GREENFIELD, Ernest Truman: 1915-1944

GREENFIELD, KELLEY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 11/6/2013 at 08:00:38

**Handwritten: May 18 - 1944
Truman Greenfield Of Keosauqua Is Missing

KEOSAUQUA. - Mrs. Truman Greenfield has received word that her husband, a motor machinist's mate third class, who has been on duty in the Atlantic for the past 13 months, is missing in action.
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**Handwritten: Aug 20 - 1944
TRUMAN GREENFIELD

Ernest Truman Greenfield, son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Greenfield, was born in Douds, Iowa, on July 23, 1915. He was christened into the Evangelical Lutheran faith while quite young by the Rev. Carl A. Sanberg. He joined the Boy Scouts under the leadership of the Rev. Merton D. Wyatt and passed the tests earning the Black Diamond. He received his entire schooling in Douds - Leando Consolidated school, graduating from high school in the spring of 1933. He spent nine months in the Keosauqua C.C.C. Camp No. 770 at Keosauqua, Iowa.

He was united in marriage on December 5, 1936 to Frances Marie Kelley of Farmington, Iowa. To this union was born one daughter, Elizabeth Marie on September 14, 1937.

He had been employed several years by the Douds Quarries, Inc. prior to his enlistment in the Naval Reserve on August 28, 1942. He received his "Boot" training at the Great Lakes Training Station and was sent from there to Richmond, Va., to receive a short period of training in Diesel Engineering. Then he was transferred to W.S.S.P.C. ?58 Escorte Ship for convoy duty between New York and Cuba as Fireman 3-c.

In April 1943, his ship was assigned overseas duty in the Mediterranean Sea. He attained the rank of Mo. M.M. 3-c. During the 13 months he was there, he took active part in the invasion of Sicily, Sardenia, Italy and other convoy duties. On May 11, 1944, word was received from the war department by his wife, that he was missing in action and later the Government reported that he was killed in action when his ship sunk May 9, 1944. They were engaged in an air and submarine battle. He was at his battle station firing a 20 mm. anti-air-craft gun when an enemy torpedo hit their gallant little ship sending it to the bottom in about six minutes. He and 28 comrades went down with their ship. Thus he made the supreme sacrifice for his country.
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**Handwritten: Aug 20 1944
HOLD MEMORIAL.

DOUDS.-Memorial services for Truman Greenfield who died at sea when his ship was sunk in June, were held at 2:30 Sunday afternoon from the Douds church. Services were conducted by the Rev. Merton Wyatt, former pastor at Douds. Greenfield is survived by his wife and daughter, Elizabeth, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Greenfield of Douds and one brother, Daniel, now serving as radio instructor in England.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 311, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA