page updated
May 22, 2010
page updated
May 22, 2010
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Do you know of a Clayton co. soldier who died in the 2nd world war who isn't on this page, have additional info. about any of the soldiers, or a photo to add to this page? Contact the Clayton co. Coordinator.**The (number) following the soldier's record references the sources used to compile this information. See the bottom of the page for the complete citations.**
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| Appleton, Kenneth
W., First Lieut. US Army Air Corps. Son of Roy
& Blanche (Smith) Appleton. Residence Elk twp.
Clayton co. as of Jan 1, 1925 & April 1930. Born May
1, 1923. He died on October 19, 1945 in the crash of a
B-24, near Hondo air field in Texas. At the time of the
crash he was the co-pilot of the plane, which was on a
routine training flight. He is buried in Noble cemetery,
Edgewood, Delaware co. Iowa. Wife: Dorothy J. Pilgrim.
(2, 5, 6) |
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| Bailey, N.J., Sgt. US Army | |||
| Clefisch, Harvey J.,
Pfc. US Army. Killed in Action. Born in 1918, he was the
son of Fred & Louisa Clefisch. Residence Jefferson
twp. Clayton co. on the 1920 US census. Enlisted March 4,
1942 at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa. Wt. 135#. Ht. 68".
Single, no dependants. Service #17043833. According to
the obituary of his father, he was killed in Germany,
December 1944. Originally buried in the U.S. Military
cemetery, Epinal, France, his remains were returned to
the U.S. aboard the transport Robert F. Burns in
late March 1948. (2, 3, 4, 5, 7) |
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| Dittmer, Robert L., Tech. Sgt. US Army. Service #37654286. Born in 1923, he enlisted at Camp Dodge, Iowa on January 7, 1943. Single, no dependants, one year college. Wt. 154#, Ht. 70". (2, 3) | |||
| Doeppke, Otto J., Sgt. US Army Air Force, 723rd Bomber Squadron, 450th Bomber Group, Heavy. Killed in Action, April 5, 1944. Service #37654332. Born May 26, 1923, he was the son of Otto & Pauline Doeppke of Elkader, Boardman twp. Clayton co. Iowa. Husband of Lucille (nee Hanson) Doeppke, Elkader. He enlisted at Camp Dodge, Iowa on January 7, 1943. Wt. 147#, ht. 69". Appears on the war department list of MIA's in the Mediterranean area in May 1944, and is on the casualty list in April 1945. Burial is in Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium; Plot C Row 1 Grave 32. Awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. (2, 3, 4, 5, 10) | |||
| Downey, Donald W.
Pfc. USMC. Appears on the war department April 1945 casualty list. He served with the 28th Marine regiment of the fifth division, and was killed in action on Iwo Jima February 19, 1945. He was born in Elkader Feb. 20, 1924, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harley D. Downey. His body was returned to the US in April 1948 and burial was in St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery, Elkader. (1, 4, 7) |
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| Drowns, Theodore J., Tech/5 US Army. Killed in Action on Okinawa April 29, 1945. Service #37112746. Born ca1914, he was the son of Herbert & Clara (nee Fox) Drowns of Marquette, Clayton co. Iowa. His body was re-interred in Calvary cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin on May 11, 1949. Madison Catholic War Veterans held rites at the grave. (2, 4, 5, 8) | |||
| Emerson, James F., First Lieut. US Army. Killed in Action in Bamburg, Germany on Oct 2, 1944. He was born September 14, 1915, the son of Lloyd C. & Mary (nee O'Dea / O'Day) Emmerson, Cass co. Clayton co. James Emerson of Littleport, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Winnepeg, Canada. He was stationed at Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Enlisted in the US Army Air Force. Service #886039. Served with the 734th Bomber Squadron 453rd Bomber. He was awarded a Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross & Additional Army Awards. He is buried in the Margraten Cemetery, Margraten, Holland, grave location Plot M Row 8 Grave 5. Memorial services were held at the Catholic Church at Volga City, July 8, 1945. (2, 4, 9, 10) | |||
| Eulberg, Richard Henry, Fire controlman 2nd class, USN. Father, Mr. Henry J. Eulberg, Garnavillo. Died December 7, 1941 in the bombing of Pearl Harbor aboard the ship Arizona; awarded a Purple Heart. Service #3212377 (1, 3, 10) | |||
Fry, Robert Vern
Pfc. US Army; 3rd Platoon, C Company,
1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, 34th Division. Service
#20701911. He was born in Lamont, Iowa, March 14, 1919.
