Cabanatuan POW Camp List of Dead
Cabanatuan List of Dead
bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Roster > Roster Records > Roster-B, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 29 Jan 2023.
Records for Big Pigeon's Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster - part 2/17, B, 65 names.
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† Babcock, Victor Ross, SN 37-428-855, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 14 Nov 1908 Co. Bluffs; s/o Edwin Babcock & Martha Mellor; m. Opal M. Davis 1933, four children; entered service 5 Sep 1942 from Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 145th Inf. Regt., 37th Inf. Div.; KIA 25 Jul 1943, New Georgia, Solomon Is.; Operation Cartwheel - South & SW Pacific > Solomon Is. - New Georgia.

† Bach, Paul Leonard, served as Bach Paul L & Beach Paul L, SN O-311373, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 2 Aug 1912 Co. Bluffs; s/o Peter C. Bach (d. 1914) & Anna K. Hansen, ss/o Soren Peter Knudsen, all Denmark natives; m. Kathryn C. “Kay” Ferguson 1936; entered service May 1941 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 43rd Inf. Regt., Philippine Scouts, Philippine Division; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 21 Nov 1942 at Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines, amoebic dysentery; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.​

† Baier, Arnold Leroy, SN 37-684-308, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 20 Feb 1923 rural Anita, Grant Twp., Cass Co.; s/o Frederick H. Baier & Goldie A. Daughenbaugh; family moved to rural Wiota, Franklin Twp., Cass Co. in late 1920s & to rural Griswold, Cass Co. in 1940s; entered service 5 Feb 1944 from Rt. 1, Griswold; bur. Atlantic Cem., Cass Co.
  • Co. G, 187th Glider Inf. Regt., 11th Airborne Div.; KIA 24 Mar 1945 near Santa Rosa, SE of Manila, Luzon, Philippines; probably died in 2nd Bn.'s attack on fortified village of Dita; Philippines Liberated > Luzon.

† Bailey, Edwin Clark, SN 17-149-190, US Army Air Force, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 13 Feb 1926 Frankfort Twp., rural Stanton, Montgomery Co.; s/o Russell H. Bailey & Annabelle E. Horvath; family moved to Grant Twp., rural Red Oak late 1930s; entered service 22 Feb 1944 from Rt. 4, Red Oak; bur Ardennes American Cem., Neupre, Belgium.
  • 7th Bomb. Sqdn., 34th Bomb. Gp., Eighth Air Force; based at Mendlesham, N. of Ipswich, Suffolk, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #43-38419 Miss Betsy tail gunner w/ pilot Jacob Raver; KIA 14 Jan 1945 on mission to Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany; aircraft lost right wing due to flak and crashed NW of Bremen, 700 meters SW of village of Eggestedt; seven dead, two POW; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Bailey, Jack Carl, SN 37-356-705, US Army, Pott Co. & Cheyenne Co., NE
  • b. 14 Feb 1924 Stanberry, Gentry Co., MO; s/o Donald Bailey & Mary I. Carothers (d. 1935) (div.); lived in Co. Bluffs w/ aunt Frances C. (Carothers); entered service 10 Jun 1943 from Co. Bluffs or Cheyenne Co., NE; bur. High Ridge Cem., Stanberry.
  • Co. E, 60th Inf. Regt., 9th Inf. Div. (part of 2nd Bn. attached to 4th Inf. Div.); KIA 8 Aug 1944 NE of Avranches, Normandy, France; The ETO > Liberation > Normandy.

† Baker, Delmar Eugene (also recorded as Baker, Delman E.), SN 321-35-78, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 5 Mar 1920 Conrad, Pondera Co., MT; s/o Frank B. Baker & Vina F. Bell (d. 1928), former Montgomery Co. residents; family moved to Anacortes, WA abt 1926; the children lived with other families after mother's death; father returned to Villisca, Montgomery Co. abt. 1930; entered service 11 Oct 1939 at Des Moines.
  • Joined crew of Destroyer USS Peary (DD-226) 24 Apr 1940; KIA 19 Feb 1942 Darwin, Australia; Peary sunk by Japanese dive bombers; 93 dead, 49 survivors; Japan Lashes Out > The Dutch Indies Lost; BNR.

† Baker, Donald Hugh, SN 20-706-350, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 5 Jun 1919 rural Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o Hugh M. Baker & Katherine Beekman; family moved to Atlantic in early 1920s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Atlantic; service credited to Charlevoix Co., MI; m. Virginia P. Henke of Missouri Jun 1941; bur. Atlantic Cem.
  • Co. K, 168th Inf. Regt., while stateside transferred to Co. K, 133rd Inf. Regt., both 34th Inf. Div.; DNB 6 Jun 1942 Coleraine, Londonderry, Northern Ireland; railroad accident; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.

