FIVE IOWA SOLDIERS KILLED in ACTION
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 (AP)—Names of five Iowans killed in action in the Asiatic, European and north African (including Sicily) were announced today by the War Department. Second Lt. Richard E. Mallette, Atlantic, was killed in the Asiatic area; Sgt. Willard O. Simpson, Des Moines and first Lt. Jay R. Sterling, Sioux City, in the European; and Cpl. Arthur P. Clemitson, Graettinger, and Second Lt. John A. Wilbois, Jr., of Des Moines, in the North African areas.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, October 11, 1943
Source: Creston News Advertiser, October 11, 1943
LOCAL CHRONOLOGY OF 1943:
Sept. 23—Lt. Richard Mallette is killed in action with bomber squadron in Asiatic.
Source: Atlantic News Telegraph, January 7, 1944
S.W. Iowa War Dead Returned for Burial
Three southwest Iowa war dead have been returned to the United States from the Pacific area aboard the United States Army transport, Dalton Victory, the department of the army announced Sunday.
The army said next of kin were notified in advance of the arrival of the ship and would be notified again after arrival of the remains at regional distribution centers. Thirty-four Iowans were aboard the Dalton Victory.
Southwest Iowans with their next of kin:
Sgt. Raymond E. Bartlett, marines; Mrs. Lena M. Bartlett of Denison.
2nd Lt. Richard E. Mallette, air forces; Frank G. Mallette of Atlantic.
Cpl. Oscar D. Peterson, army; Mrs. Anna M. Peterson of Shenandoah.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, December 5, 1948
Richard Earl Mallette was born Dec. 16, 1921 to Frank Griswold and Isabelle Claricy Freestone Malette. He died Sept. 15, 1943 and is buried in Garden Grove Cemetery, Garden Grove, IA.
Lt. Mallette served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps 373rd Bomb Squadron, 14th Air Force and was KIA in Kunming, China.
Source: ancestry.com
