| NAME |
NOTES |
Gerald
J. Ahearn
|
Corporal
Killed in action, February 1945
~*~
Cpl. Gerald Ahearn Missing in Action
According to a message Wednesday from the war
department to his mother, Mrs. Agnes Ahearn, Cpl.
Gerald Ahearn, 28, serving with a tank division, has
been missing in action in Holland since Oct.5th.
Corp. Ahearn was born in Hanover township near
Waukon, and was employed in the east when he enlisted
in the army at Washington, D.C. He took part in the
invasion of France on D-Day. The young man is a son
of the late Joe Ahearn of Hanover township. His
mother makes her home with her son Norbert of Waukon,
and a sister, Mrs. Henry Martin lives in Jefferson
township. It is hoped that Mrs. Ahearn may hear that
her son is found and well.
~Allamakee Journal, Lansing; Wed. Nov. 11, 1944;
Vol. LXV Page 1, col. 3; contributed by Paul
Moritz
~*~
Waukon - Mrs. Agnes A'Hearn has been
notified that the body of her son, Sgt. Gerald
A'Hearn, will be buried in the national cemetery at
Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 6. Sgt. A'Hearn, who was
serving with an army tank division, was killed in
action in Holland in February, 1945.
~Cedar Rapids Gazette, Nov. 23, 1950 -
contributed by S. Ferrall
|
Laurence
Donald Anderson
|
Ensign
Waukon, Iowa
Killed at Pearl Harbor, aboard the USS Arizona, Dec.
7, 1941
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. August R. Anderson, Waukon
~*~
The life of Ensign Lawrence
Bud Anderson, son of A. R. Anderson of
Waukon, was given for his country last week while
serving in the U.S. Navy in the area of the Hawaiian
Islands. According to the official word
received by his family here Friday morning, Ensign
Anderson was killed in action during the Navys
engagement with the Japanese. He is the first
from Allamakee County to lose his life in the line of
duty since the outbreak of actual conflict with our
enemies.
~Lansing newspaper, December 10, 1941, contributed by
Kathy Maurer
~*~
Among the first of the bodies of the
Iowa World War II dead [were] returned aboard the
Army ship, Honda Knot. The ship carried
3,012 caskets and 16 urns when she returned. Some of
the Iowa dead returned on the vessel with next-of-kin
are: Ensign Lawrence D. Anderson, Mrs. August R.
Anderson, Waukon; S/Sgt. Lavern A. Fink, Leo L. Fink,
Lansing.
~Oelwein Daily Register, October 10, 1947 -
contributed by S. Ferrall
|
Henry
W. Barnholtz
|
Staff sergeant
Postville, Iowa
Killed in a head-on collision of the Dixie Flyer and
a mail train on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
railroad near Terre Haute, Ind., Sept 14, 1944
Wife, Mrs. Viola Barnholtz, Postville
|
Kenneth
Bigelow
|
Ensign
Waukon, Iowa
Died July 18, 1941, instructor at Jacksonville, Fla.
Aunt, Ruth Bigelow, Waukon
~*~
Ensign Kenneth Bigelow of Waukon, died of injuries
suffered in a plane crash at Jacksonville, Florida
Thursday. Ensign Bigelow was stationed at the
Jacksonville naval air base, assisting in the
training of cadet pilots.
~Oelwein Daily Register, Saturday, July 19,
1941 - contributed by S. Ferrall
|
Charles
W. Bloxham

|
Staff sergeant, 20th Infantry 6th Division
Forest Mills, Iowa
Awarded the Purple Heart & Silver Star for
gallantry in action
Killed in action in New Guinea, June 23, 1944
Buried at Fort William Mckinley, Manila, the
Philippines
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence A. Bloxham, RFD,
Postville
Wife, Mrs. Charles Bloxham, Jefferson City, Mo.
~*~
Memorial services for Staff Sergeant
Charles W. Bloxham, who was killed in action on New
Guinea Island June 23 according to the War
Department, were held at the U.B. church at Forest
Mills Sunday. The church was unable to provide room
for the many who had come to pay homage and many
people had to remain outside the edifice. The Rev.
Melvin L. Hall had charge of the service which
included the following numbers: Prelude, "Does
Jesus Care," solo, "Precious Lord Take My
Hand;" Scripture reading from Psalms,
Deuteronomy and John; prayer; instrumental duet,
"More Love To Lee;" reading of the
obituary; solo, "I Wonder Have I Done My Best
For Jesus;" sermon, "The Eternal
Shelter;" benediction. The soloist was Rev.
Joseph Dahl, pastor of the Alliance Chapel of Waukon.
Charles W. Bloxham was born September 13, 1919, as
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bloxham in Franklin
township, near Cherry Valley. He attended the Chery
Valley school and until his enlistment in the army
had been employed in the Forest Mills community. He
entered the army on February 17, 1941, before this
country entered the war. He was married to Dorothy
Barnett July 8, 1943, and to this union a daughter
was born on May 13, 1944. Charles and his brother,
James, a corporal, had been together throughout their
training period in camps in this country. When
Charles was ordered overseas, it appeared that James
would be left behind. But James had himself reduced
to a private so he could remain with Charles and
together they then went overseas in the same outfit.
In the New Guinea action on June 23, the War
Department message stated, Charles was killed in
battle. He is survived by his wife, the two months
old daughter, Gail Elaine, his step-daughter, April
Sue, three years old, his parents, four brouthers,
Pfc. James in New Guinea, Keigh, Ronald and Richard,
and two sisters, Mrs. Betty May who lives in
Louisiana and Lorna.
~newspaper clipping, unknown paper, annotated
"Killed June 23 in S.W. Pacific"; scrapbook
of Nina Harris Swenson
|
| Earl
Burnham |
Private
Waukon, Iowa
Killed in action in Germany, Nov. 21, 1941.
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd H. Burnham, Waukon
|
| William
Charles Campbell |
WAUKON SOLDIER'S BODY IS HOME FROM OVERSEAS FOR
BURIAL
Waukon, la. -- A military funeral for T-5 William
Campbell, 22, believed to be the first soldier to be
returned to Allamakee county from overseas, will be
held here Monday. The body of Campbell, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Leonard J. Campbell, Waukon, was brought
here from France where he died Aug. 15.
~Waterloo Daily Courier, September 29, 1946,
contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell
|
Kenneth
Edmund Casey


|
Ship's Cook, Petty Officer Second Class
New Albin, Iowa
Killed in action August 9, 1942, in Battle of Savo
Island, aboard the USS Astoria
Father, Michael H. Casey, New Albin
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post
#5603 was organized in New Albin and named for
Kenneth Casey.
~*~
PARENTS OF HERO SON RECEIVE PURPLE HEART
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Casey, of New Albin, received the
Purple Heart Medal awarded posthumously, to their son
Kenneth Edmund Casey, S. C. 2-c who died of wounds
received in action on Savo Island, Guadacanal, Aug.
9th, 1942. He was attached to the Cruiser Astoria and
had enlisted in the Navy Dec. 29th, 1939.
Accompanying the award was a certificate which read
as follows:
The United States of America To All
Who Shall See These Presents Greetings:
This is to certify the President of the United States
of America Pursuant to Authority Vested in Him by
Congress has awarded the Purple Heart, established by
General George Washington, at Newburg, NY, August
7, 1872, to Kenneth Edmund Casey; S. C. 2-c for
military merit and wounds received in action
resulting in his death August 9th, 1942.
Given under my hand in the City of Washington, D.C.
FRANK KNOX
Secretary of the Navy
~purple heart commendation & bottom photo,
from an undated New Albin News clipping
contributed by Errin Wilker
|
Thomas
A. Collins
|
Private first class
Waukon, Iowa
Killed in action in France, January 9, 1945.
Mother, Mrs. James Collins, Waukon
~*~
Waukon - Services will be held at St.
Patrick's church Saturday for Pfc. Thomas Collins,
25, who was killed Jan. 9, 1945, in action in France.
