, Hidalgo Co., TX; service-related myocarditis.

† Goodreau, William Walter, SN 20-706-598, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b.7 Jun 1912 Co. Bluffs; s/o Joseph H. Goodreau & Rosa J. Russell; entered service 16 Jan 1942 from Co. Bluffs; separated 8 Nov 1945; bur. Martin Chapel Cem., Pacific Jct., Mills Co.
  • ​HQ Co, 704th Tank Bn.; Battalion campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe; d. 6 Mar 1948 Co. Bluffs; crushed under railroad car while at work.​

† Hadfield, George Chester, SN 286136, US Marine Corps, Pott. & Harrison Cos.
  • b. 11 Nov 1912 rural Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o George A. Hadfield & Susie M. Moffatt; family moved to rural Missouri Valley, Harrison Co. in the early 1920s, to Clay Co. in the late 1930s, to Magnolia, Harrison Co. in the early 1940s, & then to Co. Bluffs; entered service 24 Jun 1940 from Greenville, Clay Co.; sep. Apr 1944 & moved to Omaha; bur. Neola Twp. Cem.
  • served with 5th Marine Defense Bn. as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade on Iceland Jul 1941-Mar 1942 and in the South Pacific at Funafuti in the Ellice Islands Oct 1942-Nov 1943; entered Hines VA Hosp., Cook Co., IL 19 Oct 1944; d. 7 Jan 1945 at Hines; cancer.

​† Hanfeld, Leo Adolph, SN unknown, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 13 Feb 1907 Wellfleet, Lincoln Co., NE; s/o Henry C. Hanfeld & Marie L. Edler; family moved to Mills Co. in 1910s; m. Dorothy P. Rager Apr 1930 in Mills Co., four children, div.; lived in Larimer Co., CO for much of 1930s; entered service at an unknown date, sep. from Schick Army Hosp., Clinton, IA 10 Aug 1945; bur. Glenwood Cem., Mills Co.
  • served in the ETO as an infantryman in an unknown unit; d. 12 Sep 1945 in hospital, Moline, IL; cardiovascular causes.

† Havens, Oscar Olin, SN 37-121-344, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Jul 1918 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Joshua Sill Havens (d. 1936) & Ethel Esther Denton (d. 1937); entered service 21 Apr 1942 from Macedonia, Pott. Co.; separated 29 Nov 1945; bur. Macedonia Cem.
  • 249th General Hospital, New Guinea and Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines; d. 4 Jan 1946 lime quarry near Macedonia; crushing chest injury.

† Jacobsen, William Claus "Bill", SN 37-193-485, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 18 Oct 1911 Valentine, Cherry Co., NE; s/o Claus H. Jacobsen (d. 1922) & Margaretha Ohlson; family moved from Avoca, Pott. Co. to Cherry Co. ~ 1910, returned to Avoca after father's death, and moved to Harlan, Shelby Co. in late 1930s; entered service 29 Apr 1942 from Harlan; sep. 31 Aug 1945; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • Hdqrs. & Service Co., 815 Engineer Bn., MTO; d. 10 Aug 1947 Harlan; murder, stabbed to death in the basement of a bar.

†  Jobe, John Arthur, SN 154-62-79, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • b. 30 Jun 1899 Henry Co.; s/o George T. Jobe (d. 1944) & Linnie M. Cook (d. 1945); the George Jobe family lived in various locations in southern Iowa and briefly in Texas & Nebraska before moving to California in the 1930s; m. Virgil D. Starr 1923, four children; the John A. Jobe family lived in Grove Twp., Pott. Co. before moving to Lewis, Cass Co. in the early 1930s; entered service 20 Jun 1942 from Lewis; sep. 5 Apr 1945; bur. Oakwood Cem., Lewis.
  • served on USS La Vallette (DD-448) in the Pacific; d. 21 Feb 1949 in Lewis from a cerebral embolism.

† Joy, Gene Raymond, SN 860-19-47, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • b. 30 Aug 1921 Woodbine, Harrison Co.; s/o Atlas A. Joy & Elsie L. Mott, both Harrison Co. natives; family lived in Harrison & Pott. Cos.; m. Ines Bell Dean of Arkansas 1943 in Nemaha Co., KS, one child; entered service 28 Feb 1944 from Rt. 1, Honey Creek, Pott. Co.; sep. 23 Jan 1946; bur. Logan Cem., Harrison Co.
  • sea duty on patrol craft PC-599 and with Pacific Fleet School Station, Pearl Harbor; d. 29 Sep 1949 Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Co. Bluffs; peritonitis from appendicitis.

† Klinkefus, Harold Emerson, SN 37-755-307, US Army Air Force, Shelby Co.
  • b. 12 Nov 1914 Shelby, Shelby Co.; s/o Leonard F. Klinkefus (d. 1921) & Pearl J. Pulver; ss/o Elmer H. Sahl of Harlan; m. Myrtle A. Andersen of Harlan 1937, two children; entered service from Harlan 15 Nov 1944; sep. 5 Nov 1948, joined Iowa Highway Patrol; bur. Jacksonville Cem., Shelby Co. 
  • served with 59th Air Depot Gp., Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX; d. 18 May 1949 rural Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; his Highway Patrol vehicle hit a truck that had stopped abruptly and jackknifed while avoiding another vehicle in left-turn lane.

† Knudsen, Alfred Raymond, SN 17-165-468, US Army, Pott. Co. 
  • b. 21 Oct 1924 rural Neola; Pott. Co.; s/o Laurits P. Knudsen & Alma M. Petersen; entered service 10 Dec 1942 from Co. Bluffs; released 22 Feb 1946; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 158th Inf. Regt.; d. 21 Jul 1946 Co. Bluffs; auto accident.

† Lovejoy, Harry Wayne, SN 37-260-325, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 21 Jul 1915 Pattonsburg, Daviess Co., MO; s/o James M. Lovejoy (d. 1936) & Sarah I. Price (d. 1931); m. Alyce L. Clark Sep 1944 in Sebastian Co., AR, two children; entered service 5 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; sep 30 Dec 1945; became truck driver living in Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • overseas service in ETO Dec 1944 - Dec 1945; Battery C, 955th FA Bn., d. 22 Aug 1948 Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Co. Bluffs; burns suffered in a 19 Aug accident on a highway near Glenwood, IA.

† Luxford, Elmer Lee, SN 648-64-91, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Jan 1896 Harper, Keokuk Co.; s/o George W. Luxford & Mary F. Holmes; lived in Cass, Shelby, & Monona Cos.; m. Margaret D. Halloran of Shelby Co. 1919; moved to Co. Bluffs in early 1930s; entered service 11 Oct 1942; discharged 29 Jan 1943; bur. Union Twp. Cem., Defiance, Shelby Co.
  • unit unknown; d. 16 Jan 1945 at home, Co. Bluffs; possible embolism w/ underlying digestive tract ulceration.

† Marsh, Ben Adrian, SN 860-27-66, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 5 Jun 1911 rural Elliott, Pilot Grove Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o George B. Marsh & Grace E. Dewitt; m. Helen L. Mewhirter 1938 (she d. 1939), one child; m. Mildred A. (Grace) Wilder 1940; entered service 17 Mar 1944 from Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; sep. 19 Dec 1945; bur. Hillside Cem., Elliott.
  • no overseas duty, stationed at Naval Repair Base, San Diego; d. 4 Jul 1946 Dimmick Twp., LaSalle Co., IL from explosion while welding a pipeline; skull fracture, broken ribs, crushed chest.

† Messinger, Jack, SN 20-706-202, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 12 Sep 1922 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Herbert R. Messinger & Faye V. Chambers; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Glenwood; sep. 2 Nov 1945; m. Edith M. Roll of Mills Co. Jan 1947 in Brown Co., KS, two children; bur. Glenwood Cem.
  • served with 205th Military Police Co., ETO; d. 8 Nov 1948 Co. Bluffs; meningitis.

† Mills, Eugene Raymond, SN 17-165-280, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Mar 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Curtis F. Mills & Ola L. Busick (div.); m. Norma L. Adams 1942, two children; entered service 3 Dec 1942 from Co. Bluffs, released 17 Nov 1945; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs. 
  • unit unknown, no overseas service; d. 10 Jun 1946 Co. Bluffs; sarcoma.

