TO SEND LARGE DRAFTEE GROUP
Men Will Report to Army for Induction Next Tuesday
One of the largest groups of draftees to leave Sioux county will report for induction into the Army Aug. 18, it was announced this week. Those who qualify will be given the option of a two week’s furlough.
(Included in the list of men)
Coral C. Highsmith of Milwaukee, Wis. (2759)
Source: The Hawarden Independent, Thursday, Aug. 13, 1942
60 Men to Leave August 18
Get Two Week Furlough
(Included in the list of men)
2759 Highsmith, Coral Clyde, Milwaukee, Wis.
Source: The Sioux Center News, August 13, 1942
HAWARDEN MAN MISSING IN AIR RAID OVER FRANCE
Hawarden Independent: Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Highsmith of Hawarden received a letter from the War Department last Thursday informing them that their son, S/Sgt. Coral C. Highsmith, failed to return from a mission over France on June 21. He was a waist gunner on a bomber.
The letter referred to a telegram which had apparently been sent to the Highsmith’s family previously, but they failed to receive that message.
S/Sgt. Highsmith grew up in Hawarden and was graduated from the local high school. He entered the service a year ago last September and went overseas in March of this year.
His mother received a letter from him which was written the day before he went on the mission in which he was reported missing. In the letter, he stated that he was well.
S/Sgt. Highsmith was married to Lulu Kroon of South Sioux City during February of this year and at that time he and his bride visited here in the home of his parents. His wife is employed in South Milwaukee.
The missing gunner had designated the government to send all information concerning him to his parents, so they in turn informed his wife through another son, Gale Highsmith, who is at Milwaukee.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, July 24, 1944
TWO HAWARDEN MISSING FLIERS ARE PRISONER
PARENTS OF BOTH YOUTHS GET WORD OF SAFE LANDINGS
Lieut. George Anderson Is Being Held In Romania
S/Sgt. Highsmith’s Location Not Divulged
Two Hawarden air fighters, who recently have been reported as missing on bombing missions in Europe, are now reported to be alive and as safe as it is possible to be as prisoners in the hands of the enemy.
They are Lieut. George A. Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Anderson, and S/Sgt. Coral C. Highsmith, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Highsmith.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson received word last Saturday night from the War Department that Lieut. Anderson is a prisoner of war of the Romanians.
Lieut. Anderson was a pilot on a Liberator which, on May 31, was forced down while bombing enemy installations in Romania. The plane fell out of formation and all members of the crew were observed bailing out by crews of accompanying bombers. The commanding officer of the flight, in a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, stated he felt that Lieut. Anderson landed safely and became a prisoner.
A short time later, information came through the International Red Cross that the Hawarden youth had made a successful landing and was captured by the Romanian army. This word was immediately forwarded to his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Highsmith received word Monday from the War Department that their son was safe and sound. Detailed information was not give, but the parents were assured that they would hear from him in the near future.
S/Sgt. Highsmith was waist gunner on a bomber that failed to return from a mission over France on June 21. Two weeks ago today, his parents received word from the War Department that he was missing. Naturally, they had lived in hopes that he had landed safely. Monday’s message was the answer to their prayers.
Source: The Hawarden Independent, July 27, 1944
HAS AN EXCITING ADVENTURE BUT IT’S OFF THE RECORD
Staff Sergeant C. C. Highsmith of Hawarden, waist gunner on a B-17 that completed a number of successful bombing missions in Europe before it was shot down over enemy territory on June 21, came home on a furlough last Thursday with an exciting story under his hat, but he can’t tell it for publication.
Sgt. Highsmith landed in enemy territory, according to word received last July by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Highsmith; but he wasn’t captured, as they had reason to believe when they received word later that he was safe and sound.
Just how he evaded the enemy, made his way out and returned to his base in England is the part of the story that he can’t tell, for military reasons, mainly because, as he puts it:
“It just wouldn’t be fair to other fellows who might get into the same jam.”
Men who have gone through adventures such as Highsmith encountered are known to the military as “hot stuff.” They are given explicit instructions not to talk about their escapades.
“All I can say,” said Sgt. Highsmith, “is that I am mighty glad to be home and that I am lucky to be here.”
Sgt. Highsmith has been awarded the Air Medal, with two oak leaf clusters. Also on the bar is a bronze star, given for meritorious service, and the D-Day star, which is emblematic of service on the occasion of the invasion of Normandy.
Sgt. Highsmith grew up in Hawarden and was graduated from the Hawarden high school. He entered the service in September, 1942, and went overseas last March. He was married to Lulu Kroon of South Sioux City last February. His wife, who has been making her home in Milwaukee, came with him to Hawarden last week.
Source: The Hawarden Independent, Thursday, January 4, 1945
CORAL HIGHSMITH GETS A DISCHARGE
S/Sgt. Coral C. Highsmith, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Highsmith of Hawarden, has received his honorable discharge from the Army Air Force and was released under the point system at the Sioux City air base this week. S/Sgt. Highsmith is a veteran of many months of active duty in the European theater of war. For ten months, he served as a gunner in the 8th air force.
S/Sgt. Highsmith is entitled to wear two battle stars on his ETO ribbon and the air medal with two clusters.
His wife has been living at South Sioux City, Neb., during the time he was in the service.
In June of 1944, Highsmith was serving as a waist gunner on a bomber that was downed over enemy territory, but he managed to escape from German territory and made his way back to his base in England.
Source: Hawarden Independent, Thursday, October 4, 1945
