Emmet County

Pfc. Melvin J. Goecke

 

 

The Associated Press report, issued under a Washington dateline, follows:

Eleven of the men, including one officer, were killed in Africa and two were killed in the southwest Pacific.

Folllowing is the list of Iowans killed in Africa:

Capt. Edwin C. Novak, mother, Mrs. Mary F. M Novak (1035 Second street SE) Cedar Rapids;
Sgt. Otto P. Boettcher, mother, Mrs. Emma A. Boettcher, Storm Lake;
Pvt. Leland P. Christensen, mother, Mrs. Edith M. Christensen (1508 S. Maple) Sioux City;
Sgt. Noah J. Davis, wife, Mrs. Frances K. Davis, route 3, Centerville;
Sgt. Paul M. Denison, father, George E. Denison, route 3, Atlantic;
Pfc. Melvin J. Goecke (615 N. Eighth street), Estherville;
Sgt. Stanford S. Johnston, wife, Mrs. Doris S. Johnston, Box 3, Bridgewater;
Sgt. Robert J. Kliegl, route 1, Osgood;
Corp. Henry F. Ohlendorf, father, Henry H. Ohlendorf, route 1, Marcus; Corp. Ben B. Sanford, father, Wilford A. Sanford (29 Fifth street) Oelwein;
Sgt. Leon D. Stipe, mother, Mrs. Mabel Stipe, Clarinda.

Killed in the southwest Pacific:

Donald J. Carpenter, mother, Mrs. Hilda M. Carpenter, route 2, Estherville;

The War Department’s national list also included Pvt. Harold J. Doecher of Beemer, Neb., whose mother’s address is route 1, Beemer.  He was killed in Africa.

Source:  Carroll Times, Monday, January 4, 1943

Iowa’s World War II Honor Roll

These Iowans, like the ones pictured in this section last Sunday, have given their lives for their country. They came from all sections of the state, from all walks of life, and they rest today in strange and far away but never-to-be forgotten places. The final line beneath each photograph tells the geographical area in which the man was serving. Additional pictures of Iowans who have been killed in combat will be carried on future Sundays.

Source: The Des Moines Register, Sunday, December 12, 1943 (photo included of Melvin J. Goecke)

Pvt. Melvin J. Goecke served with the U.S. Army 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division and is buried in North Africa American Cemetery, Tunis, Tunisia. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Sources: ancestry.com; abmc.gov