The body will arrive here Friday morning. Pfc.
Collins was a son of Mrs. James Collins of Waukon. He
entered service in June, 1943, and went overseas in
December, 1944. In addition to his mother, he is
survived by two brothers, James of Waukon and Robert
of Anchorage, Alaska; and five sisters, Mary Elsie
and Catherine of Waukon, Alice of Ida Grove, Sister
Mary Redempia of Dubuque and Mrs. E.C. Wolf of
Cincinnati.
~Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 26, 1949 -
contributed by S. Ferrall
|
John
W. Colsch
|
1st Lieutenant
~*~
Missing After 65 Missions
Mrs. W. Barry Braheny, 543 1st S.E. had word Tuesday
that her brother, Lt. John Colsch, was missing in
action in the European theater of operations. Lt.
Colsch had over 65 missions to his credit. He was a
first pilot on a marauder and recently had been made
squadron leader. He entered the service from New
Albin and had frequently visited in Mason City while
attending Loras college in Dubuque. Mrs. Braheny,
whose husband is a seaman 2/c attending radio school
at Farragut, Idaho, plans to leave Mason City to live
indefinitely with her parents at New Albin. The
Brahenys have 2 children, John and Dan. Lt. Colsch's
2 other sister, Mary Colsch Mackin and Mrs. Emerson
Anderson, formerly lived in Mason City.
~Mason City Globe-Gazette, August 30, 1944 -
contributed by S. Ferrall
(note: he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Colsch of
New Albin)
|
Victor
M. Daman

|
Private first class, USMCR
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Killed in South Pacific November 20, 1943.
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Amos E. Damon, Harpers Ferry
Additional info., photo & letter contributed by
Jody Howard, he was her g-uncle.
- photo taken at Camp Elliott
- my g-uncle Victor was killed in action at the
tender age of 20
- he is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of
the Pacific Territory of Hawaii
This letter was written to my great
grandmother Nellie Daman (Mrs. Amos E. Daman)
regarding the loss of her son Victor Daman. The name
of the author has unfortunately been lost to
time. The message, however, is timeless.....
bringing history alive for us all and to reflect on
the kindness and compassion of neighbors. (click the
letters to read)
|
Douglass
Ray Darling

|
Sergeant
New Albin, Iowa
Reported Missing in Action on March 16, 1945 in the
Ruhr Valley, Germany
Four and a half years later, on Sept. 29, 1949, it
was confirmed that he had been killed in action
Douglas Ray Darling was born June 22, 1925, in
Jefferson, MN. He attended New Albin HS. He was first
buried in the United States Military Cemetery near
Liege, Belgium, then in April 1950, his remains were
returned to the U.S. and he was laid to rest in the
New Albin cemetery. His parents were Lysander &
Clara Darling of New Albin.
|
Roland
Millard Erickson

|
Seaman first class, USNR
Postville, Iowa
Died January 7, 1945, aboard the USS California
Mother, Mrs. Olive Gulsvig, Postville.
Additional info. & the photo contributed by C.
Boyers, Roland Erickson was her g-uncle:
- father was Peter Erickson
- burial is in Postville cemetery
|
Lavern
A. Fink
|
Staff sergeant
Lansing, Iowa
Killed in action, in Pacific area, December 7, 1944.
Mother, Mrs. Lydia E. Fink, Lansing
~*~
S/Sgt Lavern A. Fink, son of Mrs.
Lydia Fink of Lansing, is listed as killed in action
while serving in the Pacific regions with the U.S.
Army.
~Oelwein Daily Register, April 13, 1945 -
contributed by S. Ferrall
~*~
Among the first of the bodies of the
Iowa World War II dead [were] returned aboard the
Army ship, Honda Knot. The ship carried
3,012 caskets and 16 urns when she returned. Some of
the Iowa dead returned on the vessel with next-of-kin
are: Ensign Lawrence D. Anderson, Mrs. August R.
Anderson, Waukon; S/Sgt. Lavern A. Fink, Leo L. Fink,
Lansing.
~Oelwein Daily Register, October 10, 1947 -
contributed by S. Ferrall
|
Virgil
Gordon
|
Private
Postville, Iowa
Accidentally drowned September 2,1945 at Fort Worth,
Texas Stationed at Camp Wolters, Texas
Son of Wallace Gordon (deceased) & Annie Gordon,
Postville
~*~
The community was shocked Monday
morning to learn of the news that Private Virgil
Gordon, Son of Mrs. Wallace Gordon of this city,
accidentally met death by drowning Sunday (02 Sep
1945) at Fort Worth, Texas. He was stationed at Camp
Wolters, Texas, having been inducted from this county
in May shortly after his graduation from high school.
No further particulars concerning the accident have
been received up to the time we go to press. Virgil
was an industrious youth, beloved by all who knew
him. In addition to his school studies, he learned
railway telegraphy at the Milwaukee depot from Albert
Bertelson and C. C. Searls, the agents, during hours
before and after school. He had become so proficient
in this work that he filled numerous positions on the
I. & D. division even before graduating from high
school. Before leaving for the army he held positions
as railway telegraph operator at Emmettsburg and
Mason City. Funeral services will be held Saturday
afternoon with the Rev. Frederick R. Ludwig
officiating and Arthur F. Brandt Post of the American
Legion participating. Services will be hled at two
o'clock at the Schutte Funeral Home, and at 2:30 at
St. Paul's Lutheran church. Interment will be in
Postville Cemetery. Virgil was born in Postville
March 22, 1927, the son of Wallace Gordon and Annie
Haendel Gordon. He was 18 years old, and he spent his
entire lifetime here until going into the service of
his country May 18, 1945. He is survived by his
mother, four brothers, Harley of Independence, Ralph
of Inglewood, Calif., Eldo in the United States Navy,
Richard of Charles City; one sister, Edna, Mrs. Ed.
O'Brien, of Hollywood, Calif; one niece and three
nephews. His father, two sisters, and one brother
preceded him in death.
~September 1945 Postville Herald, contributed
by Phyllis Peterson
|
| Wayne
Green |
Paratrooper
Frankville, Winneshiek Co. Iowa
Killed in England
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Green, living near
Postville
~*~
Last Wednesday morning we were
shocked at the report of the death of Wayne Green,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Green, until two years ago
residents of Frankville twp., and now living near
Postville, who was killed while in service in
England. Wayne started his service career in 1942 as
a paratrooper at Ft. Benning, Georgia and while
making a practice jump fractured his leg. After
recovery he received further training then was sent
to England where he was stationed up to the time of
his death. And so even before what we think of as the
great invasion effort, another life of one of
Winneshiek county's boys has been sacrificed for his
country. We first became acquainted with Wayne as a
4-H sheep club member back 6 or 7 years ago. His
ready smile and the modest way he went about his work
were the qualities we remember about him most. Strong
physically, he was adventurous and eager to do
whatever he thought his part might be and we can
easily picture him as a top-notch paratrooper. An
expression of sympathy to his parents, his young wife
and his six months old son are of little consolation,
but we can say they will always be proud of him and
his supreme sacrifice. His passing ought to cause
those of us far from the battlefront to have some
sobering thoughts as to the real meaning of war, and
to realize that our home front effort should be
"all-out" to help and appreciate those who
do the real fighting.
~newspaper clipping, unknown paper, hand-dated May
1944; scrapbook of Nina Harris Swenson
|
James
B. Hagen
|
2nd Lieutenant
|
Lawrence
G. Hamm
|
Private first class
Waterville, Iowa
Killed in action in France, September 14, ????
Father, Jerry Hamm, Rossville, RFD, Waukon
|
Arthur
Conrad Hanson
|
Machinist's mate 1st class, USNR
Waukon, Iowa
Went down on the Liscombe Bay November 24, 1943,
Gilbert Islands
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius A. Hanson,
Route 4, Waukon.
|
John
F. Heim
|
Sergeant
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Died Ju?? 5, 1944 of wounds received in action in
France
Parents Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Heim, Harpers Ferry.
|
James
W. Henderson
|
Private
Monona, Clayton Co. Iowa
Killed in action in Germany, March 21, 1945
Father, Earl Henderson, RFD, Monona
|
Earl
S. Hermanson
|
Staff sergeant
Waterville, Iowa
Killed in action in Philippines, November 12, 1944
Aunt, Mrs. M.J. Kelly, Waterville
|
Dwayne
H. Huebner
|
Sergeant
Postville, Iowa
Killed in action, in European area March 7, 1945
Mother Mrs. Senta A Huebner, Postville
|
Howard
C. Humphrey
|
Second lieutenant
Postville, Iowa
Killed in action over Germany March 23, 1944
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. James T. Humphrey, Postville
|
Darrel
Burton Johnson
|
Lt., USNR
Wife, Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Johnson, New Albin.
|
Russel
G.W. Johnson
|
Tech. sergeant, USMC
Luana, Clayton Co. Iowa
Killed in action at Saipan June 18, 1944
Mother (Anna) and step-father Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
Leppert,
RFD Rt 2, Box 65, Postville
|
Harry
Joseph Jones
|
Sergeant
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Killed in action in Sicily July 12, 1943
Father, George Jones, RFD, Harpers Ferry
|
Maurice
R. Kelly
|
Staff sergeant
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Killed in action in Italy April 5, 1944
Mother, Mrs. Ida Kelly, postmistress, Harpers Ferry
|
Carleton
Kenney

|
Gunners Mate Second Class
Waukon, Iowa
Declared dead
Reported missing in action December 24, 1943 while
serving aboard the destroyer Leary in the Atlantic
Ocean off France
Parents Klearance E. & Esther Winifred (Laughlin)
Kenney, Petaluma, Calif.
~*~
Gunners Mate Second Class, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Klearance E. Kenney of near Waukon, former
Postville residents, who was reported missing in
action Dec. 24, 1943, while serving aboard the
destroyer Leary in the Atlantic Ocean off France. No
further word has been received fro the War Department
since the original message telling of the sinking of
the Leary. Carleton, a graduate of Postville high
school, enlisted in the Navy in May, 1938, before the
start of the present war. He took his boot training
at Great Lakes, Ill., and was assigned to the cruiser
Louisville. After three years he was assigned to the
cruiser Vincennes which was later sunk in action with
the Japs in the Save Bay battle. On the Leary
Carleton was on patrol duty in the North Atlantic and
also made several secret missions to South Africa
before going on convoy duty to the African and
European area. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney received the War
Department message concerning their son on January 4,
1944.
~newspaper clipping, unknown paper, scrapbook of Nina
Harris Swenson
~notes: Carleton Kenney's mother was nee Esther
Winifred Laughlin, daughter of James Riddle Laughlin
& Amanda Jane Harris (Nina's aunt)
|
Gustav
Frederick Kerndt
|
Ensign, USNR
Killed in action (presumptive date) May 8, 1943
Missing in action since May 7, 1942
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Moritz Kerndt, Center street,
Lansing
~*~
Lansing - A posthumous award has been made in
honor of Ensign Gustav Kerndt of Lansing, who lost
his life on the destroyer Sims on August 2, 1942.
~Waterloo Daily Courier, August 22, 1943 -
contributed by S. Ferrall
Press dispatches late in June bringing a delayed
description of the Coral Sea battle, said that the
Sims sank with almost all of its men still on board,
and with guns blazing fiercely until the ship, nearly
broken in two settled below the surface.
