Harvey White Killed in Italy
Had Been Reported Missing on Feb. 11
A telegram this morning brought word to Mrs. Ruby White that her son, 2nd Lieut. Harvey D. White had been killed in action on Jan. 26. A previous message received on Feb. 11 stated that he was missing in action.
A member of the 34th division among the first overseas and in the hardest fighting in the Mediterranean theater, he went overseas three years ago. He received a field commission as 2nd Lieutenant a few weeks ago and also had receive a citation.
Lieut. White, Wayne Simmons and Chris Reinhardt in the same outfit saw each other from time to time. Simmons is now back in the states recovering from injuries and Reinhart is expected home soon on rotation furlough. Harold Willits with the same division and who with his sister, Lt. Dorothy Willits, had Christmas dinner in North Africa with Lieut. White two years ago was killed several months ago.
A graduate of Decatur high school, Lieut. White was employed here as a Sinclair truck driver by Ralph Ward before going in the service. He is survived by his mother, four sisters, Mrs. Maxine Funk, who is here while her husband is in the service, Juanita and Iola at home, and Mrs. Evelyn Johnston, Decatur, whose son was killed in action in Germany on Jan 17, and by four brothers, Pvt. Charles in France, Harold, Greybull, Wyo., Lester, Vancouver, Wash., and Robert at home.
Lieut White and Marjorie Metger of Mt Pleasant were engaged and expected to be married upon his return from Italy.
Source: The Mount Pleasant News, March 7, 1945
2nd. Lieut. Harvey White, son of Mrs. Ruby White of Mt Pleasant, was killed in action in Italy a few weeks ago. First reported missing in action, he later was reported killed in a message from the department received last week.
Source: The Mount Pleasant News, March 12, 1945 (photo included)
2nd Lt. Harvey D. White served in World War II with the U.S. Army 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division and was KIA in Italy Jan. 26, 1945 and buried in Florence American Cemetery, Impruneta, Italy. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