† Baker, Everett Ernest, SN 17-122-788, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 3 Aug 1922 Johnson, Nemaha Co., NE; s/o Guy R. Baker & Jessie J. Johnson; family moved to Glenwood, Mills Co. in 1920s and to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in early 1930s; entered service Sep 1942 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. L, 26th Inf. Regt., 1st Inf. Div., III Corps, First Army; DOW 26 Feb 1945 near Roer River SE of Aachen, Germany; The ETO > To The Rhine > Ops Veritable & Grenade.

† Baker, John Llewellyn, SN O-710875, US Army Air Force, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 9 Dec 1922 Villisca, Montgomery Co.; s/o John S. Baker & Helen E. Dilley; entered service 1 Feb 1943 from Rt. 2, Villisca; bur. Arlington Cem., Stanton, Montgomery Co.
  • 96th Fighter Sqdn., 82nd Fighter Gp., Fifteenth Air Force; based at Vincenzo Airfield SE of Foggia, Apulia, Italy; Lockheed P-38 Lightning pilot; KIA 29 Aug 1944 at San Pietro d'Carso 20 miles E of Trieste, Italy; aircraft struck the railroad station while strafing a nearby train; The MTO > MTO Air War.

† Bales, Paul Edgar, SN 859-09-72, US Navy, Adair Co.
  • b. 8 Apr 1924 Adair, Adair Co.; s/o Claude L. Bales & Kathryn F. Sherman; entered service date unknown from Rt. 2, Adair.​
  • Destroyer USS Hoel (DD-533), Task Unit 77.4.3 (aka Taffy 3), Seventh Fleet; KIA 25 Oct 1944 off Samar, Philippines; the Hoel, Johnston, & Samuel B. Roberts were all sunk after their tenacious attack on a vastly-superior Japanese force; Battle off Samar - Philippines Liberated > Battle of Leyte Gulf; BNR.

† Ball, John Jesse "Jack", SN 20-706-539, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 20 Jul 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o John E. Ball & Eleanor T. Pischel of Co. Bluffs; m. Ruth Lorraine Coon of Co. Bluffs; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Vahalla Mem. Park, North Hollywood, CA.
  • Co. L, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div. --> Co. C, 1st Ranger Bn., II Corps; KIA 25 Mar 1943 El Guettar, Tunisia; Battle of El Guettar - The MTO > North Africa > Tunisia.

† Baraks, Frederick August, served as Barracks, Frederick A, SN 36-448-659, US Army, Rock Island Co., IL
  • b. 27 Sep 1917 Coal Valley, Rock Island Co., IL; s/o August Baraks (d. 1929) & Elizabeth Wilhouse of Coal Valley; m. LaRue V. Jensen of Hazel Dell T., Pott. Co. 1941, two children; enlisted 15 Feb 1943 at Peoria, IL; bur. Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, France.
  • 449th Military Police Co., Seventh Army, landed at Utah Beach 6 Jun 1944 with the First Army, served in the Battle of the Bulge; WIA early Apr 1945, KIA (sic) 4 Apr 1945, Germany; The ETO > Central Europe > Beyond the Rhine. ​

† Bargenquast, Arnold Frank, SN 321-39-14, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • b. 4 Feb 1914 Irwin, Shelby Co.; s/o Henry G. Bargenquast & Anna C. Wendt; entered service 28 Feb 1940 from Manilla, Shelby Co.; m. Louise Quarto, one child.
  • Submarine USS Seawolf (SS 197); DNB 4 Oct 1944 near Morotai, Dutch Indies, SW Pacific; Seawolf sunk by friendly fire, all 83 crew & 17 US Army passengers dead; Naval War with Japan > US Submarine Force; BNR.

† Barnett, Walter McMillan Jr., SN 20-743-494, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 4 Mar 1922 Competition, Laclede Co., MO; s/o Walter M. Barnett Sr. (d. 1942) & Myrtle Shamel (d. 1932) of Oakland, Pott. Co.; entered service 16 Jan 1941 from Oakland; bur. Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Italy.
  • Co. G, 505th Parachute Inf. Regt., 82nd Airborne Div.; KIA 13 Jul 1943, Sicily, Italy; Battle of Biazza Ridge - The MTO > Italy > Sicily.

† Barrett, Henry Joseph Jr., SN 37-699-275, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 May 1926 Fremont, Dodge Co., NE; s/o Henry J. Barrett & Edna M. Gaylord; family moved to Co. Bluffs in 1930s; entered service 28 Jun 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. I, 301st Inf. Regt., 94th Inf. Div., XX Corps, Third Army; KIA 6 Mar 1945 near Zerf, S of Trier, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany; The ETO > Siegfried Line 1945 > XX Corps to Trier.

† Bates, Stuart McCain, SN 37-475-399, US Army, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE.
  • b. 9 Jan 1913 Oakland, Pott. Co.; s/o John O. Bates (d. 1941) & Gertrude M. McCain; Family moved from Oakland to Lincoln, NE in the late 1920s and then to Omaha, NE in early 1930s; bur. Oaklawn Cem., Oakland.
  • Co. C, 756th Tank Bn., 3rd Inf. Div., Seventh Army; KIA 24 Jan 1945 N of Colmar, Alsace, France;  The ETO > Alsace 1945 > Colmar Pocket.

† Battey, Norma Jane, unknown service nbr, US Navy Waves, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Jun 1923 Co. Bluffs; d/o Herbert V. Battey & Frances Jensen of Co. Bluffs & Sioux City, Woodbury Co.; bur Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • unit unknown; DNB 3 Oct 1943, San Diego, CA, illness.

† Baylor, Charles William, SN 37-001-796, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 14 Jan 1915 Exira, Audubon Co.; s/o John C. Baylor & Florence E. Miller; family moved to Cass Co. bef. 1920; entered service 14 Feb 1941 from Rt. 3, Anita, Cass Co.; m. Joann Morrison 1942; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mere, France.
  • 134th Inf. Regt., 35th Inf. Div.; KIA 4 Aug 1944 La Metairie, near Vire, France; The ETO > Liberation > Normandy.

Beach, Paul Leonard - see Bach Paul Leonard

† Beckendorf, Orville Leroy, SN 316-41-64, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 13 Jun 1916 rural Walnut, Pott. Co.; s/o Ira C. Beckendorf & Anna L. Fries (d. 1930) of rural Walnut; entered service 16 Jan 1935; married Mary Bernice Johnson of Kentucky.
  • Destroyer USS Laffey (DD-459); KIA 13 Nov 1942 in Ironbound Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Laffey hit by 14” shell from Japanese battleship Hiei & torpedo, then exploded & sank; 59 dead, 186 survivors; 1st phase of Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.

† Beers, Harold Elmer, SN 37-476-206, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 28 Nov 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Carl R. Beers & Isabelle Dick; m. Mary D. Layton, one child; entered service 13 Mar 1943 from Little Sioux, Harrison Co.; bur. Little Sioux Cem.
  • unit unknown; stationed at Camp Cooke (now Vandenberg AFB), Santa Barbara Co., CA; DNB 19 Jan 1945 in nearby Lompoc, CA from asphyxiation.

​† Benedict, George Junior, SN 37-485-642, US Army Air Force, Mills Co.
  • b. 16 Sep 1921 Tabor, Fremont Co.; s/o Fenton Eber Benedict & Clara E. Lee; family moved to rural Hastings, Mills Co. in late 1920s; worked for North American Aviation in Inglewood, CA in early 1940s; entered service 4 Oct 1943 from Rt. 1, Hastings; m. Twyla L. Carter of Iowa Nov 1944 in El Paso, TX; bur. Hastings Cem.
  • 731st Bomb. Sqdn., 452nd Bomb Gp., Eighth Air Force, based at Doepham Green, Norfolk, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #44-8015 Johnny Reb w/ pilot William T. Emmet II; KIA Pfaffenhofen an der Roth, Bavaria, near Ulm, Germany, 22 Feb 1945; plane broke apart approaching the target in overcast conditions; seven died, three survived; The ETO > ETO Air War.
  • Notes: Named George Junior Benedict at birth, thus in military records as Benedict George J. However, family often used the names Leslie or George Leslie. The William T. Emmet crew trained together in the US, traveled by ship to Europe, and used four different aircraft on their four missions. The crew history is well-documented at Crash of B-17 44-8015 MARC 12657.

​† Bergman, George Eugene, SN 37-752-394, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 2 Jul 1926 Omaha; s/o John M. Bergman & Ruth A. Moyer of Co. Bluffs; entered service 17 Sep 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Nat’l Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • Co. C, 384th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div.; KIA 10 Jun 1945, enemy machine gun fire, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Berringer, Merroll Jackson, SN O-735025, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Page Cos.
  • b. 4 Mar 1921 Co. Bluffs; s/o Vern L. Berringer & Lula D. Jackson (div.); family moved to Clarinda, Page Co. in early 1930s; ss/o of Ernest E. Baggs of Co. Bluffs; entered service 26 Mar 1942 from Clarinda via Omaha; m. Mary Alice Larkins of Villisca, Montgomery Co. in Pierce Co., WA 1943.
  • Flight H, 35th Photo Recon. Sqdn., Fourteenth Air Force; Lockheed F-5E Photo Lightning #44-23237 pilot; KIA 21 Nov 1944 over South China Sea; disappeared on triangular flight Suichuan-Nimrod Sound-Batanes Is., Suichuan, China; China-Burma-India Theater > China; BNR.

† Berry, Kenneth Coit, SN 648-12-71, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 8 May 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o Edwin C. Berry & Meta M. Cox of Co. Bluffs.
  • Destroyer USS Buck (DD-420); KIA 9 Oct 1943 off Capri, Naples Bay, Italy; Buck torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-616; 168 dead, 94 survivors; Salerno-Naples-Foggia - The MTO > MTO Sea War; BNR.

† Bird, Francis Dale, SN 37-472-728, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 13 Feb 1924 Oakland, Pott. Co.; s/o Ira W. Bird & Mary A. Strang of Co. Bluffs.; entered service 17 Feb 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. F., 132nd Inf. Regt., Americal Div.; KIA 17 Mar 1944 during Japanese counterattack on Bougainville, Solomon Is.; Operation Cartwheel - South & SW Pacific > Solomon Is. - Bougainville.

† Bird, Frank Raymond, SN 20-706-126, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 4 Mar 2020 Winnebago, Thurston Co., NE; s/o Murl C. Bird Sr. & Grace M. Morgan; family moved to Glenwood, Mills Co. bef. 1925; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Glenwood; m. Edythe A. Chrisinger 1941; bur. East Liberty Cem., Malvern, Mills Co.
  • Co. I, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., attached to British Commando; WIA near Algiers, Algeria 8 Nov 1942; DOW 12 Nov 1942; The MTO > North Africa > Operation Torch.

† Bish, Homer “Jack”, SN 13-009-412, US Army, Armstrong Co., PA
  • b. 20 May 1922 Armstrong Co., PA; s/o Herbert C. Bish & Ivy P Bowser; m. Ruth Darlene Dreier of Co. Bluffs 1944; bur. Lawn Haven Cem., Armstrong Co.
  • 73rd Armored FA Bn., Combat Command R, 9th Armored Div., First Army; WIA Dec 1944 NE of Bastogne, Belgium; DOW 19 Dec 1944 Belgium; The ETO > Ardennes/The Bulge > The Bulge Begins.

† Bjorn, Paul Bartlett, SN 37-678-998, US Army, Audubon & Cass Cos., IA
  • b. 12 Aug 1925 Brayton, Audubon Co., IA; s/o Anders P. Bjorn & Thelma P. Bartlett; family lived in Oakfield Twp., Audubon Co.; entered service 13 Oct 1943 from Oakfield Twp., Rt. 1, Atlantic; service credited to Cass Co.; bur. Oak Hill Cem., Brayton.
  • Co. L, 302nd Inf. Regt., 94th Inf. Div., XX Corps, Third Army; KIA 20 Jan 1945, Saar-Moselle Triangle, Rhineland-Palatinate, artillery fragment; The ETO > Siegfried Line 1945 > XX Corps to Trier.​

† Blain, David Benjamin, served as Blain, Dave B, SN 37-476-575, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 10 Aug 1914 rural Griswold, Wright Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o David Blain (d. 1928) & Carrie M. "Bess" Auld; family moved to Griswold, Cass Co. after father's death; entered service 1943; bur. Whipple Cem., Wright Twp.
  • trainee at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, near Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR; DNB 24 Apr 1943 scarlet fever.

† Blaylock, John Robert “Bob” Jr., SN O-437451, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 17 Nov 1919 Grand Jct., Greene Co.; s/o John F. Blaylock & Anna Egli; lived in Grand Jct. as a child, family moved to Co. Bluffs ~ 1939; entered service Jul 1941 from Co. Bluffs; m. Shirley Ann Stevenson 1942, one child; bur. Arlington Nat’l Cem., VA.
  • C.O. 510th Bomb. Sqdn., 351st Bomb. Gp., Eighth Air Force; based at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, England; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress #42-37731 pilot; KIA 31 Dec 1943 near Royan, SW France; plane shot down after raid on Bordeaux, parachute failed; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Blizzard, Howard Leslie, SN O-355479, US Army, Pott. Co. & Ray Co., MO
  • b. 24 Feb 1914 Pott. Co.; s/o Carl A. Blizzard & Mary Hannah Winchester; raised in Co. Bluffs; entered service 9 May 1933 from Co. Bluffs; m. Matilda Ann Lunders 1940; remains may be intermingled in a group burial in the Nat'l Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • Signal Air Warning Co., Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; KIA 9 Jan 1945, on Japanese Hell Ship Enoura Maru, Takao Harbor, southern Formosa from attack by planes from the USS Hornet (CV-12); ~ 400 POWs died; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Block, Ernest August Sylvester "Sam", SN 37-120-000, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 10 Nov 1919 Earling, Shelby Co.; s/o Herman J. Block (d. 1922) & Elizabeth Erlbacher; entered service 5 Nov 1941 from Earling; bur. Brittany American Cem., St. James, Normandy, France.
  • 32nd Armored Regt., 3rd Armored Div.; KIA 29 Jul 1944 E of Coutances, Normandy; The ETO > Liberation > Operation Cobra.

† Bogue, Clifford John, SN 37-476-332, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co. & Shiawassee Co., MI
  • b. 14 Jul 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Richard J. Bogue & Marjorie M. Williams; entered service 16 Mar 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 727 Bomb. Sqdn, 451st Bomb. Gp. Fifteenth Air Force; based at Castellucia Air Field, Foggia, Apulia, Italy; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #42-51409 tail gunner; KIA 7 Oct 1944, east of Vienna, Austria on mission over Vienna, plane shot down by flak; 5 dead, 5 survived; The MTO > MTO Air War.

† Bolton, Wayne Arnold, SN O-686626, US Army Air Force, Harrison Co.
  • b. 18 Dec 1921 at Dunlap, Harrison Co. or Willow Twp., Monona Co; s/o Andrew E. Bolton & Vera Green; entered service 20 Oct 1942 from Rt. 3, Dunlap; bur. Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap.
  • ​312th Fighter Sqdn., 338th Fighter Gp.; Republic P-47D Thunderbolt # 42-8342 pilot; d. 23 Aug 1943 15 miles NW of Perry Army Air Field, Perry, Taylor Co., FL; accident on routine training flight.

† Booton, Charles Vinton, served as Charlie Vinton Booton, SN 321-47-76, US Navy, Pott. & Montgomery Cos.
  • b. 5 Sep 1910 rural Griswold, Wright Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Harry L. Booton & Flora Bell Wilds, Illinois natives; family lived in Pott. and Montgomery Cos.; entered service 24 Sep 1940 from Elliott, Montgomery Co.; bur. Nat’l Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • Battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48); WIA 7 Dec 1941 during Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii Territory; West Virginia sank with 106 dead, later raised, repaired, and returned to service; DOW 10 Dec 1941 Hawaii Territory; Japan Lashes Out > Pearl Harbor.

† Bostedt, Glen Charles, SN 17-011-361, US Army Air Force, Mills & Pott. Cos.
  • b. 2 Dec 1917 Pott. Co.; s/o John F. Bostedt & Martha A. Brandt of rural Co. Bluffs, entered service 12 Sep 1940 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs; group burial, Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cem., Louisville, KY.
  • 3rd Pursuit Sqdn., 24th Pursuit Gp., Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 11 Oct 1942 at Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

​† Bostedt, John Bernard, SN 17-011-358, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Mills Cos.
  • b. 12 Sep 1922 Pott. Co.; s/o John F. Bostedt & Martha A. Brandt of rural Co. Bluffs; entered service 12 Sep 1940 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs.
  • 3rd Pursuit Sqdn., 24th Pursuit Gp., Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 7 Jul 1942 at Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR.

† Bostedt, Joseph William, served as Bostedt, Joe W, SN 17-011-348, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Mills Cos.
  • b. 12 Sep 1922 Pott. Co.; s/o John F. Bostedt & Martha A. Brandt of rural Co. Bluffs; entered service 12 Sep 1940 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs.
  • 3rd Pursuit Sqdn., 24th Pursuit Gp., Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 20 Sep 1942 at Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR.

† Braden, Clyde Edward, SN 37-656-928, US Army, Montgomery Co. & Adams Co., NE.
  • b. 22 Sep 1922 Elliott, Montgomery Co.; s/o Frank I. Braden & Annie E. Graves; entered service 26 Jan 1943 from Hastings, Adams Co., NE; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • 346th Inf. Regt., 87th Inf. Div., VIII Corps, Third Army; KIA 2 Mar 1945 near Ormont, NW of Prüm, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany; The ETO > Siegfried Line 1945 > VIII Corps to Prüm.
  • Notes: Posthumous Silver Star recipient.

† Braden, Grant Nathaniel, SN O-690177, US Army Air Force, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 23 Dec 1918 rural Griswold, Waveland T., Pott. Co.; s/o Paul Braden & Esther H. Trued; family moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in early 1920s; entered service 17 Oct 1942 from Red Oak; bur. Jefferson Barracks Nat'l Cem., St. Louis, MO.
  • 597th Bomb. Sqdn., 397th Bomb. Gp., Ninth Air Force; Martin B-26 Marauder #42-96162 Dottie Dee pilot; KIA 30 Jan 1945 near Courtisols, SE of Reims, Marne, France; plane crashed in a snowstorm returning from a weather reconnaissance mission; crew of four all died; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Braden, William Court, SN 37-465-735, US Army, Montgomery Co. & Adams Co., NE.
  • b. 1 Apr 1921 Elliott, Montgomery Co.; s/o Frank I. Braden & Annie E. Graves; entered service 2 Dec 1942 from Hastings, Adams Co., NE; m. Norene J. Klosen Mar 1943, one child; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. D, 415th Inf. Regt., 104th Inf. Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 26 Feb 1945 near Roer River, N of Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Operation Grenade - The ETO > Siegfried Line 1945 > To The Rhine > Ops Veritable & Grenade.
​
Braden Family Notes: Grant Braden was a second cousin of brothers Clyde and William Braden, whose father, Frank Braden, ran a road construction company. The Frank Braden family moved to Red Oak in the early 1930s, lived in Chariton, Lucas Co. in 1940, and moved to Hastings, NE in late 1942. In the Hastings area, the Braden company helped construct the WW II Hastings Naval Ammunition Depot. After WW II, the remainder of the Frank Braden family returned to the Red Oak area.

