PFC Edwin R Meyer (1916-1944)

MEYER, PUHRMANN

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 2/22/2016 at 10:39:43

Pfc. Edwin Meyer Killed in Action
Died on Leyte Island in the Philippines;
Wire Saturday

Pvt. (fc) Edwin R. Meyer was killed in action on Leyte Island in the Philippines, December 9th, 1944, according to word received hero Saturday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Meyer, Jr. Pfc. Meyer was serving with the 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. He is survived by his parents, a sister, Mrs. Ben Puhrmann and a brother, Vernell, and many other relatives.

Pfc. Meyer was born on a farm near Paullina, March 13, 1916. He attended grammar school and was an active participant in school, sports and social activities.

He went into the service September 3rd, 1942, and received his basic training at Camp Robinson, Ark. After completing his basic training he was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, and joined the First Cavalry Division and served with the mounted border patrol. The early part of May, 1943, found his outfit on the high seas headed for Australia. During his six months stay in the "down under" country, Pfc. Meyer received an extensive and rugged training program to prepare him for the jungle warfare. From Australia he went to New Guinea where he acclimatized himself to the heat and took a march over some of the toughest terrain in the Owen-Stanley mountain range.

His first taste of combat came in the Japanese held Admiralty islands. When the cavalry men landed on one of the largest islands in the Admiralty group, Pfc. Meyer was in the first wave. Here he met face to face for the first time the Jap enemy, while his troop was advancing through thick jungle upon an enemy position. It was at this time when he got his first Jap.

With his division he moved into the battle for the Philippines on Leyte Island, where he was killed December 9th, 1944. He served approximately 18 months overseas. Since leaving for the service he had no furlough.

Paullina Times, Paullina, Iowa, January 4, 1945