Mrs. L.W. Mann Right There When Deserters Escape

MANN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 10/19/2016 at 16:06:07

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
April 26, 1943

MRS. L.W. MANN
RIGHT THERE WHEN
DESERTERS ESCAPE

Local interest is given the escape of the two deserters at Ft. Des Moines last Saturday afternoon by the fact that Mrs. Leland Mann, who was attending the W.A.A.C. graduation, was parking her car close to the post parade grounds cannon just as it was fired to signalize the escape.

It will be recalled that the two men were being held at Ft. Des Moines pending transfer to their regular station for discipline. They were doing some clean-up work, under guard at the new W.A.A.C. barracks at the fort when they slugged their guard with a brick, attacked him as he staggered from the blow, took his revolver and fled into the woods and brush south and east of the post.

Mrs. Mann watched with excited interest the fort's military police running to aid in the search but at the time she was unaware of what had taken place.