Wahlers, Donald Frederic (1923-1942)

WAHLERS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/18/2015 at 11:33:33

Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, September 13, 1943

WEBSTER CITY SAILOR LISTED AS 'DECEASED'

Donald F. Wahlers, 19, Previously Reported Lost at Sea

Donald F. Wahlers, 19, Webster City sailor who was reported missing in action in August, 1942, is now officially listed as "deceased," according to a message from Secretary Frank Knox to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Wahlers.

The message, received Saturday, said in part;

"After a full review of all available information, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that your son, Donald Frederic Wahlers, fireman second class, U. S. Navy, is deceased, having been reported "missing in action" August 9, 1942, being a member of the crew and serving aboard the U. S. S. Quincy when that vessel was sunk as a result of enemy action during the battle of Savo Island.

"In accordance with Section 5 of public law 490, 77th congress, as amended, your son's death is presumed to have occurred on August 10, 1943, which is the day following the day of expiration of an absence of 12 months."

The Webster City sailor enlisted in the service in March, 1941, taking his initial training at Great Lakes, Ill. He took advanced training at a service school at Dearborn, Mich., and was graduated from there Sept. 16, 1941.

Wahlers saw plenty of action in the Atlantic as his ship, a cruiser, was on convoy duty and helped escort the first contingents of American soldiers to northern Ireland.

Transferred to the Pacific fleet, Wahlers left San Francisco in April. He was last heard from in June in a letter in which he said he was getting along well. His parents were notified that he was missing in a navy dispatch received here early last September.

[His headstone is located at Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, Iowa, listing birth as 1923 and death as 1942]