Tag: Gibson County Indiana

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Weiss, Victor John
Navy Reserves Seaman 1st class

Victor John Weiss, age 19, from Haubstadt, Indiana, Gibson county.

Parents: Joseph Weiss and Katherine E. Weiss (February 6, 1885 – October 4, 1973)

Service era: World War II
Schools: Haubstadt High

Date of death: Monday, December 18, 1944
Death details: He was aboard the destroyer USS Hull as it operated as part of the Fast Carrier Strike Force in the Philippine Sea. On December 17, 1944, the Hull was participating in refueling operations when the ships of its fueling group were engulfed by Typhoon Cobra. The Hull lost its ability to steer amid the enormous waves and began taking on water. The Hull eventually took on too much water to stay afloat and rolled and sank shortly before noon, on December 18. Sixty-two crew members were rescued, but a little more than two-hundred crew members were lost in the sinking.
Cemetery: Saint James Catholic, Haubstadt

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, grave marker

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Comer, Charles W.
Army Private

Charles W. Comer, age 28, from Gibson County Oakland City, Indiana .

Parents: Charles Comer Sr.
Spouse: Ruth
Children: Bobby, Judy

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Wednesday, October 11, 1944
Death details: Killed in action in Italy

Cemetery: Montgomery

Source: National Archives, Princeton Daily Clarion (1944), grave marker

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Boyer, Robert L.
Army Private

Robert L. Boyer, age 25, from Princeton, Indiana, Gibson county.

Parents: Albert Boyer

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, August 15, 1944
Death details: Killed in actio in France
Cemetery: Maple Hill, Princeton

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princeton Daily Clarion (1948)

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Boyer, Robert L.
Army Private

Robert L. Boyer, age 25, from Princeton, Indiana, Gibson county.

Parents: Albert Boyer

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, August 15, 1944
Death details: Killed in actio in France
Cemetery: Maple Hill, Princeton

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princeton Daily Clarion (1948)

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McConnell, Bertis C.
Army Private 1st class

Bertis C. McConnell, age 23, from Gibson County Francisco, Indiana .

Parents: Elza McConnell

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Tuesday, July 25, 1944
Death details: Killed in action in France.
Cemetery: IOOF in Princton

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princeton Daily Clarion (1944)

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McQueary, James R.
Army Private 1st class

James R. McQueary, age 21, from Oakland City, Indiana, Gibson county.

Parents: Oliver C McQueary

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Wednesday, July 19, 1944
Death details: Killed in action
Cemetery: Montgomery in Oakland City, Indiana

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princeton Daily Clarion (1948)

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McQueary, James R.
Army Private 1st class

James R. McQueary, age 21, from Oakland City, Indiana, Gibson county.

Parents: Oliver C McQueary

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Wednesday, July 19, 1944
Death details: Killed in action
Cemetery: Montgomery in Oakland City, Indiana

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princeton Daily Clarion (1948)

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Fortner, John P.
Army 2nd lieutenant

John P. Fortner, age 23, from Gibson County Princeton, Indiana .

Parents: Elliott Fortner

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Friday, June 16, 1944
Death details: Killed when his plane crashed into Big Lake near Omaha, Nebraska. The plane was on a routine flight from the Lincoln, Nebraska, Army Air Base.
Cemetery: Maple Hill in Princeton

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princeton Daily Clarion, Hutchinson News Herald (1944), Associated Press (1944)

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Smith, Ora F.
Army Private 1st class

Ora F. Smith, age 20, from Owensville, Indiana, Gibson county.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: April 6, 1944
Death details: Died, non-battle; killed by an explosion at Fort Jackson, South Carolina

Cemetery: Antioch in rural Gibson County

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princton Daily Clarion (1944)

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Smith, Gilbert F.
Army Sergeant

Gilbert F. Smith, age 22, from Gibson County Princeton, Indiana .

Parents: Hester Smith
Spouse: Jean Smith

Service era: World War II
Schools: Princeton High graduate

Date of death: Sunday, March 5, 1944
Death details: On July 9, 2001, the Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii (CILHI, now DPAA) identified the remains of Sergeant Gilbert F. Smith, missing from World War II. Sergeant Smith entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Indiana and served in the 319th Bombardment Squadron, 90th Bombardment Group (Heavy). On March 5, 1944, he was a gunner aboard a B-24D Liberator (serial number 42-41135) nicknamed “Cold Steel” that took off from Nadzab, New Guinea, for a bombing mission over Hansa Bay, New Guinea. The bomber was not heard from after takeoff. Cold Steel crashed for unknown reasons, killing SGT Smith and the other nine crew members aboard. The aircraft remained missing until a group of young explorers found its wreckage in 1979 near the village of Tauta, high in the Finisterre Mountains of Papua New Guinea. The site was rediscovered and reported to CILHI in 1989. Later that year a CILHI team investigated the wreckage and recovered human remains. CILHI scientists used laboratory analysis and circumstantial evidence to identify SGT Smith from among these remains.
Cemetery: Memorialized at IOOF in Princeton

Source: National Archives, grave marker, Princeton Daily Clarion (1944), Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency