President Obama at Midway Island
Barak Obama, Midway Island
bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Roster > Roster Records > Roster D, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, last update 1 Oct 2023.
Part 6/24 of Big Pigeon's Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster, 33 "D" names.
​═══════════════════════════════════
† Dammrow, Stanley Arnold, SN 17-030-323, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Jan 1923 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Detlef A. Dammrow & Grace M. Patterson (d. 1936); entered service Feb 1941 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Hq. Sqdn., V Interceptor Cmd., Luzon, Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB Nov 1942, Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines, dysentery; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR. 

† Daughtrey/Daugherty, Gilbert Pryor, SN 701-04-70, US Navy, Jackson Co., MO & Pott. Co.
  • b. 1 Sep 1918 Wellsville, Montgomery Co., MO; s/o John R. Daughtrey (d. 1935) & Virginia S. Harris; lived in Independence, Jackson Co., MO; mother Co. Bluffs resident in 1940s.
  • Submarine USS Growler (SS 215); KIA 8 Nov 1944, W of Manila Bay, Philippines, South China Sea; Growler likely sunk by Japanese depth charge, all 86 dead; Naval War with Japan > US Submarine Force; BNR.
  • Note: Military records sometimes use the spelling of Daugherty.

† Davenport, William Thomas Jr., SN 17-122-771, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 7 Apr 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o William T. Davenport Sr. & Viola B. Shafer of Star Rt., Co. Bluffs; m. Helen L. Shearer, one child; entered service from Star Rt., Co. Bluffs.​
  • Crew #P-46, 62nd Bomb. Sqdn., 39th Bomb. Gp., XXI Bomber Cmd., Twentieth Air Force, based at North Field, Guam, Mariana Is.; Boeing B-29 Superfortress #44-69889 The Slic Chic right gunner w/ aircraft commander Edgar B. Grear; KIA 29 May 1945, 120 miles NE of Tori-Shima, S of Tokyo; aircraft hit by flak over Yokohama and ditched, four dead, eight survivors; Japan Overpowered > Strategic Air War/Japan; BNR.

† Davis, August William Jr., SN 17-003-658, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 6 Sep 1920 Shenandoah, Page Co.; s/o August W. Davis Sr. & Gladys M. Vaughn, family moved to Co. Bluffs in the early 1930s; entered service 3 Oct 1940 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 792nd Bomb. Sqdn., 468 Bomb. Gp., XX Bomber Cmd., Twentieth Air Force, based at Kalaikunda AAB, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India; Boeing B-29 Superfortress #42-6230 Limber Duggan tail gunner w/ aircraft commander Dushan V. Ivanovic, staging from Pengshan, near Chengdu, China; KIA 15 Jun 1944, near Yawata, Kyushu, Japan; plane was part of the first B-29 raid on Japan; mission consisted of 68 aircraft included 11 correspondents; plane damaged over target & exploded; all eleven crew and Newsweek correspondent William T. Shenkel died; this was the first B-29 lost over Japan, however three other B-29s on this mission went down returning to base; Operation Matterhorn -  Japan Overpowered > Strategic Air War/Japan; BNR.

​† Davis, Joseph Simpson, SN 321-43-19, US Navy, Adams Co. (WWII-DavisJosephS)
  • b. 26 Dec 1919 Tabor, Fremont Co.; s/o Francis M. Davis & Faye W. Higgins; family moved to Quincy Twp., rural Corning, Adams Co. in early 1920s; entered service 18 Jun 1940 from Rt. 2, Corning. 
  • Heavy Cruiser USS Houston (CA-30), the US Asiatic Fleet flagship; KIA 1 Mar 1942 Battle of Sunda Strait, between Java & Sumatra, Dutch Indies; Houston sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedoes, 793 dead; Japan Lashes Out > The Dutch Indies Lost; BNR.

