Harold Boye, Sep 1944
Harold Boye

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bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Dead > Roster Records > Roster Bf-Bq, © 2025 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 12 Feb 2025
Part 3/27 of the Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster, 17 "Bf-Bq" records
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† Bird, Francis Dale, SN 37-472-728, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 13 Feb 1924 Oakland, Pott. Co.; s/o Ira W. Bird (d. 1924) & Mary A. Strang; both b. Pott. Co.; mother and children moved from Oakland to Co. Bluffs about 1928.
  • entered service 17 Feb 1943 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried 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. (b. Mills Co.) & Grace M. Morgan (b. Thurston Co., NE); family moved to Glenwood, Mills Co. before 1925.
  • married Edythe A. Chrisinger of Chicago Aug 1941 at Camp Claiborne, Rapides Parish, LA.
  • entered service with National Guard 10 Feb 1941 from Glenwood, Mills Co.; service credited to Mills Co.; buried East Liberty Cem., Malvern, Mills Co.
  • Co. I (Glenwood), 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 & Pott. Co.
  • b. 20 May 1922 Armstrong Co., PA; s/o Herbert C. Bish & Ivy P Bowser, both b. Armstrong Co., PA.
  • married Ruth Darlene Dreier of Co. Bluffs Feb 1944 in Co. Bluffs.
  • enlisted 17 Jul 1940 at Pittsburgh, PA; service credited to Armstrong Co., PA; buried Lawn Haven Cem., Armstrong Co., PA.
  • 73rd Armored Field Artillery 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 (b. Shelby Co.) & Thelma P. Bartlett (b. Audubon Co.); family lived in Oakfield Twp., Audubon Co.
  • entered service 13 Oct 1943 from Oakfield Twp., Rt. 1, Atlantic; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Oak Hill Cem., Brayton, Audubon Co.
  • 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.​

† Blades, George William, SN 112-03-74, US Navy, Shelby Co. & Alameda Co., CA​
  • b. 5 Oct 1894 Irwin, Shelby Co. s/o George B. Blades (b. Clinton Co.; d. 1924) & Jennie E. Stewart (b. Linn Co., MO; d. 1943).
  • married Hazel B. (Wells) Pruitt Apr 1921 in Cordova, AK, one child & two stepchildren.
  • entered service 1912 from Irwin; entered reserve status 1933, retired 1939; reentered service 1 Jan 1941 at Yerba Buena Is., San Francisco, CA; buried Oak Hill Cem., Irwin.
  • Chief Radioman, US Navy Yard, Mare Island, Vallejo, Solano Co. CA; d. 13 Feb 1943 at home, San Leandro, Alameda Co., CA; heart attack. 
  • Notes: Served in WWI, retired from the US Navy, and reenlisted. Since he remained stateside during WWII, his WWII service is poorly documented. Son served in World War II.

† 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, both b. Pott. Co.; family moved to Griswold, Cass Co. after father's death.
  • entered service 1943; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Whipple Cem., Wright Twp., Pott. Co.
  • trainee at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, near Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR; d. 24 Apr 1943 at Camp Robinson from scarlet fever.

† Blaylock, John Robert “Bob” Jr., SN 0-437-451, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 17 Nov 1919 Grand Jct., Greene Co.; s/o John F. Blaylock & Anna Egli, both b. Greene Co.; lived in Grand Jct. as a child, family moved to Co. Bluffs about 1939.
  • attended University of Iowa 1937-41; married Shirley Ann Stevenson May 1942 in Milwaukee, WI, one child.
  • entered service Jul 1941 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Arlington Natl. Cem., Arlington, VA.
  • Commanding Officer, 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; aircraft shot down after raid on Bordeaux, parachute failed.
  • The ETO > ETO Air War > Eighth Air Force.

† Blizzard, Howard Leslie, SN 0-355-479, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 24 Feb 1914 Pott. Co.; s/o Carl A. Blizzard (b. Warren Co.) & Mary Hannah Winchester (b. Pott. Co.); family lived in Co. Bluffs.
  • ​married Matilda Ann Lunders of Lake Co., SD Jan 1940 in Omaha; stationed in Omaha area as an army radio operator in Apr 1940.
  • entered service 9 May 1933 from Co. Bluffs, reenlisted in 1937; service credited to Ray Co., MO, unknown reason; remains may be intermingled in a group burial Natl. Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • Signal Aircraft Warning Co., Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; KIA 9 Jan 1945, on Japanese Hell Ship Enoura Maru, Takao Harbor, southern Formosa from attack by aircraft from the USS Hornet (CV-12); about 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 (b. Lee Co.; d. 1922) & Elizabeth Erlbacher (b. Germany).
  • entered service 5 Nov 1941 from Earling, Shelby Co.; service credited to Shelby Co.; buried Brittany American Cem., St. James, Manche Dept., Normandy, France.
  • 32nd Armored Regt., 3rd Armored Div.; KIA 29 Jul 1944 east of Coutances, Manche Dept., Normandy, France.
  • The ETO > Liberation > Operation Cobra.
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​† 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 (b. Omaha) & Marjorie M. Williams (b. Co. Bluffs).
  • living in Barberton, Summit Co., OH in Jul 1942; entered service 16 Mar 1943 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Shiawassee Co., MI; buried 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, aircraft shot down by flak; 5 died, 5 survived.
  • The MTO > MTO Air War.