† Bradley, Donald James, SN 648-39-86, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 May 1913 Diagonal, Ringgold Co.; s/o James H. Bradley (d. 1921) & Edith C. Conley; ss/o George A. Thomas of Co. Bluffs; entered service 25 Jul 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Attack Transport USS McCawley (APA-4); KIA 30 Jun 1943 off Rendova, Solomon Is.; McCawley disabled by Japanese aircraft torpedo and then abandoned, 15 dead; McCawley accidentally sunk that night by US PT boats; South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.

† Branstiter, Daniel Starr, SN O-351249, US Naval Aviation, Pott. & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 21 Jan 1922 Sumner, Dawson Co., NE; s/o Daniel E. Branstiter & Blanche M. Snodgrass of rural Pott. & Harrison Cos.; entered service 21 Aug 1942 from Humboldt, Humboldt Co.; bur. Shelby Cem., Shelby, Shelby Co.
  • Naval Air Photographic Sqdn. VD-2 detachment, Photographic Reconnaissance Training School, Naval Air Field, New Cumberland, Cumberland Co., PA; DNB 17 Jul 1944, Perry Co., PA; collision of two training aircraft.

† Brazzle, Delbert Sherman, SN 37-468-247, US Army, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 3 Aug 1915 York, York Co., NE; s/o Philip S. Brazzle & Ina Pelser; entered service from Omaha; bur. Forest Lawn Cem., Omaha.
  • Co. A, 501st Parachute Inf. Regt., 101st Airborne Div.; KIA 17 Sep 1944 over Retie, 30 miles E of Antwerp, Belgium; Douglas C-47A Skytrain/Dakota #42-100981 shot down by flak; ive crew and ten army airborne pathfinders heading for the Market Garden drop zone N of Eindhoven, Netherlands all 15 dead; The ETO > War of Attrition > Netherlands 1944.
  • Notes: Delbert Brazzle's nephew Gerald Steward also appears in the Pottawattamie Area Dead roster.

† Breeling, Clifford Oral, SN 37-421-037, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 25 Sep 1909 Nevinville, Adams Co.; s/o David L. Breeling & Mary M. Worley; family moved to Little Sioux, Harrison Co. bef. 1916; prior military service 1930-31 with Troop F, 14th Cavalry Regt.; m. Vivian R. Saben, two children, div.; entered service 1942; bur. Little Sioux Cem.
  • stationed at Ft. Crook, Bellevue, NE; DNB 31 Jul 1942 soon after entering service at University of Nebraska Hosp., Omaha.

† Briggs, Earl Eddie, SN 17-011-280, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 Aug 1912 Monona Co.; s/o Ernest C. Briggs (d. 1943) & Gertrude Eva Reed of Co. Bluffs; m. Grace Campin 1931 (div.); enlisted 7 Sep 1940 from Pott. Co.
  • HQ, Coast Artillery, Manila & Subic Bay harbor defenses, Luzon, Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 9 Mar 1944, Osaka Main Camp, Chikko, Osaka, Honshu, Japan; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR.

† Briggs, Orval Pershing, SN 321-39-62, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 17 Sep 1918 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Romania P. Briggs & Sarah E. McKnight; entered service 6 Mar 1940 from Red Oak; m. Gladys June Vannausdle 1941, one child; d. 13 Nov 1942.
  • USS Atlanta (CL-51); KIA 13 Nov 1942 Ironbound Sound N of Guadalcanal; ship scuttled after extensive damage during nighttime action from a Japanese torpedo, Japanese gunfire and friendly fire from the USS San Francisco; 172 crew members plus an unknown number of Admiral Scott's staff died; First Phase of Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.
  • Notes: Orval Briggs and June Vannausdle were married by telephone; she was in Red Oak and he was in Bremerton, Washington.

†  Briley, Harold Vinton, SN 860-48-29, US Navy, Fremont Co.
  • b. 13 Jul 1910 Pacific Jct., Mills Co.; s/o William F. Briley & Ellen J. Ames; family lived in Riverside & Scott Twps., Fremont Co.; m. Lela C. Winkler 1940, one child; entered service 13 Apr 1944 from Rt. 2, Farragut, Fremont Co.
  • Cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35); KIA 30 Jul 1945 in the Philippine Sea en route from Guam to Leyte; Indianapolis sunk by Japanese submarine I-58; 879 died, 316 survived; Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets; BNR.

† Broman, Donald Norris, SN 37-485-648, US Army, Mills Co. & York Co., CA
  • b. 19 Aug 1918 York Co., NE; m. Clarice V. Norton of Mills Co. in 1940 in California; entered service at unknown date; service credited to Mills Co.
  • 746th Tank Bn., attached to 83rd Inf. Div.; KIA/FOD 11 Jul 1944 S of Carentan, Normandy, France; The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy, July 1944; BNR.
† Broman, Floyd Leroy, SN 39-691-053, US Army Air Force, Los Angeles Co., CA & York Co., NE.
  • b. 19 Mar 1923 York Co., NE; entered service at unknown date; service credited to Los Angeles Co., CA; 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 or waist gunner w/ pilot William C. Hoyer; KIA 29 Jun 1944 over Saxony, Germany; aircraft hit by anti-aircraft artillery flak S of Leipzig over the oil refinery target of Böhlen; craft exploded and crashed eight miles east of Altenburg; eight crew members died; bombardier & tail gunner survived; The ETO > ETO Air War.
Broman Family Notes:
  • Donald Norris & Floyd LeRoy Broman were sons of Harlan F. Broman & Pearl E Cox of York Co., NE and moved with their parents and siblings from York Co. to Glendale, CA in the late 1930s.

† Brown, Bernard Christian, SN 37-197-728, US Army Air Force, Audubon & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 25 May 1915 Clay Twp., Shelby Co.; s/o Martin O. Brown & Meta M. Hansen; family moved to Oakfield Twp., Audubon Co. bef. 1920 & to Jackson Twp., Shelby Co. in early 1930s; entered service 2 Jun 1942 from rural Kimballton, Audubon Co., service credited to Shelby Co.; bur. Elk Horn Cem., Shelby Co.
  • 337th Fighter Sqdn., 329th Fighter Gp., training Lockheed P-38 Lightning pilots, stationed at Paine Field, Everett, WA; Lockheed B-34A Ventura/Lexington #AJ-405 radio operator w/ pilot William W. Smith; DNB 24 Sep 1943 Port Angeles, Clallam Co., WA; engine failure during takeoff at Port Angeles Coast Guard Station, plane veered off runway and burst into flames, all five dead.
  • Note: The aircraft on which Bernard C. Brown died had an unusual identifier of AJ-405, reflecting the fact that this plane was part of an order originally placed by the British Royal Air Force.

† Brown, Cecil LeRoy, SN 37-697-684, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 22 Jun 1917 Griswold, Cass Co.; s/o Charles D. Brown & Mary E. Peebles; m. Velma Pearl Perdue 25 Feb 1940 in Griswold, two children; entered service 30 May 1944 from Griswold; bur. Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, Belgium.
  • 23rd Inf. Regt., 2nd Inf. Div. (23rd Inf. Regt. was attached to 1st Inf. Div. at the time); KIA 24 Jan 1945 near St. Vith, Belgium; The ETO > Ardennes/The Bulge > The Bulge Eliminated.

† Brown, Gerald Keith, SN 620-11-60, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • b. 24 Oct 1916 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o Clarence E. Brown & Bernice M. Thompson; entered service Dec 1941 from Rt. 3, Atlantic; buried at sea.
  • Attack Cargo Ship USS Almaack (AKA-19); KIA 15 Nov 1942 off Portugal; Almaack had participated in Operation Torch landings in North Africa and was in convoy to Great Britain when damaged by torpedo from German U-Boat U-155; four dead; Battle of the Atlantic.

† Brown, Ralph Ray, SN 17-019-024, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Jan 1917 Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o Ralph W. Brown & Hazel R. Peck of Neola; entered service 31 Jul 1941 from Neola; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • Hq. Sqdn. 27th Bomb Gp. (medium), Philippines (their planes never arrived); POW Philippines 1942; DNB 11 May 1942, POW Camp #4, O’Donnell, Tarlac, Luzon, Philippines, malaria; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Browning, William Albert, SN 37-489-019, US Army, Harrison & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 3 Mar 1919 Flat River, St. Francois Co., MO; s/o John C. Browning & Luella M. Hagen; family moved to rural Woodbine, Harrison Co. 1920; moved with brother from Woodbine area to Los Angeles late 1930s; m. Ruby Maxine Olsen of Irwin, Shelby Co. 1943, one child; entered service 6 Jan 1944 from Co. Bluffs, service credited to Shelby Co.; bur. Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, France.
  • Co. K, 22nd Inf. Regt., 4th Inf. Div.; KIA 5 Apr 1945 near Ochsenfurt, SE of Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany; The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany.

† Broz, Albert James, SN 37-490-921, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 18 May 1926 Fort Dodge, Webster Co.; s/o James Broz & Christine Pessica; m. Minnie Marie Nicholson of Fort Dodge 1944, one child; entered service ~ Jun 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Nat’l. Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 1 May 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; died instantly when struck by mortar shell near Shuri; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Brunk, Edwin Samuel, SN 859-18-62, US Navy, Polk & Pott. Cos.
  • b. 24 Dec 1924 rural Oakland, Center Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Ferd Brunk & Ethel M. Bergstrom; entered service 25 Mar 1943 from Des Moines, Polk Co.
  • Escort Carrier USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), Task Force 52; KIA 24 Nov 1943 near Makin Atoll, Gilbert Is.; Japanese submarine I-175 sank Liscome Bay during the US Tarawa/Makin invasion; 702 dead, 272 survivors; Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets; BNR.

