USS Laffey ~1942
USS Laffey ~1942
website bigpigeon.us, webpage WW II Dead > Roster Central > Roster-WXYZ - © 2021 by Robert A. Christiansen, last update 9 Sep  2021, 35 dead.
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Pottawattamie Area WW II Dead Roster - part 16/16, W-X-Y-Z
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​† Waage, Paul Allen, SN 20-704-306, US Army, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 17 Apr 1924 Omaha; s/o August Waage & Jean V. Eamer; raised in Omaha; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from National Guard Armory, Co. Bluffs; bur. North Africa American Cem., Carthage, Tunisia.
  • 168th Inf. Regt. Band drummer, 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 17 Feb 1943 Djebel Ksaira, SE of Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia, North Africa; Battle of Sidi Bou Zid, first stage of Battle of Kasserine Pass - North Africa & Sicily > Tunisia.
  • Notes: went on active duty at age 16, died at 17.

​† Wagner, Egbert Vernon, SN O-9476, USMC Aviation, Pott. Co.
  • b. 27 Sep 1918 Cowles, Webster Co., NE; s/o Rev. Robert Wagner & Florence A Schoop of Treynor, Pott. Co.; entered service 28 May 1941 from Treynor.
  • Marine Air Fighter Sqdn. VMF-112, Marine Air Group 11, based at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat BuNo 05087 pilot; KIA 26 Jan 1943 near Henderson Field, air collision on patrol over Ironbound Sound; South & SW Pacific > Solomon Is. - Guadalcanal; BNR.

​† Wagner, Richard Paul, SN O-30916, USMC Aviation, Pott. Co.
  • b. 29 Nov 1919 Bryon, Thayer Co., NE; s/o Rev. Robert Wagner & Florence A Schoop of Treynor, Pott. Co.; entered service 2 Jun 1942 from Treynor; m. Marion I. Roennau 1943; bur. St. Paul’s Luth. Cem., Treynor.
  • Hq. Sqdn., Marine Base Defense Air Group 41, El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Santa Ana, Orange Co., CA; DNB 3 Mar 1944 E of San Juan Capistrano, Orange Co.; air accident while training.

​† Wall, Vernon Palmer, SN 648-07-99, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • b. 11 Sep 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o Henry Wall (d. 1938) & Edna Niemoller; family moved to Taney Co., MO in late 1930s and returned to Co. Bluffs after father's death; entered service 2 Jan 1942 from Co. Bluffs.
  • Submarine USS Seawolf (SS-197); KIA 3 Oct 1944 off Morotai, Dutch Indies, S of the Philippines; Seawolf sunk by friendly fire, all 83 crew & 17 US Army passengers dead; Naval War with Japan > US Submarine Force; BNR.

​† Walling, Garrett Alma, SN 20-743-538, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Jun 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o David S. Walling & Effie Sandage of Co. Bluffs; entered service 13 Jan 1941 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, Belgium.
  • 506th Parachute Inf. Regt., 101st Airborne Div.; KIA 14 Jan 1945 NE of Bastogne, Belgium; The Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge.

​† Warren, Alfred Leroy, SN 37-470-626, USAAF, Mills Co.
  • b. 29 Mar 1923 California Jct., Harrison Co., s/o Frank A. Warren & Florence E. Hedlund; family lived in Mills & Pott. Cos.; entered service 19 Jan 1943 from Silver City, Mills Co.; bur. Glenwood Cem., Mills Co.
  • 79th Transport S-F-A-Base, Hamilton Field, Suisan City, Solano Co., CA; DNB 23 Jun 1943 Fairfield, Solano Co., CA, vehicle hit by a train.

​† Waters, James Martin, SN 37-445-422, US Army, Pott. & Harrison Cos.
  • b. 22 Feb 1922 Woodbine, Harrison Co.; s/o William H. Waters Jr. & Fannie Haner; family lived in different locations in Harrison Co.; entered service 20 Nov 1942 from rural Neola, Pott. Co., service credited to Pott. Co.; bur. Woodbine Cem.
  • 66th & 396th Armored FA Bns.; DNB 5 Oct 1945 Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany; head injury from jeep accident; The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.

