Those that did not make it home from World War II

Susan Doak

Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society

The flower arrangements are finished as of last night for the graves I decorate each year. Five of the fifteen are service men or women, two from World War II. There is something incredibly stirring about going up to the cemetery when the flags are waving over each service member's grave. My heart beats with a different cadence looking over the graves of these soldiers who followed through with their promise to protect our country with their life. They may not have died in while serving, but each one of them who saw combat had their life changed by that fact.

I've been writing about McCook and the surrounding communities' response to the surge of service men traveling through Southwest Nebraska or stationed at the McCook Air Base. When the canteen was first started, it was partially the result of a son's letter home to his mother about enjoying an old magazine given to him to read on his way to boot camp.

The real story, however, is the men and women who served in that war. No matter how charmingly the men and women of McCook met the trains, danced the dances, sang the songs or raised the money for dayrooms at the base, one suspects that they were hoping against hope that someone was doing the same for their sons or daughters.

The first casualty from Red Willow County was the son of Elwood Gammill. James Martin Gammill of Indianola, Nebraska, was a seaman, first class in the U.S. Navy. The death notice was published on Dec. 19, 1941, 12 days after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Families were not told facts or locations of their relative's death to keep the enemy from securing information.

Stratton's Leonard Zeigler, son of the Edd Zeiglers, died on Aug. 25 of the same year in the Philippine Islands and was returned home for a military burial by the American Legion in December.

A telegram notified Carl Purvis that his son, Gordon William Purvis, 25, a sergeant in the Marine Corps, was been killed in action. (December 1941)

Culbertson's Dr. and Mrs. Robert T. Jones (formerly of McCook), were notified that on Dec. 7, their son, Warren A. Jones who was a Navy radio operator, had died. Warren was married and had a child.

In January of 1942, Mrs. Rachael Kinder of Imperial received word that her, Andrew, was killed in action at Hickman Field, Hawaii. Andrew, who was 20, was a photographer in the air corps.

Word was received by Mrs. Glen Bell that her step-son, Lt. Everett Chamberlain, was killed while flying a mail plane in Egypt. Chamberlain, who was 23, had been sent to Africa seven weeks prior.

Ensign John Paul Hart, 25, naval aviator, was killed somewhere in the Pacific. His wife, the former Mildred Frances Mousel, was from Cambridge.

Everett Windle of Atwood, Kansas, was among those lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was first listed as missing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Windle, but when his body could not be found, he was declared dead in March of 1942. Windle was assigned to the USS Oklahoma.

The lists grew as the war marched on. Mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers and children, all mourned the loss of their loved ones. Even if you don't decorate for Memorial Day or go to the cemetery, you might just say a simple thank you in memory of those who served this country! It's the least we all can do.

All of this information comes from the Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society library, that will be open to the public for research on Thursday, May 28, from 6-8 p.m. at 110 West C, Suite M-3.