Mills County, Iowa

WILMA WILLIAMS FUCHS SCRAPBOOK
World War II Era Articles
These beautiful articles were generously donated by Wilma Fuchs in 1999.

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GORDON PENWET KILLED IN ACTION
Pvt. Gordon Penwet, 20, member of Company I, was killed in action November 22, 1942, in North Africa, according to a telegram received here late Wednesday afternoon, by his aunt Mrs. Carrie Stone from the War Department in Washington, D.C.

Young Penwet, had made his home with his aunt, his father who was a Canadian soldier in the first world war having died when he was but two and his mother when he was but four. He attended the Glenwood Schools being a student in the High School when he enlisted in Company I and went south to Camp Claiborne.

The last letter his aunt had from him was received here December 7th, and mailed from an unidentified address over seas. Word of his death is the second heard from in the ranks of the local company, the first being that of Frank Bird who was fatally wounded while serving as an advanced guard at the time that the troops entered Algiers, November 7th.

KILLED IN ACTION
Gordon Penwet, 20, of this city member of Company I, 168th Inf., who was killed in action, in North Africa, November 22, 1942 according to information by the War Department received here last week by his aunt, Mrs. Carrie I. Stone.

HASTINGS BOYS REPORTED KILLED IN ACTION
Dr. D.W. Harmon, Home Service chairman, of the Mills County chapter of the American Red Cross, is kept advised of war casualties of this county as fast as they are released by the war department. He has received word of three Hastings boys in addition to the two Glenwood boys who have been killed in action. The Hastings boys are Everett Findley, son of Mrs. Claude D. Findley; Max Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Johnson; and Kenneth H. Thomas, son of Mrs. Lydia Moore of Hastings.

Meets Death in the Canal Zone
Mrs. Imo Halliday, supervisor of the Girls' Custodial Building at the Glenwood State School, received a telegram Tuesday telling of the death of her son, Ensign Robert Halliday who was in the Air Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserves stationed in the Panama Canal Zone while on patrol duty. No particulars were divulged in the death message. Ensign Halliday was born November 6, 1918 in Hancock, Iowa and after completing his high school work he attended State Teachers College at Peru, Nebraska where he was graduated and later served as coach and industrial arts instructor in the high school at Union, Nebraska. He enlisted June 19, 1941 and took aeronautical training at a field at Corpus Christi, Texas. He was married May 24, 1942 in Omaha to Miss Phyllis Benson, of Ewing, Nebraska.

First Co. I Boy to Die in Africa
Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Bird of Glenwood received a letter last Friday from Captain Steven Kane, Army Chaplain, telling of the death of their son, Private Frank Bird, who was fatally injured on the day of the attack upon and surrender of Algiers which is known to have occurred in the latter part of November, although no exact dates are revealed in the letter. A letter arrived Wednesday from the Army Department in Washington, D.C., confirming the Chaplains letter and stating that Frank died Sunday, November 8, 1942 in a hospital in Algeries. The name of the cemetery and grave number in which the body was laid to rest is sent the family Chaplain, who pays high tribute to Frank, both as a man and a soldier. He stated in his letter how in the several days in which he laid in the hospital after having been fatally wounded, he expressed realization of his condition and was reconciled by the fact that he had discharged his duties in a faithful manner. "We, who knew Frank, miss him keenly, the Chaplain said.

Frank is the first boy who left here with Company I, to be called upon to make his supreme sacrifice in this great conflict. He had transferred from the Company in October and was serving with the commandos at the time of his death. Born March 4, 1920, in Glenwood, Frank was 22 years old at the time of his death. He attended the Glenwood schools and had been associated with his fathers working in his community until he left with the company in February of 1941, for Claiborne, La. On August 1st, of that hear he and Miss Edith Chrisinger formerly of this city, but who in recent years has resided in Chicago, were married at Camp Claiborne. He went with the Company to Camp Dix, New Jersey that fall and sailed with them last spring for Ireland, remaining with the Company until his transfer to the Commandos last fall. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Bird; his wife, Mrs. Edith Bird; one sister Mrs. Alice Baucom of Vallejo, California; and three brothers, Arthur and Murl of Glenwood and Pfc. Elvin Bird of Nashville, Indiana.