​† Weihs, Alfred Peter, SN 620-39-83, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • ​b. 28 Sep 1917 Jacksonville, Shelby Co.; s/o Anton J. Weihs & Catherine M. Stinn; enlisted May 1942 from Des Moines, Polk Co.
  • Destroyer USS Aaron Ward (DD 483); KIA 7 Apr 1943 in Ironbound Sound near Tulagi, Solomon Is.; Aaron Ward sunk by Japanese bombs while escorting LST-449; 27 dead; South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.
  • Note: LST-449 was also attacked but survived unscathed. Among its passengers that day was young John F. Kennedy, reporting for duty in the South Pacific.

​† Welbourn, Eldred Orville, SN 37-484-888, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 5 Jan 1923 rural Neola, Neola Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Harvey L. Welbourn & Sadie M. Vallier; family moved  to SE Boomer Twp. in late 1920s and to rural Underwood, eastern Hazel Dell Twp. in early 1930s; entered service Sep 1943 from Rt. 1, Underwood.
  • 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.​
  • Note: Eldred Welbourn's Boomer Twp. home was on a farm owned by my step-grandfather, Ralph Spencer. Eldred Welbourn graduated from Underwood High School in 1938 at the age of 15.

​† Wells, Lester Earl, SN 37-465-227, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 15 Jun 1921 Hardin Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Earl S. Wells & Helen E. Grote of Hardin Twp.; entered service 27 Nov 1942 from Rt. 3, Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 39th Inf. Regt., 9th Inf. Div.; KIA 13 Jul 1944 NW of St. Lo, Normandy, France; Normandy Campaign > Normandy after D-Day.

​† Welty, Robert L., SN O-407132, US Naval Aviation, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 21 Jul 1923 Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., SD; s/o Harry L. Welty & Jane E. Jones of Co. Bluffs; entered service 18 Nov 1942 from Kansas City, MO; m. Nancy Langdon of Omaha 1944; one child; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Naval Air Fighter Sqdn. VF-12, Carrier Air Group 12; carrier USS Randolph (CV-15); Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat BuNo 77880 pilot; KIA 14 May 1945 over Kyushu, Japan; Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets.

​† Wentz, William Findley, SN 17-069-660, USAAF, Black Hawk Co. (edited 21 Nov 2020)
  • b. 7 Apr 1916 Walnut, Pott. Co.; s/o Newton W. Wentz (d. 1931) & Genevieve Findley; family moved to Eldora, Hardin Co. in 1920s and to Waterloo, Black Hawk Co. abt 1933; one child b. 1942; m. Lalieth Protheroe 1944; entered service 19 Oct 1942 from Waterloo. 
  • 785th Bomber Sqdn., 466th Bomber Gp., 8th AF, based at Attlebridge, Norfolk, England; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #42-52555 Ol' Tom Cat flight engineer; KIA 9 May 1944 on mission to Tutow, E of Rostock, Germany, ditched in North Sea, no survivors; The ETO > ETO Air War; BNR.

† Widows, Harry James Jr., SN O-771857, USAAF, Mills Co.
  • b. 23 Nov 1923 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Harry J. Widows Sr. & Juanita Fern Jackson; entered service 2 Feb 1943 from Glenwood; group burial Jefferson Barracks Nat'l Cem., St. Louis, MO.
  • 873rd Bomb. Sqdn., 498th Bomb. Gp., XXI Bomber Cmd., 20th Air Force based at Isley Field, Saipan, Mariana Is.; Boeing B-29 Superfortress #42-65295 co-pilot w/ pilot Marvel L. Geer; KIA 29 Apr 1945 Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Kyushu, Japan on a mission to bomb Nyakonojo Airfield, Kyushu; aircraft was attacked by fighters, hit, exploded, and crashed on land, crew of eleven all died;  Japan Overpowered > Strategic Air War - Japan.
 
​† Wigness, Kenneth Eugene, O-692842, USAAF, Shelby Co.
  • b. 25 Feb 1921 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Cornelius R. Wigness & Sina Heggens, Norway natives; m. Jean M. Preston 1943, one child; entered service 1 Sep 1943 from Harlan. 
  • 804th Bomb. Sqdn., 741st Bomb. Gp., Combat Crew Training School, Westover Army Air Field, near Springfield, MA; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #42-7525 pilot; d. 7/8 Apr 1944 off Montauk Pt., Long Island, NY; engine failure followed by crash at sea, all eleven died; BNR.

