RICHARD LAVRENZ OF BURT REPORTED MISSING, AFRICA.
Was Machine Gunner, In Service Since 1941; One of First Sent to African Battle Zone.
Another Kossuth boy has been reported missing in action in the African war area, presumably with the same detachment which was reported missing in the Gordon Dimler story. On Tuesday Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lavrenz of Burt, received a telegram from the War Department at Washington that their son, Corporal Richard Lavrenz, was missing in action. He was a machine gunner. He enlisted in May, 1941, and received his basic training at Camp Claiborne, La. He was a member of the early detachments sent to Africa last year.
Lavrenz a Soldier Family.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lavrenz, parents of Richard, have two other sons in the service. They are Sergeant Ernest Lavrenz, an instructor in the officer’s candidate school at Fort Sill, Okla. He was a member of the Kossuth contingent that reported in the late summer of 1941. Then there is Staff Sergeant Roland Lavrenz, who joined the army in June, 1941. It is thought that he is now on his way to overseas service. He has been stationed at Camp Polk, Louisiana, with a detachment of armored engineers. Roland is married and his wife and their small son, Richard, is living here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Otto. She was formerly, Marjorie Otto.
Soon Four Sons.
On Tuesday, when Mr. and Mrs. Lavrenz received the wire from Washington, their youngest son, Raymond, 19, received orders from the selective service board to appear for physical examination, which means that within a short time he will also be in Uncle Sam’s employ. Thus the four sons of the Lavrenz have answered the call to fight for freedom’s cause. The Lavrenz’s have two daughters, Lois, employed by the Sante Fe railroad in Chicago and Dorothy in high school at home. The four Burt soldier boys are nephews of Mrs. John Dutton and Mrs. August Lavrenz of this city.
Source: The Algona Upper Des Moines, Thursday, March 11, 1943
Name Iowa Men Held Prisoners
Navy, Was Department List Men of City and the Area
Washington -- The navy department announced Thursday the names of 1,044 United States Navy personnel, including six Iowans, held as prisoners of war by the Japanese, mostly in the Philippine Islands.
Iowans listed were:
LeRoy F. Barber, gunner’s mate, son of Mrs. Nora Barber, 920 Wright Avenue, Sioux City;
Milford Nielsen, yeoman, son of Mrs. Hattie Westphalen, Hartley;
John W. Reimer, Jr. aviation chief metalsmith, son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Reimer, Sr., Havelock;
Steve M. Sorensen, chief boatswain’s mate, brother of Hans K. Sorensen, 123 S. Davidson Street, Sioux City;
Rudolph P. Steck, chief commissary steward, son of Mr. Carrie Garber, 416 S. Lafayette Street, Sioux City;
William B. Westerberg, boilermaker, son of John A. Westerberg, Hinton.
Washington – The war department has announced the following Iowas as being held prisoners of war by Italy:
Private Milford W. Beldt, son of Mrs. Albona Beldt, route 1, Sheldon;
Corporal Arthur P. Clemitson, son of Halvor A. Clemitson, route 2, Graettinger;
Private Marion DeVries, son of Mrs. Jennie DeVries, route 2, Orange City;
Private Delbert J. Beirne, son of Mrs. Bright A. Beirne, Denison;
Corporal Richard A. Lavrenz, son of Fred W. Lavrenz, Burt;
Private Merwin L. Thompson, son of Lewis Thompson, Okoboji.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, May 14, 1943
Burt Twp Cemetery
2/25/1915 - 3/18/2000