Purple Heart Sent Frank Bird's Mother
Mrs. Grace Bird has received word that the government has awarded the Purple Heart to her son, Pvt. Frank Bird, who was fatally wounded when the American troops landed at Algiers. Notification of the award came in the following letter:

I have the honor to inform you that the Purple Heart decoration has been awarded, posthumously , to your son, Private Frank R. Bird, Infantry, who made the supreme sacrifice in defense of his country.

The Purple Heart was originally established by General George Washington at Newburgh, August 7, 1782, during the war of the Revolution. Out of respect to the military achievements, the decoration was revived by the War Department on February 22, 1942, the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth. It is awarded to persons who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, are wounded in action against the enemy of the United States, or are killed in action or who die as a direct result of wounds received in action.

An engraved certificate relating to this award will be forwarded to you at a later date.

The purple heart decoration will be forwarded direct to you by the commanding officer, Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and should be received by you within ten days or two weeks.

Very truly yours,
J.A. Ulio
Major General
The Adjutant General

Tribute Paid to Delmar Wiley by His Lt. Commander
Superior Officer Pays Tribute to Glenwood Lad Lost in Action August 28, 1942, when Plane Was Attacked.

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Wiley have, within the week, received a letter from the superior officer of their son, Delmar Wiley, whom the navy have reported as "Missing in Action."

The letter pays tribute Delmar in a manner which should be a matter of pride and some consolation to his family. Delmar graduated from Glenwood high school with the class of 1940, and enlisted soon thereafter in the U.S. Navy, being with the Pacific fleet when the nation was attacked by Japan. The letter from Lt. Commander of his squadron C.M. Jett to the family here says:

"By this time you have undoubtedly received word from the Navy department that your son was reported "Missing in Action" when he failed to return from an attack mission on the afternoon of August 24, 1942.

"As commanding officer of the squadron of which he was a member may I extend to you heartfelt sympathy in the name of the entire squadron. I know you will want further details in regard to him as I possess and am free to give.

"Delmar was one of two rear seat men flying with pilot Machinist Corl, U.S. Navy, on the afternoon of August 24th, while on a search flight for the Japanese taskforce. Machinist Corl, together with the pilot of another plane of the squadron sighted the force and proceeded to attack it with bombs. While making his bombing run he was attacked by two Jap fighters. At that time he broke away from his formation and his plane was not seen again. There is no visual evidence of his plane having been shot down, but since it failed to return to the ship it is considered that your son is Missing in Action along with the other members of the plane's crew. We can only hope that in time we may hear good news of them, but the chance of this seems more and more remote with each passing day.

"I knew Delmar well and I with all his shipmates feel his loss keenly. (Incomplete)

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No Official Report Concerning Lt. Maxwell
Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Maxwell on Sunday morning received a letter from Sister Stevens, from the British General Hospital No. 95 in North Africa telling them of the death of their son, saying, "He had been with us five days."

As was reported some time ago by this newspaper, Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell had received a letter from their son, Lt. Dean Maxwell, telling them that he had met with an accident, when the motorcycle on which he was riding while on patrol duty, had collided with a truck on a curve at night, in which accident he sustained a broken leg. He said he was doing nicely and expected to be moved to another hospital further behind the lines soon.

A second letter was received Tuesday addressed to Mr. Maxwell, from the same hospital saying "Your son was brought to us two days before his death, February, 11, suffering from great loss of blood, due to severe gunshot wounds in the leg."

At no time, in either letter has the name of Lt. Maxwell been given. If this young man who passed away in the hospital over there is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, how he met with the second injury is not known as no official word of his death has been received.

Killed In Airplane Crash in North Africa
Word has been received here of the death of Quentin Irwin, grandson of the late M.W. Hubbell, who was killed in an airplane accident in North Africa on April 24. His mother was the former Ethel Hubbell, sister of A.B. and N.R. Hubbell who reside in this community.