† Wilcken, Ono Ain, SN 37-472-752, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Apr 1924 Itasca Co., MN; s/o Fred J. Wilcken & Alma R. Korff (d. 1931), family moved to Co. Bluffs in late 1930s; entered service 9 Feb 1943 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Brittany American Cem., St.-James, Normandy, France.
  • 2nd Inf. Regt., 5th Inf. Div.; KIA 15 Aug 1944 near Chartres, Eure-et-Loir, France; France Liberated > Northern France.

† Wilcox, Blaine Bertrand, O-772098, USAAF, Mills Co.
  • b. 7 Feb 1918 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Henry B. Wilcox & Cecil E. Anderson; entered service 2 Feb 1943 from Pacific Jct., Mills Co.; group burial of seven Zachary Taylor Nat'l Cem., Louisville, KY.
  • 613th Bomb. Sqdn. 401st Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Dennethorpe, Northhampshire, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #42-31801 Son-of-a-Blitz bombardier; KIA 7 Oct 1944, over Politz, between Hamburg & Lubeck, Germany, destroyed by flak, all nine died; The ETO > ETO Air War.

† Wilcox, Stewart La Val, SN T-062027, USAAF, Mills Co.
  • b. 3 Apr 1923 Oak Twp., Mills Co.; s/o Henry B. Wilcox & Cecil E. Anderson; entered service 26 Jan 1943 from Glenwood, Mills Co.; service credited to Delaware.
  • 613 Bomb. Sqdn., 401 Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Dennethorpe, Northhampshire, England; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress #42-32005 co-pilot; KIA 24 Jul 1944 English Channel, plane caught fire returning from raid over St. Lo, Normandy, France (first day of carpet bombing preliminary to Operation Cobra); all nine bailed out over English Channel, all rescued except for Flight Officer Stewart Wilcox; The ETO > ETO Air War; BNR.

† Williams, Dale Withers Jr., SN 17-078-051, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 22 Jan 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Dale W. Williams Sr. & Caroline M. Sellars of Co. Bluffs; m. Alice Wright; entered service 30 Jun 1942 at Ft. Crook, Bellevue, NE; bur. North Africa American Cem., Carthage, Tunisia.
  • 1st Armored Regt., 1st Armored Div.; DNB 2 May 1943 near Mateur, northern Tunisia, North Africa; North Africa & Sicily > Tunisia.

† Williams, Jerry Jerome, SN 37-470-962, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Sep 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Glen T. Williams & Edith Langstrom (div.); m. Arlene P. Friedrichsen of Manning, Carroll Co. 1944, one child; entered service 15 Jan 1944 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Logan Co., NE; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 101st Inf. Regt., 26th Inf. Div.; KIA 9 Nov 1944 S of Metz, Lorraine, France; Lorraine & Alsace > Lorraine Campaign.

† Wilson, Dallas Arnold, SN 37-699-245, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 19 Nov 1923 rural Persia, Washington Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o William C. Wilson (d. 1935) & Hattie V. Champlin; entered service 24 Jun 1944 from Persia; bur. Nat'l Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
  • Co. K, 305th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 13 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
  • Notes: Silver Star recipient

† Wilson, John Robert, SN 6-208-886, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Jul 1900 Omaha; s/o Charles J. Wilson (d. 1942) & Mary E. Quinn (d. 1945); family moved to Co. Bluffs ~ 1901; entered service ~1931; m. Opal L. Holeman 1939, one child; bur. Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 34th Pursuit Sqdn., 24th Pursuit Gp., Philippines; POW Philippines 1942; DNB 22 Jul 1942 Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija Prov., Luzon, Philippines; malaria; Japan Lashes Out > The Philippines Lost.

† Wilson, Joseph Francis, served as Wilson Joseph L, SN O-1692505, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 10 Feb 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Charles J. Wilson (d. 1942) & Mary E. Quinn; family remained in Co. Bluffs; probably entered service 1941; bur. Epinal American Cem., Dinozé, France.
  • Co. M, 30th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div., Seventh Army; KIA 16 Dec 1944 near Kaysersburg, NW of Colmar, Alsace, France; Lorraine & Alsace > Alsace Campaign.
  • Note: confirmed posthumous Distinguished Service Cross.

​† Windle, Fay Richard, SN 37-485-691, USAAF, Fremont Co.
  • b. 21 Jul 1925 Omaha; s/o Walter W. Windle Sr., b. Virginia, & Golda H. Stattler, b. Bartlett, Fremont Co.; family moved to Bartlett in late 1930s; entered service 14 Sep 1943 from Tabor; bur. Thurman Cem., Fremont Co.
  • unit unknown, stationed at Mountain Home Air Base, ID; Consolidated B-24J #42-51482 crew member w/ pilot Marion Philip Guthrie Jr.; DNB 18 Aug 1944 Elmore Co., ID; mid-air collision 10 miles SE of base with Martin AT-23A target tug #42-43356; seven B-24J crew and two AT-23A crew died.

​† Winslow, Fred Lute John, SN 37-693-036, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 15 Sep 1923 Omaha; s/o Truman Fred Winslow & Bernice F. Stacy, Mills Co. natives; family lived in Mills Co.; m. Betty J. Doan of Mills Co. 1944; entered service 28 Mar 1944 from Rt. 2, Malvern, Mills Co.; bur. Luxembourg American Cem.
  • Co. K, 318th Inf. Regt., 80th Inf. Div., XII Corps, Third Army; KIA 11 Feb 1945 near Sauer and Our River junction, Luxembourg; Rhineland 1945 > Mid-Rhineland February 1945.

​† Wiseman, Russell Forest, SN 20-706-850, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 3 Oct 1921 Marceline, MO; s/o Tobe R. Wiseman & Mabel B. Hayes; family moved to rural Elliott, Pilot Grove Twp., Montgomery Co. in 1920s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Elliott.
  • Co. M. (Red Oak), 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 16 Feb 1941 SE of Sidi Bou Zid, Algeria, Africa; Battle of Sidi Bou Zid, 1st stage of Battle of Kasserine Pass - North Africa & Sicily > Tunisia; BNR.

​† Wold, Leslie Wayne, SN 560533, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • b. 2 Aug 1926 Omaha; s/o Ludwig C. Wold (d. 1937) & Irenia J. Huckert; ss/o William A. Wingate; family moved to Co. Bluffs in early 1930s; entered service 14 Jun 1944 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Westlawn-Hillcrest Cem., Omaha.
  • 26th Marine Regt., 5th Marine Div.; KIA 3 Mar 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Iwo Jima.

​† Wood, Charles Emmett Jr., SN 17-041-753, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 21 Dec 1913 Co. Bluffs; s/o Charles E. & Hattie B. Druen (d. 1918) of Co. Bluffs; m. Eleanor B. Neve of Pott. Co. 1933, one child; entered service 9 May 1942 from Co. Bluffs; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Hq. & Hq. Co., 836 Engineering Aviation Bn.; KIA 30 Oct 1943 Lae, Huon Gulf, New Guinea; Operation Cartwheel - S & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea - Lae to Madang.

​† Wright, Arlos Edward, SN 37-697-737, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 24 Feb 1918 at Correctionville, Woodbury Co., IA; s/o Edward W. Wright & Bernice M. Holcomb; m. Frances L. (Dunn) Dixon of Mills Co. 1939, one step-child; entered service 30 May 1944 from Malvern, Mills Co.; bur. Cushing Cem., Woodbury Co.
  • Co. K, 399th Inf. Regt., 100th Inf. Div.; KIA 21 Apr 1945 Waldenbronn, near Stuttgart, Germany; Central Europe > Central Germany.

​† Wright, Bruce Ware, SN 39-161-053, US Army, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 11 Nov 1916 Co. Bluffs; s/o Pearl O. Wright & Myrtle C. Carey (div. 1930s) of Co. Bluffs; moved to California in late 1930s; service credited to Los Angeles Co., CA; bur. Inglewood Park Cem., Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., CA.
  • 13th Inf. Regt., 8th Inf. Div.; KIA 31 Aug 1944 near Brest, Brittany, France; Battle of Brittany - France Liberated > Northern France.