He enlisted in the National Guard at Cedar Rapids, Linn
co. Iowa on February 10, 1941. Single, no dependants. Wt.
152#, Ht. 69". Killed in Action on March 10, 1943.
Buried in North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage,
Tunisia. Plot H Row 8 Grave 8. (sources: 2, 4, 10) |
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| Geuder, Roland Ernest, Aviation Radioman 1st class, USN, Serial #3209966. Born March 10, 1917. Mother, Mrs. Flonda Geuder, Guttenberg. Killed in Action on June 3, 1942; classified MIA. Awarded Purple Heart. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial. (1, 3, 10) | |||
| Glawe, Harvey H., Pvt. US Army. Killed in Action. (2, 4) | |||
| Haag, Donald Edwin, Machinist's mate 2nd class, USN. Father, Mr. Edwin Haag, Monona. Died Feb 28, 1942, classified MIA, awarded Purple Heart (1, 3) | |||
| Hakert, Gregor M.,
Staff/Sgt. US Army. Gregor Hakert was born December 28,
1914, the son of Charles and Alma Olinger Hakert. He was
inducted into the army Feb. 4, 1941. He served in Africa
with General Patton's army from December 1942 until the
summer of 1943 when he took part in the invasion of
Sicily. He was Killed in Action July 29, 1944, at St. Lo,
France. His body was returned to the US in January 1949
and re-buried in the Mederville cemetery. (2, 4, 7) |
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| Henthorne, William W., Capt. US Army. Killed in Action June 15, 1944, near Burma. Born in Mason City, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Henthorne. The family lived in Marquette, where his father worked for the railroad. William was an artist and philatelist. He attended the University of Iowa before entering the service. In 1949, five stained glass windows were installed in the Marquette Methodist church by relatives and friends as a memorial to Capt. Henthorne. (2, 4, 11) | |||
| Holden, Melvin B.
Staff/Sgt. US Army. Born Mar. 3, 1922, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Holden, Elkader. Melvin enlisted in the Army May 28, 1940. At the time of his death, Feb. 9, 1945, he was stationed in an amphibious training center, and was killed in the line of duty. His body was buried in the Oshu Schofield Barracks temporary military cemetery in Hawaii until it was returned home to Elkader and re-buried at East Side cemetery in March 1948. (2, 4, 7) |
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| Hommel, John M.,
Capt. US Army. He was was born in Elkader, Ia., Feb. 27,
1920, the son of Dr. and Mrs. P.R.V. Hommel. He graduated
from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June,
1943. He was then assigned to overseas duty with the 15th
A.A.F. He was one of the pilots making the first shuttle
bombing trip to Russia when he was shot down July 18,
1944, while flying on a mission over Memmingen, Germany,
after participation in 33 raids. Captain Hommel was
awarded the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross
and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters for his
outstanding service. He was commissioned as a captain
Aug. 7, 1944. He was married to Edith Jean Feuling,
daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Feuling, of Cresco, and had
one son, born a few days after his death. Declared dead
after being missing. Committal services were held at
Arlington National cemetery in June, 1950. (2, 4, 7) |
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| Huebsch, Thomas G., Tech/5 US Army. Died of Wounds. (2, 4) | |||
| Hulverson, Theodore G., Cpl. US Army. Died of causes other than battle. (2, 4) | |||
| Irwin, Bruce James, Ensign, US Navy. United States Naval Reserve. Serial #0-320590. Died March 17, 1944. United States Naval Reserve. Missing in Action or Buried at Sea. His name is on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Honolulu, Hawaii. The war department casualty list of April 8, 1944 listed him as Bruce J. Irwin of Spencer, Ia. Wife - Mrs. Kathleen Irwin, Elkader. (1, 3, 10) | |||
| Johnson, Clyde B.,
Pfc. US Army. He was killed in action March 1, 1945, in
Germany. He enlisted in the army July 3, 1942, at
Marquette and served in Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium,
Holland and Germany. He was wounded July 20, 1944, in
France and sent to England for hospitalization. He was
awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and a citation
for devotion to duty. (2, 4, 7) |
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| Knapp, Glenn R., Pfc. US Army. Killed in Action. (2, 4) | |||
| Koth, Donald F.,
Pvt. US Army. Died on January 9, 1944 in a hospital in
North Africa of wounds received in front line action
while serving with the armored artillery in the Italian
invasion on January 5th. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Koth of
near Postville. (2, 4, 7) |
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| Kottke, Lloyd Woodrow. Chief Signalman, USNR. Construction Mechanic, U.S. Navy. Service #3209921. Died February 21, 1945. Wife, Mrs. Thelma Maxine Kottke, Rt. 1, Monona. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kottke of Osterdock. As of 1939, when he married Thelma White, he lived in Pasadena, California. His name is on the Bureau of the War Department casualty list April 4, 1945: Navy missing include Chief Signalman Lloyd W. Kottke, husband of Mrs. Thelma Kottke of Monona. Classified Missing in Action or Buried at Sea. His name is on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii. Awarded a Purple Heart. (1, 4, 10) | |||
| Kraus, Marvin A., Pfc. US Army. Killed in Action. Originally buried in the U.S. Military cemetery, Blosville, France, his remains were returned to the U.S. aboard the transport John L. McClarley, arriving in April 1948. Next of kin August H. Kraus, Guttenberg. (2, 4) | |||
| Krueger, Otto A., Sgt. US Army. Died of Wounds. (2, 4) | |||
| Kuehl, Orrin F.
