8th AF Base Duxford
8th AF Base Duxford
Source: website bigpigeon.us, webpage WW II Dead > The Roster > Roster-C

Pottawattamie County, Iowa Area WW II Dead Roster - part 2/11, C
© 2020 by Robert A. Christiansen, last update 21 Sep 2020, 30 names
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​† Campbell, Bennie Clinton “Ben”, SN 39-313-929, US Army, Harrison Co. & Lane Co., OR
  • b. 6 May 1900 Union Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o Thomas A. Campbell (d. 1941) & Alice P. Musgrove (d. 1934) of the Neola/Persia area; entered service from Lane Co., OR; bur. Valley View Cem., Persia, Harrison Co.
  • Co. C, 11th Maintenance Bn., 11th Armored Div.; DNB 4 Mar 1943, Camp Polk, Vernon Parish, LA; peritonitis from a gastric ulcer.

​† Campbell, Sheldon Edward, SN 37-752-491, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 17 Oct 1925 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o George H. Campbell & Ida K. Luecke; entered service 18 Sep 1944 from Rt. 2, Harlan; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • 24th Medical Bn., 24th Inf. Div.; DNB 23 Dec 1945 in hotel fire on Skikoku Is., Japan; Japan Overpowered > Japan Vanquished.

​† Campbell, Wendell Melvin, SN O-719557, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 Jan 1922 Keg Creek Twp., Pott.. Co.; s/o Clifford A. Campbell & Frances A. Smith of rural Co. Bluffs; entered service Sep 1942 from Rt. 1, Co. Bluffs; bur. Zion Cong. Cem., Treynor, Pott. Co.
  • 235th Army Air Force Base Unit, Biggs Field, El Paso, TX; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #42-100144 crewman w/ pilot Walter Slont; DNB 20 Jul 1944 one mile north of Roswell, Chaves Co., NM; two B-24s collided on routine training mission from Biggs Field to Walker AAF at Roswell; ten died, seven parachuted and survived.

​† Card, Earl E., SN 20-706-381, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Aug 1922 Avoca, Pott. Co.; s/o Jesse V. Card (d. 1926) & Alma Garrison (d. 1928) of Avoca; gs/o James O. Garrison & Cora O. Anstine of Avoca; entered service 19 Nov 1941 at Atlantic, Cass Co.; bur. Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.
  • Co. B, 4th Ranger Bn.; KIA 12 Nov 1943, Venafro, Molise, Italy, 16 miles E of Cassino; Italian Mainland > To the Gustav Line.

​† Carter, Meredith M., SN O-1176509, US Army, Pott. & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 7 Feb 1918 Des Moines, Polk Co.; s/o Ernest A. Carter & Lola M. Stofferson; family moved to Co. Bluffs bef. 1920; living with Stofferson grandparents in rural Harlan, Shelby Co. in 1940; entered service 12 Feb 1942 from rural Harlan; m. Marian G. Dahl of Co. Bluffs 1943, one child; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Battery B, 14th Armored Field Artillery Bn.; 2nd Armored Div.; KIA 9 Jan 1945 Dochamps, NW of Houffalize, Belgium; The ETO > Battle of the Bulge.

​† Caster, John Joseph, SN 37-699-158, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Jul 1945 Underwood, Pott. Co.; s/o Charles H. Caster & Mary A. Dale of Underwood & Neola; entered service 24 Jun 1944 from Rt. 1, Underwood; bur. St. Patrick’s Cem., Neola.
  • Co. G, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 28 Apr 1945, Ie Shima, near Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

​† Cavanaugh, James Bernard, SN 17-017-247, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 31 Oct 1915 rural Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o Hugh C. Cavanaugh (d. 1943) & Angeline C. West of rural Neola; bur. St. Patrick's Cem., Neola.
  • G2 (intelligence), HQ, 2nd Philippine Corps; POW captured on Bataan, Luzon, Philippines 1942; Master Sergeant kept with high-level captives; DNB 10 Feb 1943, Formosa POW Camp #4, Karenko, northern Formosa, malaria; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Caywood, John Sloan, SN 39-591-957, US Army, Lancaster Co., NE & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 27 Dec 1919 Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE; s/o Harold B. Caywood & Lelia A. Sloan; m. Marilyn Caywood of Co. Bluffs 1939; moved to California 1941; enlisted 29 Jun 1944 from Los Angeles Co., CA; bur. Walnut Hill Cem, Co. Bluffs.
  • 28th Inf. Div.; KIA 1 Feb 1945 near Colmar, Alsace, France; Reduction of Colmar Pocket - The ETO > Battle of Alsace.