† Davis, Willard Henry, SN 37-460-144, US Army, Montgomery Co. & Fremont Co., WY
  • b. 24 Jul 1923 Denver, CO; s/o Charles L. Davis (d. 1943) & Bessie P. Means; living w/ a foster family in Kansas City, MO in 1930; living w/ parents in Fremont Co., WY in 1935; working on a federal dam project in 1940; working for C. H. Turner in Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in 1942; service credited to Montgomery Co., date of service entry unknown; bur. Jefferson Barracks Nat'l Cem., St. Louis, MO.
  • original member of Co. A, 508th Parachute Inf. Regt., 82nd Airborne Div., organized 4 Nov 1943 at Camp Mackall,, NC; on 17 Sep 1944 parachuted from burning C-47A #42-101004 near Groesbeek, Netherlands; KIA 19 Sep 1944 near Nijmegen, Netherlands; Battle of Nijmegen portion of Operation Market-Garden - The ETO > War of Attrition > Netherlands 1944.

† Dea, James David, SN O-325,990, US Naval Aviation, Pott. & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 24 Aug 1921 Pleasant T., Pott. Co.; s/o William B. Dea & Cecelia H. Dargin of Pleasant Twp., rural Shelby; entered service 25 Nov 1942 from rural Shelby; bur. Graceland Cem., Avoca, Pott. Co.
  • Naval Air Patrol Sqdn. VP-21; ensign training at Harvey Point Navy Auxiliary Air Station, Queen Anne Co., NC; Martin PBM-3D Mariner BuNo 45263 crew member w/ pilot Farquhar Macrae Jr.; DNB 31 May 1944 in Princess Anne Co., Virginia near Harvey Pt.; plane stalled during practice bombing run; all nine dead.

† Decker, Charles Earl, SN 37-750-378, US Army, Harrison & Mills Cos.
  • b. 18 Nov 1918 Silver City, Mills Co.; s/o Archibald P. Decker & Viva Marie Hunt; moved to Harrison Co. in late 1930s; m. Vera Isora Little of Harrison Co. 1940, two children; entered service 18 Aug 1944 from Silver City, service credited to Harrison Co.; bur. Silver City Cem.
  • HQ Co., 1st Bn., 39th Inf. Regt., 9th Inf. Div., III Corps, First Army; DNB 28 Feb 1945 Udingen, S of Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany;  The ETO > To the Rhine > Ops Veritable & Grenade.
† Decker, Richard Charles, SN 17-017-220, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 11 Mar 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o Arthur W. Decker & Matilda De Frees of Co. Bluffs; entered service 4 Feb 1941 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Detachment, 69th Bomb. Sqdn., 38th Bomb. Gp., based at Hickam Field, Oahu, Hawaii Territory & deployed to Midway Is., Hawaii Territory 29 May 1942; Martin B-26B Marauder #41-17570 nose gunner w/ pilot William S. Watson; KIA 4 Jun 1942 off Midway Is.; low-level torpedo attack by four Marauders on Japanese fleet, two planes lost, each w/ crew of seven, no survivors, remaining planes damaged; Japan Overreaches > Battle of Midway; BNR.

† Deffenbaugh, Lyle Joseph, SN 0-288-505, US Army, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 7 Jun 1910 Co. Bluffs; s/o Joseph E. Deffenbaugh (d. 1918) & Frances M. Roberts; m. Helen Lorkovic of Omaha 1935; entered service 11 Feb 1941 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Keokuk Nat’l Cem., Keokuk, Lee Co.
  • C.O. 1st Bn., 6th Armored Inf. Regt., 1st Armored Div., VI Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 28 May 1944 near Artena, Lazio, SE of Rome, Italy; shell hit Bn. command post; The MTO > Italy > Cassino to Rome.
  • Notes: Took over 1st Bn., 6th Armored Inf. Regt. in Mar 1943 after Lt. Col. William B. Kern was wounded at Maknassy, Tunisia. Silver Star (North Africa), posthumous Distinguished Service Cross.

† Deitchler, Edgar Kay, SN 37-118-985, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 27 Mar 1913 Oak Twp., Mills Co.; s/o Louis F. Deitchler and Helen Kay (d. 1940); entered service 23 Mar 1942 from Glenwood, Mills Co.; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • 357th Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div.; KIA 17 Jun 1944, near Gourbesville, W. of St. Mere Eglise, Normandy, France; The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy, June 1944.