† Bolton, Wayne Arnold, SN 0-686-626, US Army Air Force, Monona & Harrison Cos.
  • b. 18 Dec 1921 rural Dunlap, Willow Twp., Monona Co; s/o Andrew E. Bolton (b. Harrison Co.) & Vera Green (b. Monona Co.).
  •  entered service 20 Oct 1942 from Rt. 3, Dunlap; service credited to Harrison Co.; buried Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap, Harrison Co.
  • ​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.

​† Bonnesen, Robert Eugene, SN 859-07-07, US Navy, Carroll Co.
  • b. 29 Nov 1924 Brownson, near Sidney, Cheyenne Co., NE s/o Henry P. Bonnesen (b. Denmark) & Pearl E. Carper (Charles Mix Co., SD); family moved to Audubon Co. in late 1920s and to rural Templeton, Eden Twp., Carroll Co. in early 1930s.
  • entered service 18 Jan 1943 from Rt. 1, Templeton; next of kin parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peter Bonnesen, Templeton, IA; body not recovered; memorialized Tablets of the Missing, Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France; cenotaph Manning Cem., Manning, Carroll Co.
  • Landing Craft Flak LCF-31 radioman; KIA 6 Jun 1944; craft hit by shell off Utah Beach; survivors rescued by Coast Guard Cutter CGC-16.
  • The ETO > ETO Sea War.

† 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 (b. Warren Co., IL) & Flora Bell Wilds (b. Henry Co., IL); family lived in Pott. and Montgomery Cos.
  • entered service 24 Sep 1940 from Elliott, Montgomery Co.; next of kin father, Mr. Harry L. Booton, Traynor (sic, Treynor), IA; buried Natl. Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI; cenotaph Wheeler Grove Cem., rural Macedonia, Pott. Co.
  • Battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48); during the 7 Dec 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu Is., Hawaii Territory, West Virginia was hit by aerial torpedoes and sank; 106 died; WIA 7 Dec 1941; DOW 10 Dec 1941 Hawaii Territory.
  • Japan Lashes Out > Pearl Harbor.
  • Notes: West Virginia was later raised, repaired, and returned to service.

† Bostedt, Glen Charles, SN 17-011-361, US Army Air Force, Mills & Pott. Cos.
  • b. 2 Dec 1917 Lewis Twp., Pott. Co.
  • entered service 12 Sep 1940 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs; service credited to Mills Co.; group burial, Zachary Taylor Natl. 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.
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​† Bostedt, John Bernard, SN 17-011-358, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Mills Cos.
  • b. 12 Sep 1922 Lewis Twp., Pott. Co.
  • entered service 12 Sep 1940 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 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.
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† Bostedt, Joseph William, served as Bostedt, Joe W, SN 17-011-348, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Mills Cos.
  • b. 12 Sep 1922 Lewis Twp., Pott. Co.
  • entered service 12 Sep 1940 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 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.
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Bostedt Family Notes:
  • Glen, John, and Joe Bostedt were sons of John Fred Bostedt (b. rural Minden, Pott. Co.) & Martha Ann Brandt (b. Co. Bluffs).
  • all three were born when the Bostedt family lived south of Co. Bluffs in Lewis Twp., Pott. Co.; in the late 1920s, the family moved further south to Oak Twp., Mills Co., with a Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs address.
  • all three attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Co. Bluffs, John and Joe graduating in 1940.
  • in the mid 1940s the Bostedt parents left Oak Twp. and moved to 1017 28th Ave., on the south edge of Co. Bluffs.

​† Boye, Harold Christen, SN 37-346-863, US Army, Audubon Co.
  • b. 20 Nov 1923 Marstal, Aero Herred, Denmark; s/o Hans A. Boye (b. Denmark) & Karen Hansen (b. Denmark); family immigrated to Audubon Co. 1924.
  • entered service 24 May 1943 from Rt. 2, Audubon; Audubon Co.; service credited to Audubon Co.; buried Arlington Heights Cem., Audubon.
  • Co. A, 506th Parachute Inf. Regt., 101st Airborne Div.; KIA 6 Oct 1944 Opheusden, NW of Nijmegen, Netherlands; direct hit by an artillery shell on his machine gun position.
  • Battle of Opheusden - The ETO > War of Attrition > Netherlands, 1944.
  • Notes: Posthumous Silver Star recipient.
Sources for Big Pigeon's Roster Records > Roster Bf-Bq webpage:
  • The September 1944 colorized photo showing Harold Boye in the foreground is courtesy of Colorised Piece of Jake at https://www.pikagi.com/profile/PieceJake. It depicts a quiet sector during Operation Market-Garden.