RCHS Blog Post Number 233.
A Few Reasons For A Memorial Day
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Body of Lynn Soldier Being Returned Home
July 1, 1948.
Remains of 5,374 Americans who lost their lives during World War II are being returned to the United States from Europe aboard the United States Army transport Lawrence Victory.
Armed forces dead originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in France, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom are among those being brought back to this country.
A total of 200 remains are being returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in Indiana.
The body of a Randolph county soldier, T-Sgt. John M. Elliott, will be among those to return on the Lawrence Victory.
Elliott, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Elliott of Lynn lost his life on May 12, 1944, in a plane crash in England. His brother, William M. Elliott, was stationed with the Army in England at that time and attended funeral services there.
Elliott was born May 25, 1920 and enlisted in the air corps on April 17, 1942. He received training at Patterson Field, Ohio, Bowman Field, Ky., Lawson Field, Ga. and Del Valley, Texas, being sent overseas in November of 1942. He was a radio operator in the troop carrier command, flying in the commanding officer's plane. He wore the good conduct ribbon and the ETO ribbon with five stars designating the following combat areas; Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy and England. In January of 1944 he was awarded the air medal for his part in the Salerno, Italy invasion.
He was graduated from the Lynn high school with the class of 1938. He was a member of the Lynn Lodge, F and A. Masons and the Methodist church. Prior to his enlistment in the air corps, he was employed at the International Harvester company plant at Richmond.
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The Body of Donel Cross Returns From Europe
July 8, 1948.
The body of Pvt. Donald J. R. Cross, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Cross, of Losantville, is included among the remains of 112 Indiana World War II dead returned to the United States from Europe aboard the U. S. Army transport ship Oglethorpe Victory, the department of the Army has announced. The remains of 4,383 Americans who lost their lives in the Second World War were returned aboard the ship. This is just one of many ships bringing home our dead.
Pvt. Cross was killed in action in Luxembourg on February 11, 1945. He entered the service August 9, 1944 and received training at Camp Blanding, Fla. In January of 1945 he was sent overseas and became a member of General Patton's Third Army. He was killed shortly after arriving there. He was 24 years old.
Surviving in addition to the parents are a daughter, Barbara Marie; a son, Donel Wesley: four brothers, Lewis Cross of Muncie, Lawrence of Farmland, and Robert and Wilson of Losantville; two sisters, Mrs. Pauline Fruit of Modoc and Mrs. Bertha Gordon of Parker.
The body will arrive in Winchester by train and will be taken to the Summers funeral home in Winchester.
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Military Rites for Pvt. Basil Shaw
July 17, 1948.
Full military honors will be accorded Pvt. Basil E. Shaw at Woodlawn cemetery, at Maxville. Rev. N. H. Thornburg and the Farmland American Legion post will be in charge.
The remains of Pvt. Shaw arrived in Redkey and were removed to the Thornburg funeral home in Farmland.
Pvt. Shaw was killed in action in France on August 27, 1944 at the age of 33. He was inducted into the Army on December 10, 1943. Prior to his entry into the service he was employed at the Warner Gear plant in Muncie.
Surviving are the wife, Thelma; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Shaw of Farmland and two brothers, Kenneth of Farmland and Merle Of Parker.
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Return Body of Pvt. Geesy
July 8, 1948.
Pvt. Robert D. R. Geesy, whose body arrived in Union City by train, was a native of Winchester. He was born on May 18, 1925 and attended Winchester and Wayne Twp. schools.
He came to the Union City community in 1938 and was employed at the Red 73 Creamery before entering the service on September 17, 1943.
He received training at Camp Van Dorn, Miss and Camp Breckenbridge, Ky., leaving for overseas the latter part of March, 1944. He was killed in action in France on July 12, 1944, at the age of 19.
Surviving are the father, Donald Geesy, of route four, Union City, and three brothers, Harold, Floyd and Lloyd, all of Union City.
The body of Pvt. Geesy was recently returned from Europe to this country aboard the Army transport ship, Greenville Victory.
Burial will be made in the Union City cemetery.
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Return Body of Pvt. Barber From Europe
July 9, 1948.
The remains of Pvt. Alten M. Barber, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bunress A. Barber of Winchester route 2, is enroute to the United States from Europe. Upon arrival in this country the body will be sent to Indiana by train and will be taken to the Thornburg funeral home in Farmland.
Pvt. Barber was killed in action in Germany on February 28, 1945. He was inducted into the Army through the Randolph county draft board on August 9, 1944, and sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison. He received basic instruction at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark., and was then sent to Fort George G. Meade, Md., from where he sailed for Europe on January 4, 1945. Upon arrival in Europe Pvt. Barber was assigned to Gen. Patton's Third Army.
Surviving in addition to the parents is his wife, Hazel, and three children, Donnie, Linda and Sondra, all of Muncie; two brothers, Forrest D. Barber of Muncie and Bob G. Barber of Los Angeles Cal.; one sister Mrs. Hellen Howell of Winchester.
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Return Body of T-Sgt. Coyner
July 10, 1948.
The body of Tech. Sgt. Orville J. Coyner will arrive in Winchester for final rites. The son of Mr. and Mrs. John Coyner of Winchester, Tech. Sgt. Coyner died November 16, 1943 from wounds received in the month long fight with Japanese forces in the battle of Munda Point in the Solomon Islands, southwest Pacific.
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Would you like a book to learn more about local history?
Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.
To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.
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