PFC. RICHARD J. HEEREN WAS KILLED IN ITALY
Former Grant Township Boy was Laying Wire For Communications
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Heeren of Grant township received a telegram from the War Department at noon today informing them of the death of their son, Pfc. Richard J. Heeren. The telegram stated that he was killed in action in Italy on Sept. 24, and it is assumed that his death occurred in the fierce fighting to break the Po river line which backstops the so-called Gothic line.
Pfc. Heeren was a member of the communications unit of his division. His job was to lay wires for communications between the front lines and headquarters farther to the rear, and he has been overseas 2 ½ years. He was drafted about the same time that K Company was sent to Louisiana “for a year of training” and received his training in the same area. He was not, however, a member of K Company.
Pfc. Heeren was 24 years of age, and unmarried. He is survived by his parents and a sister, Mrs. George Baack, of LeMars. He was born in Grant township and attended the rural school in his home district. He engaged in farming until drafted. A more complete obituary will be published later. Memorial services will be held for him, but no arrangements have been made as yet.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, October 9, 1944
Memorial Services Held For PFC Richard Heeren
Memorial Services were held Sunday afternoon in the Plymouth county Lutheran church for Pfc. Richard Heeren, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Heeren. He was born in Plymouth county on February 19, 1919. He was drafted in the army on April 17, 1941. He received his first training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and sailed from New York in February 1942 with his comrades of the 34th Division. He was trained in Ireland and England and fought in the African and Italian campaigns. His last furlough in the home was January, 1942.
On September 24, 1944, he was killed in action in Italy, where his regiment was engaged in fighting for Po Valley. The Wasmer Post of the American Legion of Le Mars was in attendance and a memorial flag was presented to the mother. Services were in charge of the Rev. F. Bunge. Richard was 24 years of age and a brother of Mrs. George Baack of this community.
Source: Hawarden Independent, Thursday, October 26, 1944
***Further Research:
Richard John Heeren is buried in Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, LeMars, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