† Delaney, Harlan Albert, SN 37-487-707, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 20 Oct 1924 Pymosa Twp., rural Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o George W. Delaney & Elsie M. Belding; family lived in Marne area in 1930, moving to Montgomery Co. in early 1930s; entered service 8 Dec 1943 from Villisca, Montgomery Co.; bur. Villisca Cem.
  • 279th Replacement Co., Corps of Engineers; DNB 15 Oct 1944 Oro Bay, Papua, New Guinea; laryngitis & tracheobronchitis; WWII-Japan > The Pacific Bases.​

† Delong, Lloyd E., SN 37-117-114, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Jun 1907/08 Leon, Decatur Co.; s/o Charles Delong & Flossie Lindsay who moved to Co., Bluffs in the early 1920s; m. Virginia R. Heck, three adopted children, one dau.; entered service 9 Mar 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Golden Gate Nat'l Cem., San Bruno, San Mateo Co., CA.
  • 409th Bomb. Gp., Ninth Air Force, flying Douglas A-26 Invaders, based at Bretigny, S of Paris, France; DNB 3 Nov 1944 at Fleury-Mérogis, near Paris; head injuries from falling from a moving truck; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Delph, Everette Melvin, SN 37-754-300, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 23 Jun 1926 Shelby, Shelby Co.; s/o Ralph Ray Delph & Ethel E. Cunningham; enlisted 23 Jun 1944, entered service 20 Oct 1944 from Shelby; bur. Shelby Cem.
  • Co. E, 152nd Inf. Regt., 38th Inf. Div; KIA 18 May 1945, Barangka Rizal, E of Manila, Luzon, Philippines; killed by a grenade during a Japanese counterattack; Philippines Liberated > Luzon.

† Denison, Paul Marsh, SN 20-706-336, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 28 Oct 1918 Anita, Cass Co.; s/o George E. Denison & Elva L. Marsh; family lived in rural Wiota, Franklin Twp., Cass Co., moving to Sauk Center, MN in early 1920s and returning to Franklin Twp. in early 1930s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Atlantic, Cass Co.; bur. Cass Co.
  • Co. K (Atlantic), 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., II Corps; KIA 8 Nov 1942 Algiers, Algeria; The MTO > North Africa > Operation Torch.

† Denton, Claude Ballentine, SN 648-65-29, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Mar 1906 Marne, Cass Co.; s/o Fred A. Denton (d. 1939) & Anna L. Ballentine; family moved to Harlan, Shelby Co. bef. 1910 & to Co. Bluffs in late 1920s; m. Clara L. Synak 1936 (div.), one child; entered service 12 Oct 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Evergreen Cem., Anita, Cass Co.
  • Destroyer USS Cony (DD 508); KIA 27 Oct 1943, during US invasion of Treasury Is., S. of Bougainville, Solomon Is.; Cony damaged by Japanese air attack, eight dead; South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War.

† Deputy, Charles Dean, SN 940,539, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Jan 1926 Co. Bluffs; s/o David S. Deputy & Salome Buchholz (d. 1933) of Rt. 4, Co. Bluffs; entered service 15 Mar 1944 from Rt. 4, Co. Bluffs; bur. Nat’l Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • Co. I, 21st Marine Regt.; 3rd Marine Div.; DOW 24 Feb 1945, Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.

† Dickinson, Earl Albert, SN 37-472-885, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 8 Nov 1924 at Modale, Harrison Co.; s/o Morton R. Dickinson & Hettie M. Puffer; entered service 10 Feb 1943 from Modale; bur. Manila American Cem., Manila, Luzon, Philippines.
  • Co. C, 169th Inf. Regt., 43rd Inf. Div.; KIA 9 Jan 1945, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon; Philippines Liberated > Luzon.