† Chambers, Stanley Glen, SN 19-097-353, USAAF, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 6 Feb 1919 Hardin Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Harry B. Chambers (d. 1928) & Louise M. Thomas of rural McClelland, Hardin Twp.; raised in Hardin Twp. & Los Angeles Co., CA; ss/o Wallace Melton of Ault, Weld Co., CO; enlisted 10 Apr 1942 in Los Angeles Co., CA; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • In pilot training at Randolph Field, Bexar Co., TX; flying basic trainer Vultee BT-13A Valiant # 41-21514; DNB 7 Dec 1942 NW of Randolph Field; training accident.

† Chancellor, Elmer Lee, SN O-711946, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. Jul 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o Sam Chancellor & Grace S. Chilcote (div.) of Co. Bluffs; entered service 5 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 118 Tactical Recon. Sqdn., 14th AF; based at Chengkung, China w/ advance base at Suichwan, China; North American P-51C Mustang #43-24938 pilot; KIA 28 Dec 1944, over Yangtze River, Anking, southern China; China-Burma-India Theater > China; BNR.

† Chancellor, James Maurice, SN 872-24-12, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 15 Oct 1925 Co. Bluffs; s/o Sam Chancellor & Grace S. Chilcote (div.) of Co. Bluffs; entered service 19 Nov 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Attack Transport USS Sandoval (APA-194); KIA 28 May 1945, off Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Sandoval damaged by Japanese kamikaze; eight dead; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Christensen, Darwin Arthur, SN 372-48-80, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 15 Feb 1924 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Henry S. Christensen (d. 1940) & Mary L. Vosler of Co. Bluffs; ss/o Grant Goehring; entered service 24 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; m. Ruby Cunningham 1943, one child.
  • Aircraft Carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), KIA 11 May 1945 off Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Bunker Hill severely damaged by Japanese kamikaze attack, 389 dead; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa; buried at sea.

† Christensen, Lester Angus, SN 316-61-17, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 10 Oct 1921 Co. Bluffs; s/o Bartel Christensen & Leona Dawson; entered service 8 Nov 1939 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Cruiser USS Houston (CA-30); KIA 28 Feb 1942 Battle of Sunda Strait, between Java & Sumatra, Dutch Indies; Houston sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedoes, 793 dead; Japan Lashes Out > The Indies Lost; BNR.

† Chuda, Jack Richard, SN 371595, USMC, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 14 Nov 1920 Co. Bluffs; s/o William J. Chuda & Effie May Hanson of Omaha; bur. Forest Lawn Cem., Omaha.
  • Co. C, 4th Marine Regt., 1st Provisional Marine Brigade; KIA 26 Jul 1944 Guam, Mariana Is.; North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.

† Coad, Ernest Dyer, SN 39-147-004, US Army, Douglas Co., NE & Alameda Co., CA
  • b. 21 Jun 1913 Omaha; s/o John F. Coad Jr. (d. 1941) & Helen I. Dyer (d. 1928) of Co. Bluffs; m. Elizabeth R. Tinley of Co. Bluffs 1936, three daughters; enlisted 20 Jan 1944 from Alameda Co., CA; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • First Army, unit unknown (assigned to First Army one day before dying); KIA 22 Nov 1944, near Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; The Allies Stymied > North Rhineland.

