John D. Colville Gets
Silver Star Posthumously
Cedar Falls – Lt. John D. Colville, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Colville, 2216 Franklin street, Cedar Falls, who was killed in action while serving with the Fourth infantry division of the Seventh army in France, has been awarded the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry. Lieutenant Colville, a company commander, was decorated for action in the vicinity of Grosshau, Germany, Nov. 29, 1944.
He received the following citation:
“Going forward to investigate a sudden halt in his company’s advance, Lieutenant Colville found that enemy small arms and machine guns had stopped his company. Taking two rifle men with him, he attempted to cross a draw but the heavy fire drove him back. Collecting a reinforced squad and adding a light machine gun and an automatic rifle to it, he prepared to eliminate the enemy obstacle.
“As commanding officer Lieutenant Colville was in a position to delegate the task to any one of several subordinates but he chose to lead the squad himself. Braving enemy fire he skillfully deployed the squad and led them into positions from which they could build up effective counter fire . . . the squad was able to completely engage the attention of the entrenched enemy while the rest of the company moved around it. His fearless leadership made him a target for enemy fire and he was killed by machine gun fire while directing the attack.”
Mr. and Mrs. Colville recently received the Purple Heart awarded to their son.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, May 27, 1945, Page 15 (photo included)
Bodies of War Dead Due Today
The bodies of 15 northeast Iowa veterans [are] aboard the United States army transport Robert Burns which is scheduled to dock at New York City today, it was learned here yesterday.
The majority of these dead are being returned from Henri Chapelle military cemetery at Eupen, Belgium. Some are from the cemetery at St. Laurent-sur-Mer, 10 miles west of Bayeux, France. Included in the group are many men who fell on the furious D-Day assault on Omaha beach.
The dead will be buried in private or national cemeteries according to the wishes of next-of-kin.
Among the Northeast Iowans is 1st Lt. John D. Colville, next of kin John E. Colville of 2216 Franklin street, Cedar Falls.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, November 23, 1947, Page 11
John Coville’s Body
Coming to Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls – The body of John D. Colville, returned here from an overseas military cemetery, will be buried with full military honors here in a final ceremony to be conducted at First Methodist church next Monday at 2 p. m.
Dr. H. D. Temple, pastor, will preach the funeral sermon and the Cedar Falls Amvets post will be in charge of the military services. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery.
Colville was a lieutenant in the Fourth infantry division of the First army, and was killed in action in Hurtgen Forest, Germany, Nov. 29, 1944. His citations included Combat Infantry badge, Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star. He was 24, being born at Dike, Mar. 34, 1920.
He graduated from the Campus high school and also received his BA degree at Iowa State Teachers college. He was a teacher in the Waverly junior high school just prior to his induction into the armed services June 12, 1942.
He was a member of Alpha Chi Epsilon fraternity at the college and also of the Blue key. He was active in the Men’s Union and his name appeared in “Who’s Who in American Universities.”
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Colville, 2216 Franklin street. Besides his parents he is survived by a brother, William B. Colville, Wapello, Ia., and a sister, Bertha, residing at home here.
The body is scheduled to arrive at the Brown-Jungkunz funeral home here Saturday.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, December 10, 1947, Page 2
