Rickabaugh, Donald 1912-1940

RICKABAUGH, GASKINS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer
Date: 12/8/2009 at 13:01:55

LeMars Sentinel
January 23, 1940

YOUNG SAILOR DIES WHILE ON FLEET PATROL
ACCIDENTALLY HURT WHILE IN DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY

Mr. and Mrs. C. Rickabaugh, residing 235 First Avenue NE, received a message
Friday stating their son, Donald Rickabaugh, had died the previous day. The
news was conveyed by their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Donald Rickabaugh, who is
residing in San Diego, Calif., and details were meager awaiting later
reports. Two later messages received by the Rickabaugh family contain
little additional information as to the cause of his death.

Naval officials notified Mrs. Donald Rickabaugh that her husband serving on
one of the ships composing the Pacific fleet, had been injured in an
accident while in the course of duty and later a second message arrived
stating he had died.

Mrs. Rickabaugh had not seen her husband since the fleet sailed for foreign
waters November 15, with the expectation of returning to harbor in San Diego
sometime in April.

SERVED TEN YEARS

Donald Rickabaugh had served ten years and seven months in the Navy and was
employed on board a naval vessel as a first class electrician. He had an
excellent record for faithful service and performance of duty since the time
of his enlistment.

Donald Rickabaugh was born in LeMars June 26, 1912, grew up here and
attended the city schools, enlisting in the Navy when a youth of seventeen.

He was married in San Diego, Calif., in 1933, to Miss Annie Laurie Gaskins,
who with two children, Caroline and Donald, survives him. His death is also
mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Rickabaugh, and his brothers and
sisters, Loren of this city, Perry of Sandusky, Ohio, Jack, Max, George and
Dale, Madge and Patty at home, and Mrs. Leo Mack, of Sioux City.

The body will be returned to San Diego and from there will be brought to
LeMars for interment within a couple of weeks according to information
received yesterday by Mr. Rickabaugh.
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LeMars Sentinel
January 26, 1940

LIVES THREE DAYS AFTER BEING HURT ON SHIP BOARD
Body of Young Sailor To Be Returned To His Home

Further particulars of the tragic death of Donald Rickabaugh, 28, LeMars
youth, who died in the discharge of his duties while serving in the Navy, as
related in the last issue of the Sentinel, were received Tuesday by his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Rickabaugh, of this city.

The accident happened aboard the Flusser, a warship, which had anchored at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands, to make repairs.

While engaged in work Rickabaugh was crushed under a falling timber. The
extent of his injuries precluded recovery although he lived three days after
being conveyed to a hospital. The accident happened on January 15 and he
died on January 18.

The impact of the heavy timber practically crushed out his life. He suffered
head injuries and fracture of several ribs on his right side, his left leg
broken at the thigh, and the spinal cord was severed. He retained
consciousness to the end.

Return Body to Native Land

In a letter to the Rickabaugh family here, Mrs. Don Rickabaugh, living in
San Diego, Calif., said she had been notified by Naval authorities that the
body of her husband would be returned to the United States and would arrive
in San Francisco on the return of the fleet February 2.

Under tentative arrangements the body will arrive in LeMars February 6,
where the final rites will be held and the youth accorded full Naval honors.

Mrs. Don Rickabaugh will accompany the body of her husband to LeMars.

She will be unable to bring their children, Caroline and Donald, with her as
they are at present recovering for an attack of measles.