† Wright, David Frederick, SN 37-036-584, US Army, Crawford Co.
  • b. 12 Oct 1917 Dow City, Crawford Co.; s/o Glenn B. Wright & Agnes E. Malone, both b. Crawford Co.; family moved from Crawford Co. to rural Dunlap, Harrison Co. in late 1930s; entered service 29 Mar 1941 from Rt. 1, Dunlap, service credited to unknown Iowa county; m. Ruby M. Ferguson 1944, one child; tablets of the missing, Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, Belgium.
  • 14th Tank Bn., Combat Command B, 9th Armored Div., First Army; KIA 1 Mar 1945 in Sievernich-Mülheim area SE of Düren, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany; tank hit by anti-tank shell, three crew died immediately, the two captured included David F. Wright who died of wounds soon after capture; Rhineland 1945 - North Rhineland; BNR
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​† Wunder, Edmund Earl, SN 321-17-95, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • b. 2 Oct 1916 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Herman W. Wunder Sr. & Alvena Meves of Harlan; entered service 6 Sep 1941 from Harlan.
  • Destroyer USS Laffey (DD-459); KIA 13 Nov 1942 in Ironbound Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Laffey hit by 14” shell from Japanese battleship Hiei & torpedo, then exploded & sank; 59 dead, 186 survivors; 1st phase of Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War; BNR.

​† Wunder, Frank Grant Jr., SN O-729400, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 May 1921 Co. Bluffs; s/o Frank A. Wunder & Eola G. Borland of rural Minden, Minden Twp., Pott. Co.; entered service 26 Jan 1942 from rural Minden.
  • 9th Fighter Sqdn., 49th Fighter Gp., Fifth Air Force, based at Dobodura airfields, S of Buna, Papua, New Guinea, staging from Kiriwina Airfield, Trobriand Is.; Lockheed P-38G Lightning #42-12856 pilot; KIA 13 Oct 1943; part of flight of P-38s escorting B-24 bombers for a raid on Rabaul; three P-38s lost, possible collision in cloud bank over Solomon Sea; Operation Cartwheel - US Air Force War w/ Japan > Fifth Air Force; BNR.
  • Notes: Dick Bong, the leading US ace in WW II, was also with the 9th Fighter Squadron in New Guinea in 1943.

​† Yergey, Stanley Allen, SN O-717010, USAAF, Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 23 Feb 1923 Omaha; s/o John M. Yergey Sr. & Charlotte M. Smith; m. Virginia Gantz; entered service Mar 1943 from Omaha; bur. Santa Fe Nat'l Cem., Santa Fe Co., NM w/ a fellow crewman.
  • 853th Bomb. Sqdn., 491th Bomb. Gp., 8th AF, based at Metfield, Suffolk, England; Consolidated B-24 Liberator #44-10485 Dorty Treek bombardier; KIA 26 Nov 1944, shot down between Sarstedt and Heisede, S of Hanover, Germany; four dead, Lt. Yergey's remains found in the plane; The ETO > ETO Air War.

​† Zangerle, John M., SN 37-146-204, US Army, Shelby & Dubuque Cos.
  • b. 26 May 1911 Dubuque, Dubuque Co.; s/o Frank Zangerle (d. 1942) & Crescentia Schuets/Schultz; family moved to rural Shelby Co. bef. 1920; lived in Dubuque Co. in 1935 and Omaha in 1940; service credited to Dubuque Co.; bur. St.. Marys Cem., Portsmouth, Shelby Co.
  • 129th Inf. Regt., 37th Inf. Div.; KIA 15 Feb 1945 Manila, Luzon Philippines; Battle of Manila - Philippines Liberated > Luzon. 
  • Note: posthumous Silver Star recipient.

​† Zentz, Ervin Emory, SN 37-699-101, US Army, Pott. Co. & Valley Co., NE
  • b. 25 Jun 1921 Ord, Valley Co., NE; s/o Emory W. Zentz & Eva E. Hoisington; family lived in Ord, then in Minden, Pott. Co. in the 1940s, returning to Ord in the late 1940s; m. Verna L. Stowell, three children; enlisted 26 Jun 1944 from Iowa; service credited to Douglas Co., NE; bur. Ord Cem.
  • Co. B, 756th Tank Bn., 3rd Inf. Div., Seventh Army; WIA 18 Apr 1945 Bavaria, Germany; DOW 21 Apr 1945 in hospital, France; Battle of Nuremberg - Central Europe > Central Germany.​