DIAZ, Felix 1925-1944

DIAZ, DABILLO

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/29/2010 at 13:03:30

FELIX DIAZ

#1:

FOUR OF BROTHERS
ARE OVERSEAS

One is Jap Prisoner;
Three Serving in France

Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz received word Tuesday that their son, S. Sgt. Felix Diaz, was killed in action somewhere in Germany Nov. 30. He was one of six sons to serve their country, two of whom have given their lives. A brother, Pvt. Lupe Diaz, entered the service in December, 1940, and received a medical discharge from the army at West Palm Beach, Florida. He entered a veterans' hospital, underwent a major operation and died June 2, 1944.

Pfc. John Diaz, another brother, is a prisoner of war of the Japanese, captured in March 1942. Another brother T/S Richard Diaz, is with an engineering division in France, and still another brother is M. Sgt. Phillip Diaz now doing clerical work in the 2nd commander zone in France.

A half-brother of the above boys is Pvt. Alvin DaBillo who was wounded in France in August 1944, and hospitalized in England. He recovered and is back on active duty in France.

Sgt. Felix Diaz was born in Mason City in May, 1925, and moved with his parents to Osage when he was two years old. He attended the Osage public schools and achieved a high scholastic record. He also was a star athlete, especially outstanding as a wrestler.

Felix entered the service in September, 1943, was trained in Colorado and Nebraska, and was
sent to England in June, 1944. John entered the service in December, 1940. He was sent to the Philippines in March, 1941.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Thursday, January 4, 1945]
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#2:

Pilot Sends Details
Surrounding Death
Of Sgt. Felix Diaz

Lt. Wallis E. Wickman, pilot of the bomber on which S. Sgt. Felix Diaz lost his life, is now at his home at Albia on leave, and has written the following letter to Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz:

“I can't know how you're going to feel about receiving this letter, but both my mother and dad feel that under similar circumstances they would appreciate it. In case you don't know who I am, I was a pilot of a B-24 Liberator airplane and your son was my tail gunner.

“I couldn't remember the name of the town at which you live, but I did remember very well it was in northeastern Iowa. When I saw Felix’s name mentioned in our newspaper I decided to write in care of his wrestling coach.

“He had been with me ever since last March when part of the crew was formed at Salt Lake City. The whole crew was on the last mission when we had our trouble. It was caused by bombs exploding beside us and Felix was killed by shrapnel. The damage later caused the rest of the crew to bail out.

“I know the news of his death was doubly hard for you for I know of his brother’s death and the circumstances. You have my most sincere sympathy and I hope I haven't done the wrong think in writing you. Lt. Wallis Wickman.”

[Mitchell County Press, January 18, 1945]
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#3:

Memorial Service
For S. Sgt. Felix Diaz Next Sunday

A service in memory of S. Sgt Felix Diaz will be held at the Baptist church next Sunday, January 28, at 3 p.m., in charge of the Reverend Wayne Christiansen, Pastor. The public is invited to be present.

S. Sergeant Diaz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz, lost his life in action over Germany November 30, 1944

[Mitchell County Press, January 25, 1945]
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#4:

PLAN MEMORIAL
FOR FELIX DIAZ

Osage, Iowa — Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday for Felix Diaz, killed by shrapnel on a routine bombing raid over Germany Nov. 30. He was an aerial gunner. The service will be military in nature, under the direction of the Rev. Wayne Christiansen at the Osage Baptist church.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, January 1, 1945]

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#5:

The Osage City Cemetery listing on IaGenWeb shows:

DIAZ, FELIX (bur. loc) 1226 1 (interment date?) 03 OCT 1948.

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#6:

THIRD DIAZ SON
DIES IN ACTION

Osage G. I. Gives Life
as Japanese Prisoner

Osage—A 3rd war casualty came to the Baldo Diaz family with a message from the adjutant general stating that their son, Pfc. John E. Diaz, was killed in action, December 14, 1944, while a prisoner of war of the Japanese. Pvt. Diaz was captured shortly after Pearl Harbor.

Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz have had 6 sons in service. Lupe Diaz died at a veterans hospital following a medical discharge from the army.

T. Sgt. Felix Diaz was killed in action as an aerial gunner.

One son, Richard Diaz, has been discharged and the other 2 sons are still serving in the European theater.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, September 4, 1945]

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#7:

Osage Soldier
to Be Reburied

Body of Felix Diaz to
Arrive From Oversea

OSAGE, IOWA — The body of Felix Diaz will arrive Thursday and be taken to the Champion funeral home where it will be held for services Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Orville K. Mellquist will officiate. Full military rites at the Osage cemetery will be in charge of H. F. Risse, chaplain of the Iowa department of the American Legion

The young soldier was killed on November 30, 1944, when hit by shrapnel while a tail gunner on a flying fortress in a mission over Germany. He was the only member of the crew injured, the others baling out.

He was buried in the United States military cemetery at Limey, France, east of St. Mihiel.

Felix won fame here as an Iowa high school wrestler. He suffered only two defeats in four years of wrestling. He was a conference champion for four years, district champion his last three years of high school and state champion his last two years of school.

He was one of six sons in the family to wear the uniform of the United States in World war II and was one of three to lose their lives in the service.

John died Nov. 14, 1944, a Japanese prisoner of war, and Lupe died in a veterans hospital June 2, 1944.

Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz of Osage, a half-sister, Mrs. Frank Olson, Eugene, Oregon; half-brothers, Alphonse Da Billo, Waterloo, and Joseph Da Billo, Minneapolis; brothers, Richard, Westfir, Oregon; M. Sgt. Phillip in Alaska, and sisters, Mrs. John Llamas, Des Moines.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, September 30, 1948]
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#8:

Pilot Sends Details
Surrounding Death
Of Sgt. Felix Diaz

Lt. Wallis E. Wickman, pilot of the bomber on which S. Sgt. Felix Diaz lost his life, is now at his home at Albia on leave, and wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz:

"In case you don't know who I am, I was a pilot on a B-24 Liberator airplane and your son was my tail gunner.

"He had been with me ever since last March when part of the crew was formed at Salt Lake City. The whole crew was on the last mission when we had our trouble. It was caused by bombs exploding beside us and Felix was killed by shrapnel. The damage later caused the rest of the crew to bail out.

"I know the news of his death was doubly hard for you for I know of his brother's death and the circumstances. You have my most sincere sympathy and I hope I haven't done the wrong thing in writing to you. Lt. Wallis Wickman."

[Mitchell County Press, January 18, 1945]

(Credit: S. Bell)

Supporting Article about Plaque Honoring Felix
 

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