Iowa
Old Press
Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Hamilton co. Iowa
August 15, 1944
PVT. INGERTSON AMOUNG WOUNDED IN FRENCH ZONE
Pvt. Bill Ingertson, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ingertson,
former Webster City residents now living at Long Beach, Cal., was
wounded in action in France, July 17, according to word received
here by friends. Private Ingertson only recently was transferred
overseas to the European war theater. His address may be obtained
from Chester Ambrose of this city.
CHAS. NADEN WAR VICTIM - Former W. C. Gunner Died Aug. 3
- Was on Flying Fortress
Cpl. Charles K. Naden, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. I.
Naden, former Webster City residents now living at Wilmington,
Del., died August 3, as a result of wounds received in action,
friends and relatives here have been notified.
Corporal Naden, a gunner aboard a Flying Fortress, evidentially
was fatally wounded while on a bombing mission over Europe. He
had only recently arrived in England. In the service for
approximately 14 months, Corporal Naden first took training with
the engineering corps before transferring to the air corps where
he took gunnery training. Before being moved overseas, he was
stationed at Ardmore, Kans. A graduate of the Webster City school
in 1942, he was employed at the Martin bomber plant, Omaha, Neb.,
before entering the Army.
Besides his parents, Corporal Naden is survived by two brotehrs
and one sister: Gardner, a chief radioman, on the radio theory
teaching staff at the maritime radio school, Gallups Island,
Boston Harbor; Ensign Robert, now an instructor at Norfolk, Va.,
and Mrs. Doris Kapolia of Newton.
FOUR WILLSON BROTHERS IN SERVICE
The Navy seems to have the preference in the Frank Willson family
of this city, since three out the four service sons of Mr. and
Mrs. Willson are serving with various branches of Uncle Sam’s
fleet.
Oldest of the quartet, Cpl. Chelsea O. Willson, 31, proves to be
the holdout, however, since the corporal is fighting with the
infantry in the Italian theater. Chelsea left this city in 1941
with the Iowa National Guard unit to take his early training at
Camp Claiborne, La. With this outfit he has served in Ireland,
England and North Africa.
The swing to the sailor division was started in September, 1942,
when Frank A., 21, now a seaman first class, enlisted. He took
his boot training at Great Lakes and is now in the southwest
Pacific with an amphibious force.
Claude W., 18, was the next to answer the call for more ‘gobs’
as he enlisted in August, 1943, taking his initial training at
Farragut, Idaho. A seaman second class, he is now stationed at
the naval operating base, Kodiak, Alaska.
Last of the quartet to leave was Russell A., 28, who left with
the April contingent this year. He took his boot training at
Farragut, Idaho and now is a fireman second class attending the
engineering school at Gulfport, MISS. Russell is married and has
three daughters. His wife and children reside in this city.
[note: included with this article were military photos of the four brothers; transcribed by L.Z., June 2016]
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Webster City Freeman
Webster City, Hamilton co. Iowa
Thursday, August 17, 1944
NEWS OF OUR MEN and WOMEN IN UNIFORM
WITH SIGNAL UNIT
Pvt. Myron K. McKee of this city is attached to a wire
operations company with a signal battalion of the Fifth Army in
Italy, according to a dispatch received here from Fifth Army
headquarters. The company to which he is assigned operates and
maintains all telephone and teletype facilities with the Fifth
Army command post and between the command post and subordinate
units in the field. The battalion recently was awarded the Fifth
Army plaque by Lt. Gen. Mark Clark for meritorious performance of
duty. The unit went overseas with the first convoy of U.S. troops
in January, 1942, and saw service in Ireland, England, and North
Africa.
GETS COMBAT BADGE
Pvt. Marvin E. Knapp, son of Mr. and Mrs. George W.
Knapp of this city, has been awarded the combat infantryman’s
badge on the Fifth Army front in Italy. A member of the “Red
Bull” infantry division, he received the award for exemplary
conduct in action against the enemy. A member of the Iowa
National Guard unit from this city, Private Knapp is an assistant
gunner on a 60-mm. mortar. Private Knapp has an 18-month old son,
Douglas Eugene, whom he has never seen. A brother, Staff Sgt.
Elmer C., is stationed in India.
TRANSFERRED
Sgt. Ronald and Cpl. Donald Fleischer, twin sons of the
Rev. and Mrs. W. C. Fleischer of this city, have been transferred
to Camp George G. Meade, Maryland, from Camp Fannin, Texas. They
were serving as instructors at Camp Fannin. They have the same
new address: A-6-F Replacement, Depot No. 1, Camp George G.
Meade, Md.
SAW FRIEND
George A. Wells, MM 3-c, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Wells of this
city, met a friend, Cpl. Lee Knoll, also of this city, in a
surprise reunion recently somewhere in the South Pacific,
according to word received here. Both servicemen had a fine time
together from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. one day and spent their time
looking at pictures of ones from home that they both know and in
looking at Des Moines and Webster City papers. Wells, who went
into the service in 1941, is attached to a repair ship with the
Pacific fleet. [Note: included a photo of George A. Wells]
FOOT INJURY
Sgt. R. L. Coon of this city, who formerly was
proprietor of the Conoco service station here, recently suffered
a foot injury in the north African zone, it has been reported
here.
[transcribed by L.Z., June 2016]