† Cody, Claude LeRoy, SN 648-05-90, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Dec 1920 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Edward L. Cody & Bessie Cogley of Glenwood & Co. Bluffs; m. Darlene Agnes Crawford of Tama, Tama Co; entered service 18 Dec 1941 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Cruiser USS Houston (CL-81); KIA 14 Oct 1944 off Formosa; Houston hit by Japanese aerial torpedoes on 14 & 16 Oct; 55 died, 937 survived; Houston stayed afloat and was towed to the US Naval base in Ulithi; North & Central Pacific > Toward the Philippines; BNR.
  • Notes: The earlier cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) was lost in the Dutch Indies in 1942. Claude Cody had survived the sinking of the USS Helena in July 1943.

† Cohen, Irving, SN O-771221, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Jul 1921 Co. Bluffs; s/o Harry Cohen & Anna Segel; entered service Feb 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 728 Bomb. Sqdn; 452 Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Deopham Green, Norfolk, England; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortess #42-97534 pilot; KIA on his first mission 25 Nov 1944 over Harren, N of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; plane exploded in mid-air after direct flak hit, seven crew dead, two POW; The ETO > ETO Air War; BNR.

† Cohrs, William Stanley “Dick”, SN 37-733-662, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 28 Mar 1917 Co. Bluffs; s/o William P. Cohrs (d. 1928) & Mabel Scherner of Underwood & Co. Bluffs, ss/o Marion Stewart; m. Lucille L. Bridges, three daughters; entered service 5 Jul 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 184th Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 5 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Collett, Albert Henry, SN 6-580-825, USAAF, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 27 Jul 1911 Moniteau Co., MO; s/o George A. Collett & Edna P. Niehaus (div.); family moved to Co. Bluffs bef 1915; moved to Los Angeles Co., CA in late 1930s; entered service bef. 1940; bur. St. Paul’s Cem., Dumfries, Pott. Co.
  • 93rd Bomb. Sqdn., 93rd Bomb. Gp., Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 20 May 1942, POW camp, Luzon, Philippines, declared dead 8 May 1944; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Collins, James Perry, SN 122-08-81, US Navy, Pott. Co., Pott. Co.
  • b. Jan 1901 Prescott, Adams Co.; s/o William E. Collins & Melvina Baumann (d. 1929) of SW Iowa; blacksmith in Carson, Pott. Co.; m. Ruth D. Wynn 1923, one child; entered service 31 Dec 1941 from Carson.
  • Q-ship USS Atik (AK-101); KIA 27 Mar 1942 off North Carolina; Atik sunk by German submarine U-123, 141 dead, no survivors; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.

† Colwell, Carl Layne, SN 648-73-84, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 11 Nov 1923 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Carl L. Colwell & Velma M. Robinson of Carson & Co. Bluffs; entered service 18 Nov 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Minesweeper YMS-19; KIA 24 Sep 1944, off Anguar, Palau Is., E of the Philippines, Central Pacific; YMS-19 sunk by mine; nine dead, 27 survivors; Battle of Anguar - North & Central Pacific > Toward the Philippines; BNR.

† Connelly, Robin Gail, SN 17-122-875, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Aug 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o Leonel G. Connelly & Hildred O. Barnhouse of Co. Bluffs & Neola; entered service 18 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; m. Pauline Pieper of Neola, Pott. Co. 1944; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 20th Co., Separation Ctr., Ft. Dix, NJ; DNB 24 Dec 1945 from exposure, body found in Sanhican Creek, Trenton, Mercer Co., NJ.

† Converse, Robert Franklin, SN O-73754, USAAF, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 20 Jun 1920 Co. Bluffs; s/o Frank E. Converse & Myrtle Zimmerman; m. Ruth Mattice; enlisted 28 Mar 1942 from Omaha; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak, Montgomery Co.
  • 958th Two-Engine Flying Training Squadron, Hobbs AAF, Lea Co., NM (despite the unit name, this squadron gave newly-commissioned pilots a nine-week course in becoming four-engine B-17 pilots); Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress #42-29990 pilot, DNB 8 Sep 1943 8 miles NE of Hobbs AAF in plane crash, five dead.