† Miner, Frank John, SN 37-467-090, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 10 Oct 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Carl A. Ogren & Ruth A. Wood (div.); ss/o Frederick R. Miner; m. Darlene E. Belt, two children; entered service 19 Dec 1942 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 16 Nov 1945; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • served overseas Jul 1944 - Feb 1945 and with the 2511th AAF Base Unit, Bryan, TX; d. 16 Feb 1948 near Honey Creek, Pott. Co.; crushed under his Meadow Gold Dairy truck when it overturned on icy highway.

​† Niemann, Alvin Vernon, SN 37-126-344, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 6 Mar 1910 Co. Bluffs; s/o Fredrick C. Niemann & Emma Meister of Avoca, Pott. Co.; entered service 1 Jun 1942 from Avoca; returned to US from North Africa because of illness; separated 6 Aug 1943 at Deshon Gen. Hospital, Butler, Butler Co., PA; bur. Graceland Cem., Avoca.
  • medical detachment, 156th Inf. Regt.; d. 14 Mar 1944, VA Hospital, Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE; perforated gastric ulcer.

† O’Connell, John Ambrose, SN 37-464-476, US Army, Mills & Pott. Cos.
  • b. 6 Sep 1910 Norwalk Twp., rural Underwood, Pott. Co.; s/o John O’Connell & Emma M. Hannifan (d. 1928); raised in Pott. Co.; after mother's death, moved to Omaha w/ father; m. Elsie Edmundson 1931 in Omaha; moved from Omaha to Glenwood, Mills Co. in late 1930s; entered service Nov 1942 from Glenwood; separated Oct 1945; bur. Glenwood Cem. 
  • Co. B, 31st Armored Bn., 4th Armored Div.;  d. 2 Aug 1946 Glenwood, Mills Co; coronary artery disease.

† Parks, Ward Merritt, SN 941-02-35, US Navy, Pott. & Harrison Cos.
  • b. 21 May 1921 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Samuel T. Parks (d. 1936) & Olive M. Debolt (d. 1926); Ward moved to Washington Twp., Harrison Co. in late 1930s; m. Phyllis I. Chapman of Persia, Harrison Co. Dec 1941; worked for Curtis-Wright in Columbus, OH Dec 1941 - Jan 1944; entered service 20 Jan 1944 from Persia at Columbus, OH; sep. 4 Feb 1946; returned to Persia & became a power company lineman; bur. Valley View Cem., Persia.
  • served in West Pacific on LSM-246, LSM-219 & LST-880; ; d. 14 Jul 1947 rural Henderson, Mills Co.; electrocuted when head made contact with a high-voltage wire.

† Petersen, John Thomas Grant, SN 316-38-73, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 28 May 1916 Nashville, Washington Co., NE; s/o Oswald S. Petersen & Minnie I. Shipley; moved to Co. Bluffs as a small child; married Marjorie _____; entered service 13 Apr 1942 from Co. Bluffs; released 16 Nov 1945; bur. Mt. Hope Cem., Omaha.
  • previous Navy service 1938-41; on fleet oiler USS Kankakee (AO-39) 1942 & 1943; at US Navy Advanced Base 140, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Nov 1943; on attact transport USS Cecil (APA-96); d. 6 Jan 1946 Corona, Riverside Co., CA; auto accident.

† Philson, James Harold, SN 37-035-976, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 1 Apr 1917 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o James Harold Philson Sr. & Cecil L. Sunderland; family moved from Jackson Twp., Shelby Co. to Harlan in late 1920s and to California in late 1930s, James Harold remained in Harlan; entered service 12 Mar 1941 from Harlan; sep. 26 Oct 1945; m. Norma I. Frerichs Feb 1947; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • served in Medical Corps at 22nd General Hospital; d. 17 Dec 1947 Nebraska Methodist Hospital, Omaha; metastised lung & brain cancer.

† Pitt, Sidney Bird, SN 17-164-679, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 20 Dec 1901 rural Persia, Cass T., Harrison Co.; s/o Milton B. Bird & Caroline J. Gilson; family moved to Crescent, Pott. Co. in the early 1920s and parents retired to Logan, Harrison Co. in the 1940s; left Crescent farm ~1941 to begin farming in the Glenwood, Mills Co. area; entered service 6 Nov 1942 from Glenwood.; sep. 8 May 1944, resumed farming in Glenwood; bur. Crescent Cem.
  • 957th Two-Engine Flying Training Sqdn., Hobbs Army Air Base, NM; d. 8 Jul 1948 rural Glenwood; tractor overturned.

