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Pottawattamie Area Early Deaths of World War II Veterans, 29 "G-M" records
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​​​† (vet.) Gardiner, Kenneth Earl, SN O-327472, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 16 Oct 1898 Essex, Page Co.; s/o Everett Gardiner & Bertha Griffiths (d. 1937); m. Eva A. Rumery 1922, one child; entered service 13 Jan 1941 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 15 Aug 1945; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 440th Army Air Force Base Unit, Fourth Air Force, Santa Maria, CA; no overseas duty; d. 13 Mar 1946 in McAllen, Hidalgo Co., TX; service-related myocarditis.

​​† (vet.) ​Gibson, Glenn Harvey, SN 962-08-15, US Navy, Howard Co., NE
  • b. 12 Sep 1914 Farwell, Howard Co., NE; s/o John Gibson & Jennie I. Harvey; m. Betty A. Koborg of Howard Co. 1935, three children; entered service 17 Jun 1944 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 18 Feb 1946; bur. Elmwood Cem., St. Paul, Howard Co.
  • served with Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, CA; d. 16 Nov 1949 in hospital, Omaha, NE; poliomyelitis.

† (vet.) Goodreau, William Walter, SN 20-706-598, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b.7 Jun 1912 Co. Bluffs; s/o Joseph H. Goodreau & Rosa J. Russell; entered service 16 Jan 1942 from Co. Bluffs; separated 8 Nov 1945; bur. Martin Chapel Cem., Pacific Jct., Mills Co.
  • ​HQ Co, 704th Tank Bn.; Battalion campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe; d. 6 Mar 1948 Co. Bluffs; crushed under railroad car while at work.​

† (vet.) Hadfield, George Chester, SN 286136, US Marine Corps, Pott. & Harrison Cos.
  • b. 11 Nov 1912 rural Neola, Pott. Co.; s/o George A. Hadfield & Susie M. Moffatt; family moved to rural Missouri Valley, Harrison Co. in the early 1920s, to Clay Co. in the late 1930s, to Magnolia, Harrison Co. in the early 1940s, & then to Co. Bluffs; entered service 24 Jun 1940 from Greenville, Clay Co.; sep. Apr 1944 & moved to Omaha; bur. Neola Twp. Cem.
  • served with 5th Marine Defense Bn. as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade on Iceland Jul 1941-Mar 1942 and in the South Pacific at Funafuti in the Ellice Islands Oct 1942-Nov 1943; entered Hines VA Hospital, Cook Co., IL 19 Oct 1944; d. 7 Jan 1945 at Hines; cancer.

​† (vet.) Hanfeld, Leo Adolph, SN unknown, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 13 Feb 1907 Wellfleet, Lincoln Co., NE; s/o Henry C. Hanfeld & Marie L. Edler; family moved to Mills Co. in 1910s; m. Dorothy P. Rager Apr 1930 in Mills Co., four children, div.; lived in Larimer Co., CO for much of 1930s; entered service at an unknown date, sep. from Schick Army Hospital, Clinton, IA 10 Aug 1945; bur. Glenwood Cem., Mills Co.
  • served in the ETO as an infantryman in an unknown unit; d. 12 Sep 1945 in hospital, Moline, IL; cardiovascular causes.

† (vet.) Havens, Oscar Olin, SN 37-121-344, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 3 Jul 1918 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Joshua Sill Havens (d. 1936) & Ethel Esther Denton (d. 1937); entered service 21 Apr 1942 from Macedonia, Pott. Co.; separated 29 Nov 1945; bur. Macedonia Cem.
  • 249th General Hospital, New Guinea and Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines; d. 4 Jan 1946 lime quarry near Macedonia; crushing chest injury.

† (vet.) Hite, Donald Lee, SN 37-267-558, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 3 Mar 1909 Red Oak; s/o Clark C. Hite & Jessie J. Heberlee; m. Minette E. Grimes 1926, div.; m. Mildred D. Whittington 1932, two children, div.; m. Hazel U. Glasgow, one child; entered service 12 Oct 1942 from Red Oak; sep. 15 Jul 1943; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • no overseas service; served stateside with Hq. & Hq. Battery, 56th Field Artillery, 8th Inf. Div. before the division deployed.
  • after separation: d. 30 Nov 1945 Los Angeles, CA while visiting brother; pneumonia.

