James Alfred Shaffer

SHAFFER, WALLINGFORD, TROUTMAN, LAWSON, HUFF

Posted By: Jean Wenke, volunteer
Date: 3/7/2009 at 15:29:39

James Alfred Shaffer, son of A. W and Mary A. Shaffer was born in Farmington, Iowa Jan. 25, 1908 and passed away at the U.S. Navy hospital in Long Beach, Calif., Monday, July 23, 1945, aged 27 years, 5 months and 28 days.

When only one year of age, he moved with his parents to Bonaparte, where he grew to young manhood. In early childhood he united by baptism with the Mt. Zion Baptist church. He was a regular Sunday school attendant and a faithful member of the church choir. He attended the local schools where he participated in high school basketball and baseball, completing the high school course in three years.

After graduating from high school with the class of 1925 of which his sister, Mary, was also a member, he attended Parsons college at Fairfield and Penn college at Oskaloosa. Turning his attention to business administration, he enrolled in White's Business college in Ft. Madison. He graduated at the age of 21 and went directly to a position in Chicago. He remained there for several years until he was called back to Bonaparte to assist in the operation of the Nifty Nook Cafe, owned by his brother, Phil, who was in poor health. After a time, they sold the business and Jim went to Des Moines where he became associated with the Pittsburg Des Moines Steel Co., with whom he stayed for several years.

In the late summer of 1940, he had the opportunity of going to Alaska with a group of U.S. Area engineers who were to engage in the surveying and construction of government air bases, supply depots, the Alean highway and other projects, at strategic points all over Alaska. His work recessitated traveled by plane which were often dangerous and more often wrought with hardships. At one time the entire engineering group was snowed in at Nome, Alaska throughout the long winter, where they were practically the only white men. In spite of such difficult experiences, he loved the beauty of Alaska and recognized its opportunities to the extent that he planned to make it his permanent home after the war. When he entered the service in 1943, he chose to do so in Alaska, rather than return to the States. He was assigned to the Headquarters...(few lines missing)...

Furloughs were granted the entire company soon after arrival in Texas, and on March 3, James arrived home to see his mother and other relatives in Cedar Rapids, his first visit in three and one-half years. At the time he weighed 190 lbs. And was the picture of vigorous health. The joy of reunion was short-lived for only a week after his homecoming, Jim was stricken with a major heart attack. He was immediately removed to Schick General hospital in Clinton where the ailment was diagnosed as coronary thrombosis. He remained there in a critical condition for several weeks, and it was not until May that he was released to go to his home in Cedar Rapids for convalescing. At the same time he was given a medical discharge from the Army for disability incurred in line of duty.

After several months he felt that his health would benefit by his removal to a less severe climate for the winter, and in December, accompanied by his brother, Dick, of Chicago, he went to Long Beach, Calif., for an indefinite stay. There he became interested in the work of the Disabled Veterans of America, and was elected second vice commander of Long Beach Chapter No. 17 D.A.V., devoting much of his time and effort to it. He also belonged to Arthur L. Peterson Post No. 27, American Legion and Golden State Post No. 279 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Long Beach.

When Dick was called back to Chicago by illness in his family, Jim decided to remain, and become associated with the Long Beach Press-Telegram and Sun as district manager of the circulation department.

On July 14, as he was coaching a junior baseball team sponsored by that paper, he was again stricken with a major attack and was taken to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Long Beach. His condition became very critical and his brother Dick was able to secure a plane priority to fly to his bedside. At home, the family was kept in constant touch by phone and wire with the Medical Officer in Command, who assured them that everything possible was being done for Jim. A lung infection developed and he was placed in an oxygen tent. Other relatives were making arrangements to go to him when word of his passing reached them.

Surviving besides his mother, Mrs. Mary A. Wallingford of Cedar Rapids, are three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Bessie Troutman of Farmington, Mrs Delia Lawson of Ottumwa, Mrs. Mary Huff of Cedar Rapids, Dick of Chicago, Vermille of Cedar Rapids and several nieces and nephews.

One sister, Stella and a brother, Philip, besides his father, preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held at the Baptist church of Bonaparte Sunday afternoon conducted by the pastor, Rev. E. E. Niederhuth. Interment in the Bonaparte cemetery.

From Dorothy Watson's scrapbook, Bonaparte, Iowa Library