Pvt. US Army. Serial #37684764. Killed in Action October 6, 1944, somewhere in France. He was born in Elkader, July 1, 1920, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kuehl. He received his basic training at Fort McClellan, Ala., and was later transferred to Fort Meade, Md., from where he was sent overseas in July. He was stationed in Italy and later served in the 3rd Regiment, 1st Special Service Force in France where he was killed. Burial is in the Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France. Plot b Row 8 Grave 16. He was awarded a Purple Heart. (2, 4, 7, 10) |
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| Leonard, Alfred R., Sgt. US Army. Killed in Action. (2, 4) | |||
| Leonard, Alvin D., Pvt. US Army. Died of causes other than battle. (2, 4) | |||
| Madlom, Floyd M.,
Pvt. 328th Infantry. Died of wounds. Born Nov 28, 1919
and died of wounds January 22, 1945. He is buried
Edgewood cemetery, Delaware co. IA. (2, 4, 12) |
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| Matt, James L., Second Lieut. US Army Air Force, 65th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group. Serial #2059807. Killed in Action, April 17, 1945. He is buried in the Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. Plot A Row 14 Grave 26. Awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Purple Heart. (2, 4, 10) | |||
| Ohmer, Thomas William. Fireman 2nd class, USNR. Service # 6201473. Died October 16, 1943. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines as missing in action or buried at sea. Awarded the Purple Heart medal. Father, Mr. Frank Ohmer, McGregor. (1, 10) | |||
| Pederson, Wendle Adonis. Apprentice seaman. USNR. Service # 6205685. Died August 23, 1943. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at East Coast Memorial New York City, as missing in action or buried at sea. Father, Mr. Alfred Oscar Pederson, RFD 2 Monona. (1, 10) | |||
| Richards, Ellsworth O. Pfc. USMCR. Service # 939349. Entered the service from Pennsylvania. Died March 6, 1945. Buried in Honolulu Memorial cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii; Plot A Row 0 Grave 825. Awarded a Purple Heart with Gold Star. Wife, Mrs. Ellsworth O. Richards, Elkader. (1, 10) | |||
| Rogers, Thomas B., First Lieut. US Army. Died of causes other than battle. (2, 4) | |||
| Rowland, Reed L., Pfc. US Army. Service # 37046984. Thirty-first Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. Died of causes other than battle. Died December 3, 1943. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii, as missing in action or buried at sea. (2, 4, 10) | |||
| Smith, Francis C., Pfc. US Army. Service # 37046386. 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division. He was killed in action, September 19, 1944. Buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot F Row 7 Grave 41. Awarded a Purple Heart. (2, 4) | |||
| Smith, Thomas E., Capt. US Army. Died of causes other than battle. (2, 4) | |||
| Smock, Burdet W., Staff/Sgt. US Army. Service # 37040021. 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Killed in Action on November 10, 1944. Buried at Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France; Plot A Row 8 Grave 63. Awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. (2, 4, 10) | |||
| Thiele, Lawrence C.,
Pfc. US Army. Died of causes other than battle. Killed in
a railroad accident in Belgium on April 11, 1945. Married
to Helen Kinley of Harper's Ferry in August, 1938. He
entered the army Sept. 29, 1943 and served in a railroad
battalion with Patton's Third army in France and Germany.
