AKRON MAN MISSING ON FRENCH BATTLE FRONT
Sgt. Eldor Meske, son of Mr. and Mrs. August Meske, of Akron, is reported missing in action by the government. He was reported missing while serving with a United States armored infantry regiment on the battle front in France. Sgt. Meske may have been taken prisoner of war. The Meske family formerly lived in this vicinity, farming south of town (Hawarden.)
Source: Hawarden Independent, October 26, 1944
Memorial Services for Akron Sergeant to Be Held Sunday
Akron, Ia.—Special: Memorial services for Sgt. Eldor Meske, son of Mr. and Mrs. August Meske of Akron, who was killed in Germany while serving with the Third armored division of the army, will be held at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon in Trinity Lutheran church here. Rev. J. A. Pannkuk will officiate.
Sgt. Meske was born at Akron, Ia., June 10, 1914, and lived in Akron vicinity until his induction in the army December 1, 1941. He received basic training at Camp Polk, La., and advanced training in California and at Camp Pickett, Va., and before going overseas on September 4, 1943, was stationed at the Indiantown Gap military reservation, Pa.
Sgt. Meske was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was married to Cora Nace on May 8, 1943, at Lebanon, Pa. Besides his wife and parents, survivors are two brothers, Ernest and Elmer of Akron and a sister, Mrs. Louis Ricklefs of Brookings, S.D.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1945
Memorial Service For Sgt. Meske To Be Held Sunday
A memorial service for Sgt. Eldor Meske will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in Trinity Lutheran church in Akron with Rev. J. A . Pannkuk officiating.
Sgt. Meske was killed in action in Germany on December 18. A message was received prior to that time that he was missing in action since October 17 and news of his death was received a few weeks ago. Sgt. Meske is the son of Mr. and Mrs. August Meske of Akron.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, February 2, 1945
Sgt. Meske served with the U.S. Army 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 34d Armored Division and was KIA in Germany and awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium.
Sources: abmc.gov; fieldofhonor database
