bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Roster > Roster Additions > Recent Roster Additions, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated 25 May 2023.
Roster records added to the Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead Roster beginning 15 December 2022.
Added 4 February 2023:
​† Lawson, Herschal Vernon, SN 37-466-733, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 14 Nov 2020 near Hamburg, Fremont Co. or Auburn, Nemaha Co., NE; s/o Vernon S. Lawson & Peggy E. A. Greenlee; entered service 15 Dec 1942 from Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. A, Supply Bn., 14th Armored Div.; DNB 29 May 1943 Camp Chaffee Hosp., Bloomer, Sebastian Co., AR; vehicle accident w/ major spinal injuries.
† Lewis, Harold Joseph, SN 37-698-156, US Army, Audubon Co.
  • b. 28 Sep 1914 rural Elliott, Montgomery Co., IA; s/o John W. Lewis & Mary A. Wright; m. Desda R. Winterstein 1934, four children; entered service 7 Jun 1944 from Exira, Audubon Co., service credited to Audubon Co.; bur. Hillside Cem., Elliott.
  • Co. E, 85th Mountain Inf. Regt., 10th Inf. Div.; KIA 15 Apr 1945 near Castel d’Aiano, 25 miles S of Bologna, Emilia-Romanga, Italy; The MTO > Italy > The Po Valley.
  • Notes: Killed during the Fifth Army breakout from the northern Apennine Mountains into the Po River Valley; Bob Dole of Kansas, also from the 85th Inf. Regt., was seriously injured the previous day.
† Wooten, Harry Thomas, SN 37-241-056, US Army, Atchison Co., MO
  • b. 29 Jul 1923 Atchison Co., MO; s/o Charles W. Wooten & Sadie M. Kingery of Atchison Co.; entered service 16 Nov 1942 from Atchison Co.; bur. Mt. Olive Cem., Fremont Co., IA.
  • Co. B., 50th Armored Inf. Bn., 6th Armored Div., III Corps, Third Army; KIA ~ 26 Jan 1945 (official date 27 Jan)  serving with Task Force Root near Weiswambach, extreme northern Luxembourg; head wound; The ETO > Ardennes/The Bulge > The Bulge Eliminated.

Added 17 December 2022:
† Hemsted, John, SN 39-925-782, US Army, Cass Co. & Bannock Co., ID
  • b. 20 Oct 1913 Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada; s/o Samuel B. Hemsted & Nellie I. Donnelly; Hemsted family moved from rural Griswold, Waveland Twp., Pott. Co. to Saskatchewan in 1910 & returned to rural Griswold, Pleasant Twp., Cass Co. abt. 1925; m. Mildred M. Watson 1934, two children; moved to Pocatello, Bannock Co., ID in late 1930s; entered service unknown date; bur. Atlantic Cem., Cass Co.
  • Co. C, 60th Inf. Regt., 9th Inf. Div., V Corps, First Army; KIA 3 Feb 1945 in Monschau Forest between Monschau & Gemünd, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany; The ETO > Siegfried Line 1945 > First US Effort.
† Platt, Donald Aris, SN 37-193-185, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 20 Jun 1920 Warsaw, Benton Co., MO; s/o Grant Platt & Columbia M. Kidwell; family moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in 1928; m. Dorothy M. Lantz, one child; entered service 28 Apr 1942 from Rt. 1, Red Oak; bur. Ardennes American Cem., Liege, Belgium.
  • 67th Armored Regt., 2nd Armored Div., XIX Corps, First Army; KIA 6 Oct 1944, probably near Wurm River, N of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; The ETO > War of Attrition > Rhineland 1944 > Aachen.
† Larson, Darwin Norville, SN 37-435-093, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 29 Jun 1909 rural Grant, Douglas Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o Lars O. Larson & Rebecca Mae Irwin (d. 1942); Douglas Twp. resident through 1940; entered service 9 Oct 1942; bur. Luxembourg American Cem., E of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
  • 737th Tank Bn., attached to 5th Inf. Div., XII Corps, Third Army; KIA 23 Feb. 1945 approaching Bitburg, Rhineland-Palatine, Germany; The ETO > Siegfried Line 1945 > XII Corps to Bitburg.
† Gregg, William Arnold (served as Barney W. Gregg), SN 37-681-006, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 21 May 1919 Rantoul, Franklin Co., KS; s/o Earl A Gregg (d. 1921) & Effie F. Gregg; moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in early 1930s; m. Frances M. Frank 1937 in Council Bluffs, one child; entered service 29 Oct 1943 from Red Oak; bur. Netherlands American Cem., Margraten, E of Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands.