† Dideriksen, Robert Warren, SN 0-2-044-637, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Page Cos.
  • b. 16 Mar 1921 rural Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o Nels M. Dideriksen & Anna C. Hilstrum; family moved to Shenandoah, Page Co. 1931-34; entered service 19 Nov 1940 from Rt. 3, Shenandoah; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • 14th Photo Recon. Sqdn., 7th Recon. Gp., Eighth Air Force, based at Mount Farm, N of Dorchester, Oxfordshire, England; British Supermarine PR Mk XI Spitfire #PL790 pilot; KIA 15 Jun 1944 near Paris, France; shot down by German Me-109s; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Dinesen, Harold N., SN 37-433-094, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 24 May 1921 Shelby Co.; s/o Jacob C. Dinesen & Patrina Nielsen (d. 1922); ss/o Hulda (Peterson) of rural Underwood, Pott. Co.; remained at home in Center Twp. E of Harlan before entering service 28 Sep 1942; bur. Harlan Cem., Shelby Co.
  • Battery C., 400th AAA AW Bn., Seventh Army; WIA (sic, local newspaper) 12 Mar 1945, DNB (sic, War Dept. report)) 15 Mar 1945 in hospital, France; The ETO > To the Rhine > Operation Undertone.
  • Notes: I know nothing about Sgt. Dinesen's injuries, and am arbitrarily assuming his death may have occurred during staging for Operation Undertone, which began on 15 March.

† Dixon, Cletus Hugh, SN 620-16-09, US Navy, Woodbury Co.
  • b. 20 Apr 1917 Boomer Twp., rural Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o John J. Dixon & Vera E. Clark; moved to rural Woodbury Co. bef. 1920; entered service 22 Dec 1941 from Moville, Harrison Co.
  • Destroyer USS De Haven (DD-469); KIA 1 Feb 1943 in Ironbottom Sound, E of Savo Is., Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; De Haven sunk by Japanese bombs; 167 died, 146 survived; South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.

† Dixon, Gene Willard, SN 38-006-349, US Army, Pott. Co. & Denver Co., CO
  • b. 12 Jun 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Roy F. Dixon (d. 1935) & Katherine Mulachy; m. Leverna Adeline Cook of Neola, Pott. Co. (div.), one child; entered service 31 Jan 1941 from Denver Co., CO; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • HQ Co., 157th Inf. Regt.; 45th Inf. Div.; IV Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 15 Dec 1943 near Conca Casale, W of Venafro & E of Cassino, southern Italy; The MTO > Italy > To the Gustav Line.

† Dodson, Harry John, SN 17-165-668, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 15 Sep 1922 Lincoln Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o John G. Dodson & Emma L. Whitt; entered service 15 Dec 1942 from Rt. 1, Emerson, Mills Co.; bur. Emerson Cem.
  • HQ Co., 2nd Bn. 32nd Armored Inf. Regt., 3rd Armored Div.; KIA 13 Oct 1944 near Stolberg, E. of Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; The ETO > War of Attrition > Rhineland 1944 > Aachen.

† 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., Montgomery Co.
  • 132nd Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., II Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 8 Feb 1944 near Cassino, Lazio, Italy; First Battle of Monte Cassino - The MTO > Italy > Cassino/the Gustav Line.

† Donahoe, Joseph Robert, SN 6-553-362, US Army Air Force, Cass Co.
  • b. 29 Mar 1910 Griswold, Cass Co.; s/o Robert A. Donahoe & Maude E. Ruckman; entered service 8 Dec 1941 from Griswold; bur. Pleasant Twp. Cem., rural Griswold.
  • 32nd Technical School Sqdn., Chanute Field, Rantoul, Champaign Co., IL; d. 16 Jul 1942, heart failure caused by chronic alcoholism.

† Downs, Thomas George, SN 0-745-648, US Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 16 Oct 1919 rural Underwood, Pott. Co.; s/o Thomas L. Downs & Mary I. Pardee of rural Underwood; m. Martha M. Schorsch of Underwood; entered service 1942 from Rt. 1, Underwood; bur. Downsville Cem., rural Underwood.
  • 85th Troop Carrier Sqdn., 437th Troop Carrier Gp., Ninth Air Force, based at Ramsbury, Wiltshire, England; Douglas C-47A Skytrain/Dakota #43-15655 pilot; DNB 27 Aug 1944 at landing field ALG A-22 near Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France; crashed while landing, four dead; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Drake, Eldon C., SN 37-403-963, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 5 Jul 1923 rural Walnut, Lincoln Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Charles H. Drake & Eunice M. Osler; family moved to Atlantic, Cass Co. in late 1920s; entered service 15 Dec 1942 from Atlantic; bur. Atlantic Cem.
  • Co. B., 25th Tank Bn., 14th Armored Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; attached to 36th Inf. Div. at time of death; KIA 7 Feb 1945 northern Alsace, France; The ETO > Alsace 1945 > Operation Nordwind.

