Source: The Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette -- Victory Edition

Louisa County Sad and Proud

WAPELLO -  Louisa County is sad and proud of the record of its gallant sons in this war. It is sad because too many will not come back. It is proud that those who gave their lives did so gallantly and the liberal recognition of the meritorious service on the part of others. The record here was compiled up to September 1. There may be some omissions.

The Gold Star Boys

Phil Bailey             Dean Bisher           Robert Buffington    Hugh Davis           Robert Blair             John Cassabaum       John Duncan           Forrest French       Lawrence Herrick
Hoillis Hewitt            James  Mickey       Jakie Moran

Killed in Action
  Sergeant John J. Arihood, Grandview, aunt Mrs. Esther Ahlman, Grandview, tail gunner, died May 13, 1943, Germany.
  Pfc. Arthur Bass, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Bass, Collinsville, killed in Italy, July 16, 1944.
  Robert Alan Blair, Columbus Junction, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. O. Blair, Anamosa, killed in Italy September 11, 1943.
  Robert Keith Buffington, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Buffington, Columbus Junction, killed in France, July 29, 1944.
  David W. Cassebaum, son of  W. O. Cassebaum, Columbus Junction, airplane disappeared. Adak, Alaska, November 18, 1943. 
  Hugh Carroll Davis, son of J. Newton Davis, Columbus Junction, killed in Italy, April 12, 1944.
  Herschel L. Finke
, Crawfordsville, killed in France, June 6, 1944.
  Pfc. Eugene L. Gookin
, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gookin, Columbus Junction, killed July, 1944.
  Thomas Alan Moore, Columbus Junction, killed USS Vincennes, August 9, 1942.
  Private Roy E. Pendell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pendell, Wapello, Admiralty Islands, March 14, 1944.
  Cadet George W. Person, son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Person, Wapello, killed in plane crash at Majors Army airfield, Greenville, Texas, October 28, 1943.  
  Merle E. Scott
, son of Mike Scott, Columbus Junction, killed Bougainville, March 8, 1944.
  Private Walter Smoger husband of Mrs. Pauline Smoger, Wapello, killed on Wake Island, May 18, 1944.
  Perry D. Venard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude B. Venard, Toolesboro, killed in an auto accident Camp Roberts, California, January 18, 1944.
  William Robert Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, Columbus Junction, killed Guadalcanal, May 11, 1943.

  Claude Wolford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wolford, Collinsville, killed November 27, 1943.
  Royce Dickerson Jr., Grandview, killed in plane crash at Bryan, Texas, April 28, 1944.

Prisoners of War
   Lt. Philip W. Bailey, Army Air Corps, son of Mrs. Mabel Bailey, Letts, Italian prisoner.
   Pfc. Robert Fletcher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fletcher, Columbus Junction, German prisoner.
  Private Merle L. Herron, Wyman, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Herron of Moline, Illinois. US Marines, prisoner of Japanese, Shanghai, China.
  Corporal Phillip R. Downs, son of Mrs. Frankie Downs, Wapello, prisoner of Germans.
   Pfc. George A. Lesnet, son of Mrs. Maude Lesnet, Wapello, German prisoner.
   Glenn E. Teel, Columbus Junction, Japanese prisoner, Philippines.
   Hartley A Westbrook, son of D. H. Westbrook, Grandview, German prisoner. (Known as Hap. He was portrayed in the movie "Stalag 17.")

   Pfc. Everett H. Stigge, son of William F. Stigge, Oakville, Japanese prisoner.

Missing in Action
  Charles Thomas Odle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Odle, Grandview, USS Pillsbury.
  S2/C Glenn Lewis Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Allen, Wapello.
  Howard Hobbs, son of Mr. and Mrs. G.N. Hobbs, Morning Sun, St. squadron 8.
  2nd Lt. Vernon P. Shellabarger, husband of Mrs. Ellen Shellabarger, Wapello, attack on Paramushiro Straits, Japan, September 11, 1943.
  Cyril Cline, Columbus Junction, US submarine.

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