TEN OF SWEA CITY’S YOUNG MEN FIGHT IN INVASION AREA.
(Too late for last week.)
Swea City: The news of the Allied Invasion of France was received here by citizens who were listening to late election returns. As the news became generally known next morning, the feeling of solemnity was deepened by the realization that at least ten young people from this community are in the combat zone. Records at the Herald office show upwards of 60 persons stationed in European and Mediterranean war theaters. Of this number, inquiry of relatives and a check on the records of the United Service Women kept by Historian Mildred Thorson show at least ten to be in England.
PETERSON HAS TWO.
Walter Peterson, a former Swea Cityan whose children have made their home with local relatives since the death of their mother, has a daughter and a son in England. Lt. Mae Peterson, army nurse, wrote some weeks ago that her hospital had everything in readiness to receive the wounded whenever invasion should begin. Her brother Leroy is believed to be in the fighting.
Source: The Algona Upper DesMoines, June 20, 1944
TWO MORE SOLDIERS AMONG WOUNDED IN EUROPE AREA
Relatives in Webster City and community have received word of two more battle casualties in the European area.
Pfc. LeRoy Peterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Peterson, of this city, was seriously wounded Sept. 26, while serving with the infantry glider troops in Holland, his parents have been notified. Private Peterson, who enlisted in the army from Swea City, has been overseas since last spring.
Pvt. Donald Ratcliffe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ratcliffe of Woolstock suffered a broken leg when his by shrapnel while serving with the armed forces in France according to a letter from the soldier.
Private Ratcliffe has been overseas since July 1, and is attached to an infantry unit.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Oct. 19, 1944
TWO FAMILIES RECEIVE NEWS OF CASUALTIES
First Lt. Bob Potter and Pfc. LeRoy Peterson Killed.
News that their sons had been killed in action in Europe was received here Monday by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Potter and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Peterson.
Pfc. Leroy Peterson, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Peterson was killed in action in Belgium Jan. 3, his parents have been notified.
Peterson, who entered the army in March, 1943, from Algona, was attached to glider troops with the famed 82nd division which had received the presidential citation for outstanding action in Holland. Private Peterson was wounded Sept. 25 in the fierce fighting in Holland had had been awarded the purple heart.
Sent Back to Front
After hospitalization in England he was sent back to the Belgium front where he was battling the nazi panzer divisions in the December break through American line. Last word received from him was a letter dated Dec. 31 and sent to an aunt and uncle in Swea City. At that time he mentioned the terrific handicaps the doughboys were battling against in that area, specifically the cold weather.
Peterson wore the presidential citation ribbon, the purple heart and the infantry combat awards. Besides his parents he is survived by two sisters and one brother, First Lt. Mae Peterson with the army nurse corps in England; Miriam Peterson of Swea City and Walter, Jr., of Swea City.
Although he entered service from Algona, he had visited Webster City many times. His parents moved to this city about two and one-half years ago.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, January 23, 1945
KILLED
Pfc. LeRoy Peterson, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Peterson of this city, was killed in action in Belgium, Jan. 3, his parents were notified early this week. Peterson, who entered the army in March, 1943 from Algona, was attached to glider troops with the famed 82nd division. He previously had been wounded Sept. 25 in Holland and had been awarded the purple heart, the combat badge and the presidential unit citation medal.
Source: Webster City Freeman, Webster City, IA - Jan. 29, 1945 (photo included)
80 Kossuth Men Officially Listed As Casualties In War
FIRST RELEASE OF STATE HISTORICAL DEATH SUMMARIES
Eighty men from Kossuth county lost their lives while in the service of their country in World War II.
KOSSUTH'S WAR DEAD.
Peterson, LeRoy, Sgt.
Killed in action in Belgium 1-3-45.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Peterson, Webster City, Ia.
Aunt: Mrs. David Anderson, Swea City, Ia. (with whom he lived.)
Source: The Algona Upper DesMoines, Tuesday, January 22, 1946 – page 7.
Leroy E. Peterson was born in 1923 to Walter Henning and Anna Peterson. He died Jan. 3, 1945 and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery, Swea City, IA.
Pfc. Peterson was killed in action in Belgium. He was attached to glider troops with the 82nd division which had received the presidential citation for outstanding action in Holland. Peterson had been wounded in Sept. in the fierce fighting in Holland and had been awarded the Purple Heart.
After hospitalization in England he was sent back to the Belgium front where he was battling the nazi panzer divisions in the December break through American lines.
Sources: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
World War II Memorial