Confirm Death of Lieutenant Maxwell
The death of 2nd Lt. Dean Good Maxwell on Feb. 11 in the 95th general hospital, North Africa, was confirmed in a telegram from Adj. Gen. Ulio of the war department Saturday. As has been mentioned in this newspaper, previously, Lt. Maxwell's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Maxwell of this city had received two letters from authorities at the hospital indicating the death of their son. Some conflicts in the two accounts, however, had bouyed their hope that the report might be false.

Lt. Maxwell, age 2-, left Glenwood as a private with Co. I of the National Guard. Subsequently he rose to the rank of sergeant, while quartered with the company in Ireland, he much enjoyed visiting i Londonderry which had been the home of his fathers parents. A boy of great zest and enthusiasm, Dean yearned for action so left the 168th and enlisted in the British commandos and was trained by them in Scotland. For "exceptional bravery in action." he was elevated to a second lieutenancy in the British service.

His parents had learned in a letter from him that he had broken a leg in a motor accident in Africa. Letters from the hospital indicate his death was party due to gunshot wounds and loss of blood. The family assumes that this condition arose when he was being evacuated to a more distant hospital.

He graduated from Glenwood high school with the class of 1940 after which he was employed in the Hamilton Clothing Store here in which position he made many friends by the warmth and geniality of his nature.

Besides his parents, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Wayne Owen, and a nephew, Orin Dean Owen, of Memphis, Tenn., his Irish grandmother, Mrs. Ellen Maxwell of Des Moines, and several uncles and aunts.

Memorial for Lt. Maxwell
Memorial services for Lt. Dean G. Maxwell, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Maxwell of this city, who died February --, 1943, in a hospital in North Africa, as a result of wounds suffered in action, will be held in the Glenwood Methodist church Sunday afternoon, May 24, at 3 o'clock.

The service will be conducted by Rev. H.G. Parker, pastor of the church. Music for the service will consist of two vocal numbers, "Tranquility" and "The Blessed" Gospel" by Janice and Jessie Rodman, and a "Melody of Hymns" by Ma.---Evelyn Logan, pianist. Serving as ushers will be Frank Boyle, Hugh LaRue, Rex Prather and Berwyn Hamilton.

The Iowa State Guard, the American Legion and Auxiliary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary will attend the services in a body. This service is a tribute of this community to the memory of one of our brave sons who made the supreme sacrifice in behalf of our country's cause.

Community Honors The Memory of Lt. Dean Maxwell
Services Held in Methodist Church Sunday Honoring Memory of Soldier Who Made Supreme Sacrifice.

The Methodist church was filled Sunday afternoon for memorial services for the late Lt. Dean Good Maxwell of the British Commandos, who died in a hospital in Algiers in February from wounds. The services were conducted by Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Raynor. The Rev. H.G. Parker spoke from the text, "Young man, I say unto thee, arise." Two vocal selections were given by the Misses Janice and Jessie Rodman, and favorite hymns of the Maxwell family were played in a medley by Mary Evelyn Logan.

The following life sketch was read at the service:

Dean Good Maxwell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Maxwell, was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, August 30th, 1922. He lived with his parents in Pacific Junction until he was eight years of age, following which time the family has resided in Glenwood.

Dean attended the public schools, graduating from the Glenwood High School with the class of 1939. Being possessed of a splendid physique, and being a lover of athletic activities, Dean found a splendid outlet for his overflowing energies in football and basketball. During his entire high school course he was employed by the Hamilton Clothing Co., where he worked mornings, evenings and Saturdays.

Five years ago, Dean joined the national guard. Having been made a sergeant, he went with Company I to Camp Claiborne, and from there to Camp Dix. He was among those who later went overseas to Ireland. While quartered with the company in Ireland, Dean very much enjoyed visiting the home of his paternal grandparents, in Londonderry. Being possessed of a spirit that demanded action, he left the 168th Infantry, and joined the British Commandos, and was trained by them in Scotland. For "exceptional bravery in action" he was elevated to a second lieutenancy in the British service, the first of January. He was known by the men under him as "Fighting Maxwell."

It was while serving as a Commando in Africa that Dean was severely injured, and was taken to a hospital on January 20th. He was in the process of making a good recovery, when he was removed to a second hospital, February 9th, having suffered severe gunshot wounds during the interim, and from which cause he passed away, February 11th, after heroic measures to save his life had failed.

