The Alton community was saddened Friday when a telegram from the War
Department notified Mrs. Ted Hemmingson, that her husband, Sgt. Ted Hemmingson
was killed in action in Germany April 10.He was a tank commander in the 8th
Armored Division of the Ninth Army. According to the daily papers on April
10th the 9th Army advanced 45 miles to the Elbe river, crossing the river on
the 11th, and it would seem that the Alton boy met his death on this drive.
He is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Hemmingson of Alton, was born near
Hawarden Jan. 29, 1923, and was 22 years old at the time of his death. The
family came to Alton in 1936. Ted attended St. Mary's Academy and Alton High
school, graduating from A.H.S. in 1942. In the summer of 1941 before he
finished school, he helped build the Alton band shell; in 1942 he helped
construct the Sioux City Army air base and later the contractor sent him to
Cheyenne to work on an air base under construction there. He was an excellent
workman, conscientious and efficient.
March 8th, 1941, he married Hermina Mulder and 2 days later on March 10 was
inducted into the army. He received all his training at North Camp Polk, La.
where he was stationed for 19 months. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant
several months before going overseas in Nov. 1944 to England, France, Holland
and Germany. He won the Army gold star for meritorious action in the Battle of
the Rhine. As tank commander he was in charge of several tanks and their crews
numbering 23 men.
Sgt. Hemmingson is survived by his wife and small daughter, Vicki, his parents
and one sister, Aileen, all of Alton. The family have the deep sympathy of the
whole community. Ted was a very fine boy and a favorite with all who knew him.
He had been so sure he would return, never complained and was confident his
"luck" would never desert him. The family hope to learn details of his passing
in the next few weeks.
Memorial services in his honor were held Tuesday morning at St. Mary's church,
in charge of Rev. James Fandel, assisted by Floyd Post of the American Legion.
Dick Aalders and Charles Zalme, both overseas veterans, were color bearers.
Legionaires O.P. Kettler and J.J. Schmidt folded the flag and the former
presented it to the family.
Among relatives and friends present from out of town were Miss Johanna
Hemmingson of Canton, S.D., Mr. and Mrs. T.A.Rice of Sioux Center. Mr. and
Mrs. Kearney Hemmingson of Hawarden, all uncles and aunts of Sgt.Ted. Mrs.
F.J. Edelbrock of St. Cloud, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Miller of Paullina,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm Gacke of Hospers, Mrs. Wilbur Mills of Primghar, Mrs. Herman
Mulder and Lloyd of Sheldon.
Source: The Alton Democrat, April 26, 1945
Theodore Hemmingson
World War II
Service #
37475961
Rank
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Unit
80th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Division
Entered Service From
Iowa
Date of Death
April 10, 1945
Buried
Plot J Row 13 Grave 16
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands
Purple Heart Recipient
Source: American Battle Monuments Commission website.
Theodore L. Hemmingson, Jr. was born Jan. 29, 1923 to Theodore (Sr.) and Mary Anne Gackie Hemmingson. He died Apr. 10, 1945 and is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.
Sgt. Hemmingson served in World War II with the U.S. Army 80th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Division and was KIA in Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