† Dryer, Arthur L., SN 37-112-204, US Army, Page Co. & Howell Co., MO (WWII-DryerArthurL)
  • b. 25 Feb 1919 Peace Valley, Howell Co., MO; s/o Fay H. Dryer & Bertha Ferguson; family moved from Howell Co. to Clarinda, Page Co. in the late 1930s & to Villisca, Montgomery Co. in the 1940s; entered service 28 Jan 1942 from Rt. 2, Clarinda, Page Co.; bur. Villisca Cem., Montgomery Co.
  • 755th Tank Bn., Fifth Army; KIA 13 Apr 1945 near Po River, Italy in Argenta, Provincia di Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna; The MTO > Italy > The Po Valley.

​† Dryer, William Ernest, SN 0-543-837, US Army Air Force, Des Moines Co. (St. Paul's)
  • b. 9 May 1911 Bolivar, Polk Co., MO; s/o Elijah Dryer & Malinda Taylor; m. Florence Glee Cart, two children; entered service 26 Jan 1944 from Burlington, Des Moines Co. 
  • 3rd Sqdn., 2533rd Army Air Force Base Unit, Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, TX; Vultee BT-13A Valiant #41-22019 pilot; DNB 14 Mar 1945; aircraft crashed on Los Pinos Mt. 37 miles east of San Diego, CA; both occupants dead.

† Duffy/Lein, Robert Eugene, served as Duffy Robert E & Lein Robert E, SN 17-197-256, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 2 Mar 1926 Corsica, Douglas Co., SD; s/o Lawrence D. Lein & Elfrieda Christensen (div. 1930s); family moved to Valley Jct., Polk Co. in late 1920s; mother married Edward P. Duffy and family moved to Co. Bluffs in late 1930s; entered service 2 Sep 1943 from Co. Bluffs as Robert L. Lein; bur. as Robert Lee Duffy, Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • unit unknown; DNB 16 Jan 1945, near The Dalles, Wasco Co., OR, auto accident.
  • Note: Appears twice in 1946 US Army list of Iowa dead, both with the same service number - Duffy Robert E and Lein Robert E.

​† Dumler, Reuben P., SN 38-008-965, US Army, Montgomery Co. & Grundy Co., MO (WWII-DumlerReubenP)
  • b. 14 Apr 1914 Laredo, Grundy Co., MO; s/o Carl Dumler & Elizabeth Schmidt; family moved to Grundy Co., MO before 1914 and returned from Grundy Co to Montgomery Co. in 1934; entered service 11 Aug 1941 from Rt. 3, Red Oak; service credited to Clear Creek Co., CO; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. F, 179th Inf. Regt., 45th Inf. Div.; captured 1944 southern France; POW near the Elbe Rive in Stalag 4D, Torgau, Saxony, Germany; KIA 12 Apr 1945 in hospital, Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany; hospital struck by Allied air attack; The ETO > Liberation > Southern France.
  • Notes: Stalag 4D in downtown Torgau was the central location for POW work camps in the area.  Halle was occupied by US forces on 17 Apr. US and Russian forces met at the Elbe River near Torgau on 25 Apr.

† Dutton, Finley Jake, SN 0-2-001-366, 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.

† Dworak, Lloyd Arthur, SN 702-51-32, US Naval Aviation, Douglas Co., NE (St. Paul's)
  • b. 24 Jul 1923 Omaha, Douglas Co. s/o Lloyd A Carter & Jessie I. Pope (d. 1931); mother m. Arthur F. Dworak of Omaha 1932; student at University of Nebraska; entered service as aviation cadet from Omaha at Kansas City 21 Oct 1942, called to active duty 1943; bur. Forest Lawn Cem., Omaha.
  • navy aviation fighter pilot training in night fighter operation at Vero Beach Naval Air Station, Indian River Co., FA; DNB on training mission early 6 Jan 1945; Grumman F7F Tigercat.