† Bryson, Robert D., SN 988708, US Marine Corps, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 4 Oct 1925 Nodaway Twp., Taylor Co.; s/o Alfred J. Bryson & Bertha J. Shafer; family moved to rural Villisca, Montgomery Co. in late 1920s; entered service 27 Jun 1944 from Rt. 2, Villisca; bur. Grant Cem., Montgomery Co.
  • Temporarily assigned at Hilo, Hawaii to a Marine Corps unit on the USS Athene (AKA-22) cargo ship to load and unload cargo for the Iwo Jima invasion; after completing Athene unloading on 28 Feb 1945, assigned to Co. I, 26th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 13 Mar 1945 on Iwo Jima; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.

† Buffington, Charles Rollin III, SN O-461238, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 26 Sep 1919 Boise, Ada Co., ID; s/o Charles R. Buffington Jr. & Irene M. Griggs; family moved to rural Glenwood in the mid 1920s; entered service 8 Jun 1942 from Rt. 3, Glenwood, Mills Co.; bur. Glenwood Cem.
  • Hq. Battery, 189th FA Bn., 45th Inf. Div., Camp Pickett, Nottaway Co., VA; DNB 11 Apr 1943 at Camp Pickett; light plane he was flying lost control and crashed.

† Bull, Lester Orville, SN 37-260-503, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 18 Nov 1921 Hastings, Mills Co.; s/o Charles O. Bull & Nettie M. Margerum (d. 1939); family moved to Villisca, Montgomery Co. bef. 1924; entered service 24 Aug 1942 from Villisca; bur. Nodaway Cem., Adams Co.
  • Co. B., 27th Replacement Bn., New Caledonia, South Pacific; DNB 21 Aug 1943 from concussion in a truck accident; WWII-Japan > The Pacific Bases.

† Burch, Robert Joseph, SN 37-478-134, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 18 Feb 1924 Meadow Grove, Madison Co., NE; s/o Harold H. Burch & Bane E. Cress; entered service 9 Apr 1943 from Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; bur. Golden Gate Nat'l Cem., San Bruno, San Mateo Co., CA.
  • 194th Glider Inf. Regt., 17th Airborne Div.; KIA 24 Mar 1945 in Landing Zone S, E of Rhine River, N of Wesel,  Rhineland-Westphalia, Germany; Operation Varsity - The ETO > Central Europe > Crossing the Rhine.

† Burgstrum, Clifford Montreville, civilian, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Jun 1892 Chariton, Lucas Co.; s/o Adolph Burgstrum & Rose Hunt; moved to Co. Bluffs before 1915; m. Mildred Smith of Co. Bluffs 1915; bur. Nat’l Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • worker at US Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory; d. 19 Sep 1944, illness; WWII-Japan > The Pacific Bases.

† Busey, Robert William, SN 37-467-059, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 23 Apr 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Leslie T. Busey & Maude Miller of Co. Bluffs; m. Leatrice Bankus 1942, one child; entered service 12 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Netherlands American Cem., Margraten, Netherlands.
  • 821st Tank Destroyer Bn., 29th Inf. Div.; DNB 27 Jun 1945 Deichshausen, N of Bremen, Germany, accidental gunshot wound; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.

† Butler, Ralph Joseph, SN 37-420-384, US Army, Woodbury & Monona. Cos.
  • b. 5 Dec 1906 rural Oakland, Pott. Co.; s/o Uriah Butler (d. 1931) & Rosina Fussner (d. 1943); family moved to Monona Co. as small child; m. Bonnie Myers (div.); entered service 22 Jun 1942 from Sioux City, Woodbury Co.; bur. Mt. Hope Cem., Mapleton, Monona Co. 
  • HQ, 1277th Service Command Service Unit, Pine Camp, now Ft. Drum,  Jefferson Co., NY; d. 30 Sep 1944 Boonville, Oneida Co., NY, struck by automobile.​

† Butts, Amos Albert, SN 816-85-59, US Navy, Fremont Co.
  • ​b. 10 Jun 1923 Shenandoah, Fremont Co.; s/o William A. Butts & Rena J. Mott; entered service Dec 1941 from Farragut, Fremont Co.; bur. Keokuk Nat'l Cem., Lee Co.
  • Destroyer USS Selfridge (DD-357); KIA 6 Oct 1943 off Vella Levella Is., Solomon Is.; Selfridge damaged by enemy torpedo; 49 dead; Battle of Levella Gulf - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War.