† (vet.) Jacobsen, William Claus "Bill", SN 37-193-485, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 18 Oct 1911 Valentine, Cherry Co., NE; s/o Claus H. Jacobsen (d. 1922) & Margaretha Ohlson; family moved from Avoca, Pott. Co. to Cherry Co. ~ 1910, returned to Avoca after father's death, and moved to Harlan, Shelby Co. in late 1930s; entered service 29 Apr 1942 from Harlan; sep. 31 Aug 1945; bur. Harlan Cem.
  • Hdqrs. & Service Co., 815 Engineer Bn., MTO; d. 10 Aug 1947 Harlan; murder, stabbed to death in the basement of a bar.

†  (vet.) James, Arthur Warren, SN O-235145, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Mar 1889 Co. Bluffs s/o Noah D. James & Martha E. Kelley; m. Ethel F. Britton Apr 1912, one child; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Co. Bluffs w/ Iowa National Guard; sep 7 Sep 1944; d. 8 Jul 1946 Rockford, IL; coronary thrombosis; bur. Belvidere Cem., Boone Co., IL.
  • WWI veteran who remained in the Iowa National Guard; commanded HQ Company, 34th Infantry Division in Co. Bluffs in the late 1920s; entered service 10 Feb 1941 w/ 109th Quartermaster Regt., Osceola; served in Quartermaster Corps at Hill Air Force Base, UT & Indianapolis, IN.

†  (vet.) Jobe, John Arthur, SN 154-62-79, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • b. 30 Jun 1899 Henry Co.; s/o George T. Jobe (d. 1944) & Linnie M. Cook (d. 1945); the George Jobe family lived in various locations in southern Iowa and briefly in Texas & Nebraska before moving to California in the 1930s; m. Virgil D. Starr 1923, four children; the John A. Jobe family lived in Grove Twp., Pott. Co. before moving to Lewis, Cass Co. in the early 1930s; entered service 20 Jun 1942 from Lewis; sep. 5 Apr 1945; bur. Oakwood Cem., Lewis.
  • served on USS La Vallette (DD-448) in the Pacific; d. 21 Feb 1949 in Lewis from a cerebral embolism.

† (vet.) Joy, Gene Raymond, SN 860-19-47, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • b. 30 Aug 1921 Woodbine, Harrison Co.; s/o Atlas A. Joy & Elsie L. Mott, both Harrison Co. natives; family lived in Harrison & Pott. Cos.; m. Ines Bell Dean of Arkansas 1943 in Nemaha Co., KS, one child; entered service 28 Feb 1944 from Rt. 1, Honey Creek, Pott. Co.; sep. 23 Jan 1946; bur. Logan Cem., Harrison Co.
  • sea duty on patrol craft PC-599 and with Pacific Fleet School Station, Pearl Harbor; d. 29 Sep 1949 Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Co. Bluffs; peritonitis from appendicitis.

† (vet.) Junker, Edgar William, SN 01-046-506, US Army, Shelby & Woodbury Cos.
  • b. 8 Jan 1907 Harlan, Shelby Co.; family moved to Sioux City, Woodbury Co. abt 1934; entered service 16 Mar 1942 from Sioux City; sep. 19 Aug 1945; m Florence F. Haag Jan 1943; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Sioux City.
  • no overseas service; served stateside in the anti-aircraft component of the Coast Artillery Corps.
  • after separation: electrician with Sioux City Gas & Electric Co.; d. 24 Feb 1949 St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Sioux City; growing skin cancer caused throat hemorrhage.

† (vet.) Kernan, Joseph Edward/Edwin Jr., SN 37-260-280, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 2 Aug 1899 Des Moines s/o Joseph E. Kernan Sr. & Beatrice L. Kelley; family moved to Co. Bluffs in early 1910s; entered service 22 Aug 1942 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 26 Jan 1943; m. Zola M. Puryear 1943; d. 31 Mar 1949 Co. Bluffs; cirrhosis of the liver; bur. St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • no foreign service; other service details unknown.

† (vet.) Klinkefus, Harold Emerson, SN 37-755-307, US Army Air Force, Shelby Co.
  • b. 12 Nov 1914 Shelby, Shelby Co.; s/o Leonard F. Klinkefus (d. 1921) & Pearl J. Pulver; ss/o Elmer H. Sahl of Harlan; m. Myrtle A. Andersen of Harlan 1937, two children; entered service from Harlan 15 Nov 1944; sep. 5 Nov 1948, joined Iowa Highway Patrol; bur. Jacksonville Cem., Shelby Co. 
  • served with 59th Air Depot Gp., Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX; d. 18 May 1949 rural Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; his Highway Patrol vehicle hit a truck that had stopped abruptly and jackknifed while avoiding another vehicle in left-turn lane.

† ​(vet.) Kloewer, Alphonse Lineus "Ike", SN 37-036-747, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 28 Apr 1918 Defiance, Shelby Co.; s/o Anton Kloewer (d. 1922) & Barbara Gaul (d. 1928); entered service 21 Mar 1941 from Defiance; sep. 28 Nov 1945; m. Barbara C. Zitzlsperger Oct 1946, one child; bur. St. Peter & Paul Cem., Defiance.
  • overseas service Mar 1944-Nov 1945 in the Pacific w/ 711th Tank Bn.
  • after separation: Worked as a plumber in Defiance; d. 22 Dec 1947 Veterans Hospital, Des Moines after a 20-day stay; stomach cancer.

† (vet.) 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.

† ​(vet.) Kritenbrink, William Rex, SN 316-11-44, US Navy, Union Co.
  • b. 11 Aug 1904 Atlantic, Cass Co.; s/o John C. Kritenbrink (d. 1933) & Edith A. Smith; family moved to Union Co. in late 1900s; entered service 14 Mar 1926 from Creston, Union Co.; m. May Dean 1935 in San Diego Co., CA; sep. 20 Dec 1944; bur. River View Cem., Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.
  • overseas service Sep 1941-Jun 1944; Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10); Chief Water Tender.
  • after separation: entered Veterans Hospital, Walla Walla, WA; d. 31 Jul 1946 Veterans Hospital, Walla Walla; tuberculosis.

​† (vet.) ​Laird, Clarke Singleton, SN 20-706-132, US Army, Fremont Co.
  • b. 11 May 1893 Imogene, Fremont Co.; s/o Porter B. Laird (d. 1935) & Elizabeth F. Singleton; entered service 20 Jan 1941 from Tabor; sep. 30 Mar 1943; bur. Tabor Cem.
  • no overseas service; served w/ Co. A, 741st Military Police Bn.
  • after separation: worked in road construction; d. 3 Oct 1949 in hospital, Omaha; cardio-vascular accident.
  • Notes: WWI veteran.

† (vet.) Lang, Gail Clive, SN 37-263-161, US Army Air Force, Cass Co.
  • b. 13 Oct 1904 Atlantic, Cass Co. s/o Jacob Erastus "Ras" Lang (d. 1934) & Daisy I. Patten; living in Omaha w/ sister Zola in early 1940s; entered service 14 Sep 1942; sep. 8 Jun 1945; d. Omaha 4 Jul 1946; heart attack; bur. Atlantic Cem.
  • served with 3507th Army Air Force Base Unit, Lincoln Army Air Field, Nebraska.

† ​(vet.) Lathrop, Roy Garfield, SN 37-191-481, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 17 Apr 1913 Iowa or Missouri, adopted by Herbert R. Lathrop & Nellie M. Spicer of rural Red Oak, Pilot Grove Twp., Montgomery Co. in 1923; entered service 20 Apr 1942 from rural Red Oak, reg. w/ Page Co. draft board; sep. 3 Aug 1943; parents lived near Neola, Pott. Co. by 1947; entered Knoxville, IA VA Hospital Oct 1944; d. 5 Jan 1947 in Knoxville VA Hospital; ulcerative and perforated intestine, also dementia praecox; bur. Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • during service remained stateside with an anti-aircraft unit.​

​† (vet.) ​​Law, Ford Leon, SN 37-442-637, US Army, Audubon Co.
  • b. 19 Oct 1901 Audubon, Audubon Co.; s/o James Law & Anna B. Jacobs; entered service 5 Nov 1942 from Audubon; sep. 10 Nov 1944; bur. Maple Grove Cem., Audubon.
  • no overseas service; US unit unknown.
  • after separation: worked as a chef in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co.; fell in front of a switch engine 22 Jun 1945; d. 25 Jun 1945 in St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids of internal injuries.

