Cerro Gordo County Iowa
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The Globe Gazette
Among those who will leave early Monday for Camp Dodge, Des Moines, and induction into the army . . . is George COFFIN . . . .
The Globe Gazette
Pvt. George H. COFFIN, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. COFFIN, Clear Lake, has arrived at the Greensboro, N. Car., army air forces training center to take basic training as a pre-aviation cadet candidate. Pvt. COFFIN entered the army on April 19, 1942.
The Globe Gazette
His parents received a letter from him written on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 23 from England and had not learned that he had been moved to the continent of Europe. Pfc. COFFIN attended the Clear Lake high school, Hamilton College of Commerce, where he was vice-president of the student council and formerly worked in the Corner Drug Store and Ford-Hopkins Drug, Mason City, before entering the service. He took his basic training in the army at Camp Barkley, Tex., in the medical corps. He was transferred to the infantry and sent to Camp Atterbury, Ind., and then transferred to the combat engineering unit in the medical detachment before going overseas. He left the states in October and had been in England since that time. The telegram stated: "The secretary of war desires me to express his deep regret that your son, PFC. George H. COFFIN, has reported missing in action since Dec. 23 in Belgium. If further details or other information is received you will be promptly notified."
The Globe Gazette
The Globe Gazette
Clear Lake - Mr. and Mrs. W. H. COFFIN, 545 Hugh street, received the following telegram from the war department Tuesday morning: "The chief of staff of the army directs me to inform you that your son, Pfc. George H. COFFIN, has returned to military control and is being returned to the United States within the near future and will be given an opportunity to communicate with you upon arrival. Ulio, the adjutant general." Pfc. COFFIN was reported missing in action in Belgium Dec. 23. His last letter had been written Nov. 23. March 13 his parents received a card dated Jan. 10, written by another party and stating George was a prisoner of war in Germany. Nothing further came until Tuesday morning.
The Globe Gazette
Pfc. George H. COFFIN arrived Saturday evening from Jefferson Barracks, Mo., to spend a 60-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. COFFIN, 545 Hugh street, Clear Lake. Pfc. COFFIN reports next at Hot Springs, Ark.
The Globe Gazette
Marriage licenses have been issued at the county clerk's office to: George H. COFFIN, 20, Clear Lake, and Esther Mae CLARK, 30, Clear Lake . . .
The Globe Gazette
Mrs. George COFFIN left Friday for Fort Leavenworth, Kans., to join her husband, Cpl. COFFIN, who has obtained living quarters there. Mrs. COFFIN has made her home with her sister, Mrs. Roy BURNS and family the past year.
Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2013
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Mr. and Mrs. W. H. COFFIN, 545 Hugh street, received word Tuesday morning from the war department stating that their son,
Pfc. George H. COFFIN, is reported missing in action since Dec. 23, in Belgium.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. COFFIN, 545 Hugh street, Clear Lake, received a card Monday from their son, Pfc. George H. COFFIN, who
was reported missing in action in Belgium Dec. 23. The card was dated Jan. 10 and said that he was a prisoner of war in
Germany, that he was OK and not to worry. Mr. and Mrs. COFFIN say that it was not their son's writing or signature but that
the address was perfect so they feel the card is authentic although there was no explanation of why he did not write
himself.