  • Co. A, 23rd Armored Inf. Bn., 7th Armored Div., Ninth Army, attached to British VIII Corps, British Second Army; KIA 28 Oct 1944 near Neerkant, E of Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands; The ETO > War of Attrition > Netherlands 1944.
† Johnson, Myron Paul Edward, SN 37-194-564, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 9 Jun 1919 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Edward C. Johnson & Althea Holmberg; entered service 8 May 1942 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • 33rd Armored Inf. Regt., 3rd Armored Div., VII Corps, Third Army; DNB 1 May 1945 in British hospital, Belgium; malnutrition & pneumonia; The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany.
† Roach, Frederick Vincent, SN 37-190-260, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 3 May 1914 SW of Red Oak, West Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o George V. Roach & Mary C. Borsdorf; entered service 3 Apr 1942 from Rt. 4, Red Oak; bur. St. Mary’s Cem., Red Oak.
  • 358th Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div., VIII Corps, First Army; WIA 23 Jul 1944 N of Periers & NW of St. Lo, Manche, Normandy, France; DOW 24 Jul 1944; The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy, July 1944.
† Crook, Lyle William SN O-1286445, US Army, Cerro Gordo & Montgomery Cos. 
  • b. 11 Feb 1913 rural Sheffield, Franklin Co.; s/o Frank J. Crook & Esther L. Leider; entered service 8 Feb 1941 from Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., service credited to Montgomery Co.; m. Mabel M. Hansen 1934, one child, div.; m. Eva Stoma 1942, one child; bur. Rhone American Cem., Draguignan, Provence, France.
  • 146th Inf. Regt., 36th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 28 Aug 1944 Montelimar, Drôme, Rhône-Alpes, southern France; The ETO > Liberation > Southern France.
  • Service Notes: Posthumous Silver Star.
​† Doggett, Clair Quentin, SN 37-267-573, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 13 May 1922 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Ole A. Doggett & Elizabeth J. Houchin; entered service Oct 1942 from Red Oak; bur. Morton Mills Cem., S of Grant, Montgomery Co.
  • 132nd Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., II Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 8 Feb 1944 near Cassino, Lazio, Italy; First Battle of Mt. Cassino - Italy > Cassino/the Gustav Line.
† Shrimpton, Wayne Ralph, SN 20-705-544, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 22 Jul 1920 SE of Clarinda, East River Twp., Page Co.; s/o Roswell R. Shrimpton & Martha A. Rhodes; family moved to Villisca, Montgomery Co. in early 1930s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Villisca; married Betty J. Garey Jul 1941 in Nodaway Co., MO; bur. Villisca Cem.
  • Transferred from 168th Inf. Regt. to 133rd Inf. Regt., both 34th Inf. Div., II Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 1 Dec 1943 near Venafro, Molise, Italy; Italy > To the Gustav Line.
​† Thompson, Robert O’Neal, SN 20-704-031, US Army, Page & Montgomery Cos.
  • b. 12 Oct 1920 Clarinda, Page Co.; s/o Harry N. Thompson & Bessie J. Meads; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Clarinda, service credited to Montgomery Co.; bur. Ardennes American Cem., Liege, Belgium.
  • Anti-tank Co.,168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., II Corps; POW 17 Feb 1943; DNB 22 Dec 1944 Stalag 3B, Fürstenberg am Oder, Brandenberg, Germany; POW from Battle of Sidi Bou Zid - North Africa > Tunisia.

​Added 16 December 2022:
† McGrew, Orville Festus, SN 37-111-085 or 37-111-095, US Army, Chickasaw & Montgomery Cos. 
  • b. 10 Apr 1918 Springfield, Brown Co., MN; s/o Orville F. McGrew & Flossie K. M. Jenkins; entered service 31 Dec 1941 from Fredericksburg, Chickasaw Co.; bur. Manila American Cem., Leyte, Philippines.
  • 126th Inf. Regt., 32nd Inf. Div.; KIA 5 Dec 1942, probably at Higgins Road Block, Sanandanda Track, Papua, New Guinea; Buna Campaign - South & SW Pacific > Southeast New Guinea.
† Lawson, Herschal Vernon, SN 37-466-733, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 14 Nov 2020 near Hamburg, Fremont Co. or Auburn, Nemaha Co., NE; s/o Vernon S. Lawson & Peggy E. A. Greenlee; entered service 15 Dec 1942 from Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. A, Supply Bn., 14th Armored Div.; DNB 29 May 1943 Camp Chaffee Hosp., Bloomer, Sebastian Co., AR; vehicle accident w/ major spinal injuries.
