WATTS, TSgt. Donald E., WWII POW

WATTS, CAMPBELL, ANDERSON, WOLDMOE, LEWIS, CHURCHILL, PEDERSEN, QUINONES, LAUER, WILTS, BASHAMSCHRENINER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/13/2013 at 23:34:12

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
May 17, 1945, Page 15

CABLEGRAM FROM PRISONER
SAYS HE IS ALL RIGHT

T. Sgt. Donald Watts Was Captured
by the Germans in Feb., 1944

A cablegram from T/Sgt. Donald E. WATTS, who was taken prisoner by the Germans in Feb., 1944, brought good news to his 2 sisters, Miss Doris WATTS, employed at Gildner's, and Mrs. Edward PATTON at the Iowa Hardware Mutual, here.

"Getting along all right - will keep you fully advised," read the message, which came Thursday. The last letter from WATTS had been written in November and was received her about a month ago. He was then at Stalag Luft 4.

T/Sgt. WATTS was a radio operator on a Liberator bomber, serving with the 8th air force. He was on the same ship on which Lt. T. J. CAMPBELL, Mason City, was co-pilot. Lt. CAMPBELL died in England of wounds received on one of their missions. It was thought Sgt. WATTS became a prisoner on the next mission.

T/Sgt. WATTS was employed at Gildner's Clothing store here at the time of entering the service in Sept., 1942. He went overseas in Nov., 1944, and had for commanding officer at that time the movie actor, Lt. Col. Jimmie Stewart.

His parents live at Ionia.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, January 29, 1945, Page 11

PARENTS RECEIVE HEROES' MEDALS

In Presentation Of Awards At Joint Memorial Service

Shown above are those participating in the presentation of awards at the joint memorial service at Music hall Sunday afternoon.

Left to right are Mrs. C. O. ANDERSON; Capt. S. W. RAMSAY, Minneapolis, who presented the air medals; Mrs. Ralph E. WATTS, Mr. WATTS; Col. H. H. ODELL, Ames, who made the bronze star medal presentation; T. M. WOLDMOE and Mrs. WOLDMOE.

The bronze star medal was presented to Mr. and Mrs. WOLDMOE for their son, Sgt. Cecil WOLDMOE, killed in action in Bougainville.

The air medal with oak leaf cluster was presented to Mr. and Mrs. WATTS for their son, T/Sgt. Donald E. WATTS, war prisoner of Germany, and the air medal to Mrs. ANDERSON for her son, Lt. Robert W. LEWIS, missing in action in Germany since last May.

(Lock photo, Kayenay engraving)

6th MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD TO HONOR FIGHTERS

We Must Rededicate Ourselves to Ideals
Says Father Churchill

"Only if each one of us makes this memorial service the occasion to rededicate himself to the ideals which inspired those whose memory we eulogize today, shall we make certain that they have not died in vain - anything less will be unworthy of their sacrifice."

This spoke Father CHURCHILL, Mercy hospital chaplain, at the 6th joint public memorial service at Music hall Sunday afternoon honoring the memory of 3 men who have in the past month been recorded as having given their lives for their country. They were S/Sgt. Willie LAUER, First Lt. James M. K. PEDERSEN and Cpl. William QUINONES. Burial flags from the U. S. government were presented to their next of kin.

A special feature of the program was the presentation by out-of-town officers of awards to the parents of the 3 servicemen.

The bronze star was presented to Mr. and Mrs. T. M. WOLDMOE, awarded posthumously to their son, Sgt. Cecil T. WOLDMOE and presented by Col. H. H. ODELL, Ames, in behalf of the war department.

The air medal with oak leaf cluster was presented by Capt. S. W. RAMSAY, Minneapolis, in behalf of the air corps to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. WATTS, awarded to their son, Tech. Sgt. Donald E. WATTS, now prisoner of war of the German government.

Capt. RAMSAY also made the air medal prsentation to Mrs. O. C. ANDERSON, awarded to her son, Lt. Robert W. LEWIS, missing in action in Germany since last May.

Col. ODELL in presenting the bronze star decoration expressed his sympathy in behalf of the war department to Mr. and Mrs. WOLDMOE and said he shared in their pride of "this American soldier." He read the following citation which accompanied the medal:

"For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on the Solomon islands on March 26, 1944, Sgt. WOLDMOE gallantly sacrificed his life in the line of duty while serving as a member of a patrol order to reconnoiter a sector of the perimeter to determine possible enemy strength and dispositions.

