IOWA STAFF SGT 413 AAF BOMB SQ WWII
Waterloo Daily Courier February 8, 1944 (page 5)
Chas. City Aerial Gunner Killed in European Area
(Courier Special Service)
Charles City, la.—Mr. and Mrs. Tom Keefe have received word from the war department that their son, Staff Sgt. Thomas James Keefe. Jr., who was previously reported missing in action, was killed Jan. 4 in the European area.
Thomas was born June 25, 1922, in Charles City. He attended Immaculate Conception academy, Charles City high school, Loras college of Dubuque, and Gordon Military, Barnesville, Ga.
Tommy enlisted at Camp Dodge Nov.11,1942, and was sent to Kearns, U., then to Lowry field, Denver, Colo., to enter armament school. He went to Tyndall field, Panama City, Fla., next to Pyote, Tex., Dyersburg, Tenn., and Topeka, Kan., from where he was shipped to somewhere in England arriving on Nov.11,1943.
He was a finished instructor as well as gunner and at the time of his death his position was ball turret gunner.
He is survived by his parents, a sister, Nancy, and two brothers, Joe and Pat, his grandparents, Attorney and Mrs. J. C. Campbell, Charles City, and Mrs. and Mrs. James Keefe, of Fort Dodge.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier February 8, 1944 (page 5)
Charles City – Double funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Catholic church for J. C. Campbell, 76, practicing attorney here for 50 years and his grandson, Staff Sgt. Thomas James Keefe, who was with the U.S. air forces, and was 21 when he met death in the skies over Germany, January 4, 1944. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas James Keefe, Sr. of Charles City.
Thomas James Keefe, Jr. was born June 25, 1922 at Charles City. He attended Immaculate Conception Academy here, Charles City High School, Loras College, and Gordon Military Academy at Barnesville, MO., enlisted at Camp Dodge, IA., November 11, 1942; was sent to Denver Colo., to enter an armament school, and subsequently trained at Tyndall Field, Panama City, Calif.; Ft. Meyer, Fla.; Pyote, Tex.; arrived in England on November 11, 1943. At the time of his death he was ball turret gunner with the Eighth Army air force. He was first reported missing January 23, 1944 and officially declared dead on February 5, 1944. His parents received the Purple Heart on March 6, 1949 and citations from the Eighth Air force and from the President of the United States.
He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Keefe, Sr.; one sister, Mrs. DuWayne Wessel, Savannah, GA.; two brothers, Joe and Pat, Charles City. Military rites will be conducted by the VFW and the American Legion at the graveside in Calvary Cemetery.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier – Tuesday, August 9, 1949
Thomas James Keefe, Jr. was born June 25, 1922 to Thomas J. and Mary C. Campbell Keefe. He died Jan. 4, 1944 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Charles City, IA.
Sgt. Keefe served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corp 413th Bomb Squadron and was MIA/KIA in the European area.
Source: ancestry.com