(2, 4.7) |
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| Thompson, Arnold J., Technician Fifth Class US Army, 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. Service # 37196187. Killed in Action at Normandy, June 11, 1944. Buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France; Plot B Row 16 Grave 10. Awarded a Purple Heart. (2, 4, 10) | |||
| Thompson, George G., Technician Third Class, U.S. Army. Service # 37435571. Headquarters Detachment, European Theater. Died December 31, 1944. Buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England; Plot D Row 6 Grave 101. Died of causes other than battle. Another record gives his rank as Tech/4. (2, 4, 10) | |||
| Wach, Ludwig Joseph.
Coxswain, USNR. Service #6203914. His name appears on the
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial Honolulu, Hawaii as Missing in Action or Buried at Sea. This record gives death date January 7, 1946. Awarded a Purple Heart. According to his gravestone in the Littleport, Sacred Heart cemetery, he was born June 23, 1908 and died November 1, 1943. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Wach, lived at Box 136, Littleport. (1, 10, 12) |
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| Watt, Frank K., Sgt. US Army. Killed in Action. (2, 4) | |||
| Way, Dale H.,
Pfc. US Army, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry
Division. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Way, Strawberry
Point. Inducted into the army on November 9, 1942. Killed
in Action on January 20, 1945. He is buried at the Fort
William McKinley, Manila American cemetery, the
Philippines, Plot L Row 8 Grave 111. Awarded Purple
Heart. At the time of his death he had 3 brothers serving
in the war: Cpl. Don Way in Italy; Staff Sgt. Clair Way
and Pvt. Calvin Way, both in England. (2, 4, 7, 10) |
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| White, Douglas J., Pvt. US Army. Died of causes other than battle. (2, 4) | |||
| Wilke, Erwin H., First Lieut. US Army Air Corps. Pilot. Serial #17033001. Killed in Action July 31, 1943. Buried June 23, 1949 in Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky; Plot E 71-72. (2, 4, 14) | |||
| Wulfekuhle, Edwin C., Tech Sgt. US Army. Service #37110772. 337th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group, Heavy. Enumerated on the 1925 Iowa State census in Concord, Dubuque co., Iowa in the household of his parents Aloysius & Cecilia (nee Vonderhaar) Wulfekuhle. Age 5. He appears on the August 24, 1943 war department list as missing in action in the European theater. Declared dead after being missing. Memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands is Staff Sergeant Edwin C. Wulfekuhle; missing in action or buried at sea. Died July 28, 1943. Awarded an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart. (2, 4, 5, 10, 13) |
~*~*~
Sources
1) State Summary of War Casualties from World War
II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Iowa,
1946
~contributed by Constance Diamond
2) Newspaper clipping listing the Army dead from the Clayton co.
area; probably from the Clayton County Register,
undated, likely the later 1940's.
~contributed by Paul Moritz
3) Ancestry.com (pay-for-view
website)..... U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945;
Original data: United States Army Quartermaster General’s
Office (all services) and/or U.S. World War II Army Enlistment
Records, 1938-1946; Original data: World War II Army Enlistment
Records; Records of the National Archives and Records
Administration, Record Group 64
~data extracted by S. Ferrall
4) Oelwein Daily Register, October 4, 1939; Oelwein
Daily Register May 18, 1944; Oelwein Daily Register,
April 2, 1945; Oelwein Daily Register, April 4, 1945; Oelwein
Daily Register, July 11, 1945; Oelwein Daily Register,
June 27, 1946; Oelwein Daily Register March 30, 1948; Oelwein
Daily Register, April 19, 1948
~contributed by S. Ferrall
5) 1920 US census, 1925, Iowa State Census and/or 1930 US census
~data extracted by S. Ferrall
6) San Antonio Light, October 19, 1945 and Mason City Globe-Gazette,
October 19, 1945
~info. extracted by S. Ferrall
7) Clayton co. IAGenWeb Obituary Board
8) Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, WI, May 11, 1949
~info. extracted by S. Ferrall
9) LaPorte Progress Review, 1/1/1942 and Waterloo
Daily Courier, 2/10/1942
~info. extracted by S. Ferrall
10) American Battle Monuments Commission website
11) Mason City Globe-Gazette, Thursday, January 16,
1941; Mason City Globe-Gazette, Thursday, August 31,
1944; and Cedar Rapids Gazette, April 15, 1949
~info. extracted by S. Ferrall
12) Iowa Gravestone Photo Project - IAGenWeb Special Project
13) Waterloo Daily Courier, August 24, 1943
~info. extracted by S. Ferrall
14) U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs website [gravesite
locater database]
