ROSSUM, Machinist's Mate 1/C Althon Leonard, WWII

ROSSUM, WHITHAM

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/11/2013 at 00:54:33

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Saturday, November 04, 1944, Page 11

A. ROSSUM KILLED IN ACTION
SOMEWHERE in SOUTH PACIFIC

Had Been Overseas More Than a Year;
Leaves Wife and Son

Althon Leonard ROSSUM, machinist's mate 2/c, has been killed in action somewhere in the South Pacific, according to a telegram received by his wife from the navy department. No details as to time or exact date were given.

ROSSUM had been overseas since Oct., 1943. Before entering the service on Navy day, Oct. 27, 1942, he was employed at the Independent Baking company.

He took his boot training at the Great Lakes and following that attended Wentworth Institution in Boston, Mass. Later he took a course in advanced steam engineering at a school in New York city. From there he went to Treasure Island, Cal., and then overseas. He was serving on a destroyer.

Surviving are his wife, the former Fern WITHAM, and son Gary; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anton ROSSUM, 1120 Pennsylvania N. E.; 2 brothers in the service, Pvt. Gordon Dean ROSSUM, with the medical corps in Germany, and Pvt. Royce ROSSUM, at Camp Hood, Tex.

ROSSUM was graduated from the Mason City high school in 1940. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran church.

~ ~ ~ ~

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, December 11, 1944, Page 13

HONOR MEMORY OF A. ROSSUM

"Here to Fight and to Die Fighting," Rogness

"The Lord has put us on the earth to fight and to die fighting. We are compelled to fight with the sword only when we haven't fought well enough with the peace-time weapons of truth and faith and personal integrity," said the Rev. Alvin N. ROGNESS in memorial services for Alton L. ROSSUM at the Trinity Lutheran church Sunday afternoon. Mch. Mate 2/c ROSSUM was killed in action in the Pacific.

"Had we and other nations not been indifferent to the continuous battle for justice and good-will, our men would not now have to fight with bombs and tanks," said Mr. ROGNESS. "And when they have won their battles, it is for us to mobilize in peace-time battle as we never have before. In that war Jesus Christ the Lord of Hosts is our commander.

"It would be a tragedy indeed if we of the home front fail to carry on the fight for good homes, good government, good churches. For then Althon and his comrades would have died in vain. It is for us to treasure their victories down through the years and guard them with such peace-time militancy," concluded the pastor, "that Althon and others like him need not again to take up the sword to defend them."

Leroy SPURGEON sang "The Lord's Prayer" and "Abide With Me," with Konrad HAGAN at the organ.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2013

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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