†  Rannells, Charles Henry Jr., SN unknown, US Army, Crawford Co.
  • b. 30 Mar 1913 rural Dunlap, Boyer Twp., Crawford Co.; s/o Charles H. Rannells & Winifred Huie; m. Helen C. Fitzgerald of Iowa City 28 Dec 1939 in Pittsburg, PA, one child; entered service at unknown date; bur. Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap, Harrison Co.
  • physician assigned to Camp Barkley, Abilene, TX; released from service Apr 1942; d. 23 Sep 1942 in Evanston, IL from asthma.

† Rasmussen, Clarence Frank, SN 321-561, US Marine Corps, Carroll Co. & Charleston Co., SC.
  • b. 25 Apr 1917 rural Marne, Cass Co.; s/o Frank R. Rasmussen & Eva M. Irwin (d. 1934); family moved to Carroll, Carroll Co. before 1920; m. Katherine J. Cottoneg 1934, div. 1942; entered service 1942 from Atlantic, Cass Co.; released 26 Sep 1945; m. Lois C. Spires in Charleston, SC 1945, one child; bur. Bethany Cem., Charleston.
  • served with Marine Barracks Detachment, Navy Ammunition Depot, Oahu, HI; d. 16 Aug 1946 off Monck's Pt., Berkeley Co., SC; drowned while fishing in a small boat.

† Rohlfs, Frederick Theodore, SN O-339452, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Nov 1913 Avoca, Pott. Co.; s/o Hans G. Rohlfs (d. 1933) & Emmaline E. Bleich of Avoca; m. Thelma J. Lewis 1939, two children; entered service 30 Jun 1941 from Afton, Union Co.; released from active duty 16 May 1943; bur. Graceland Cem., Avoca.
  • Co. E, 27th QM Regt.; d. 24 Jun 1944 near Lorimer, Union Co.; auto accident.

† Schmitz, William Peter, SN 940-455, US Marine Corps, Shelby Co.
  • b. 6 Oct 1922 Panama, Shelby Co.; s/o Peter Schmitz and Catherine Windeshausen; entered service 28 Feb 1944 from Panama; sep. 23 Mar 1946; m. Frances Frederick 1946; bur. St. Marys Cem., Panama.
  • unit unknown; left US Sep 1944 and returned Mar 1945; leg amputated in US Naval Hospital, Long Beach, CA; d. 25 Sep 1946 at home in Panama, Shelby Co.; osteosarcoma.

† Smith, Jack F., SN 37-189-684, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. NE Kansas 1909; s/o Charles F. "Frank" Smith & Margaret F. Medsker; family moved to Co. Bluffs area in late 1910s and to Glenwood, Mills Co. in 1920s; m. Esther P. Boyce 1928, one child, div.; m. Mary A. Buffington 1933, div; m. Nellie E. Storer 1944; entered service 26 Mar 1942 from Glenwood; sep. 4 Sep 1943; bur. Glenwood Cem.
  • overseas service 26 May 1942 - 23 Sep 1943; Battery B, 89th FA Bn., 25th Inf. Div.; d. 1 Jan 1948 in VA Hospital, Lincoln, NE; hemorrhage of gastric & duodenal ulcers.
  • Notes: Given birthdate of 10 Sep 1910 is incorrect as Jack is 7 months in the May 1910 census.

† Sobbing, Ivan Albert, SN 37-422-359, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 24 Nov 1921 Hopkins, Nodaway Co., MO; s/o Joseph W. Sobbing & Myrtle M. Ridenour; family moved to Ross Twp., Taylor Co. in early 1920s, returned to Nodaway Co. in early 1930s, and then moved to Emerson, Mills Co. in 1941; entered service 15 Jul 1943 from Rt. 3, Shenandoah, Page Co.; m. Arlene M. Walborn Jul 1945 in Lebanon Co., PA, two children; separated from service 6 Nov 1945; moved to rural Emerson, Mills Co. after separation; bur. Shearer Cem., Braddyville, Page. Co.
  • ​overseas service Aug 1944 - Jun 1945 w/ Co. L, 377th Inf. Regt., 95th Inf. Div., Third & Ninth Armies, ETO; d. 21 Aug 1948 in hospital, Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; neck broken in collision W of Red Oak on Highway 34, father also died.