† Copeland, Donald Walter, SN O-700865, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 17 Sep 1921 Newcastle, Weston Co., WY; s/o Wayne H. Copeland & Mabel Norgaard of Co. Bluffs; entered service 21 Jan 1943 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 313 Troop Carrier Sqdn., 349th Troop Carrier Gp., 9th AF; based at Pope Field, Ft. Bragg, NC; Douglas C-47A Skytrain/Dakota #42-100712 pilot; DNB Jul 1944 25 miles SE of Cape Fear, SC; three aircraft from a flight of 54 disappeared in storm during training mission, all fifteen dead; BNR.

† Cox, Kenneth A., SN 17-078-406, USAAF, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 11 Mar 1919 Riley, Riley Co., KS; s/o Arthur B. Cox & Ida Belle Viola Clark of Omaha; m. Phyllis R. Leamer of Co. Bluffs 1943; bur. Westlawn-Hillcrest Cem., Omaha.
  • 16th Combat Camera Unit, based at Kumning, China; on this mission flying with 11th Bomb. Sqdn., 341st Bomb. Gp., 14th AF, based at Yangkai 33 M NE of  Kumning, China; North American B- 25 Mitchell #_____ w/ pilot John J. Wise, co-pilot Buster P. Meadows; KIA 18 Jan 1945 Chihkiang, Hunan Province, China; after bombing Puchi railroad bridge NW of Chungking, plane overshot runway when landing at staging base at Chihkiang ~ 300 M SE of Chungking; three dead, four survivors; China-Burma-India Theater > China.

† Cox, Leslie, SN 37-197-965, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 16 Sep 1916 Boone Co.; s/o Frederick S. Cox (d. 1929) & Fanny McGee (d. 1926); came to Co. Bluffs ~ 1941 & lived w/ brother Fred Cox; entered service 4 Jun 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Rose Hill Cem., Boone.
  • Co. K, 30th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div.; KIA 26 Oct 1943, near Pietravairano, SE of Cassino & NW of Caserta, Italy; Italian Mainland > To the Gustav Line.

† Crockett, Oliver Eldon, SN 37-490-415, US Army, Pott. Co. & Gentry Co., MO
  • b. 24 Oct 1922 Gentry Co., MO; s/o Oliver M. Crockett & Stella B. Kier; raised in Gentry Co.; lived in Co. Bluffs as young adult; entered service Feb 1944 from Gentry Co.; bur. Brittany American Cem., St.-James, Normandy, France.
  • 23rd Inf. Regt., 2nd Inf. Div.; KIA 11 Sep 1944 near Brest, Brittany, France; Battle of Brittany - France Liberated > Northern France.

† Crose, James Harvey, SN 37-470-848, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Sep 1923 Omaha; s/o Arthur J. Crose & Katherine A. Fisher of Omaha & Co. Bluffs; entered service 29 Jan 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 498th Bomber Sqdn., 345th Bomb. Gp., 5th AF; on Liberty Ship SS Thomas Nelson; KIA 12 Nov 1944, Dulag Harbor, Leyte Gulf, Philippines; kamikaze attack, Thomas Nelson survived; 136 died of whom 133 were USAAF; Philippines Liberated > Philippines Naval Losses.

† Curry, Jack Benton, SN 98652, US Merchant Marine, Pott. Co.
  • b. ~1917 New Mexico; s/o Arthur B. Curry (d. 1933) & Ada Montgomery (d. 1940) of Co. Bluffs.
  • Tanker Pan Massachusetts fireman/wiper; KIA 19 Feb 1942, off Cape Canaveral, FL; Pan Massachusetts torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-128; 20 dead, 18 survivors; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.

† Cutler, Donald Lee, SN 39-603-009, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Nov 1917 Shenandoah, Page Co.; s/o George N. Cutler & Myrtle M. Dodge (div.) of Shenandoah & other locations; ss/o Harry C. Baxter of Co. Bluffs; enlisted 1 Oct 1941 from Big Horn Co., MT;  bur. Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, Lorraine, France.
  • Co. E, 254th Inf. Regt., 63rd Inf. Div.; KIA 8 Apr 1945 near Weißbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Central Europe > Central Germany.