~La Porte City Progress Review, August 27,
1942 - contributed by S. Ferrall
|
Robert
W. Kneeland

|
Lieutenant, US Army Air Force
Postville, Iowa
Killed in action in Philippines December 2, 1944
Parents, Mr. & Mrs. William A. Kneeland,
Postville
|
Donald
O. Kosbau
|
Private First Class
Waukon, Iowa
Died December 18, 1944 of wounds received in action
in Germany December 17, 1944
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Kosbau, RFD, Waukon.
|
Donald
F. Koth
|
Private
Postville, Iowa
Killed in action in Salerno, Italy, January 9, 1944
Father, Vern H. Koth, Postville
|
| Donald
W. Lawson |
Private First Class
Postville, Iowa
Killed in action in New Guinea June 23, 1944
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lawson, RFD, Postville
|
| Gordon
R. Leikvold |
Private
Waukon, Iowa
Killed in an auto accident in Arkansas, April 13,
1943
Father, Theodore Leikvold, Waukon
|
| John
Shirley McCurdy |
Ensign, USNR
Died August 1942
Mother, Mrs. Otto Fischer, Postville
|
| Francis
Earl McDougal |
Seaman 2nd class, USNR
Mother, Mrs. Elizabeth McDougal, Waukon
|
James
P. McMorrow
|
Private first class
Waukon, Iowa
Killed in an auto accident at Great Bend, Kansas,
army air base, October 7, 1944
Uncle, John McMorrow, RFD, Waukon
|
George
P. Manning
|
Staff Sergeant
Lansing, Iowa
Killed in action in Germany March 1, 1945.
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Manning, RFD, Lansing
|
| Joseph
R. Mohn |
Private
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Killed in action in Mediterranean area, Italy,
January 4, 1944. Mother, Mrs. Lillian Mohn, Harpers
Ferry
|
| Andrew
J. Oelberg |
Private First Class
Waukon, Iowa
Died September 14, 1944 of wounds received in action
in Italy
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Oelberg, Waukon
|
Donald
L. Olloff
|
Staff Sergeant
DNB
|
| Wendle
Adonis Pederson |
Apprentice seaman
Monona, Clayton Co. Iowa
Killed in action August 22, 1942, aboard the USS
Ingraham. Father, Alfred O. Peterson, RFD, Monona
|
Earl
E. Quillin

|
Private, paratrooper
Waukon, Iowa
513th Parachute Infantry, part of the 17th Airborne
Division
Killed in action in Belgium January 7, 1945
Buried in the American Cemetery in Luxembourg
Parents, Edward & Grace (Ronan) Quillin, Waukon
Earl E. Quillin was born Feb. 20, 1924; graduated
from St. Patrick HS in Waukon & attended Loras
College in Dubuque.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously
"For heroic action against the enemy on 7
January 1945. Private Quillin aided in forestalling
an enemy attack with supporting armor by attacking a
tank with a light machine gun. He was severely
wounded by machine gun and artillery fire from the
tank, but pressed his assault, forcing the tank to
withdraw. Private Quillin's courage and performance
was clearly beyond the call of duty and in keeping
with the highest traditions of the service."
|
James
Joseph Regan
|
Aviation radioman 3rd class, USNR
Mother, Mrs. Angela Kathryn Howes,
25 Sackett Street, Waukon
|
Leo
P. Regan
|
Tec 5
DNB
|
James
Rikos

|
Radio Operator
Waukon, Iowa
Died Dec. 29, 1943. Stationed at
Canton Island in the South Pacific region, he was a
crewmember on a plane, which took off on a routine
flight from Makin Island bound for Baker Island. The
aircraft never arrived at its destination. A year
after he was declared missing in action, the Navy had
officially declared him killed in action
Born, Chicago, Illinois; moved to
Waukon with his mother, Mrs. William (Angela) Howes,
as a young child; graduate Waukon HS, 1940.
|
| Donald
G. Teff |
Private
Dorchester, Iowa
Drowned at San Francisco, Calif. January 2, 1942
Mother, Mrs. Florence T. Teff, Dorchester
|
| Robert
P. Teff |
Private first class
Dorchester, Iowa
Killed in action in Italy, February 19, 1944
Father, Henry G. Teff, Dorchester
|
| John
A. Wilde |
Sergeant
Lansing, Iowa
Killed January 14, 1945, in flight between
Morrison Field, Fla., and Trinidad
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Wilde, Lansing
|