PFC Howard F. DOLPHIN 1925-1944

DOLPHIN, DONNELLY, MCELLIGOTT, GAFFNEY, HEIBERGER, HISE

Posted By: Andrew Brown (email)
Date: 11/1/2010 at 22:26:50

PFC Howard F. DOLPHIN

Manchester, Ia. – Pfc. Howard F. Dolphin, 19, son of J. J. Dolphin of Manchester, who was reported missing in France Dec. 4, 1944, by the War Department, was killed on that date, according to a communication just received by his father.

Howard, formerly of Ryan (Ia.), was one of four boys from that point to lose their lives in the present conflict, all of whom lived within one block of each other. The others are Lawrence McElligott, James Gaffney and John Heiberger.

Born at Ryan Oct. 5, 1925, Howard attended school there and later became a student at St. Xavier’s school here when his parents moved to Manchester. He was graduated from the Manchester high school in 1943, and enlisted in the ASTP(Army Specialized Training Program) Dec. 20 of that year. He was sent to Ft. Benning, Ga., for his preliminary training. He was later transferred to Fort Jackson, S.C., then to Camp Breckenridge, Ky., and Camp Bragg, N.C. He was sent overseas from the latter point and reached France last October, where he had been on duty.

Howard’s mother (Lela Elizabeth Donnelly) died here Aug. 6, 1940, at which time his grandmother, Mrs. Emma Donnelly, made her home with the family. Surviving are his father (James Joseph Dolphin), two brothers, Joseph of Chicago IL, and Donald, on naval duty in the South Pacific area, and one sister, Mrs. Louise Hise, of Denver, Colo.

(Waterloo IA Daily Courier 29DEC1944)

Notes: In 1948, Howard’s body was returned from Europe for reburial in Manchester, IA St. Mary Cemetery.

At time of death, Howard was serving with an artillery unit.

Honors included: Purple Heart, Silver Star, Good Conduct Medals, American Theater Ribbons and bronze service star for the Rhineland campaign; World War II Victory ribbon, Combat Infantryman badge, and Marksman badge with automatic rifle bar.