National D-Day Memorial
Nat'l D-Day Memorial
website bigpigeon.us, webpage WWII Roster > The Roster > Roster-KL - © 2022 by Robert A. Christiansen, last update 10 Jun 2022, 57 names.

Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster  - part 9/16, K-L
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† Kadel, Lloyd George, served as Kadel Lloyd C, 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 Army Air 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.

† Kaiser, Bernard Richard, SN 603-02-37, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • b. 16 Jul 1918 rural Lewis, Bear Creek Twp., Cass Co.; s/o Andrew C. Kaiser & Carrie M. Wernick; entered service 24 Sep 1941 from Rt. 1, Lewis.
  • 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.​

† Kakac, Victor Otto Jr., SN 37-476-218, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 31 Aug 1924 Cresco, Howard Co.; s/o Victor O. Kakac Sr. & Blanche Frazier; family moved from Howard Co. to rural Missouri Valley, Harrison Co. early 1930s; entered service 22 Mar 1943 from Rt. 3, Missouri Valley; 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.

† Karnes, Howard Leroy, SN 37-431-632, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 11 Jun 1920 Anita, Cass Co.; s/o Henry A. Karns & Ada Mallory; entered service 5 Sep 1942 from Rt. 1, Anita; bur. Evergreen Cem., Anita
  • Co. I, 32nd Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 25 Nov 1944 SE of Ormoc; Leyte, Philippines; Battle of Shoestring Ridge - Philippines Liberated > Leyte.

† Keat, Harry Martin, SN 101-67-78, US Navy, Carroll Co.
  • b. 20 Dec 1892 Warren Twp., Carroll Co.; s/o Richard S. Keat & Sarah Tate (d. 1940); lived in Nevada & California in 1930s; date of service entry unknown.
  • US Navy Armed Guard on tanker SS Gulfoil; KIA 17 May 1942 in Gulf of Mexico ~75 miles SW of Mississippi delta; Gulfoil sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U-506; of 40 men on board, ~19 survived; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.
  • Notes: Keat had previous eight years of navy service starting in 1912.

† Kelley, Oren H., SN 17-033-747, USAAF, Cass Co.
  • b. 17 Jun 1916 Sedalia, Pettis Co., MO; s/o Fred E. Kelley (d. 1941) & Clara A. C. Butler; family moved to Hutchinson, KS in late 1910s and to Atlantic, Cass Co. in early 1920s; entered service 6 Jan 1942 from Atlantic; bur. Cambridge American Cem., Coton, Cambridge, England.
  • 43rd Troop Carrier Sqdn., 315th Troop Carrier Gp., based at Aldermaston, Berkshire, England; Douglas C-47A Skytrain/Dakota C-47A #42-23479 radio operator; DNB 17 Sep 1943; accident during joint training exercise with Royal Air Force near Great Bircham, Norfolk, England; The ETO > The ETO Air War.

† 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 - Central Pacific > Palau Islands.

† 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.

† Kendle, Ross LaVar, SN 17-193-984, US Army, Audubon Co. & Morris Co., KS
  • b. 24 Nov 1910 near Council Grove, Morris Co., KS; s/o LeRoy R. Kendle & Mary Elnora McPeek, both Kansas natives; came to Gray, Audubon Co. ~ 1940 as a farmhand; entered service 2 May 1942 from Gray; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • Sherman tank crew member in Co. B, 743rd Tank Bn., one of five tank battalions that landed on Normandy on D-Day; this battalion landed entirely on LCTs during D-Day's rough seas although 2/3 of their tanks had been modified to paddle to shore in calm seas; KIA 6 Jun 1944; Normandy Campaign > D-Day.

† Kennedy, Clair Eugene, SN 37-447-783, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 8 Jul 1922 Cumberland, Cass Co.; s/o Louis F. Kennedy & Emma F. Behnken; family moved to Atlantic area late 1920s; m. Jeane M. Dorsey of Cass Co.; entered service 14 Dec 1942 from Atlantic; bur. Epinal American Cem., Epinal, Lorraine, France.
  • Co. A, 142nd Inf. Regt., 36th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; WIA 30 Sep 1944 by shrapnel SE of Tendon, Lorraine, France; DOW 1 Oct 1944; Lorraine & Alsace > Lorraine.

† Kersten, Lloyd Wesley, SN O-819918, USAAF, Harrison Co.
  • b. 23 Jul 1921 near Logan, Calhoun Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o Edward F. Kersten (d. 1942) & Martha M. Schuelsky who lived in Calhoun and Boyer Twps.; 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, Germany, SW of Leipzig; shot down by flak over secondary target; seven dead, two POW; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Keuter, Ambrose J., SN 37-699-242, US Army, Crawford Co.
  • b. 17 Sep 1918 rural Dunlap, Crawford Co.; s/o Herman J. Keuter & Mary E. Book (d. 1929); m. Esther M. Laubscher 1939, two children; entered service 28 Jun 1944 from Dow City, Crawford Co.; bur. Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap.
  • Co. I, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 5 May 1945 NW of Kochi, southern Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Japanese counterattack; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Kidwell, Harold Eldin, SN 20-706-194, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 19 Mar 2020 rural Glenwood, Mills Co., IA; s/o David Rollin Kidwell & Lena A. Finley (d. 1943); both b. Benton Co., MO; family moved to rural Hastings, Mills Co. in 1926; farmed with father before entering service 10 Feb 1941 from Mills Co.; bur. Hastings Cem.
  • Co. I (Glenwood), 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 4 Apr 1943 near Fondouk, northern Tunisia; North Africa & Sicily  > Tunisia.

† 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 Army Air Field (now Malmstrom Air Force Base), 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 > New Georgia Is.

† Kirkland, Morris Alvin, SN 37-420-864, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 13 Sep 1911 rural Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o John A. Kirkland (d. 1915) & Mary Ann Kelly (d. 1920); lived in Missouri Valley area before entering service; entered service date unknown.
  • Co. C, 377th Inf. Regt., 95th Inf. Div., Third Army; KIA 9 Nov 1944 S of Metz, Lorraine, France; Lorraine & Alsace > 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. Colhoeur (div.); raised by father; in Norwalk Twp. 1930 & 1940; 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 > At the Gustav Line.

† Kitson, Donald Edgar, SN 37-750-237, US Army, Audubon Co.
  • b. 30 Apr 1923 rural Gray, Viola Twp., Audubon Co.; s/o Herbert W. Kitson & Bertha O. Young, both b. Audubon Co.; entered service 17 Aug 1944 from Rt. 2, Audubon; m. Dorothy A. Adamson; bur. Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, Lorraine, France.
  • Co. A, 61st Armored Inf. Bn., 10th Armored Div., Third Army (10th Armored Div. attached to Seventh Army 8 Apr 1945); KIA 8 Apr 1945 near Wolpertshausen, E of Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Battle of Heilbronn - Central Europe > Central Germany.

† 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; North Africa & Sicily > Operation Torch.

† 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, NE Morocco, North Africa; Douglas A-20 Havoc pilot; KIA 7 Jan 1943 in 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 > To the Gustav Line.

† 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 Pacific > Alaska; 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 were 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 Dutch 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; DNB 3 Oct 1942 Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland; crash en route from US, eight died, two survived; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.

† Koenemann, Howard Oscar, SN 20-706-799, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 10 Jul 1918 Sabula, Jackson Co.; s/o Otto H. Koenemann & Caroline Friday (d. 1918); ss/o Ada Hubbirt; family moved to Red Oak bef. 1925; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Red Oak; bur. Sicily Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.
  • Co. M, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 3 Dec 1943 Mt. Pantano, NE of Cassino, Lazio, Italy; Battle of Mt. Pantano - Italian Mainland > to the Gustav Line.
  • Notes: posthumous Silver Star.

† 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 - Central Pacific > Palau Islands.

† 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 Thirteenth Air Force headquarters; based at Yontan Airfield, Okinawa Is., Japan; flying radar-equipped Consolidated SB-24 Liberator search bombers specializing in night missions; tail number and pilot unknown; DNB 24 Sep 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan, aircraft accident after Japan surrendered; 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.
  • test pilot for Bell Aircraft, Buffalo, NY; 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.

† Kroman, Albert Harold, SN O1169605, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 18 Sep 1914 Jackson Twp., rural Elk Horn, Shelby Co.; s/o Andrew Hansen Kroman (d. 1939) & Christina M. Christensen; entered service 27 Mar 1941 from Elk Horn; bur. Elk Horn Cem.
  • unit unknown (Artillery OCS graduate, Ft. Sill, OK); KIA 3 Jun 1944 approaching Rome, Lazio, Italy; Italian Mainland > Cassino to Rome.

† Kuehn, Russell Dale, SN 37-693-128, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 15 Oct 1918 Anita, Cass Co.; s/o Frederick L. Kuehn & Pearl A. Gissible; m. Mildred D. Smith 1941; entered service at unknown date from Rt. 2, Anita; bur. Evergreen Cem., Anita.
  • Co. K, 137th Inf. Regt., 35th Inf. Div., XII Corps, Third Army; KIA 17 Dec 1944 near Bliesbruck, E of Saaregumines, northeastern France; Lorraine & Alsace > Lorraine Campaign.
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† 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.

† Landon, Arnold Dale, SN 20-706-405, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 6 Jun 1920 Cumberland, Cass Co.; s/o Demas A. Landon & Bessie A. Brown; family moved to Atlantic, Cass Co. iin late 1920s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Atlantic; bur. Victoria Cem., Massena, Cass Co.
  • Co. K, 168th Inf. Regt., transferred to Antitank Co., 133rd Inf. Regt., both 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 22 May 1944 Anzio Beachhead, Lazio, Italy; Italian Mainland > Battle of Anzio.

† 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, SW of Constantine, Algeria, North Africa; Martin B-26 Marauder; DNB (sic) 16 Mar 1943 North Africa, aircraft accident; 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; Naval War with Japan > US Submarine Force; BNR.

† LaVars, Kenneth Charles, SN 393-32-67, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 7 Jun 1915 Pomona, Los Angeles Co., CA; s/o Herald F. LaVars & Ruth Wikoff (div.); mother m. Charles S. Hagermaster 1928 & moved to Villisca, Montgomery Co.; entered service 8 Dec 1939 from Portland, OR.
  • Came on board Escort Carrier USS Salamaua (CVE-96) 26 May 1944; Salamaua assigned to Task Unit 77.4.1 of the Seventh Fleet for the Luzon, Philippines invasion; KIA 13 Jan 1945 South China Sea, 80 miles W of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon; Salamaua was waiting to refuel at sea whe hit by kamikaze carrying two bombs; 19 dead (14 buried at sea five missing), Salamaua survived; Philippines Liberated > Philippines Naval War; BNR.

† Lawton, Kenneth Burdette, SN O-738191, USAAF, Cass Co.
  • b. 22 May 1921 Lewis, Cass Co.; s/o Joseph W. Lawton & Hazel G. Baxter, both Mills Co. natives; entered service 26 Mar 1942 from Lewis; b. Ft. McPherson Nat'l Cem., Maxwell, Lincoln Co., NE (crew group burial).
  • 822 Bomb. Sqdn., 38th Bomb. Gp., Fifth Air Force; stationed at 17 Mile Drome near Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea; North American B-25G-5 Mitchell #42-64827 co-pilot w/ pilot Ralph E. Freek; KIA 16 Jan 1944 near Ulingan Bay, NNW of Madang, Papua, New Guinea; while flying the coastal area searching for Japanese barges, flight was attacked by Japanese fighters, plane crashed on shore killing all six crew; Operation Cartwheel - US Air Force War w/ Japan > Fifth Air Force.

† 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; Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets.

† Lee, Delbert Donald, SN 17-040-250, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 25 Sep 1921 Cumberland, Cass Co.; s/o Delbert J. Lee & Pearl Uhlmann; entered service 26 Jan 1942 from Cumberland; bur. Greenwood Cem., Cumberland.
  • Co. A, 610th Tank Destroyer Bn., attached to 80th Inf. Div., XII Corps, Third Army; KIA 8 Jan 1945 Dahl, SE of Wiltz, Luxembourg; The Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge.
  • Notes: Posthumous Distinguished Service Cross. Company A was supporting the 319th Inf. Regt. at the time. Day Turner of Co. B, 319th Regt., received a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor for combat in Dahl on January 8.

† 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 Betio Is., Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Is.; Battle of Tarawa - Central Pacific > Gilbert 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; 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., First Army; KIA 16 Sep 1944 in the Schnee Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany ~25 miles E of St. Vith, Belgium; Battle of the Schnee Eifel - The ETO > Rhineland 1944.

† Lesch, Joseph Ferdinand, SN 37-471-901, USAAF, Harrison Co.
  • b. 2 Sep 1922 Defiance, Shelby Co.; s/o Ferdinand H. Lesch & Mary A. Pimple; family moved to rural Dunlap, Harrison Co. bef. 1925; entered service Jan 1943 from Dunlap; bur. Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap.
  • 529th Bomb. Sqdn., 380th Bomb. Gp., Fifth Air Force, based at McGuire Field, Mindoro Is., Philippines; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #44-40801 Squaw Peak radio operator w/ pilot Francis V. See Jr.; KIA 15 Apr 1945 over Formosa on raid to Shinshoshi Airdrome; plane exploded in mid-air from anti-aircraft fire or hit by bomb dropped from a higher aircraft; crew of 11, five died; US Air Force War w/ Japan > Fifth Air Force.

† 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.; Operation Cartwheel - South & SW Pacific > Solomon Is. - Guadalcanal.

† Linder, Gerald Edward, SN O-378126, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • b. rural Red Oak, Frankfort Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o John A. Linder & Maude E. Weilenman; entered service 19 Oct 1937 from Rt. 2, Red Oak.
  • Destroyer USS Kalk (DD-611), Seventh Fleet; KIA 12 Jun 1944 off southern coast of Biak Is., W. of Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea; Kalk hit by Japanese bomb while escorting LSTs from Hollandia, New Guinea to Biak; thirty dead, 40 wounded, Kalk survived; South & SW Pacific > Western New Guinea; BNR.

† Lindsey, William Larkin, SN 37-750-189, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Feb 1921 Oakland, Pott. Co.; s/o Charles A. Lindsey & 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., XXI Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 16 Mar 1945 near Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany; Rhineland 1945 > South Rhineland 1945.

† 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 Army Air Field, 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. 4 May 1925 rural Missouri Valley, LaGrange Twp., 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.

† Loustanau, Charles Bernard, SN 321-52-57, US Navy, Carroll Co.
  • b. 29 May 1914 Dedham, Carroll Co.; s/o John E. Loustanau & Katherine M. Theulen; parents div.; ss/o Ernst Johannsen; family moved nearby to rural Gray, Viola Twp, Audubon Co. in 1930s; entered service 26 Nov 1940 from Rt. 1, Gray.
  • Battleship USS Arizona (BB-39); KIA 7 Dec 1941 during Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii Territory; Arizona exploded & sank; 1177 dead; Japan Lashes Out > Pearl Harbor; BNR.
  • Notes: The sunken Arizona settled in shallow water and remains today as a memorial.

† Lowman, George Arthur, SN 37-480-834, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 14 Nov 1924 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Roy H. Lowman & Ruth Moore; entered service 5 Jun 1943 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • 395th Inf. Regt., 99th Inf. Div.; WIA ETO; returned to US 12 Apr 1945; DOW 31 May 1945. in hospital, Temple, TX.

† 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; The Ardennes/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 Little Sioux, Harrison Co. in early 1930s; m. Bernadene J. McAdon of Little Sioux 1941; entered service 4 Oct 1943 from Little Sioux; bur. Netherlands American Cem., Margraten, Netherlands.
  • 67th Armored Regt., 2nd Armored Div., XIX Corps, Ninth Army; KIA 3 Mar 1945 near Krefeld, W of Rhine River & NW of Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Rhineland 1945 > North Rhineland 1945.

† Lynch, Archie Dale, SN 37-693-884, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 21 Dec 1915 Springview, Keya Paha Co., NE; s/o  Hawley A. Lynch & Lillian M. Prall (d. 1922) ; family moved to Cass Co. bef. 1917; m. Dorothy H. Anker 1937, three children; entered service 31 Mar 1944 from Atlantic; bur. Epinal American Cem., Epinal, Lorraine, France.​​
  • 315th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div., XV Corps, Third Army (but attached to, and later assigned to, Seventh Army); DOW 24 Oct 1944 near Embermenil, SE of Nancy, Lorraine, France, shrapnel wounds; Lorraine & Alsace > Lorraine Campaign.