† (vet.) Lovejoy, Harry Wayne, SN 37-260-325, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 21 Jul 1915 Pattonsburg, Daviess Co., MO; s/o James M. Lovejoy (d. 1936) & Sarah I. Price (d. 1931); m. Alyce L. Clark Sep 1944 in Sebastian Co., AR, two children; entered service 5 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; sep 30 Dec 1945; became truck driver living in Co. Bluffs; bur. Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • overseas service in ETO Dec 1944 - Dec 1945; Battery C, 955th Field Artillery Bn., d. 22 Aug 1948 Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Co. Bluffs; burns suffered in a 19 Aug accident on a highway near Glenwood, IA.

† (vet.) 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.

† ​(vet.) Manuel, Edwin A., SN 37-116-956, US Army Air Force, Shelby & Cass Cos.
  • b. 4 May 1907 Corley, Shelby Co.; s/o Pearle F. Manuel & Bertha M. Rixen; family moved to Atlantic, Cass Co. in late 1920s; entered service 9 Mar 1942 from Atlantic; sep. 8 Oct 1945; bur. Atlantic Cem.
  • overseas service May 1943-Aug 1945 in European Theater; 29th Troop Carrier Sqdn., 313rd Troop Carrier Gp., Ninth Air Force.
  • after separation: laborer for Railway Express Agency in Atlantic; d. 7 Apr 1946 in Atlantic hospital; vehicle hit side of Rock Island Rocket engine at railroad crossing near Marne; died shortly thereafter from internal injuries & multiple fractures.

† (vet.) Marsh, Ben Adrian, SN 860-27-66, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 5 Jun 1911 rural Elliott, Pilot Grove Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o George B. Marsh & Grace E. Dewitt; m. Helen L. Mewhirter 1938 (she d. 1939), one child; m. Mildred A. (Grace) Wilder 1940; entered service 17 Mar 1944 from Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; sep. 19 Dec 1945; bur. Hillside Cem., Elliott.
  • no overseas duty, stationed at Naval Repair Base, San Diego; d. 4 Jul 1946 Dimmick Twp., LaSalle Co., IL from explosion while welding a pipeline; skull fracture, broken ribs, crushed chest.

† ​(vet.) Martens, Jason Earl, SN 17-030-649, US Army Air Corps, Cass Co.
  • b. 17 Aug 1918 Cumberland, Cass Co.; s/o Henry H. Martens & Cora M. Neetz; entered service 18 Jun 1941 from Rt. 2, Cumberland; sep. 14 Jun 1945; m. Jeanne M. Shays 1945 in Queens Co., NY; bur. Weirich Cem., Noble Twp., Cass Co.
  • overseas service Nov 1942-Mar 1945 in Mediterranean Theater; 306th Service Sqdn., 38th Service Gp.
  • after separation: mechanic w/ American Air Lines; d. 30 Dec 1945 Mary Immaculate Hospital, Jamaica, Queens, NY; monocytic leukemia.

† (vet.) Messinger, Jack, SN 20-706-202, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 12 Sep 1922 Glenwood, Mills Co.; s/o Herbert R. Messinger & Faye V. Chambers; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Glenwood; sep. 2 Nov 1945; m. Edith M. Roll of Mills Co. Jan 1947 in Brown Co., KS, two children; bur. Glenwood Cem.
  • served with 205th Military Police Co., ETO; d. 8 Nov 1948 Co. Bluffs; meningitis.

† (vet.) Mills, Eugene Raymond, SN 17-165-280, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Mar 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Curtis F. Mills & Ola L. Busick (div.); m. Norma L. Adams 1942, two children; entered service 3 Dec 1942 from Co. Bluffs, released 17 Nov 1945; bur. Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs. 
  • unit unknown, no overseas service; d. 10 Jun 1946 Co. Bluffs; sarcoma.

† (vet.) Miner, Frank John, SN 37-467-090, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 10 Oct 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Carl A. Ogren & Ruth A. Wood (div.); ss/o Frederick R. Miner; m. Darlene E. Belt, two children; entered service 19 Dec 1942 from Co. Bluffs; sep. 16 Nov 1945; bur. Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • served overseas Jul 1944 - Feb 1945 and with the 2511th AAF Base Unit, Bryan, TX; d. 16 Feb 1948 near Honey Creek, Pott. Co.; crushed under his Meadow Gold Dairy truck when it overturned on icy highway.