"This man in returning in his own lines was ambushed by a superior force of the enemy and elected to fight gallantly in the face of enemy machine gun fire until succumbing to inevitable death."

Capt. RAMSAY likewise expressed his sympathy in behalf of the air corps in making his presentations. He stated that he was giving the medals to Mr. and Mrs. WATTS and to Mrs. ANDERSON "for sake keeping until the return of their sons."

"For exceptionally meritorious service over enemy-occupied territory in continental Europe and for the coolness and courage displayed," was the citation read by Capt. RAMSAY, accompanying the air medals awarded to Lt. LEWIS and T/Sgt. WATTS.

"Those of us who have had even the most cursory contact with this global ward have been forever impressed by the tremendous sacrifice that it entails," said Father CHURCHILL. "Its scope is so great that any one individual is almost overwhelmed by the magnitude of the struggle. In a spirit of faith we must accept these sacrifices and never allow ourselves to think that these dead have died in vain.

"In the words of the immortal Lincoln, 'We take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.'

"Because of the sacrifice of these young men, our cause will not fail . . . and we the living shall have profited by this memorial service also if we go away from it with our faith strengthened and our determination renewed," concluded Father CHURCHILL.

Miss June DUDGEON sang "The Lord Is My Shepherd" and "Come Unto Me," accompanied by Mrs. ROy SERVISON. Miss LuAnn MOEN sang "My Aching Heart," written by Mrs. WOLDMOE, with Miss Beatrice LYSNE accompanying. Mrs. SERVISON played a 5 minute prologue at the beginning of the service. Prayer was by the Rev. A. N. ROGNESS.

Company E of the Iowa state guard under the command of Capt. Leslie WHIPPLE furnished the honor guard and firing squad with Lt. Glen BERG in charge. Pfc. Reeser ADAMS and Pfc. JOHNSON made up the guard of honor at the shrine symbolizing the dead soldier's resting place. In the firing squad were Cpl. Carel SCHULTZ, Cpl. William COOPER, Cpl. Conrad OLSON, T/5 Almar ANDERSON, Pfc. Reeser ADAMS and Pvt. William PICKART. Constantine KREGOTIS of the company was bugler.

The services were under the direction of the American Legion and the Veteran of Foreign Wars with all patriotic organizations participating. Fred WILTS, Legion post commander, presided.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
October 30, 1945, Page 6

Ionia - Mr. and Mrs. Ralph WATTS and Donald visited with relatives at Mason City. Donald received his discharge from the air corps. He returned to his old job at the Standard Oil company office in Mason City.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
December 17, 1945, Page 8

Speak Vows at Church

Baskets of white flowers and palms decorated the First Methodist church for the wedding of Miss Georgie Lee BASHAM, daughter of Mrs. Nina G. BASHAM, 629 East State, and Donald E. WATTS, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph WATTS of Ionia, performed Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock with Dr. Lloyd GUSTAFSON officiating at the double ring ceremony. Preceding the ceremony, Mrs. R. E. PATTON played nuptial music and Stephen HOBSON sang "Oh Promise Me" and "Because." The "Bridal Chorus" from "Lohengrin" was used as a processional and Medelssohn's march as the recessional.

The bride, who was given in marriage by her brother, Richard BASHAM, wore a gown of white satin and marquisette. The lace on the gown matched the lace edging of her veil which fell from a coronet of seed pearls. She carried calla lilies and wore a single strand of pearls, a gift from the bridegroom.

Attending the bride were her sisters, Roberta BASHAM of Mason City and Mrs. Wesley SCHREINER of West Union. The bridegroom was attended by Wallace BEACH of Northwood and Kenneth HEINMILLER of Ionia. Wesley SCHRENINER, brother-in-law of the bride, and Stephen LINN, cousin of the bridegroom, were ushers.

A reception at the home of the bride's mother for 50 followed the ceremony. Baskets of flowers and pink tapers decorated the rooms. The table was centered with a 2-tier wedding cake, topped with miniature doves and pink decorations.

The couple left on a wedding trip to Chicago and will be at home later at 603 Adams N. W.

Both Mr. and Mrs. WATTS were graduated from the Hamilton School of Commerce. Mr. WATTS spend 3 years in the army air corps. For 14 months he was a prisoner of the Germans. He is now employed by the Standard Oil company. Mrs. WATTS has been employed by the American Crystal Sugar company for 3 1/2 years.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2013

TSgt. Donald E. WATTS, WWII POW
 

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