USS West Virginia in Pacific War Legend Told by Bil Morgan
Lt. (ig) W. M. Morgan recalls the West Virginia’s actions in the Philippines, Leyte Gulf and Surigato Straits, Mindoro, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The letter notes mail delays, homeward hopes, and points toward imminent release. The ship earned eight aerial kills and 12 assists, fired thousands of rounds, and logged 68,000 nautical miles in the past year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. M. Morgan
Gerald Morgan
West Virginia
Tokyo Bay
W. H. Morgan
Japan
King Neptune
Philippines
Leyte Gulf
Leyte
Surigato Straits
Mindoro
Lingayen Gulf
Iwo Jima
Mt. Suribachi
Tacmiwo Jima
Okinawa
Ie Shina
Pacific
The West Virginia’s Return to Combat and Tomorrows Battle
The West Virginia, heavily damaged at Pearl Harbor, was raised and refitted into a near new vessel. Under Captain H. V. Riley she sailed for vengeance in the Pacific, with Admiral Sowell and Captain Holsinger aboard, marking a dramatic comeback in the northern drive toward Japan.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Virginia
Tokyo Bay
Japan
Philippines
Fujiyama
Raymond W. Holsinger
USN
John E. Fitzgibbon
Ingram
Pearl Harbor
West Coast Navy Yard
H. V. Riley
Blue Front Notes From Mrs VanZante and Local Visits
Circle met Thursday with Eva VanZante. Albert Hoskinson of Wayne Nebraska visited Ben Jones and joined later with Donald Jones. Several locals attended Saturday fests in Albia including VanZante and Gardner families. Sunday guests at Ben Jones included Johnsons and Hopkins, and Lute Hiatt’s family hosted visits. CARBON SALESBOOKS offered for sale in Moravia Union.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eva VanZante
Albert Hoskinson
Wayne
Nebra
Ben Jones
Albert. Hoskinson
Donald Jones
Albia
Ben Williama
Carl VanZante
Ronald and
Mark
Pelph Shelquist
T. R. Gardner
John VandZante
Lute, Hiatt
John VanZante
Sam Shepard
T. RB. Gardner
Carl Johnson
Ottumwa
Gus Johnson
Zelma Hopkins
Blakesburg
Wayne, Nebr
Pearl Lavely
Margery Tracy
George
Wendell Murdy
John
David
Frankawait
Donald Ones
Fall Festival Attendance and Local Social Roundup
Salen By Hasel Hel lyer area residents attended the Fall Festival at Albia that week. Many neighbors visited Dell Hellyer’s home and nearby households. Des Moines visitors, OsKaloosa shopping, Ankeny guests, Centerville and Knoxville trips are noted among prolonged social calls and weekend gatherings.
Urbana and Vicinity Picnic Guests Honor Returning Relative
The Charles and Ottis Davis families attended a Maryville picnic Sunday honoring a relative recently returned from overseas. Carl Coop family spent Sunday at the parental Coop home. Eugene and Ronald Lockman visited Ernest West. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gray visited at the Tuabaugh home. James Williams family visited relatives in Des Moines. Ray Lockman and Mrs. E. A. Tuabaugh hosted visitors, Horace Rushing and family drove to Albia to meet Mrs. Rushing's mother who spent Sunday with them.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charles
Ottis Davis
Maryville
Carl Coop
Coop
Eugene
Ronald Lockman
Ernest West
Howard Gray
Tubaugh
James Williams
Des Moines
Ray Lockman
E. A. Tubaugs
Horace Rushing
Albia
Mrs. Rushing
Unionville Social Roundup Chronicles Guests and Visits
Unionville notes recount Sunday visits and weekend calls. Mr and Mrs William Morrison of Huron arrived for a stay at Joel R H Coop home. Numerous calls touched Ottumwa Centerville Ottumwa guests and birthday celebrations held for Mrs Chessie Mast of Chillicothe with friends Celina Bell Ruth Allender and Essie Whisler attending.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George
Danny
Freddie
Johnnie
Numa
Lee Wyldes
William Morrison J
Huron
Joel R. H. | Coop
Coop
Everett Brooke
Mary
Mildred
Luther Morrison
Bunch
Charles Brown
Dwight Coop
Earl Coop
Lacey Morrison
Centerville
Maynard More
Deanne Lee
Ottumwa
P. E. Mare
Laura Roach
Nancy
Mare, Home
Anna Walter
Centervilla
Tommy Thompson
Ruth Harris
Bobby
Billy
Tra
Set
Jesse J Ogden
Stufflebeam
Ira Robb
Richard
Des Moines
Drake University
Dewayne McCarty
Ruth Allender
Essie Whisler
P. L. Veitch
George Brooke
Chessie Mast
Chillicothe
Celina Bell
R. J. Bell
Brompton Social Notes Highlight Local Visits and Birth
Visitors to Mrs. M. E. Boardman and related households filled the week with gatherings and a shower at the Ed Robinson home. Lt. Lester McCoy returned from Italy on furlough before heading to Jefferson Barracks. Ottumwa births are noted with A. J. Billings and his Ottumwa wife welcoming a baby boy born September 16 at Ottumwa Hospital.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
M. E. Boardman
Claude Hawk
Russell Darby
E. I. Boardman
Royce Maxwell
Kansas
Vera M. Selman Ammi
Glenview
Mns
QO. L. Cary
DeWayne Robinson
Ed Robinson
Mary McCoy
Lester McCoy
Italy
McCoy
Jefferson
George Reid
Union
Iowa
Beloit
E. F. Boardman
Clifton Boardman
A. J. Billings
Ottumwa
Vercel Barnes
Max I MccCoy
Blakesburg
J. E. Stafford Land
Leo Stafford
Orville Prill
Fairfield
Harry Utley
Vereel Barnes
Ottumwa Hospital
Uncensored Letter Details Roy Adams War Journey
S/Sgt Roy Adams writes from Guam about the voyage from Sacramento to Hawaii and Kwajalein to Guam. He describes airfields, aircraft, unit wings, losses, and a mission supplying Allied POWs in Japan, noting the Japanese surrender and his crew's 16 hour flight back with little fuel left.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Troy Adams
Roy Adams
Mother Field
Sacramento
Hawaii
John Rodgers Field
Oahu Island
Pearl Harbor
Honolulu
Waikiki Beach
Kwajalein
Marshalls
Coral Atoll
Guam
Kwajalein and Here. We're On North West
815Th Wing
314 Wing
North Field
N. W
Harmon Field
ATC
Orote
Agana
20Th Air Force
Saipan
Tinian
8Th Air Force
Okinawa
Iwo Jima
Mariannas
Timian
Japan
Mpire
Pajoris
Rota
402Nd
Philippines
Empire
Bombays
Smith Island
Tokyo
Tokyo Hay
U. S
Mt. Fuguiama
Nao- Etsa
Takana
Missouri
Roy
Iconium social notes recall family visits and birthdays
Community members including Rosa Beaty, Mrs. Kinginger, the Miller family and others shared Sundays after church with the Kelseys. Grandmother Sheldon celebrated her 88th birthday. A naval Don Rhee born at St Thomas hospital Sept 14. Several residents helped with peach canning and roof repairs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rey
Kinginger
Roy Miller
W. B. Kelsey
Ida Argo
A. J .Brown
Osa
Grandma Sheldon
John McAninch
W. E. Kelsey
Ardis Carpenter
Davenport
Lottie Swan
Jake Fir
Earl Adams
Bert Adams
Pleasant Hill Social Roundup Achievements and Visits
Mrs. George Hammond reports a busy Pleasant Hill week with visits in Des Moines to the Prisbe family and Lois Burnett, calls to Clara Massman and Jay Argo homes, and gatherings with Mae Brandon Esther Murphy and Merle Dicks families. Ties include Lois Burnett’s baby, Moravia connections, Wayne Clark cement work, and Pioneer Days at Albia with neighbors from the area.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jim McAninch
Verna McAninch
Des Moines
Prisbe
Mae Brandon
Clara Massman
Jim MecAninch
Connie
Jay Argo
Lois Burnett
Baby
Esther Murphy
Moravia
George Hammond
Lloyd Clark
Wayne Clark
Lloyd
Clell Sheldon
Bob Metcalf
Merle Dicks
Willis McDaniel
Centerville
Albia
Also Mentioned on This Page
Uss.s
States
Navy
USS West Virginia
Gale
Lie
The
Moravia Union
Goode Seed & Feed Co
Salem By
Hasel
Hellyer
George Argo
Kathryn Argo
Hope Adams
Horton Potts
Dale Sonnenberg
Raymond Perry
Gary Land
William Spencer
Larry
Dell Hellyer
Robert. Jennings
Robert Tarr
Roberta
Ella Coffin
Earl Main
Wanda Mason
Knoxville
Otis Main
Rockford, Ill
Kenneth Gladfelder
Judy
Legnne Main
George Argosper
Dell
James Nash
Janet
Herley, Tisue
Robert Jennings
Mirs
Robert
Tarr
Newton Long
Jean
Horton
Potts
Monnie Rose
Hazel and
Clark
Urbana and Vicinity
Mra
Inez Faber
Unionville
Brompton
Albia Granite Co
Iconium
Mrs. Rosa Beaty
Pleasant Hill
Hal Clark
George Railing
E. P. Reynolds
No. Market St
Swift
Egg Maker
Moravia, Lowa
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