Marine Corps Memorial - Arlington, VA
Marine Memorial - Arlington, Virginia
Source: website bigpigeon.us, webpage WW II Dead > The Roster > Roster-JKL

Pottawattamie County, Iowa Area WW II Dead Roster - part 5/11, J-K-L
© 2020 by Robert A. Christiansen, last update 29 Sep 2020, 54 names
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† Jackson, Robert Woods, SN 316-62-42, US Navy, Mills Co.
  • b. 21 Dec 1921 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Marion D. Jackson & Eula F. Woods (d. 1924); entered service 26 Dec 1939 from rural Glenwood.
  • Battleship USS Arizona (BB-39); KIA 7 Dec 1941 during Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii Territory; Arizona exploded and sank, 1,177 dead; Japan Lashes Out > Pearl Harbor; BNR.
  • Notes: The sunken Arizona settled in shallow water and remains today as a memorial.

† Jensen, Arthur Orville, SN 37-117-909, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 19 Apr 1919 rural Honey Creek, Boomer Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Martin M. Jensen & Agnes K. Junker; family moved to Garner Twp. in early 1920s and later to Co. Bluffs; entered service 16 Mar 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 54th Troop Carrier Sqdn., 11th AF, based at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska Territory; Douglas C-47-DL Skytrain/Dakota #41-38635 radio operator; DNB 28 Nov 1942, near Lake Iliamna, Alaska; plane hit hillside in heavy winds returning to base, all eight dead; North & Central Pacific > Alaska - North Pacific.
  • Notes: The dead included Col. Everett Davis, first commander of the 11th AF. Arthur O. Jensen was my father's second cousin.

† Jensen, Carl Christian, SN 6-863-492, US Army, Audubon & Pott. Cos. (Pott. Co. connection unknown.)
  • b. 14 Nov 1918 Guthrie Center, Guthrie Co.; s/o Nels J. Jensen & Myrtle Greer of Audubon Co.; family moved to Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN after 1940; entered service 8 Jun 1937 from Rt. 4, Audubon, Audubon Co.; reinlisted 8 Jun 1940 at Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX; service credited to Pott. Co.; bur. Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Italy.
  • Co. F, 18th Inf. Regt., 1st Inf. Div.; KIA 4 Aug 1943 near Troina, Sicily, Italy; Operation Husky, Battle of Troina - North Africa & Sicily > Sicily.

† Jensen, Charles Eugene, SN 361395, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Oct 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o James C. Jensen & Anna Jensen of Co. Bluffs; entered service 19 Jan 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. C, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Bn., 2nd Marine Div.; KIA 16 Jun 1944 Saipan, Mariana Is.; North & Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.
  • Notes: posthumous Silver Star.

† Johnson, Arthur Burdick, US Merchant Marine, Harrison & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 29 Sep 1882 Hardin Co.; s/o Charles D. Johnson (d. 1907) & Clementine Burdick (d. 1900) both b. Wisconsin; ss/o Dicy E. (Deen) Johnson of Harlan, Shelby Co.; family lived in various Iowa locations before settling in Woodbine, Harrison Co.; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • Stranded in Manila, Luzon, Philippines when WW II began; interned in civilian POW camp at San Tomas University, Manila; d. 23 Nov 1944 Manila from beri-beri; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Johnson, Casper Simon, SN 37-021-372, US Army, Pott. Co. & Hennepin Co., MN
  • b. 31 Jul 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o John Johnson (d. 1943) & Johanna M. Petersen of Co. Bluffs; ss/o Enos C. Bostwick; m. Marian D. Shervey 1941, two children; entered service from Hennepin Co., MN; bur. Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, Belgium.
  • 14th Tank Bn., 9th Armored Div.; KIA 17 Dec 1944 near St. Vith, Belgium; Battle of St. Vith - The ETO > Battle of the Bulge.

† Johnson, Frank Allen, SN 37-189-738, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 17 Jan 1915 Malvern, Mills Co.; s/o Marcus E. Johnson & Mary E. Hambsch of Rt. 1, Macedonia, Pott. Co.; entered service 23 Mar 1942 from Macedonia; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • Co. D, 67th Armored Regt., 2nd Armored Div.; KIA 26 Aug 1944 near Seine River, NW of Paris, France; France Liberated > Northern France.

† Johnson, Max Roy, SN 20-716-191, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 6 Jan 1925 Hastings, Mills Co.; s/o Charles H. Johnson & Florabel Ball (div. 1943); entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Hastings; bur. Hastings Cem.
  • Co. I, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., detatched to British 6th Commando Battalion; KIA 21 Nov 1942 NE Algeria, North Africa; North Africa & Sicily > Morocco & Algeria.

† Johnson, Melvin Wallace, SN 37-483-507, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 10 Oct 1914 Tama, Tama Co.; s/o Alfred F. Johnson & Minnie F. Schlumbohm; m. Dorothy E. Bishop 1939, one child; entered service 1 Aug 1943 from Harrison Co.; bur. Epinal American Cem., Lorraine, France.
  • 314th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div.; DOW 18 Nov 1944 Saverne Gap, Alsace, France; The ETO > Alsace Campaign.

† Johnson, Raymond Earl, SN O-1301648, US Army, Fremont Co.
  • b. 5 Oct 1918 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o William A. Johnson (d. 1944) & Alice J. Wood; raised in Sidney, Fremont Co.; m. June D. Hall, one child; entered service 13 Oct 1939 from Sidney; bur. Netherlands American Cem., Margraten, Netherlands.
  • 119th Inf. Regt., 30th Inf. Div.; wounded near Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, DOW 19 Nov 1944 in Netherlands; The Allies Stymied > Northern Rhineland.

† Jones, Donald Eugene, SN 37-484-709, USAAF, Pott. Co. & Cottonwood Co., MN
  • b. ~ 1921 Iowa; s/o Rev. Roy E. Jones, pastor Glendale Presby. Ch., & Anna V. Wahlstrom of rural Co. Bluffs; m. Elvira Emilie Stein; entered service from Cottonwood Co., MN.
  • 1305th AAF Base Unit, based at Dum Dum, near Calcutta/Kolkata, West Bengal, India; Douglas C-47B-1-DL Skytrain/Dakota #43-16261 radio operator; d. 27 Nov 1945 N of Kuala Lumpur, Malaya; flight from Singapore to Butterworth, Malaya; China-Burma-India Theater > Flying the Hump; BNR.

† Jones, Homer Ernest Jr., SN O-720519, USAAF, Harrison Co.
  • b. 11 Dec 1916 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o Homer E. Jones & Nellie H. Brown; m. Doris E. Carson 1939, one child; entered service 1 Oct 1942 from Missouri Valley; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 8th Combat Cargo Sqdn., 2nd Combat Cargo Gp., 5th AF, based at Biak, Dutch Indies; Douglas C-47 Skytrain/Dakota tail number unknown; DNB 3 Feb 1945 Dulag, Leyte, another plane taking off veered off the runway and struck Jones' plane, two died; fractured skull; Philippines Liberated > Leyte.

† Jorgensen, George Eugene Jr., SN 316-86-64, US Navy, Pott. & Mills Cos.
  • b. 7 Mar 1920 Hazel Dell Twp., rural Crescent, Pott. Co.; s/o George E. Jorgensen & Marion E. Ham of rural Crescent & Pacific Jct., Mills Co.; m. Betty A. Enselman 1943.
  • Navy signalman on Army tanker Y-17 carrying aviation fuel from Hamble-le-Rice, near Southampton SW of London to the Antwerp, Belgium area; KIA 9 Apr 1945 off Ostend, Belgium; Y-17 sunk by torpedo from German midget submarine U-5309; no survivors among the 18 crew members; The ETO > ETO Sea War; BNR.

† Juhl, William David, SN 8-863-628, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 10 Oct 1919 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o William M. Juhl (d. 1943) & Flora M. Dales; entered service 1 Nov 1938 from Rt. 4, Harlan.
  • Co. G, 31st Inf. Regt., Philippine Div.; POW Philippines 1942; d. 8 Aug 1942 at Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines from malaria; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR.
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† Kadel, Lloyd G., SN 17-123-128, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Oct 1922 York T., Pott. Co.; s/o Michael L. Kadel & Helena M. Witt of rural Minden, Pott. Co.; entered service 25 Sep 1942 from Rt. 1, Minden; bur. Minden Twp. Cem.
  • 604th Bomb. Sqdn., 399th Bomb. Gp., training unit based at Hamilton Field, Marin Co., CA; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #41-28874 crew member; plane en route from Hamilton Field via Phoenix, AZ to Midland, TX; DNB 18 Mar 1944 in Santa Catalina Mts. 25 miles NE of Tucson, Pima Co., AZ; plane encountered bad weather and turned to return to Phoenix, plane clipped peak, lost control, and crashed; all ten dead.

† Kakac, Victor Otto Jr., SN 37-486-218, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 31 Aug 1924 Cresco, Howard Co.; s/o Victor O. Kakac Sr. & Blanche Frazier; entered service 22 Mar 1943 from Rt. 3, Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • Co. M, 137th Inf. Regt., 35th Inf. Div.; KIA 1 Aug 1945 SE of St. Lo., Normandy, France; France Liberated > Normandy Breakout.

† Keltner, David Reinhart, SN 37-126-193, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Jan 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Harry E. Keltner (d. 1943) & Agnes C. Reinhart (d. 1931); entered service May 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • Hq. Co., 1st Bn., 322nd Inf. Reg., 81st Inf. Div.; KIA 13 Oct 1944, Anguar Is., near Peleliu Is., Palau Is., E of the Philippines, Central Pacific; Battle of Anguar - North & Central Pacific > Towards the Philippines.

† Kemplin, Alvin Gerald, SN 37-699-280, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Oct 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o William W. Kemplin & Minnie Steinmeier of Co. Bluffs; m. Elsie Irene Belt of Co. Bluffs abt 1939; entered service 28 Jun 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. G, 32nd Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 23 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; wounds from an artillery shell; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
  • Note: Not found on official list of Army/AAF Pottawattamie County WW II dead.

† Kersten, Lloyd Wesley, SN O-819918, USAAF, Harrison Co.
  • b. 23 Jul 1921 near Logan, Calhoun Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o Edward F. Kersten & Martha M. Schuelsky; entered service 26 Dec 1942 from Rt. 1, Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; m. Helen M. John 1944, one child; bur. Magnolia Cem., Harrison Co.
  • 836th Bomb. Sqdn., 487th Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Lavenham, Suffolk, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #43-37877 pilot; KIA 30 Nov 1944, Theissen Burgenlandkreis, Sachsen-Anhalt, SW of Leipzig, Germany; shot down by flak over secondary target; seven dead, two POW; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Kimball, William George, SN O-516449, USAAF, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 4 Nov 1919, Waterford, Racine Co., WI; s/o George H. Kimball & Lulu Carpenter; m. Vida Doris Broderick of Carter Lake, Pott. Co. 1941, two children; entered service 1 Apr 1943 from Carter Lake; bur. Wood Nat'l Cem., Milwaukee, WI.
  • Air Transport Cmd.; DNB 3 Nov 1943 near Enterprise, Washington Co., UT, ferrying Douglas A-20G Havoc #43-9241 from Long Beach, CA to Great Falls, MT.

† King, Clarence Rudolph, SN 37-112-581, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Apr 1920 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Claude R. King & Bertha E. Watkins (d. 1920); ss/o Mary A. Hering; family lived in Oakland, Pott. Co. area; entered service 3 Feb 1942 from Rt. 4, Oakland; bur. Carson Cem.
  • Co. E, 161st Inf. Regt., 25th Inf. Div., KIA 2 Aug 1943 New Georgia, Solomon Is.; Operation Cartwheel - South & SW Pacific > Solomon Islands.

† Kirkland, Morris Alvin, SN 37-420-864, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 13 Sep 1911 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o John A. Kirkland (d. 1915) & Mary Ann Kelly (d. 1920); raised in rural Missouri Valley.
  • Co. C, 377th Inf. Regt., 95th Inf. Div., Third Army; KIA 9 Nov 1944 S of Metz, Lorraine, France; The Allies Stymied > Lorraine Campaign; BNR.

† Kish, Lyman Herbert, SN 12-141-097, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 8 Oct 1922 rural Craig, Holt Co., MO; s/o Herbert A. Kish & Margaret V. Colhour (div.); raised by father in rural Pott. Co.; entered service 1 Oct 1942 from Rock Island Co., IL; bur. Steele Cem., Falls City, Richardson Co., NE.
  • Battery D, 403rd AAA Bn.; WIA 20 Feb 1944 near Cassino, Lazio, Italy; DOW 21 Feb 1944 11th Field Hosp., San Pietro, Italy; shrapnel wound; Italian Mainland > Cassino.

† Klefman, Gordon Louis, SN O-325561, US Army, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 11 Jan 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Louis J. Klefman & Nellie M. Harriman; family moved to Omaha ~1940; previous Iowa National Guard Service; living in Kansas City, KS in 1940; enlisted in Air Corps 29 May 1941 at Ft. Leavenworth, KS; transferred to artillery; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Council Bluffs.
  • Co. C, 1st Ranger Bn. (one of 500 original US Army Rangers); KIA 10 Nov 1942 near Oran, Algeria, North Africa; Operation Torch - North Africa & Sicily > Morocco & Algeria.

† Kloewer, Eugene John, SN 37-436-471, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 25 Jun 1921 Earling/Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Frank A. Kloewer & Anna M. Rau; entered service 5 Oct 1942 from Rt. 3, Harlan; bur. Epinal American Cem., Lorraine, France.
  • 753rd Tank Bn., Seventh Army; KIA 15 Sep 1944, Burgundy area, France; France Liberated > Southern France. 

† Knapp, Clyde Alfred, SN O-328819, USAAF, Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 9 Jan 1909 Omaha; s/o George W. Knapp & Beulah B. West (div.); family lived in at least six midwest locations; m. Joycelyn Nadine Howard 1936, two children; moved to Los Angeles Co., CA after marrying; service credited to Mobile Co., AL.
  • 154th Obs. Sqdn. 68th Obs. Gp. based at Oujda, Morocco; Douglas A-20 Havoc pilot; KIA 7 Jan 1943 North Africa; plane w/ crew of four disappeared on a mission; The MTO > MTO Air War; BNR.

† Knapp, Rexford James “Rex”, SN 316-35-72, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • b. 21 Aug 1913 Manilla, Crawford Co.; s/o Edward J. Knapp & Julia J. Luxford; family lived in Harlan, Shelby Co., moving to Co. Bluffs in early 1930s; entered service 1933 from Co. Bluffs; m. Rose Marie Thomas, three children; bur. Union Twp. Cem., Defiance, Shelby Co.
  • Cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36); KIA 30 Nov 1942 in Ironbound Sound off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Minneapolis torpedoed by Japanese destroyer & heavily damaged; Battle of Tassafaronga - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War.

† Knight, DeVere Hiram, SN 20-706-798, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 5 Aug 1915 Malvern, Mills Co.; s/o Harvey J. Knight & Emily C. Clary; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Malvern; bur. Malvern Cem.
  • Co. M, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 4 Nov 1943 near Hill 400, NE of Venafro, 20 miles E of Cassino, Italy, sniper fire; Italian Mainland > Towards the Gustav Line.

† Knudsen, Alfred Raymond, SN 17-165-468, US Army, Pott. Co. 
  • b. 21 Oct 1924 rural Neola; Pott. Co.; s/o Laurits P. Knudsen & Alma M. Petersen; entered service 10 Dec 1942 from Co. Bluffs; released 22 Feb 1946; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 158th Inf. Regt.; d. 21 Jul 1946 Co. Bluffs, auto accident.

† Knudsen, Robert Dearld, SN 896935, USMC, Pott. Co. & Jackson Co., MO
  • b. 26 Sep 1925 Co. Bluffs; s/o George Knudsen (d. 1929) & Retha Jane Daugherty; ss/o John Broyles; entered service from Co. Bluffs; bur. Jefferson City Nat’l Cem., Jefferson City, MO.
  • Co. H, 7th Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div.; KIA 14 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Knutson, Harold Norman, SN 39-092-195, USAAF, Sioux Co.
  • b. 2 Feb 1920 Hawarden, Sioux Co.; s/o Emil M. Knutson & Edna M. Caster; family lived in Sioux and Marshall Cos., moving to Co. Bluffs in early 1940s; lived in Grants Pass, Josephine Co., OR in early 1940s; entered service 7 Mar 1942 from Hawarden; service credited to Josephine Co., OR.
  • 36th Bomb. Sqdn., 28th Bomb Gp., 11th AF; based at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska Territory; Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress #41-9146 crew member w/ pilot Albert J. Wilsey Jr.; KIA 28 Aug 1942 Aleutian Is., Alaska; plane disappeared returning from three-plane mission over Kiska Is. led by Col. William O. Eareckson; all nine dead; North & Central Pacific > Alaska - North Pacific; BNR.

