SAGE, Pvt. James F., WWII
SAGE, HARR, DEGROOTE, ACKERMAN, GIBBS, WEBER, PERKINS, PIERCE, SIMMONS, HOUGHAM, ALMSTEIN, SMOOT, KING, GREIPEMBURG
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/11/2013 at 11:48:35
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, December 11, 1944, Page 14PVT. JAMES F. SAGE REPORTED
MISSING in ACTION NOV. 20Lake Auto Mechanic Last Heard
From in Front Line FoxholeClear Lake - Mrs. James F. SAGE received a message from the war department Saturday as follows:
"The secretary of war desires me to express his deep regret that your husband, Pvt. James F. SAGE, has been reported missing in action in Germany since Nov. 20. If further details or other information is received you will be promptly notified. Dunlop, the acting adjutant."
Pvt. SAGE entered service March 31, 1944, and took basic training at Camp Hood, Texas. From there he was at home delayed enroute to Fort Meade, Md., leaving Clear Lake Aug. 19. He arrived in France Sept. 19 and was on the move continuously until he reached the front lines. The last letter received from him was written from a foxhole Nov. 14. Mrs. SAGE and son, Jimmy, 6, live at 501 E. South street. Before entering the service Pvt. SAGE had an auto repair shop at the corner of West Main and 5th streets.
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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, December 20, 1944, Page 6PVT JAMES F. SAGE NOW REPORTED KILLED in ACTION
Message From War Department Comes to Mrs. SAGE TUESDAY
Clear Lake - Another Clear Lake man has made the supreme sacrifice for his country according to a message from the war department received by Mrs. James F. SAGE, 501 E. South street, Tuesday, as follows:
"The secretary of war asks that I assure you of his deep sympathy in the loss of your husband, Pvt. James F. SAGE, who was previously reported missing in action Nov. 20 in Germany. Letter follows. Dunlop, acting the adjutant general."
Pvt. SAGE was born April 10, 1911, at Clear Lake, Minn., the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Fred SAGE who died while he was a small lad. He went to live with relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Orville HARR, West Bend, where he grew to manhood.
June 8, 1935, he was married at Jackson, Minn., to Miss Beverly DeGROOTE. They lived at Ventura 4 years before moving to Clear Lake 5 years ago. Pvt. SAGE operated an auto repair station until he entered the service last March 31.
Besides Mrs. SAGE and their son, Jimmy, 6, he is survived by 4 sisters, Mrs. Robert ACKERMAN, Burt; Mrs. Harvey GIBBS, Racine, Wis.; Mrs. Edna WEBER, Lincoln, Nebr.; and Mrs. Floyd PERKINS, DeWitt.
Mrs. ACKERMAN had just spent 4 days with Mrs. SAGE, returning home Monday evening.
Pvt. SAGE trained at Camp Hood, Texas, and Fort Meade, Md., before going overseas. He was at home on furlough in August, left for Fort Meade Aug. 19 and arrived in France Sept. 19. He was with the infantry and continuously on the move till he reached the front lines. His last letter was written from a foxhole Nov. 14. Mrs. SAGE received word Dec. 8 that her husband was missing in action.
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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, February 07, 1945, Page 6SAGE AWARDED PURPLE HEART
Decoration, Letter Received by Wife
Clear Lake - Mrs. James F. SAGE, 501 E. South street, has received the purple heart decoration, awarded posthumously to her husband, Pvt. James F. SAGE, who was killed in action Nov. 20 in Germany. It was sent by the quartermaster's division of the war department, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mrs. SAGE has also received a letter from Richard W. DAY, chaplain of the 47th infantry, expressing his sympathy to her for the loss of her husband. It says, in part:
"James was killed while serving with his company in action against the enemy. He died immediately and suffered no pain. He was buried with full military honors by a Protestant chaplain in a military cemetery located in Belgium.
"Your husband joined the 'Raider' regiment in October and was assigned to a rifle platoon of company K with which he served until his death. Despite the brevity of his time with us, the courage and devotion to duty which he displayed was evident to all who fought beside him. He was a fine soldier and a cool, efficient comrade-in-arms. His service was in the highest and finest traditions of the U. S. army.
"It is with pride that we have his memory as an inspiration to carry on with the task. We share your grief and we remember both James and you in our prayers."
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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, February 14, 1945, Page 14Plan Service in Memory of Pvt. J. F. Sage
Clear Lake - Memorial services for Pvt. James F. SAGE, 33, killed in action in Germany last Nov. 20, will be held at the First Methodist church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, it was announced Wednesday. The Rev. Warner M. HUBBARD, pastor, will be in charge of the rites. Members of Stafford Post No. 222, American Legion, and of other patriotic organizations, will attend.
