Frederick August Holst from Manson, Iowa, Calhoun county.
Parents: Martin W. Holst
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, October 9, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, UPI (1970)
Craig Thomas Waterman, age 20, from Rockwell City, Iowa, Calhoun county.
Parents: Evelyn V. Waterman
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, September 3, 1970
Death details: Hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Fort Worth Star Telegram (1970)
Billy Bruce Bull, age 20, from Lake City, Iowa, Calhoun county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Friday, July 24, 1970
Death details: Hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives
Waldo Alva Williams, age 39, from Rockwell City, Iowa, Calhoun county.
Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 1st Air Cavalry Mobile Division
Date of death: Sunday, January 4, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile in South Vietnam, helicopter accident
Source: National Archives, Times Record (1970)
Thomas Philip Helferich, age 23, from Calhoun County Rockwell City, Iowa .
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Monday, August 6, 1945
Death details: Killed aboard USS Bullhead SS-332 when it was sunk by air attack near the Lombok Strait.
Source: On Eternal Patrol, Omaha World Herald (1947)
Paul J. Cavanaugh, age 25, from Calhoun County Lohrville, Iowa .
Parents: William Cavanaugh
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, December 5, 1942
Death details: In early 1942, the Japanese High Command began a campaign to take control of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in an effort to cut off American and Australian naval routes and supply lines. From July through November, Allied forces solidified defenses to stop the Japanese advance, and from November 1942 to January 1943, attempted to capture the Solomon Islands. The Japanese had set up significant, almost impenetrable, defenses on the islands, concealed in areas of dense jungle, forcing Allied forces into separated and restricted columns of attack. As they approached Buna, the American and Australian troops faced a network of highly organized, mutually supporting bunkers fitted with reinforced walls, natural camouflage, and supplies. As a result of these difficulties, the first series of Allied attacks were defeated, demoralizing the troops and depleting their resources. It was not until December 2 that the Allies had any significant victories, and fighting in the area would continue until January 22, 1943. Fighting continued on the north coast of New Guinea into 1944, as Allied forces pushed the Japanese farther to the north and west. This campaign included retaking Japanese strongholds at Lae, Finschhafen, and Saidor. Private Paul J. Cavanaugh, who joined the U.S. Army in Iowa, was a member of the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action on December 5, 1942, during hostilities with Japanese forces in southeastern Australian New Guinea near the Soputa village. Private Cavanaugh’s body could not be recovered at the time of loss, and attempts to recover his remains after the war were unsuccessful. Private Cavanaugh is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Des Moines Register (1943)
Merl W. Holm, age 22, from Calhoun County Lake City, Iowa .
Parents: Andrew Holm
Service era: World War II
Schools: High school at Lake City
Date of death: Thursday, November 26, 1942
Death details: Merl was accounted for April 15, 2022. In November 1942, Holm was assigned to the Company K, 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, deployed in present day Papua New Guinea. As part of an attempt to neutralize the Japanese threat to Port Moresby, the Allied center of communications in the area, Holm’s unit attempted to flank the enemy defensive lines stretched across the Sanananda Track in northern Papua. Holm was reported as killed in action on Nov. 26. Holm was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Carroll Daily Times Herald (1943)