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website bigpigeon.us, webpage WWII Roster > The Roster > Roster-S - © 2022 by Robert A. Christiansen, last update 10 Jun 2022, 71 names.

Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster  - part 14/16, S
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† ​Sales, Orville Wesley Linden, SN 316-49-53, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 2 Dec 1919 Modale, Harrison Co.; s/o Austin W. Sales & Martha Wagner (d. 1941); family moved to Crescent, Pott. Co. in early 1920s; entered service 19 Nov 1940 from Crescent.
  • Destroyer USS Gwin (DD-433); KIA 13 Jul 1943 in Kula Gulf, N of New Georgia Is., Solomon Is.; Gwin hit by destroyer torpedo & scuttled, 61 dead, 214 survivors; Battle of Kolombangara - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.

† Sampson, Lester Alan, SN 37-685-019, US Army, Polk Co.
  • b. 12 May 1925 Marne, Cass Co.; s/o Lester J. Sampson & Ruth H. Moon; family moved to Des Moines in late 1930s; entered service 28 Jan 1944 from Des Moines; bur. Highland Cem., Saylor Twp., Polk Co.
  • Co. F, 382th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 19 Apr 1945 near Kakazu Line, southern Okinawa; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Samson, Lloyd Elwood, SN 17-012-007, USAAF, Pott. & Cass Cos.
  • b. 30 May 1919 Lewis, Cass Co.; s/o Jesse W. Samson & Florence A. Spiker; family lived in Neola, Pott. Co. & Waveland Twp., SE Pott. Co. before returning to Neola in early 1940s; entered service 5 Jan 1941 from rural Griswold, Pott. Co., service credited to Cass Co.; bur. Neola Twp. Cem.
  • unit unknown; DNB 30 Nov 1942, Luke Army Air Base Hospital, near Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ; consequences of bacterial pneumonia.

† Sander, Merle Edward, SN O-418945, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • b. 19 Oct 1921 Logan, Harrison Co.; s/o William A. Sander & Ethel L. Chambers; m. Dorothy Mae Schwensen 1944; entered service 19 Nov 1942 from rural Logan; memorial Willamette Nat'l Cem., Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.
  • Naval Air Torpedo Sqdn. VT-34, on USS Monterey (CVL-26); Grumman/General Motors TBM-3 Avenger BuNo 69111 pilot; DNB 9 May 1945 near the Ryukyu Is., Japan, glide bombing exercise preparing for raids on Japan; Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets; BNR.

† Sanderson, Albert James “Beebee”, SN 37-071-522, US Army, Pott & Woodbury Cos.
  • b. 23 Jul 1907 Boomer Twp., rural Honey Creek, Pott. Co.; s/o Joseph E. Sanderson & Ida Billerbeck; family moved to Woodbury Co. in late 1920s; entered service Jun 1942 from Sergeant Bluff, Woodbury Co.; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Sioux City, Woodbury Co.
  • Co. B, 42nd Tank Bn., 11th Armored Div., XII Corps, Third Army; tank commander; KIA 19 Mar 1945 near Simmern, S of Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany; Rhineland 1945 > Mid-Rhineland March 1945. 

† Saunders, Robert William, SN 316-91-16, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Oct 1925 Co. Bluffs; s/o William V. Saunders & Irene H. Richie of Co. Bluffs; entered service 7 Jun 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Fairview Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Landing Craft Tank LCT-305; KIA 6 Jun 1944 off Omaha Beach, Normandy, France; LCT-305 hit a mine but completed its mission, only one dead; D-Day, first day of Battle of Normandy - The ETO > ETO Sea War.

† Schaupp, Dale John, SN 17-123-462, USAAF, Harrison Co.
  • b. 22 Mar 1922 rural Dunlap, Boyer Twp., Shelby Co.; s/o John A. Schaupp & Vena L. Mathys; entered service 6 Oct 1942 from Rt. 1, Dunlap; bur. Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap.
  • 600th Bomb. Sqdn., 398th Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Nuthamstead, Hampshire, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97339 flight engineer/top turret gunner; KIA 19 May 1944 near Berlin, Germany; plane hit by flak and by debris from an overhead plane; eight died, two POW; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Scheffler, Norvin Herman, SN 982874, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 11 Jun 1918 Hancock, Pott. Co.; s/o Herman F. Scheffler & Emma M. Young of Hancock; m. Thelma Bartlett 1939, two children; in Dawson Co., NE 1940; bur. Oak Hill Cem., Hancock.
  • Co. I, 1st Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div.; WIA 9 May 1945, DOW 10 May 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Schickner, Donald, SN 37-219-544, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Sep 1920 McClelland, Pott. Co; s/o William F. Schickner (d. 1940) & Margaret Shotwell of McClelland; entered service from McClelland 8 Sep 1942; bur. Brittany American Cem., St.-James, Normandy, France.
  • Co. E, 134th Infantry Regt., 35th Inf. Div.; KIA 17 Jul 1944 near St. Lo, Normandy, France; Normandy Campaign > Normandy after D-Day.

† Schneckloth, Leroy William, SN 17-078-891, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 19 May 1922 Bentley, Pott. Co.; s/o William Schneckloth & Emma Kroeger of rural Bentley, York Twp.; m. Phyllis Cooper 1941; enlisted Aug 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 3250th Signal Services Co., V Corps, 1st Army; KIA 18 Dec 1944 Hünningen, SE of Elsenborn Ridge, Belgium; Battle of Elsenborn Ridge - The Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge.
  • Notes: Leroy's unit, the V Corps signal intelligence company, had to operate near the front lines, and thus he was vulnerable to death or capture in the early  days of the German Ardennes Counteroffensive. His military records sometimes use the given name of Le Roy.

† Schomers, Jeremiah J. “Jerry”, SN 37-477-010, US Army, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 2 Sep 1924 Omaha; s/o Michael J. Schomers (b. Shelby Co.) & Josephine Kuhl; raised in Omaha; entered service from Douglas Co.; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 172nd Inf. Regt., 43rd Inf. Div.; DOW 9 Mar 1945 Luzon, Philippines; Philippines Liberated > Luzon.

† Schram, Edward Nicholas, SN 37-111-412, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 20 Jan 1914 Earling, Shelby Co.; s/o Nicholas W. Schram & Josephine M. Altman; entered service 2 Jan 1942 from St. Joseph, Kossuth Co.; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Earling.
  • Co. B, 755th Tank Bn.; KIA 12 Jun 1944 near Latera, N of Rome & NW of Viterbo, Lazio, Italy, supporting French forces; Italian Mainland > Rome to Florence.

† Schroder, Dean Charles, SN 37-752-477, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 1 Jun 1926 rural Honey Creek, Boomer Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Charles E. Schroder & Grace M. Christiansen of Boomer Twp.; entered service 19 Sep 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Grange Cem., Boomer Twp.
  • Co. E, 132nd Inf. Regt., Americal Div.; WIA 17 Jun 1945, probably on Cebu Is., Philippines; DNB 8 Jul 1945 at sea returning from SW Pacific; Philippines Liberated > Southern Philippines.

† Schuelzky, Robert Eugene, SN O-32072, USMC, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 4 Aug 1921 Omaha; s/o Arthur F. Schuelzky & Regina E. “Jean” Biesendorfer of Omaha & Co. Bluffs; entered service Jul 1943; m. Margaret Mitchell 1944, one child; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Machine Gun Platoon Leader, Co. E., 28th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 17 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.
  • Notes: Other men from his company participated in both flag raisings on Mt. Suribachi on 23 Feb 1945. 

​† Seeger, LeRoy Ernest "Roy", served as Seeger Roy E, SN 17-131-731, USAAF, Mills Co.
  • b. 20 Jul 1923 Center Twp., rural Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Leonard F. Seeger & Marguerite A. Muller; entered service as Roy E. Seeger 28 Mar 1943 from Rt. 3, Glenwood; bur. Malvern Cem., Mills Co.
  • 838th Bomb. Sqdn., 487th Bomb. Gp., based at Lavenham, Suffolk, England; B-17G #42-98013 flight engineer/top turret gunner w/ pilot Clement J. Kochzynski; KIA 14 Jan 1945 near Ventschau, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ESE of Lüneburg, Germany returning from mission to Onsabrück or Magdeburg; collision with another B-17; plane left formation, exploded in mid-air and spiraled to the ground; four dead, five POWs; The ETO > ETO Air War.
  • Note: A Luftwaffe record suggests a German fighter attack on the disabled bomber caused the explosion. One of the crew members evaded capture for six days.

† Seeley, James Lowell, SN 648-06-51, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • b. 22 Jun 1920 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o Floyd J. Seeley & Gladys I. Benson, Harrison Co. natives; entered service 27 Dec 1941from Rt. 2, Mondamin, Harrison Co.
  • Earlier service on Destroyer Tender USS Melville (AD-2); unit & location at death unknown; d. British Isles 14 Feb 1944; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone; BNR.

† Seidell, Daniel Ryan, SN O-165834, US Navy, Polk Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 16 Sep 1920 Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o Herbert A. Seidell & Edna Ryan; entered service 12 Jul 1939 from Des Moines, Polk Co.
  • Submarine USS Amberjack (SS 219); KIA 16 Feb 1943 off Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago; Amberjack sunk by Japanese depth charge attack; 60 dead, no survivors; Naval War with Japan > US Submarine Force; BNR.
  • Notes: 1942 US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.

† Seitz, Charles Raymond Jr, SN O-387504, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 21 Sep 1918 at Little Rock, AK; s/o Charles R. Seitz Sr. & Ella W. Newman of Glenwood, Mills Co.; entered service 1 Jun 1941 from Glenwood; service credited to Clarke Co.
  • 2nd Engr. Bn., 2nd Inf. Div. -> 14th Engr. Bn., Philippine Scouts; KIA 7 Sep 1944 off west coast of Mindanao; Japanese Hell Ship Shinyo Maru torpedoed by USS Paddle (SS 263); of ~750 US POWs, 667 died & 82 swam to shore and were saved by Filipino guerrillas; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR.

† Senior, Clifford Leo, SN 576-76-12, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 May 1925 Co. Bluffs; s/o Ernest W. Senior (d. 1928) & Dorothy Johnson; ss/o Eugene Rosales; entered service 5 Mar 1943 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Destroyer USS Warrington (DD 383); DNB 13 Sep 1944 off Bahama Is., Atlantic Ocean; Warrington sank in 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane; 148 dead, 73 survivors; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.

† Shadden, Everett Willard, O-496183, US Army, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 14 Nov 1899 Co. Bluffs; s/o William F. Shadden (d. 1932) & Katie M. Kemmish; family lived in Co. Bluffs; Everett lived in Los Angeles, CA; m. Anna Helen Bruner, three children; entered service Jul 1942 from Los Angeles; bur. Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • Det. 7, 166th Signal Photo. Co.; KIA 22 Jul 1944, near La Haye, NW of St. Lo, Normandy, France; combat photographer; mortar burst while with 90th Inf. Div.; Normandy Campaign > Normandy after D-Day.
  • Notes: WW I veteran; posthumous Silver Star for WW II service.

† Shaffer, Leo Ellison, SN 37-446-441, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 15 Aug 1920 Soldier, Monona Co.; s/o Burl B. Shaffer & Anna J. McHugh; entered service 2 Dec 1942 from Logan, Harrison Co.; bur. St. Bridget's Cem., Magnolia, Harrison Co.
  • Co. E, 363rd Inf. Regt., 91st Inf. Div.; KIA 17 Apr 1945 S of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy; Italian Mainland > Po Valley Campaign.

† Sharp, John C., SN 37-651-954, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 8 Nov 1910 rural Weston, Marshall T., Platte Co., MO; s/o William M. Sharp (d. 1924) & Margaret C. Squires (d. 1918); living on Henry Buttenschon farm near Walnut, Pott. Co. 1925-40; enlisted 22 Dec 1942 from Pott. Co.; bur. Los Angeles Nat’l Cem., Los Angeles Co., CA.
  • unit unknown, Desert Training Center, California & Arizona; DNB 8 Aug 1943, San Bernardino Co., CA; drowning.

† Shipman, Fred Howard, SN 17-178-496, USAAF, Harrison Co.
  • b. 25 Mar 1921 Woodbine, Harrison Co.; s/o Guy R. Shipman & Louvenia A. Rogers, Missouri natives; entered service 4 Aug 1942 from Woodbine; bur. Woodbine Cem.
  • 836th Engineering Aviation Bn.; KIA 19 May 1944 Wadke Is., W of Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea; Battle of Wadke - South & SW Pacific > Western New Guinea.

† Siddens, Jack Kenneth, SN O-329806, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Jun 1914 Co. Bluffs; s/o Charles C. Siddens & Grace M. Saunders; m. Alice M. Arch of Co. Bluffs; entered service Aug 1940 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Marion Co., AR, temporary residence at entry; bur. Fairview Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • C.O. 3rd Bn., 17th Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 29 May 1943, Attu, Aleutian Is., Alaska Territory; Battle of Attu - North Pacific > Attu & Kiska.

† Simpson, Harold Elwood, SN 37-698-983, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 6 Nov 1919 Hastings, Mills Co.; s/o John F. Simpson Jr. & Winnie G. Gustin; family moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in early 1920s; m. Nettie D. Bierbaum of Griswold, Cass Co. 1937, two children; entered service 23 Jun 1944 from Red Oak; bur. Hastings Cem., Mills Co.
  • Co. G, 329th Inf. Regt., 83rd Inf. Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 12 Jan 1945 near Petite-Langlire, SW of Vielsalm, Belgium; The Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge.

† Sluyter, Harry Alfred, SN 428233, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 23 Nov 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o James H. Sluyter & Bessie F. Reninger, lifelong Co. Bluffs residents; entered service 28 Jul 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. B, 6th Marine Regt., 2nd Marine Div.; DOW 27 Jun 1944, Saipan, Mariana Is.; Battle of Saipan - Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.

† Smith, Boyd D., SN 663-18-59, US Navy, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 19 Dec 1921 Salt Lake City, UT; s/o LeRoy D. Smith & Eliza E. Teter; family moved to Omaha in 1930s; m. Evelyn L. Hunt of Co. Bluffs, one child; enlisted 9 Jun 1942 at San Francisco, CA.
  • Submarine USS Dorado (SS-248); KIA 12 Oct 1943 in Caribbean Sea off Panama; Dorado disappeared, crew of 78 died, possibly sunk by German naval mine; Battle of the Atlantic BNR.

† Smith, Edgar Clifton, SN 831389, USMC, Cass Co.
  • b. 29 Dec 1924 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o Theodore W. Smith & Leona M. Reineke; entered service 25 May 1943 from Atlantic; family moved to Torrance, CA in late 1940s; bur. Roosevelt Cem., Gardena, CA.
  • Co. L, 7th Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div.; KIA 20 Sep 1944; Battle of Peleliu - Central Pacific > Palau Islands.

† Smith, Eugene McDaniel, SN 37-699-145, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 2 Sep 1925 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o George W. Smith (d. 1941) & Lola B. McDaniels of Carson; m. Clara J. Morris 1944; entered service 26 Jun 1944 from Carson; bur. Carson Cem.
  • Co. C, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 14 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.