† Spidell, George William, SN 321-58-95, US Navy, Fremont Co.
  • b. 23 Jan 1924 Payne Jct., Fremont Co., IA; s/o Harry A. Spidell & Mary H. Rumery (d. 1929); raised in grandparents' households in Fremont Co.; entered service 29 Jan 1941 at age 17 years 6 days from Catholic Soldiers Orphans Home, Davenport, IA; sep. 1 Apr 1947; m. Ruby May Farr in Western Australia Nov 1943, two children; bur. Hamburg Cem., Fremont Co.
  • served on the Gearing (DD-710); Cabrilla (SS-278); Greene (DD-711); Hardhead (SS-365); Mero (SS-378); Holland (AS-3); & Kenneth D. Bailey (DD-713); d. 1 Sep 1948 in hospital, Hamburg; forearm crushed in auto accident & died from shock of amputation.

† Sternberg, Herbert Nicholas, SN 37-442-985, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 16 Feb 1904 or 11 Mar 1905 Omaha, NE; foster son of Louis J. Sternberg & Johanna R. Loehr of Defiance, Shelby Co.; in Marine Corps in San Diego 1930, farmhand in Montana 1935 & 1940; entered service 7 Nov 1942 from Defiance; released from inactive service 11 Jun 1943; burial unknown.
  • Co. E, 5th Inf. Regt., no overseas duty; d. 19 Mar 1944 Omaha; unknown service-related causes.

† Strowig, Donald Jack, SN 37-470-435, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 30 Jun 1923 Creston, Union Co.; s/o Harry M. Strowig & Hazel T. Klauer, Kansas natives; came to Co. Bluffs as small child; entered service 23 Jan 1943 from Co. Bluffs; released 28 Nov 1945 on total disability; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • unknown anti-aircraft artillery unit, Palau Islands; d. 17 Jun 1946 Mercy Hospital, Co. Bluffs; nephritis & pericarditis.
​
† Thompson, Oral Ray, SN 37-470-458, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 28 Feb 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o Andrew George Thompson & Lettie Tubbs (d. 1924); m. Florence L. Mowrey of Co. Bluffs 1942, two children; entered service 16 Jan 1943 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 8 Nov 1945; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • served in motor pool of Air Force unit at Miami, FL & from Feb-Sep 1945 with 4528 QM Truck Co., ETO; d. 28 Jul 1948 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.;  internal injuries after a dirt grader overturned near Red Oak.

† Wilson, Douglas William, SN 316-42-33, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 23 Dec 1916 Kansas City, MO; adopted s/o John O. Wilson & Dessa M. Knight of Co. Bluffs; m. Inez Irma Madison 1940 (div. 1943); entered service 14 Oct 1940 from Co. Bluffs (possible prior service); sep 20 Dec 1943; bur. Fairview Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • serving on USS Reuben James (DE-153) Jul 1943; d. 28 Dec 1943, eight days after separation, Hines Veterans Hosp., Proviso, Cook Co., IL; unknown service-connected causes.
  • Note: The original Reuben James (DD-245) was sunk by the German submarine U-552 on 31 Oct 1941 before the United States entered WW II.

† Vittitoe, Lloyd Albert, SN 37-735-050, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 26 Sep 1920 Modale, Harrison Co.; s/o George W. Vittitoe & Winnie McAlexander; m. Elizabeth Jean Sublet 1939, two children; entered service 20 Jul 1944 from Modale; bur. Magnolia Cem., Harrison Co.
  • Overseas service with Co. B, 315th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div. in the ETO; sep. 15 Feb 1946; d. 7 Aug 1949 rural Herman, Washington Co., NE; accidental gunshot wound.​

​† Yergey, John Maurice Jr., SN 37-485-859, US Army, Woodbury Co.
  • b. 6 Nov 1907 Co. Bluffs; s/o John M. Yergey Sr. & Charlotte M. Smith; m. Marjorie L. Young 1929; entered service 9 Oct 1943 from Sioux City, Woodbury Co.; no overseas service, separated 24 Jan 1945; bur. Westlawn-Hillcrest Cem., Omaha.
  • Battery B, 618th Field Artillery Bn.; d. 28 Sep 1945 at Vermillion, SD; neck broken in 75 foot fall from grain elevator; salesman for Montgomery Ward estimating paint requirements.
Links to Big Pigeon's Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead Roster > Roster Appendices subpages: ​