Donald Mershon

MERSHON, MCMULLAN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/31/2020 at 09:00:00

30 July 1942 - The Anamosa Journal

Death of Donald D. Mershon last Friday was Anamosa's first casualty resulting directly from the war effort. Mershon, who was a civil service employee attached to the Army air depot at Patterson field, Ohio, was burned fatally as a result of an explosion.

Mershon recently had been promoted to assistant foreman on the new test block for airplane motors at Patterson field. He was working on a motor when men who were assigned to clean the testing block when work was finished brought in the cleaning fluid which was ignited by a spark from the motor on which Mershon was working.

Explosion occurred at 10 a.m. and Mershon's burns were so bad his case could not be handled at the Patterson field hospital and he had to be rushed to Miami Valley hospital at Dayton, Ohio.

Mrs. Mershon, who with their daughter, Gerry Anne, had joined her husband just two weeks before, was summoned to his bedside. Despite horrible pain, Mr. Mershon retained consciousness and was able to say a few words to his wife.

Alton Hutto, 31, Americus, Ga., also died as a result of injuries received in the explosion and two other men were burned severely. Investigation is alleged to have shown that an ingredient supposed to make the cleaning fluid inflammable was missing, resulting in the accident when the fluid was brought into the room.

Mr. Mershon's body was brought to Anamosa and funeral service was held last Monday at 3 p.m. at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Mershon. Father was unable to attend the funeral as he went to Mayo Bros. clinic, Rochester, Minn., July 22 for an operation on his spinal column and was there at the time word of his son's death was received. Father was given the news.

Rev. P. J. Behan read the funeral service in the presence of a large crowd of friends. Mrs. Vincent P. Owen sang at the service. Burial was made in Cedar Memorial cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Smykil Home for Funerals was in charge of the service.

Casket bearers were: Leo F. Loyet, John McNamara, Dr. C. A. Reeves, Ralph Ditch, Addison Richman, and William Porter.

Don was born May 24, 1914, at Anamosa. He graduated from Anamosa high school and from a year's course at the Boeing school of Aeronautic Engineering at Oakland, Calif., in November, 1933.

Don worked with his father in the grocery store at Anamosa which later became Mills. He was a salesman out of Cedar Rapids for Fels Naphtha soap and with his father operated the Thrifty Food store in Cedar Rapids. Two years age in July he returned to Anamosa and opened Mershon's Mobil service station on the east edge of Anamosa and commenced construction of a cabin camp in conjunction with it.

Mr. Mershon and Catherine McMullan, Cascade, were married at Vinton in June, 1933.

When the government issued a call for airplane mechanics last fall, Don filled out a questionnaire and was called to Wright field, Fairfield, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1941. Following his refresher schooling, Don was retained at Wright field as a civilian instructor for Army airplane mechanics. His skill earned him a promotion to assistant foreman on the newest block at Patterson field.

Station at Patterson field seemed permanent so Don sent for his wife and daughter, who joined him at their new home just two weeks before the fatal accident occurred while he was doing the work he enjoyed.

Don was known throughout Jones county. He was a member of one of Anamosa's famous football teams. He liked the game and was an enthusiastic supporter of the Blue Raiders.

Survivors include Mrs. Mershon and daughter, Gerry Anne, 8, who are living with his parents, for the present; his parents and one brother, Corp. Edward Mershon, who has been stationed at Camp Forest, Tenn.