McINTYRE, Robert L. 1916-1941

MCINTYRE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/23/2022 at 18:53:49

Robert McIntyre, U.S. Navy, Stabbed to Death In Honolulu

Enlisted in Navy 18 Months Ago; Message Announcing Young Seaman's Death Sent By U.S. Navy to Parents Wednesday Morning.

Robert Leander McIntyre, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred (Jack) McIntyre from Morrison, was killed in Honolulu from wounds he received while on authorized shore leave on Monday. The message announcing the tragedy was received by the young man's parents at Morrison Wednesday morning. It was sent from the U.S. Navy Department at Washington.

The message reads:
"The department regrets to inform you that your son Robert Leander McIntyre Seaman first class U.S. Navy died April 14, 1941 in Honolulu T.H. from knife wounds received on shore while on authorized liberty Period please telegraph collect Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Navy Department Washington DC whether you decide body interred by Navy or sent home period interrment can be made in any national cemetery select without expense to you period if sent home all expenses of preparation incasement and transportation will be prepaid by the Navy but funds not provided by law for any expenses incurred after arrival at destination period please state whether Naval escort of one person is desired at the expense of the Navy, further details will be supplied to you when complete report is received period the Department extends to you its sincere sympathy in your great loss.--C. W. Nimitz, Chief of The Bureau of Navigation.

The navy department has been instructed by the young man's family to send the body to Reinbeck for burial. Unless transportation is by plane, it may take nearly two weeks before the body reaches here.

No Other Information
All the information the family have concerning the tragedy is contained in the message from the Navy Department. Details will be sent later.

Was Born in Grundy Center
Robert McIntyre was born in Grundy Center 24 years and 6 months ago. He resided here during the early part of his life until his folks moved to Morrison five years ago. He attended school in Grundy Center. He served two years in the CCC camp at Eldora. He enlisted in the United States Navy 18 months ago for a six-year term. He was in training the first three months at the Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago. From Chicago he was sent to Honolulu and served on the U.S.S. Savannah. He was a member of the crew on the good will tour to New Zealand the past year. He returned to California early this year, but his ship returned to Honolulu again three weeks later.

Arrangements are being made for a military funeral after the body of the young seaman is returned. He will be buried at Morrison.

Surviving are the father and mother, six brothers and six sisters.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 17 April 1941, pg 1

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Military Funeral For Grundy Man Killed In Navy

Body Of Robert McIntyre Sent Distance Of 6000 Mi. Reaches Reinbeck Sunday

The body of Robert McIntyre, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack McIntyre from Morrison, reached Reinbeck Sunday morning from Honolulu, a distance of 6000 miles, and burial was made in the cemetery at Morrison Tuesday afternoon.

Robert McIntyre died from wounds he received when stabbed while he was on shore leave in Honolulu three weeks ago Monday. He had enlisted in the navy 18 months before and was a member of the crew of the battleship Savannah stationed in Hawaii. The navy department notified the family of the man's death and offered to send his body to his home at government expense. The family has not been advised as to what was the cause of the attack that resulted in the young man's death.

Buried With Military Honors
The body upon its arrival in Reinbeck was taken to the French funeral home. It was accompanied by a navy escort from San Francisco who remained until after the funeral. A service for the family was held at the funeral home at 1:20 Tuesday afternoon and at two o'clock at the Presbyterian church at Morrison. The services at the funeral home and at the church were conducted by Rev. Frerking, pastor of the church at Morrison and at Lincoln.

Members of the Grundy Post of the American Legion conducted military rites at the grave. The flag draped about the casket was presented to the family by V. F. Sieverding, commander of the Grundy Legion Post.

Members of the Legion who served as pallbearers were W. T. Heckt, Wayne Morrison, R. E. Mertz, Leonard Norris, Lester Kupka, E. W. Ruppelt, E. C. Anderson and Eldin Hasbrouck. Members of the firing squad were H. L. Nickerson, Emery Boren, A. C. Gravenstein, Roy Franz, Chas. Peterson, Glenn Dew, G. F. Sanders and D. E. Lawless.

Representing the Navy at the service were two officers from Waterloo and a group of Navy Mothers.

Many who were at the funeral were not able to get into the church. They heard the service outside with the assistance of a loudspeaker.

Body Well Preserved
The body was sent on its long ride in an oak casket with zinc lining and a zinc lid. Present to identify the body when the casket was opened were County Coroner L. D. Coffman and Leonard Norris, a friend of the family. Though the body was enroute nearly three weeks, it was well preserved. The casket was opened at the church.

Other members of the crew of the U.S.S. Savannah wired an order to the Grundy greenhouse for a floral wreath to be placed on the casket. The wreath was made of lilies, sweetpeas, snapdragons and cornflowers.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 May 1941, pg 1