KILLED
Pvt. Marion L. Evans, 23-year old Blairsburg soldier, was killed in action Dec. 21, in Italy, his mother, Mrs. Mary Evans, has been notified by the war department. Private Evans entered service in March, 1943, and was transferred overseas in August. After being stationed in North Africa he was again transferred to the Italian mainland and was attached to Fifth army units. He is the first Hamilton county soldier to be killed in action in the Italian campaign.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Jan. 13, 1944 (photo included)
PURPLE HEART FOR SOLDIER
Pvt. Marion L. Evans, 23, of Blairsburg, Receives Honor.
Mrs. Mary Evans of Blairsburg Saturday received the Purple Heart medal awarded posthumously to her son, Pvt. Marion L. Evans, by the war department.
Private Evans was killed Dec. 21, 1943, while on duty with the Fifth army somewhere in Italy.
Mrs. Evans received a certificate about two weeks ago announcing the award of the medal to her son “for military merit and for wounds received which resulted in his death.”
The certificate was signed by Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and Adjutant General Ulio.
Private Evans, 23, entered the service in March, 1943, and was transferred to North Africa the following August, later being moved to the Italian mainland.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Feb. 14, 1944
Plan Services For Soldier
The body of the late Pvt. Marion L. Evans of Blairsburg will arrive here Tuesday morning and graveside military services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Blairsburg cemetery, preceded by brief services at 1:45 at the Foster funeral home in Webster City.
The Rev. Preston Hinderks of Blairsburg will officiate.
Killed in Italy—
Pvt. Evans was killed in action Dec. 21, 1943, being fatally injured by shell fragments in the chest, at San Pietro, Italy.
Burial was made in the U.S. military cemetery at Marzanello Nuova, Italy, 19 miles southeast of Cassino.
The son of Elias and Mary Evans, Marion Evans was born Feb. 6, 1920, in Blairsburg where he grew to young manhood graduating from the Blairsburg high school in 1937.
He farmed for four years for Will Oakland, later working in the Phillips 66 station at Blairsburg before his induction into the army March 19, 1943.
Pvt. Evans received his training at Camp Robinson, Ark., later leaving Shenango, Pa., for Africa and Italty. He was with the Fighting Texas 36th division, Company E, 143rd infantry. He received the merit badges for rifle marksmanship and machine gun.
Purple Heart Medal
The purple heart medal was awarded posthumously to his mother, Mary E. Evans of Blairsburg.
He was preceded in death by his father and triplet brothers, who died in infancy. He is survived by his mother, three brothers and two sisters: Merle of Webster City, Glen of Des Moines; Staff Sgt. Richard Evans of Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas; Mrs. Warren McCoskey and Marjorie Evans, both of Blairsburg.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - October 9, 1948
The Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - “Turning Back the Pages of Time”, Jan. 11, 2024
PRIVATE EVANS KILLED DEC. 21 IN WAR ACTION
Pvt. Marion L. Evans, 23, Blairsburg soldier attached to the Fifth army in Italy, was killed in action Dec. 21, his mother, Mrs. Mary Evans was notified Monday in a telegram from the war department. The message from the adjutant general, however, did not reveal any details other than the date of death. Private Evans, familiarly known as “Meme” to his many friends in the Blairsburg vicinity entered the service in March 1943, and took his initial training at Camp Robinson, Ark.
In August he was transferred overseas to North Africa. Mrs. Evans last heard from her son in a letter written Thanksgiving day in which he stated he was then in Italy. From his letter it was noted he was then close to the front.
Private Evans was born Feb. 6, 1920, and besides his mother, is survived by three brothers—Merle, who farms near Blairsburg; Glen of Des Moines; and Staff Sgt. Richard, with the air corps, somewhere overseas—and two sisters—Mrs. Warren McCoskey of Blairsburg and Marjorie at home. His father died nine years ago. Prior to entering the service, Private Evans framed with his uncle, William Oakland, near Blairsburg, for four years following his graduation from Blairsburg high school. Just preceding his entrance into service he was employed at the Phillips oil station at Blairsburg. Private Evans is the first Hamilton county soldier to be killed in action in the Italian theater of war.
Marion Leroy Evans was born Feb. 6, 1920 to Elias Burton and Mary Emma Jaycox Evans. He died Dec. 21, 1943, and is buried in the Blairsburg Cemetery, Blairsburg, IA.
Pvt. Evans was awarded the Purple Heart.
Sources:
ancestry.com
World War II Memorial
