Harold Wayne Fraser, 1916-1943

FRASER, HISCOCKS, SCHULTZ

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/14/2014 at 13:00:03

Harold Fraser Officially Declared Dead

Harold Fraser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Fraser was officially declared dead Saturday, September 10, 1943, after being reported missing in action on September 10, 1942. Harold had been in the United States navy for the past three years and was electrician mate second class. He graduated from the Peterson high school with the class of 1933 while in high school he was outstanding in athletics before joining the navy he was employed in and around Peterson.

Source: Peterson Patriot, Peterson, Clay County, Iowa; September 16, 1943.

Memorial Held for Harold Fraser Saturday

Memorial services were conducted in the Legion Hall in Peterson, Iowa, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 9 for Harold W. Fraser. The new Memorial Service ritual of the American Legion was led by Mr. Shelva Slough, Commander of the Dean Underwood Post No. 10. Special music was rendered by a mixed quartet composed of Misses Lois Matson and Irene Sipple, Mr. Ivan Reed and Dr. H.W. Loucks. The Memorial Address was delivered by the Reverend Forrest E. Flowers, pastor of The Methodist church.

Harold Wayne Fraser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Fraser of Peterson, Iowa, was born December 28, 1916 on a farm one mile west of Peterson.

He was graduated from the Peterson school in 1935 where he was outstanding in athletics, having won all-state in basketball. He was always of a cheerful and happy nature, and he made friends with everyone and he was loved by all.

On June 7, 1939 Harold joined the navy. After receiving his boot training at Great Lakes he was put on the U.S.S. Quincy.

He received his initiation, South of the Equator and also crossing the Arctic Circle north for the equator.

Harold had been in nearly every country in the east and south and he had crossed through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific. At the time of his death he was an electrician First Class, and he had been awarded service stripes for service in Iceland and for prewar duty.

Harold was killed on August 10, 1942 when his ship the USS Quincy was sunk in action against the Japs near Savo Islands. He was reported missing in action by his government on September 16, 1942, and his parents received official notice of his death on September 11, 1943.

In addition to his parents, Harold leaves to mourn his death: one brother, Wendle, of Toledo, Iowa; two sisters, Mrs. Una Hiscocks of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Mrs. Alice Shultz of Peterson; one uncle, Jim Fraser of Peterson, three nieces and two nephews. Two brothers-in-laws, Frank Hiscocks of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Ray Schultz of Peterson.

Source: The Peterson Patriot, Peterson, Clay County, Iowa; October 14, 1943.