† Kennedy, Hugh, SN 37-198-140, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 6 Jun 1916 N of Red Oak, Sherman Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o Harvey D. Kennedy & Claudia G. Archer; entered service 5 Jun 1942 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. H, 321st Inf. Regt., 81st Inf. Div.; DNB 3 Mar 1943 at Camp Rucker, Dale Co., AL; cause unknown.
† (vet) Sobbing, Ivan Albert, SN 37-422-359, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 21 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 16 Jul 1942 from Rt. 3, Shenandoah; m. Arlene M. Walborn Jul 1945 in Lebanon Co., PA; separated from service 6 Nov 1945;  moved to Emerson after separation; bur. Shearer Cem., Braddyville, Page Co.
  • Co. M, 377th Inf. Regt., 95th Inf. Div., Third & Ninth Armies, ETO; d. 21 Aug 1948 in hospital, Red Oak from traffic accident that also claimed his father’s life.
† Johnson, Russell John Victor, SN 17-131-544, US Army Air Force, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 23 Jan 1923 Lincoln Twp., NW of Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Edward C. Johnson & Althea Holmberg; entered service 1 Feb 1943 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • 835th Bomb Sqdn., 486th Bomb. Gp, based at Davis-Monthan Army Air Base, Tucson, AZ; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #42-52756 crew member; DNB 18 Feb 1944 NE of Phoenix near Rio Verde, AZ; aircraft #42-52756 & #42-41159 collided and locked wings on a training flight shortly before deployment to the European theater; all 17 men on the two planes died.
† Thompson, Kenneth Boyd SN O-691318, US Army Air Force, Howard Co., NE
  • b. 12 Aug 1921 Talmage, Otoe Co., NE; s/o Theodore M. Thompson & Lucille M. Kreimer; family moved to Howard Co. in early 1930s; m. Charlotte V. Hannibal 1943 in Boise, ID; bur. in Lars Hannibal plot, Oak Ridge Cem., Dannebrog, Howard Co.
  • Combat Crew Training Sqdn., 332nd Base Unit, Lake Charles Army Airfield, LA; Martin TB-26C Marauder #41-35129 pilot; DNB 16 Oct 1944 Lake Charles Army Hospital, Calcasieu Parish, LA; aircraft had engine failure and crashed after takeoff; all six dead.
  • Family Notes:  Kenneth Thompson’s wife was my mother’s second cousin.

Added 15 December 2022:
† Hale, Donald Max, SN O-764659, US Army Air Force, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 5  Mar 1921 rural Villisca, Douglas Twp., Adams Co.; s/o Francis P. Hale & Ethel M. Garrison; family moved to Montgomery Co. in early 1920s and to Villisca in early 1930s; entered service 23 Sep 1942 from Minneapolis, MN, service credited to Montgomery Co.; bur. Villisca Cem.
  • Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #42-107133 co-pilot w/ pilot Dennis E. Lence; DNB 18 May 1944 near New Underwood, seven miles E of Rapid City Army Air Force Base; in a formation of B-17s organizing for a flight eastward towards the European Theater, aircraft nose dived into the ground from a height of around 2,000 feet with cause unknown; ten on board all killed.
† Broman, Floyd Leroy, SN 39-691-053, US Army Air Force, Los Angeles Co., CA & York Co., NE. 
  • b. 19 Mar 1923 York, York Co., NE; s/o Harlan F. Broman & Pearl E. Cox; family moved to Los Angeles Co., CA in late 1930s; service credited to Los Angeles Co.; bur. Grandview Cem., Glendale, CA.
  • 709th Bomb. Sqdn., 447th Bomb Gp., Eighth Air Force, based 15 miles NW of Ipswich at Rattlesdon, Suffolk, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #44-6027 radio operator w/ pilot William C. Hoyer; KIA 29 Jun 1944 over Saxony, Germany; aircraft hit by flak S of Leipzig over the oil refinery target of Böhlen, exploded and crashed eight miles east of Altenburg; eight crew members died; bombardier & tail gunner survived; The ETO > ETO Air War.
​† Dutton, Finley Jake, SN O-2001366, US Army Air Force, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 19 Aug 1923 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Cecil O. Dutton & Ethel M. Billmeyer; entered service 14 Dec 1922 from Red Oak; cenotaph in Red Oak Cem.
  • 351st Bomb. Sqdn., 301st Bomb. Gp., Fifteenth Air Force, based at Lucera, near Foggia, Apulia, Italy; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #43-8390 Garbage Cannie navigator w/ pilot Ralph W. Sommers; KIA 4 Apr 1945 over Adriatic Sea; aircraft hit by antiaircraft fire over target of Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia & ditched in Adriatic  returning to base; crew of 10 exited plane; three swept off wing and drowned, seven rescued by Yugoslav partisans; The MTO > MTO Air War; BNR.