† Koebel, Kenneth L., SN O-421117, USAAF, Pima Co., AZ
  • b. 17 Nov 1919 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o Charles O. Koebel & Olivia B. Madison (div.); family in Atlantic 1920, in Denver, CO 1923 & 1930; mother married Harvey N. Hamilton 1933; in San Antonio, TX 1935, in Tucson, AZ 1940; entered service 15 Oct 1940; service credited to Pima Co., AZ.
  • 13th or 33rd Pursuit Sqdn.; KIA 1 Mar 1942, 430 miles south of Java, Dutch East Indies; on old aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV-1); Langley sunk by Japanese air attack, 177 AAF survivors transferred to destroyer USS Edsall (DD-219) which then headed towards Java; Edsall sunk by Japanese surface ships; most Edsall survivors left in the water; of the survivors rescued by the Japanese most - maybe all - subsequently died in captivity or were executed; Japan Lashes Out > The Indies Lost; BNR.

† Koebel, Leonard Lavern, SN O-726911, USAAF, Pima Co., AZ
  • b. 14 Jul 1917 Creston, Union Co.; s/o Charles O. Koebel & Olivia B. Madison (div.); family in Atlantic, Cass Co. 1920, in Denver, CO 1923 & 1930; mother married Harvey N. Hamilton 1933; in San Antonio, TX 1935, in Tucson, AZ 1940; service credited to Pima Co., AZ; bur. Greenwood Cem., San Diego, CA.
  • 401 Bomb. Sqdn., 91st Bomb. Gp.; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress #41-24451 bombardier; KIA 3 Oct 1942, Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland; crash en route from US, eight died, two survived; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.

† Kranz, Fred Roger, SN 905601, USMC, Becker Co., MN & Cook Co., IL
  • b. 22 Apr 1924 Oelwein, Fayette Co.; s/o Fred A. Kranz & Irene Kaufman of Oelwein (div.); father moved to Minden, Pott. Co. in late 1920s & then to Co. Bluffs; ss/o Margaret E. ____; ss/o James L. Wallace of Posen, Cook Co., IL; 1940 & 1942 in Frazee, Becker Co., MN; service credited to Cook Co., IL; bur. Ft. Snelling Nat’l Cem., Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.
  • Co. C, 1st Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div; KIA 17 Sep 1944 Peleliu Is., Palau Is., E of the Philippines, Central Pacific; Battle of Peleliu - North & Central Pacific > Towards the Philippines.

† Kraschel, James Norman, SN 17-152-672, USAAF, Shelby Co. 
  • b. 25 Mar 1924 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Nelson G. Kraschel & Agnes J. Johnson; entered service 1 Feb 1943 from Harlan; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • 868th Bomb. Sqdn., attached directly to 13th AF HQ; based at Yontan, Okinawa Is., Japan; flying radar-equipped Consolidated SB-24 Liberator search bombers specializing in night missions; tail number unknown; DNB 24 Sep 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan, aircraft accident after hostilities ended; Japan Overpowered > Japan Vanquished.
  • Notes: father was Governor of Iowa 1937-39.

† Kraschel, Richard Nelson, civilian, Shelby Co. 
  • b. 25 Jan 1919 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Nelson G. Kraschel & Agnes J. Johnson; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • Bell Aircraft, Buffalo, NY, test pilot; d. 29 May 1943 near Niagara Falls, NY; Bell P-39 Airacobra malfunction, Richard Kraschel bailed out at low altitude, and parachute failed to open.
  • Notes: father was Governor of Iowa 1937-39.

† Kreger, Lewis Elwin, SN 37-261-801, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 6 Nov 1920 Co. Bluffs; s/o Melvin L. Kreger & Hazel F. Dalton of Co. Bluffs; entered service 16 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Brittany American Cem., St.-James, Normandy, France.
  • 28th Inf. Regt., 8th Inf. Div.; KIA 31 Aug 1944, near Brest, Brittany, France; Battle of Brittany - France Liberated > Northern France.

† Kussman, Edward William, SN 37-261-765, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Jun 1919 Cumberland, Adair Co.; s/o John F. Kussman & Elva M. Stender of Cass Co.; bur. Cambridge American Cem., Coton, Cambridge, UK.
  • 856 Bomb. Sqdn., 492nd Bomb. Gp., 8th AF; based at North Pickenham, Norfolk, England; Consolidated B-24 Liberator #42-50331 waist gunner w/ pilot Henry L. Polansky; KIA 31 Mar 1945, near Kirkwall, Orkney Is., Scotland; plane lost power and crashed returning from aborted Operation Carpetbagger mission; 13 dead included six Norwegian Special Forces members; one survivor; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Larsen, Lester M., SN 17-003-312, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Aug 1921 Iowa; s/o Jacob Larsen & Anna F. Tissack of Co. Bluffs; enlisted 23 Aug 1940 at Ft. Des Moines, Polk Co.
  • 37th Bomb. Sqdn., 17th Bomb. Gp., XII Bomber Cmd., based at Telergma, Algeria; Martin B-26 Marauder; DNB 16 Mar 1943 North Africa; The MTO > MTO Air War; BNR.

† Larson, Paul Lewis, SN 321-30-06, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • b. 26 Dec 1920 Irwin, Shelby Co.; s/o Roy L. Larson & Anna W. Paulsen both b. Irwin; entered service 21 Feb 1939 from Irwin; m. Carol/Caryl _____.
  • Submarine USS Tang (SS-306); KIA 25 Oct 1944 in Formosa Strait, W of Formosa; Tang sunk by circular run of its own torpedo; 69 dead, nine survivors; North & Central Pacific > Towards the Philippines; BNR.

† Leach, William Ellsworth, SN 631-07-23, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. ~ 1926 Nebraska: s/o Leslie Ellsworth Leach & Margaret M. Gough; family lived in Co. Bluffs in the late 1930s; enlisted 22 May 1943 from Little Rock, AR ; buried at sea.
  • Destroyer USS Bailey (DD-492); KIA 1 Oct 1944, off Palau Is., E of the Philippines, Central Pacific; Bailey strafed by Japanese plane, nine dead; North & Central Pacific > Towards the Philippines.

† Lee, Raymond Nathan, SN 320153, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 16 Dec 1923 Dunlap, Harrison Co.; s/o Robert N. Lee (d. 1936) & Florence E. Parris (d. 1933) who moved to Co Bluffs in early 1930s; entered service 13 Aug 1941 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. C, 8th Marine Regt., 2nd Marine Div.; KIA 21 Nov 1943 Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Is.; Battle of Tarawa - North & Central Pacific > Gilbert & Marshall Islands; BNR.

† Leet, John Drexel Sr., SN 37-267-578, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 2 Apr 1922 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o John T. Leet & Wilda V. Wickersham; m. Evelyn B. Hinton, one child; entered service 26 Oct 1942 from Glenwood; bur. Glenwood Cem.
  • Co. B, 382nd Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div., KIA 4 Nov 1944 Bloody Ridge, W of Dagami, Leyte, Philippines; Battle of Leyte - Philippines Liberated > Leyte.

Lein, Robert Eugene - see Duffy, Robert Eugene
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† Lembke, Orlan Palmer, SN 37-121-080, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Mar 1911 rural Griswold, Grove Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o George Lembke & Ethel E. Palmer of Grove Twp.; entered service 20 Apr 1942 from Griswold; bur. Wheeler Grove Cem., rural Carson, Pott. Co.
  • Co. H, 7th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div.; KIA 16 Oct 1943 Dragoni, N of Caserta, Italy; Italian Mainland > To the Gustav Line.

† Leonard, Stanley William, SN 37-260-819, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 14 Jan 1914 Waveland Twp., Pott Co.; s/o Joseph H. Leonard & Susan J. Hartness; entered service 9 Sep 1942 from rural Griswold, Cass Co.; bur. Flint Cem., Waveland Twp.
  • Co. A, 12th Inf. Regt., 4th Inf. Div.; KIA 16 Sep 1944 in the Schnee Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany abt 25 miles E of St. Vith, Belgium; Battle of the Schnee Eifel - The Allies Stymied > North Rhineland.

† Leu, Robert Carroll, SN 381-47-66, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 20 Apr 1920 Tabor, Fremont Co.; s/o Arthur Leu & Laura Green of Mills Co., family moved to Co. Bluffs in late 1930s and then to York, NE; in Berkeley, CA 1941; enlisted 22 Jun 1942; bur. Greenwood Cem., York, York Co., NE.
  • Navy Signalman, unit unknown; arrived in Guadalcanal, Solomon Is. Apr 1943 from Noumea, New Caledonia on Attack Transport President Jackson (APA-18); DNB 16 Mar 1944 in fall from radio tower on Solomon Is.; South & SW Pacific > Solomon Islands.

