Staff Sergent Henry H. Helmers

 

Henry Helmers was the fourth child of George and Emalena (Harringa) Helmers. He was born at Titonka, Iowa, on May 15, 1919. He grew up in the Titonka, Woden, and Buffalo Center areas. He attended church and Sunday School at the Presbyterian Church at Woden, Iowa, and he became a member. He attended the Grant School of rural Buffalo Center. Before entering the armed services on April 8, 1941, he operated a feed mill in the Woden area.

His first assignment after entering the Army was at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He became a member of the 133rd Infantry of 34th Division. He received his training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and was transferred to Ireland in January 1942. Later he was sent to England, from there he was transferred to Africa to participate in the North African invasion. He was wounded on April 9, 1943.

He returned to the States on July 22, 1943, to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and later transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he became an instructor and a member of the 100th Division. In October he was again sent overseas to be on the battle front in France. He was killed in action on November 23, 1944.

~photo & text from the Buffalo Center Centennial Book, 1892-1992, pg 141 & 142
~contributed by Ken Moen

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Woden - Mrs. George Helmers, who recently received word that her son, Sgt. Henry Helmers had been missing in action in France since November 23, has been notified that he was killed in action.

~Mason City Globe-Gazette, December 13, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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Woden - Memorial services will be held Tuesday at the Presbyterian church at Woden for S. Sgt. Henry Helmers who was killed in action on the French-German front, Nov. 23. The Rev. Henry Kruse, pastor of the Presbyterian church and the Rev. H.F. Senne, pastor of the Reformed church at Buffalo Center, will officiate.

S. Sgt. Helmers was wounded in the invasion of Africa in 1943 and was returned to this country being later stationed at Fort Bragg, N. Car. He made his last trip home in September this year and left the states in October for duty in France, where he was with the 38th infantry of the 100th division.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. George Helmers of Buffalo Center, a sister, Mrs. Fred Boyken of Woden and 2 brothers, Pvt. Joe Helmers who is in France and Cpl. Richard Helmers of Camp Ellis, Ill., who is spending a 10-day furlough with his mother. His father died in 1938.

~Mason City Globe-Gazette, December 23, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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The body of Staff Sergeant Henry H. Helmers of the U.S. Army, arrived in New York Tuesday, March 30th, aboard the U.S. Army Transport Robert F. Burns. Henry was killed in Germany on November 23, 1944. He was the son of Mrs. Emalena Helmers.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, April 1, 1948
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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