† Smith, Garland, Forsythe, SN 37-679-021, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 21 May 1925 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o William Floyd Smith & Faye F. Forsythe; entered service 13 Oct 1943 from Atlantic; bur. Atlantic Cem.
  • 115th Inf. Regt., 29th Inf. Div; KIA 11 Aug 1944 near Vire, SE of St. Lo, Normandy, France; France Liberated > Normandy Breakout.

† Smith, Henry Clayton, SN 37-480-433, USAAF, Mills Co.
  • b. 29 Feb 1924 Malvern, Mills Co.; s/o Ernest E. "Dick" Smith & Lula A. Ripley, Nebraska natives who lived in Nebraska and moved to Glenwood, Mills Co. in late 1920s; enlisted May 1943; bur. Glenwood, Cem.
  • 494th Bomb. Sqdn., 344th Bomb. Gp., 9th AF, based at Stansted, near Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, England; Martin B-26G5 Marauder #43-34406 tail gunner; KIA 23 Sep 1944 near Venlo, SE Netherlands; plane shot down by flak; two crew may have survived, remaining four died; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Smith, Howard Myron, SN 17-038-532, USAAF, Shelby & Cass Cos.
  • b. 12 Mar 1913 rural Atlantic, Clay Twp., Shelby Co.; s/o Earl M. Smith & Clara E. McCrory; raised in Clay Twp.; entered service 5 Jan 1942 from Atlantic, Cass Co.; bur. location unknown.
  • ​713th Bomb. Sqdn., 448th Bomb. Gp., Eighth Air Force; based at Seething, SSE of Norwich, East Anglia, England; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #42-52123 engineer w/ pilot James E. Urban; KIA 11 Jan 1944 near Exloo, SE of Groningen, Netherlands; aircraft attacked by German fighters, left formation and broke in several parts, crew of ten all died.

† Smith, Norman Franklin, SN 37-071-817, US Army, O'Brien & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 7 Apr 1914 Wakonda, Clay Co., SD; s/o Oscar F. Smith & Caroline W. "Minnie" Meyer, both Iowa natives; family lived in NW Iowa, moving to Kootenai Co., ID in early 1940s; entered service 6 Jun 1941 from Rt. 1, Hartley, O'Brien Co.; service credited to Shelby Co.; bur. Forest Cem., Coeur d'Alene, ID.
  • 46th Armored Inf. Bn., 5th Armored Div., XV Corps, Third Army; KIA 10 Aug 1944 near Le Mans, France; France Liberated > Normandy Breakout.
  • Note: Connection to Shelby Co. unknown.

† Snyder, Charles William, SN 20-706-428, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 18 Aug 1918 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o Arthur H. Snyder & Estella I. Peron; entered service 19 Feb 1941 from Atlantic; bur. Atlantic Cem.
  • Co. K, 168th Inf. Regt., transferred to Co. K, 133rd Inf. Regt., both 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 8 Apr 1943 Fondouk, Tunisia; Battle of Fondouk Pass - North Africa & Tunisia > Tunisia.

† Snyder, Donald Earl, SN 316-77-14, US Navy, Harrison Co. 
  • b. 27 Jul 1922 Modale, Harrison Co.; s/o George D. Snyder & Millie V. Lee; entered service 11 Mar 1941 from Modale.
  • Destroyer USS Ingraham (DD-444), fast convoy AT-20 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to Greenock, Scotland; DNB 22 Aug 1942 off Nova Scotia; Ingraham passed in front of oil tanker Chemung in dense fog; 11 survivors from crew of 208; Battle of the Atlantic; BNR.
  • Notes: Chemung survived, perhaps without loss of life.

† Snyder, Kenneth Harvey, SN 37-484-885, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 13 May 1922 Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE; s/o Levert P. Snyder & Hildagard Tschauder; family lived in Nebraska & St. Louis, moving to Co. Bluffs in late 1930s; entered service 5 Sep 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Grand Island Cem., Grand Island, NE.
  • 315th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div.; KIA 29 Sep 1944 Foret de Parroy, near Lunéville, SE of Nancy, Lorraine, France; Lorraine & Alsace > Lorraine Campaign.

† Soar, Ernest Martin, SN 970147, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 21 Feb 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Charles H. Soar & Maude Thordsen; family moved to Garner Twp. in early 1930s; entered service 28 May 1944 from Rt. 3, Co. Bluffs; bur. Fairview Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. F, 23rd Marine Regt., 4th Marine Div.; KIA 28 Feb 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.

† Soe, Jens Folmer, SN O-903833, US Army, Audubon & Shelby Cos.
  • b. 30 Aug 1911 Elk Horn, Shelby Co.; s/o Dr. Peder N. Soe & Aurora M. "Etta" Hansen; family moved to nearby Kimballton, Audubon Co. in 1912; entered service 4 May 1942 from Kimballton; on Shelby Co. Honor List, service credited to Douglas Co., NE; bur. Kimballton.
  • Co. F or D, 322nd Engr. Regt., Newport, England; DNB 22/23 Aug 1942, gunshot wound; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.

† Soppe, Raymond Ferdinand, SN 37-156-293, US Army, Tripp Co., SD
  • b. 5 Sep 1910 Jordan Jct., Tripp Co., SD; s/o Ferdinand Soppe (d. 1933) & Angela Von Hebel (d. 1918); raised in Tripp Co., relatives lived in Neola, Pott. Co.; entered service Mar 1942 from Tripp Co.
  • Co. B, 31st Signal Const. Bn.; on HMT Rhona, part of convoy KMF-36 traversing the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to the Suez Canal, Co. B probably boarded the Rhona in Oran, Algeria and was bound for the China-Burma-India Theater via Bombay, India; KIA 26 Nov 1943 off Bougie, E of Algiers, Algeria; Rhona sunk by a German guided glide bomb; abt. 1,173 died, including 1,050 US personnel, abt. 819 survivors; The MTO > MTO Sea War; BNR.
  • Notes: The sinking of the Rhona was the largest shipboard loss of US Army personnel during WW II.

† Sorenson, Robert H., SN 675-670, USCG, Shelby Co.
  • b. 15 Aug 1922 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Harry F. Sorenson & Floy E. Allen, Shelby Co. natives; m. Olga J. Dohrman; entered service 14 Dec 1942 from Rt. 4, Harlan.
  • Coast Guard cargo ship USS Serpens (AK-97); d. 29 Jan 1945 off Lunga Pt., Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Serpens exploded while loading depth charges; 196 Coast Guard personnel, 57 army stevedores, and two others died; Central Pacific > Pacific Comm. Zone.​​
  • Notes: The Serpens explosion was the largest one-time loss of life in Coast Guard history. Recovered remains from the explosion are interred under a memorial at Arlington Nat'l Cem. in Virginia.

† Spark, Albert Johann, SN 37-035-953, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 21 Mar 1912 Lagrange Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o Carl Spark & Matilda A. Witt of rural Beebeetown, Harrison Co.; entered service 12 Mar 1941 from Rt. 3, Logan, Harrison Co.; bur. Grange Cem., Boomer Twp., Pott. Co.
  • Co. H, 7th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div.; DOW 17 Aug 1944, near St. Tropez, southern France; Operation Dragoon - France Liberated > Southern France.

† Spedding, Edward William, SN O-767677, USAAF, Oswego Co., NY
  • b. 15 Apr 1922 Oswego Co., NY; s/o William Spedding & Flora Smith; m. Mary E. Hogan of Co. Bluffs; entered service from Oswego Co.; bur. Oswego Co.
  • 409th Bomb. Sqdn., 93rd Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Hartwick, Norfolk, England; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #42-109815 co-pilot w/ pilot Eldon C. Frobish; KIA 5 Nov 1944 near Voslapp N of Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, Germany; plane crashed while participating in a raid on Misburg, E of Hanover, Germany (probable target was oil refineries); one survived, three bodies found & buried by Germans, five died in the water; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Spencer, George Raymond, SN 316-31-56, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • b. 21 Jun 1913 Valley Twp., Guthrie Co.; s/o Charles C. Spencer & Vera F. Baldwin; family lived in rural western Harrison Co.; entered service 6 Feb 1932 from Little Sioux, Harrison Co.
  • Gunboat USS Oahu (PR-6), repositioned from Shanghai, China to Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines Nov 1941, sunk off Corregidor 5 May 1942; POW on Luzon; KIA 24 Oct 1944 on Hell Ship Arisan Maru in Bashi Channel, S of Formosa; Arisan Maru sunk by submarine USS Shark (SS-314); ~1773 US POWs and ~100 international civilians died; nine POWs survived; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost; BNR.
​
† Spicer, Robert Francis, SN O-693421, USAAF, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 27 Feb 1921 Grant, Douglas Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o Vergil A. Spicer & Effie M. Carmichael; family moved to Red Oak 1930s; entered service 5 Dec 1942 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • 570th Bomb. Sqdn., 390th Bomb Gp., Eighth Air Force; based at Framlingham, Suffolk, England; Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress #42-30783 The Stork Club co-pilot w/ pilot Vincent De Mayo; KIA 16 Mar 1944 six miles E of Schwabish Gmund, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; aircraft attacked by Luftwaffe fighters and exploded on mission to Augsburg; eight died, two survived; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Springer, Lynn Irwin, SN 17-131-009, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 Aug 1924 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o George Howard Springer & Daisy J. Mott; family moved to Co. Bluffs in early 1930s; entered service 30 Oct 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 544 SE Fighter Training Sqdn., Luke Army Air Field, near Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ; Curtiss P-40L Warhawk #42-10718 aviation cadet pilot; DNB 1 Apr 1944, Luke Field Hospital; plane crashed earlier that day two miles S of Luke Field.
  • Notes: This plane is recorded as having been in a fatal crash in 1943.​

† Stacey, Louis Clarence Jr., SN 20-704-227, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Nov 1922 Colby, Thomas Co., KS; s/o Louis C. Stacey Sr. & Mary Alice Bonham of Co. Bluffs; entered service 10 Nov 1941 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Oak Grove Cem., Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.
  • Service Co., 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 29 Oct 1943 near Naples, Italy; Italian Mainland > To the Gustav Line.

† Starner, Russell Leroy, SN 37-734-909, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 5 Jan 1925 Shelby, Shelby Co.; s/o Herbert F. Starner & Aura C. Gill; entered service 17 Jul 1944 from Shelby; bur. Shelby Cem., Shelby.
  • Co. K, 319th Inf. Regt., 80th Inf. Div., XII Corps, Third Army; KIA 13/15 Feb 1945 E of Sauer River, near Wallendorf, Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate; Germany; attack on Siegfried Line - Rhineland 1945 > Mid-Rhineland February 1945.

† Staub, Herman Edward, SN 37-074-568, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 5 Mar 1920 Newtown area, rural Avoca, Knox Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Emil A. Staub & Addie M. Gilliam; family moved to Shelby Co. NW of Avoca ~ 1940; entered service 1 Oct 1941 from Rt. 2, Avoca; bur. Graceland Cem., Avoca.
  • Co. C, 163rd Inf. Regt., 41st Inf. Div.; KIA 15 Jan 1943 at Perimeter R, Soputa-Sanananda Track, W of Buna, New Guinea; died w/ Francis Tague; Buna Campaign - South & Southwest Pacific > Southeast New Guinea - Papua.

† Stearns, Kirk Comstock, SN 316-67-15, US Navy, Mills Co.
  • b. 3 Jul 1922 Pocatello, Bannock Co., ID; s/o George C. Stearns & Mary E. Clark; entered service 16 Aug 1940 from Rt. 1, Glenwood, Mills Co.; m. Jacqueline J. Godsey of Co. Bluffs 1942.
  • Submarine USS Tullibee (SS-284); KIA 26 Mar 1944 off Palau Is., E of the Philippines, Central Pacific; Tullibee sunk by circular run of its own torpedo, 80 dead, one survivor; Naval War with Japan > US Submarine Force; BNR.

† Steele, Mack Denson, SN 20-706-090, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Oct 1918 Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o Fred M. Steele of Neola & Margaret A. Denson of Mississippi; family lived in Neola, moving to Jackson, MS after 1940; bur. Lakewood Mem. Cem., Jackson, MS.
  • Hq. Detachment, 3rd Bn., 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., detached to British 6th Commando Bn. at time of death (served earlier with the 1st Ranger Bn.); DOW 23 Nov 1942 NE Algeria, North Africa; North Africa & Sicily > Race to Tunis.
  • Notes: Mack Steele is credited as one of the 50 US Rangers who participated in the ill-fated Allied raid on Dieppe, France on 19 Aug 1942, and as one of the fifteen who actually landed during the raid. Eleven of the fifteen were casualties, the first US ground casualties in the War with Germany. 

† Steward, Gerald, SN 441664, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 4 Jan 1924 Omaha; s/o Arlie Steward & Bethel F. Brazzle of Omaha & Co. Bluffs (div.); raised by his father; entered service 4 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Westlawn-Hillcrest Cem., Omaha.
  • Co. F, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; KIA 25 Jul 1944 Battle of Guam - Central Pacific > Mariana Islands.
  • Note: Uncle Delbert Sherman Brazzle also appears in roster.

† Stinn, Richard Theodore, SN 37-037-441, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 12 Aug 1916 Earling, Shelby Co.; s/o Anthony C. Stinn & Josephine Schneider; entered service 24 Apr 1941 from Earling; bur. North Africa American Cem., Carthage, Tunisia. 
  • HQ Co., 2nd Bn., 135th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; DNB 23 Aug 1943 Tunisia, North Africa; shell explosion while training; North Africa & Sicily > Tunisia.

† Stith, George Noel, SN O-697177, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 10 Nov 1920 Laclede Co., MO; s/o Edward J. Stith & Mattie S. Haines; family lived in Twin Falls Co., ID before moving to Pott. Co. in early 1930s; entered service 20 Jun 1942 from Rt. 4, Oakland, Pott. Co.; bur. Luxembourg American Cem., Hamm, Luxembourg.
  • 557th Bomb. Sqdn., 387th Bomb. Gp., 9th AF; based at Clastres, France, E of Amiens; Martin B-26F Marauder #42-96309 pilot; KIA 23 Dec 1944, near Bastogne, Belgium; plane returning from bombing mission over Hagen, Germany, crashed from flak; three killed, four POW; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Stockman, Kenneth Herman, SN 37-482-024, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 17 May 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Edward F. Stockman & Mable A. Killin; entered service 16 Jun 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 427 Bomb. Sqdn., 303 Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, England; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress #43-38057 radio operator; KIA 9 Nov 1944 near Molesworth Air Base; mid-air collision while assembling for raid over Schweinfurt, one survivor; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Stoelk, Leon Harley, SN 37-436-468, US Army, Shelby & Carroll Cos.
  • b. 6 Mar 1921 Jefferson Twp., Shelby Co.; s/o Albert F. Stoelk & Elsie Klindt; entered service 19 Oct 1942 from rural Manning, Carroll Co.; bur. Manning Cem.
  • Co. A, 753th Tank Bn., supporting 1st Inf. Div., KIA 22 July 1943 in central Sicily, Italy NE of Enna; Operation Husky - North Africa & Sicily > Sicily. 