† Lindsay, William Larkin, SN 37-750-189, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Feb 1921 Oakland, Pott. Co.; s/o Charles A. Lindsay & Sarah Katie Woolcott of Oakland; raised in Oakland; entered service 16 Aug 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Fairview Pioneer Cem., rural Oakland.
  • 275th Inf. Regt., 70th Inf. Div.; KIA 16 Mar 1945 near Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany; Rhineland Campaign > Third & First Armies.

† Linn, Charles Leroy, SN 17-038-155, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Jan 1917 Gray, Audubon Co.; s/o Charlie C. Linn & Edith P. Mitchell of Walnut, Pott. Co.; entered service 29 Dec 1941 from Walnut; bur. Layton Twp. Cem., Walnut.
  • 476th Bomb. Sqdn., 335th Bomb. Gp.; based at Barksdale Air Base, Shreveport, LA; Martin B-26A Marauder #41-7404 crew member w/ pilot E. F. Murphy Jr.; DNB 6 Nov 1942 at Lambert Field, St. Louis, MO; plane crashed & burned at take-off, all five dead.

† Logan, Robert John, SN 20-743-488, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Sep 1916 Omaha; s/o Merritt D. Logan & Ella M. Richelieu (d. 1941) of Co. Bluffs; entered service 13 Jan 1941 from Rt. 4, Co. Bluffs; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy France.
  • Troop B, 113th Cavalry Recon. Sqdn., 113th Cavalry Recon. Gp.; DOW 2 Sep 1944, northern France near Tournai, Belgium; France Liberated > Northern France.

† Longmeyer, Frank Herman Jr., SN 504952, USMC, Harrison Co.
  • b. 2 May 1925 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o Frank H. Longmeyer & Emma H. Balis of LaGrange Twp., Harrison Co.; entered service 24 May 1943 from Rt. 3, Logan, Harrison Co.; b. Rose Hill Cem., Missouri Valley.
  • Weapons Co., 27th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 12 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.

† Luchsinger, Stanley Dean, SN 37-455-354, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 11 Mar 1921 Minden, Pott. Co.; s/o Jacob Luchsinger (d. 1940) & Lillian Trede (d. 1931) of Minden; bur. Minden Twp. Cem.
  • Co. C, 33rd Armored Inf. Regt., 3rd Armored Div.; KIA 23 Dec 1944 Hotton, 30 miles NW of Bastogne, Belgium; ETO > Battle of the Bulge.

† Lueth, Walter August William, SN 310-93-52, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 28 Nov 1909 Avoca, Pott. Co.; s/o John C. Lueth & Amelia Tetlewsky of Avoca; entered service 1 Aug 1928 from Avoca.
  • Cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52); KIA 13 Nov 1942 SE of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Juneau torpedoed & sunk by Japanese submarine I-26; 687 dead including the five Sullivan brothers, ten survived; aftermath of 1st Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.

† Lutz, Wilbur Leroy, SN 37-485-626, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 25 Dec 1921 Geddes, Charles Mix Co., SD; s/o Edmund L. Lutz & Leona Laporte (d. 1941); family moved to SW Iowa 1920s; m. Bernadene J. McAdon of Little Sioux, Harrison Co. 1942; entered service 4 Oct 1943 from Little Sioux; bur. Netherlands American Cem., Margraten, Netherlands.
  • 67th Armored Regt., 2nd Armored Div.; KIA 3 Mar 1945 near Krefeld, on west bank of Rhine NW of Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Rhineland Campaign Ninth & First Armies.

† Luxford, Elmer Lee, SN 648-64-91, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Jan 1896 Harper, Keokuk Co.; s/o George W. Luxford & Mary F. Holmes; lived in Cass, Shelby, & Monona Cos.; m. Margaret D. Halloran of Shelby Co. 1919; moved to Co. Bluffs in early 1930s; entered service 11 Oct 1942; discharged 29 Jan 1943; bur. Union Twp. Cem., Defiance, Shelby Co.
  • unit unknown; d. 16 Jan 1945 at home, Co. Bluffs, possible embolism w/ underlying digestive tract ulceration.