Pvt. SAGE entered service March 31, 1944, and trained at Camp Hood, Tex., and Fort Meade, Md., before going overseas last August. He was continuously on the move toward the front lines from then on.
Mrs. SAGE and son, Jimmy, live at 501 E. South street. She has received the purple heart decoration awarded her husband and a letter from the chaplain of his regiment telling her of his burial in Belgium.
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Mrs. O. J. PIERCE, commander of the Navy Mothers club, requests member to meet at Legion hall at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon to attend memorial services for Pvt. James F. SAGE at the Methodist church at 2:30 o'clock.
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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, Februrary 19, 1945, Page 7"The Price of Freedom"
Theme of Memorial TalkHubbard Speaker at Services Conducted for Pvt. J. F. Sage.
Clear Lake - "The Price of Freedom" was the theme of a talk by the Rev. Warner M. HUBBARD, pastor, at memorial services for Pvt. James F. SAGE Sunday afternoon at the First Methodist church with a large attendance of friends and relatives.
"With a great price purchased in this freedom," quoted the Rev. Mr. HUBBARD from the writings of Paul. He continued by saying that "too often we forget those who gave their all for our freedom and remember only those who return and are with us." Mr. HUBBARD then quoted from "Lincoln Walks at Midnight" by Yachel Lindsay.
"The loss entailed by war may not be a total loss if that for which men give their lives is achieved and is worth achieving," Mr. HUBBARD continued. "They give for a better world and survivors should see that a better world is accomplished for we have much to say about that future civilization. The world's hope rests on such as Pvt. SAGE, one out of every dozen takes all the risks; a selected few give for us. Pvt. SAGE has not ceased to be. He lives on under a different environment, doing different things." Mr. HUBBARD read "The Debt Unpayable" by F. W. Bourdillon in closing.
A picture of Pvt. SAGE stood under a light on a small table with bouquets of flowers forming the background. Stafford Post No. 222, American Legion, furnished the color guard which included Forde LEE, Walter WOOD, L. G. STUNKARD, Paul RADER and Conrad PEDERSEN. Legion members attended in a body. Also attending in groups were members of the American Legion auxiliary, the Navy Mothers club and United Service Women's unit. Ward's funeral home made the arrangements.
Memorial gifts were received from the Navy Mothers club for blood plasma fund, Mr. and Mrs. Peter MILLER and family for church missions, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. FORD for the Soldier's Memorial fund, and Double C class, United Service Women's unit, C. C. HUNTLEY family, SIMMONS family, Mrs. Peter DREMMEL, Burt, and Mr. and Mrs. Ted GAGNON, unspecified as to what [was] given. Flowers were received from the Methodist Women's Society of Christian Service, Page and Crane's and others.
The male quartet, Fred MARTIN, Kenneth ELL, Wayne WOLFORD and Harry MASON, sang "The Garden of Prayer" and "One Sweetly Solemn Thought." Mrs. MASON, organist, accompanied and played the processional and recessional. Shirley STANFIELD sounded "Taps."
Relatives attending the memorial included Miss Ida RILEY, Oscar RILEY and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph SIMMONS, West Bend; Mmes. David KING and Harry SIMMONS, Algona; Mr. and Mrs. Carl GRIEPEMBURG and son, Karlie, Mason City; Mrs. Robert ACKERMAN, Burt; and Mrs. Clarence SMOOT, Alton. Friends included Ed ALMSTEIN and Miss Opal HOUGHAM, Joice.
Pvt. SAGE was born at Clear Lake, Minn., April 10, 1911, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred SAGE who died while he was but a lad. He then lived with Mr. and Mrs. Orville HARR, West Bend, until manhood. June 8, 1934, he was married at Jackson, Minn., to Miss Beverly DeGROOTE, who, with a son, Jimmy, survives. He has also 4 sisters, Mrs. ACKERMAN; Mrs. Harvey GIBBS, Racine, Wis.; Mrs. Edna WEBER, Lincoln, Nebr.; and Mrs. Floyd PERKINS, DeWitt.
Pvt. SAGE entered service March 31, 1944, and was in training at Camp Hood, Texas. He visited Mrs. SAGE here in August and went overseas in September. He was killed in action in Germany Nov. 20. Mrs. SAGE has received a letter from the chaplain telling of his death and of his burial in a military cemetery in Belgium. He was awarded the Purple Heart decoration posthumously.
Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2013
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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