YODER, James R. 1922-1944

YODER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/3/2017 at 18:56:53

Lieut. Jim Yoder Killed Dec. 20 In Italy

Was Lieutenant In 15th Air Force; Was Commissioned Flight Officer Mar. 12

Lieutenant James Yoder, only son of Mrs. Flora Yoder of Grundy Center, was killed in action in Italy on December 20th. The message from the war department announcing the young flyer's death was delivered to his family here last Saturday. He was 22 years old on the 18th of last October. He was born in Grundy county and spent all of his life here until he enlisted in the army October 31st, 1942. He graduated from the Grundy Center high school in June 1939. After he finished school he took a job in the office of the Grundy Spokesman and remained there until he entered the service.

After his enlistment he chose the air branch of the military service and received his early training at St. Cloud, Minn. From St. Cloud he was sent to Santa Ana and then to Tucson and to Lancaster, Calif., for his flight training. He was commissioned a flight officer at Marfa, Texas, last March. He was later trained in combat flying at Mountain Home, Idaho. Last August he was moved to Topeka, Kansas, preparatory to a trip overseas. He was given a short leave at that time which he spent with his folks at home. Shortly after the conclusion of his leave he went overseas in a B-24 bomber and was assigned to the Fifteenth Army Air Force.

Lieut. Yoder liked his work in the air force and was pleased when the word came that he was assigned to duty in the war area in Europe. He wrote to his folks regularly. The last letter received from him was written three days before he was killed.

Aside from his mother, Jim is survived by his sister, Sara Lee, deputy in the county recorder's office.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 January 1945, pg 1

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Lt. James Yoder

A memorial service for Lieut. James R. Yoder, who lost his life in a plane accident over Italy last December 20, was held in the Baptist church Sunday morning following the regular church service.

Russell Kruse sang "Some Time We'll Understand," accompanied at the organ by L. H. Klinefelter. Rev. David Alexander gave a most appropriate address and also read Scripture and the obituary. Lieut. Donovan Baldwin read the letters that the family received from the Army Air Forces headquarters in Washington and from the Fifteenth Air Force office in Italy. He also affixed a gold star on the service flag in memory of Lieut. Yoder. In conclusion, the ladies' choir sang "Beyond the Sunset," followed by the benediction by Lieut. Baldwin. Members of the American Legion assisted with the service.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 February 1945, pg 1

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Lt. James Yoder Home For Burial

The body of Second Lieutenant James Yoder who lost his life in Italy during the war is on its way home to Grundy Center for re-burial. The body in company of a military escort will arrive in Grundy Center early Friday morning. It will be taken to the Coffman Funeral Home. Services will be at the Baptist church at 1:30 Friday afternoon, with the local Baptist minister, Rev. J. L. Pace in charge. Burial will be in the family lot in the Grundy Center cemetery. Military services at the cemetery will be in charge of the American Legion.

Killed Dec. 20th, 1944
Lt. Yoder was with the 15th Army Air Force in Italy. He was co-pilot on a plane which crashed into the side of a mountain in Italy on Dec. 20th, 1944, and all members of the crew were killed. Lt. Yoder was buried in the American cemetery at Bari, Italy, and his body is being sent home at the request of his family.

Jim Yoder entered the armed service in January, 1943, and he chose the air force. He was made a lieutenant after he received his commission to fly. He was sent overseas in August, 1944.

James Yoder was born on a Grundy county farm October 18, 1922. He attended the Grundy Center school and completed the course there. He was employed in a Grundy newspaper when he entered the service.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Flora Yoder and his sister, Sara Lee Yoder. He was preceded in death by his father and one brother.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 June 1949, pg 1