Dean's special nurse, who was in charge of the officers' ward, in a letter to the family, paid splendid tribute to his congenial reaction to the efforts of the hospital staff, to use every known science in his behalf, as well as paying tribute to his noble spirit and great personal fortitude. The second confirmation of Dean's spirit and passing, came to the family by certified official correspondence, from the British 95th General hospital in Algiers.

That Dean's splendid qualities should have been so graciously recognized by those who were close to him during his days of heroism and suffering, is to those of us who knew him best, but the normal reaction of appreciative ---. Dean received Christian baptism during his childhood days, -- the pastorate of the Rev. H. Freedline, and in 1930, he ---the vows of membership in the Glenwood Methodist church --the pastorate of the Rev. F. Arnold. He attended the Johnay school, and for a number Sundays was a member of the --taught by Mrs. Clyde classes.

Ensign Dorsie Ivy Killed in Tragic Airplane Accident
Funeral Services to be held Sunday in Congregational Church for Young Mills County Man Killed In Training

Ensign Dorsie E. Ivy, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orien Ivy of the Pacific Junction community, and Flight Instructor at the Huchinson, Kansas Naval Air station, was fatally injured in an airplane crash at the Field there Wednesday morning.

Ensign Ivy, life long resident of Mills County entered military service less than a year ago and had been stationed at Pensacola, Florida, where he took his basic training in the Navy Air Force and later in Kansas where he was stationed at the time of his tragic death.

He leaves his wife and infant son, Dorsie, Jr., who had been living at Hutchinson, as well as a host of more distant relatives and friends to mourn his passing. The body was brought with military escort from Kansas to the Raynor Funeral Home here Friday evening.

Military services will be held in the Congregational Church Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with Dr. F.W. Long, officiating. Interment with full military rites will be in the Glenwood Cemetery.

Lt. C.R. Buffington Killed In Plane Crash on Sunday
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Buffington met tragic death at Camp Pickett, Virginia. Lt. Charles Rollin Buffington III, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Buffington, was killed in a plane crash Sunday at Camp Pickett, Virginia where he was stationed as a flying artillery officer, flying observer planes. It is understood that he and his captain were in the air at the time of the accident. The plane, which went out of control hurtled to the ground. Lt. Buffington was killed instantly and the Captain died within two hours. The body was brought to Glenwood accompanied by Lt. Karl Petray of Haines City, Florida who had been a personal friend of Lt. Buffington at Camp Pickett. He served as the customary military escort.

It was taken to the James Funeral Home and funeral services were held this Thursday afternoon in the Methodist Church. The service was conducted by the pastor, Rev. H.G. Parker. Music for the service consisted of vocal selections by Mary Evelyn Logan, accompanied at the piano by Phoebe McCoy. Serving as ushers were L.T. Genung and Bert Wheeler. Those in charge of the floral offerings were Mrs. F.M. McCluskey, Mrs. K.R. Cook, Mrs. J.C. Mickelwait, Mrs. John Wright, Mrs. D.D. Wheeler, Mrs. L.A. Hollings and, Mrs. L.C. Dean, and Mrs. Henry Dean. Those serving as pallbearers were Paul Griffith, James Griffith, James Griffith, Hugh Milledge, David Buffington, Robert Buffington and Jack Buffington.

Lt. Buffington was born September 26, 1919 in Boise, Idaho and came to Glenwood with his parents when he was a small boy. He was graduated from Glenwood high school in 1936, attended the University of Idaho for one year and then enrolled at Ames, from which he was graduated in June, 1942. In his last year of college, he took advanced military training and went directly into service after his graduation. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Scabbard and Blade honorary military society at Ames. He is survived by his parents, one brother, Lt. Laurence B. Buffington at Camp McCain, Mississippi and one sister, Miss Prudence Buffington, a student at Ames. His paternal grandfather, C.R. Buffington and a large number of other relatives and friends also reside in this community. His untimely death is another one of the tragedies of war. The body was laid to rest with full military honors in the Glenwood Cemetery.