† Stone, Warren Floyd, SN 20-706-222, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 8 Jan 1921 rural Henderson, Macedonia Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Floyd J. Stone & Mary Suffina Andrews, North Carolina natives; family moved to Glenwood, Mills Co. in 1920s; entered service 10 Feb 1921 from Glenwood; bur. Glenwood Cem.
  • Co. I, 168th Inf. Regt. & Co. I, 133rd Inf. Regt., both 34th Inf. Div. KIA 5 Dec 1943 near Venafro, Molise, Italy; Battle of Mt. Marrone - Italian Mainland > To the Gustav Line.

† Storm, Clarence Lamont, SN 20-705-518, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 Apr 1917 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Clarence H. Storm & Mabel F. Tharp; family lived in eastern Pott. Co.; entered service 2 Feb 1941 from Villisca, Montgomery Co.; married Theresa F. Vierck 1941; bur. Macedonia Cem., Pott. Co.
  • Co. F, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 1 May 1943 near Hill 609, 20 miles SW of Mateur, northern Tunisia, North Africa; Battle of Hill 609 - North Africa & Sicily > Tunisia.

† Storm, Donald William, SN O-722387, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 21 Nov 1923 rural Carson, Silver Creek Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o William P. Storm & Ella V. Clark of rural Carson who moved to Macedonia, Pott. Co. in the 1930s; entered service 16 Jan 1943 from Rt. 2, Carson.
  • Consolidated B-24J Liberator #42-51295 navigator w/ pilot Darwin D. Gant; DNB 21 Jul 1944 en route to England between Bluie West 1, Greenland and Meeks Field, Iceland; probable ditching, no survivors; The ETO > ETO Comm Zone; BNR.

† Stout, Richard Clyde, SN 37-692-125, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 22 Jul 1910 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Clyde E. Stout & Eva Litchfield; family moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in late 1920s; m. Marceline Hazel (McKay) Logsdon 1935, two step-children; lived in Omaha 1935-40 returning to Red Oak 1940; entered service 16 Mar 1944 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • unit unknown; KIA 26 Dec 1944 in Luxembourg, bullet wound; The Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge.

† Stranathan, Dale Chester, SN 3162666, US Navy, Mills Co.
  • b. 13 Feb 1911 Silver City, Mills Co.; s/o Chester L. Stranathan & Myrtle E. Anderson (d. 1928); entered service 10 Dec 1929 from Rt. 1, Silver City.
  • Destroyer USS Peary (DD-226); KIA 19 Feb 1942 Darwin, Australia, Peary sunk by Japanese air attack, 93 dead, 49 survivors; Japan Lashes Out > The Dutch Indies Lost; BNR.

† Sturd, Clarence Vincent, SN 37-112-253, US Army, Harvey Co., KS & Pott. Co. 
  • b. 18 May 1915 Newton, Harvey Co., KS; s/o Frederick Sturd & Elizabeth Save; raised in Newton; entered service Feb 1942, service credited to Pott. Co.; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • Co. K, 19th Inf. Regt., 24th Inf. Div.; KIA 15 Feb 1945 Luzon, Philippines; Philippines Liberated > Luzon.
  • Notes: Unknown connection to Pottawattamie County. American Battle Monument Commission uses a service number of 37-142-251.

† Summers, Vernon Myron, SN 39-278-439, US Army, Shelby Co. & Riverside Co., CA
  • b. 27 Jul 1913 Harlan, Pott. Co.; s/o Charles A. Summers & Nellie M. Pulver (d. 1923); lived in Harlan area; m. Irene I. Van Tersch ~1941, one child; entered service Jan 1943 from Riverside Co., CA; bur. Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.
  • 751th Tank Bn., attached to 3rd Inf. Div., VI Corps; KIA 4 Jun 1944 outskirts of Rome, Lazio, Italy; Italian Mainland > Cassino to Rome.

† Summerville, George Stanley, SN O-1039593, US Army, Union & Cass Cos.
  • b. 4 Jan 1916 rural Bridgewater, Carl Twp., Adams Co.; s/o James R. Summerville & Willena May Standley; family settled in Creston, Union Co.; m. Marjorie R. Gill of Atlantic, Cass Co. 1941; entered service 12 Nov 1941; service credited to Cass Co.; bur. Graceland Cem., Creston.
  • 894th Chemical Co.; d. 26 Jul 1945 San Jose, Mindanao, Philippines; injuries from an aircraft accident; Philippines Liberated > Southern Philippines.

† Sunberg, John Linder, SN 17-123-628, USAAF, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 15 Nov 1921 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o John A Sunberg & Ruth A. Linder (d. 1944); family lived in Grant Twp. S of Red Oak; entered service 11 Oct 1942 from Rt. 3, Red Oak.
  • 837th Bomb. Sqdn., 487th Bomb Gp., Eighth Air Force based at Lavenham, Suffolk, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #44-8276 radio operator w/ pilot Jack Leon; KIA 18 Mar 1945 near Massin, Germany (now Masina, Poland); aircraft damaged by flak approaching Berlin, then flew east to reach Russian-occupied territory before bailing out; John Sunberg & Leonard Marino were killed in their parachutes by Russian fighter aircraft, other seven landed safely; location where Russians buried Sunberg & Marino is unknown; The ETO > ETO Air War; BNR.
  • Notes: In 2017, Masina citizens erected a memorial to Sunberg & Marino. See Big Pigeon's Roster Photos > Memorials or https://www.army.mil/article/184674/polish_town_honors_fallen_wwii_airmen.

† Sundberg, Clark Gustaf, SN O-701016, USAAF, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 16 Oct 1918 Essex, Fremont Twp., Page Co.; s/o Carl G. Sundberg & Ida O. Hultman; family moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. late 1930s; entered service 20 Feb 1943 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • 19th Troop Carrier Sqdn., Seventh Air Force; based at John Rodgers Airport, Honolulu, TH; C-47A #42-100988 w/ pilot Glenn P. Randol Jr.; DNB 23 Jul 1944 Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Is., Central Pacific; plane crashed in shallow water on takeoff; all nine dead; US Air Force War w/ Japan > Seventh Air Force.

† Supernois, Donald Ward, SN 3163438, US Navy, Pott. Co. & Portsmouth, VA
  • b. 30 Nov 1914 Co. Bluffs; s/o Ezra Supernois (d. 1931) & Mary Galloway; entered service Sep 1933 from Co. Bluffs; m. Ida G. McCoy 1939.
  • Destroyer USS Rowan (DD-405); KIA 11 Sep 1943 off Salerno, Italy; Rowan hit by German E-boat torpedo, sank in one minute; 202 dead, 71 survivors; Salerno-Naples-Foggia - The MTO > MTO Sea War; BNR.

† Svenningsen, Elmer Lawrence, SN 31-461-349, US Army, Pott. Co. & Fairfield Co., CT
  • b. 4 Mar 1909 Co. Bluffs; s/o Svenning L. Svenningsen & Julia M Christensen; raised in Co. Bluffs; m. Rita Elliott of Connecticut; entered service 4 Apr 1944 from Fairfield Co., CT; memorial in Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 362nd Inf. Regt., 66th Inf. Div.; KIA 24 Dec 1944 on SS Leopoldville crossing English Channel from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France; Leopoldville was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-486 five miles off Cherbourg; 763 US Army deaths; The ETO > ETO Sea War; BNR.

† Swanson, Charles Edward Jr., SN 17-082-496, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Dec 1923 Omaha; s/o Charles E. Swanson Sr. & Ione Westcott of Co. Bluffs; entered service 12 May 1943 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. H, 262nd Inf. Regt., 66th Inf. Div.; KIA 24 Dec 1944 on SS Leopoldville crossing English Channel from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France; Leopoldville was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-486 five miles off Cherbourg; 763 US Army deaths; The ETO > ETO Sea War; BNR.
  • Notes: Charles Edward Swanson Sr. served as the United States Representative from the Iowa 9th district from 1929 to 1933. Charles Edward Swanson Jr. was an only child. After his death, his parents, now in their 60s, adopted and raised two children, Cynthia and Stu, now both deceased.

† Swanson, Jack Leonard, SN 37-652-893, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 5 Nov 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Hugo L. Swanson (d. 1938) & Lorna B. Wood of Co. Bluffs (div); ss/o Edward J. McKeown; moved w/ mother to Loveland, Pott. Co. in late 1930s; entered service 29 Dec 1942 from Honey Creek, Pott. Co., service credited to Harrison Co.; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Troop B, 116th Cavalry Recon. Sqdn., 101st Cavalry Gp., Seventh Army; KIA 16 Apr 1945 Bavaria, Germany; Central Europe > Central Germany.

† Sweeney, Gordon Anthony, SN 37-480-210, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Apr 1916 Co. Bluffs; s/o Dennis A. Sweeney (d. 1920) & Anne Coyle of Co. Bluffs; entered service Apr 1943 from Co. Bluffs; m. Eileen Theresa McCauley of Co. Bluffs 1943 at Ft. Knox, KY; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • unit unknown, DNB 4 May 1944 at Ft. Knox, Hardin Co., KY; asphyxiation, probable drowning.

† Sweeny, Duane Grant Henry, SN O-770836, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 28 Sep 1924 Minden, Pott. Co.; s/o Roland L. “Roy” Sweeny & Dorothy M. Groepper; family lived in Minden & Sidney, Fremont Co. before moving to Co. Bluffs in late 1930s; entered service 13 Feb 1943 from Co. Bluffs.
  • 568th Bomb. Sqdn., 390th Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Framlingham, Suffolk, England; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress #42-32026 'Tis a Mystery pilot; KIA 30 Nov 1944 over North Sea; plane iced up & crashed near beginning of mission to Kassel, Germany; all nine crew dead; The ETO > ETO Air War; BNR.

† Swift, Lelean Carl, SN 871-97-37, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 12 Jan 1925 Liberal, Barton Co., KS; s/o William L. Swift & Millie A. Hoover; family lived in Missouri & Kansas; portion of family lived in Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in 1940s; entered service 13 Jul 1943 from Red Oak; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper YMS-385; assigned to Mine Squadron 1; KIA 1 Oct 1944 Ulithi Atoll, western Caroline Is.; YMS-385 hit a Japanese mine and exploded while sweeping Zowariau Channel; ten dead; Central Pacific > Palau Is.