Pottawattamie County

Pfc. Lester E. Wells

 

HOME ON FURLOUGH

Pfc. Lester Wells is spending a 12-day furlough from Camp Bowie, Tex., with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Wells, Route 3.

Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Friday, April 14, 1944, Page 7

RETURNS TO CAMP

Pfc. Lester Wells, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wells, Route 3, has returned to Camp Bowie, Tex. after spending a short furlough with his parents. During his visit home, Pfc. Wells was honored at numerous social gatherings, including a dinner party at the Wells home Sunday. Guests of the family party Sunday were his cousins, Lt. and Mrs. Forrest Grote, Fort McClellan, Ala., Sgt. and Mrs. Ray Mark and son, Corky, of Fort Williams, Maine; and others including Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Grote, who were presented a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift; Mr. and Mrs. William Grote; and Mrs. and Mrs. Julius Grote, all of Council Bluffs.

Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Tuesday, April 18, 1944, Page 5

KILLED IN FRANCE
Son Reported Dead in Action

Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Wells, Route 3, were notified Tuesday by war department officials that their son, Pfc. Lester Wells, died in action in France on July 13.

Pfc. Wells had been in the infantry since Nov., 1942, receiving his basic training at Camp Beale, Calif. From Camp Beale he was transferred to Camp Bowie, Tex., where he remained until going to England in May, 1944.

Pfc. Wells attended Treynor high school.

Besides his parents, he is survived by one sister, Rose Mary Wells, at home.

Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Thursday, August 03, 1944, Page 5

Plan Memorial for War Victim

Memorial services for Pfc. Lester E. Wells, who died in action in France on July 13, will be conducted by the Rev. Earl. V. Fisher at the Hardin Presbyterian church Sunday at 2:30 p. m.

Wells had been in the infantry since Nov. 1942, received his basic training at Camp Beale, Calif., and was transferred to Camp Bowie, Tex., where he remained until he went to England in May, 1944.

Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Wells, Route 3, he is survived by one sister, Rose Mary, at home.

Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Thursday, August 17, 1944, Page 3

Hardin News

A large crowd attended the memorial services at the Hardin Presbyterian church Sunday for Pfc. Lester Wells, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wells, who was killed in action.

Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Wednesday, August 23, 1944, Page 10

Return Bodies of 2 County Soldiers
Wells, Pratt Both Killed in France

Bodies of two Pottawattamie county soldiers, Pfc. Lester Wells of Route 3, Council Bluffs, and Pvt. Leonard Pratt of Crescent, both killed in action in France in July, 1944, are being returned to the United States aboard the army transport Greenville Victory. Remains of 3,734 Americans, including 51 Iowans, are being returned for burial.

[NOTE: Portions of this article regarding Pvt. Leonard Pratt has been omitted but appears on his individual webpage within this site.]

Pfc. Wells, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Wells, attended Treynor high school, entered the army in November, 1942. Tyler-Rusch funeral home will be in charge of his service here. Surviving besides the parents is a sister, Rose Mary, at home.

Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Sunday, June 27, 1948, Page 12

Obituaries
Pfc. Lester E. Wells

Funeral services for Pfc. Lester E. Wells, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl S. Wells, route 3, Council Bluffs, will be held Saturday at 2:15 p. m. in Cedar Lawn cemetery.

Dr. Leon C. Hills will officiate. The V. F. W. will conduct military rites.

Pfc. Wells was killed in action in France in 1944.

The body will arrive in Council Bluffs early Saturday. The Tyler-Rusch funeral home is in charge.

Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Thursday, July 15, 1948, Page 14