LIST FORTRESS PILOT PRISONER
Lt. Warren VanEschen Downed Over Germany
Ackley—Mr. and Mrs. John Van Eschen received word from the War Department Tuesday that their son, Lt. Warren L. VanEschen, is a prisoner of war of the Germans.
Lieutenant VanEschen had been missing in action since March 4.
It is believed that it was in the first daylight bombing of Berlin that Warren and his crew went down.
Lieutenant VanEschen had been on over 20 missions previous to this and he had expected to be home this summer.
He was a pilot on a Flying Fortress. He enlisted in the air corps Dec. 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, June 7, 1944
12 Iowans on Gripsholm
Washington, D. C.—(AP)—Twelve sick or wounded Iowans are aboard the Gripsholm, Swedish exchange ship, which is due to arrive in the United States next week, the War Department announced Thursday night.
Aboard the Gripsholm are 463 Army officers and enlisted men, 665 United States civilians and 78 Canadian military personnel, the War Department said.
The soldiers were exchanged in Switzerland for German prisoners of war.
The War Department said that leave or furlough would be provided for those physically capable and hospital treatment would be continued for those needing it.
Pay accounts of the soldiers and officers will be settled, necessary clothing will be issued and awards and decorations made to those who have been designated to receive them.
Next of kin of the following Iowans have been notified they are returning aboard the Gripsholm:
Cpl. Hollis E. Baker, Inf., Carbon, Iowa;
Pfc. George C. Barger, Inf., Laurens, Iowa;
Second Lt. Clyde V. Cassill, AC, Lenox, Iowa;
Cpl. Clifford M. Olerich, CE, Carroll, Iowa;
Staff Sgt. Edward E. Cussen, AC, Sioux City, Iowa;
Lt. Laurence B. Higgins, Inf., Clarinda, Iowa;
Staff Sgt. Sam D. Humphrey, AC, Clinton, Iowa;
Staff Sgt. Winston E. Lowe, AC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
Staff Sgt. Thomas R. McDonald, AC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
Pfc. Rufus P. E. Nanke, Inf., What Cheer, Iowa;
Second Lt. Warren L. Van Eschen, AC – Mrs. John Van Eschen, mother, Ackley, Iowa;
Pvt. Jack M. Wickey, Inf., Sioux City, Iowa.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, February 16, 1945
Warren L. VanEschen died Mar. 22, 1975 and is buried in Sac City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
