Saw Nora Springs Man Before Death
By FRANK MILES
With the 5th Army in Italy (IDPA) - Sgt Harvey H. Jeffrie of Nora Springs, though weak from wounds, smiled cheerfully from his hospital cot when I shook hands with him last fall.
He said he "could feel worse" and was certain he soon would be all right. I saw that his condition was grave and asked him if his folks knew he had been hit by enemy steel. He replied that the Red Cross had written them at his request.
Since I am not permitted to impart information as to a casualty until next of kin officially is notified, I told him that I would write his parents urging them to write him often without mentioning what had occurred.
Since then I received a copy of a folder containing the program of memorial services held for him at the Methodist church in Nora Springs, his picture and an account of his life and death. It came from his sister-in-law, Mrs. Leslie Jeffrie, Hampton. Complying with her request, I wrote her all I could remember of my visit with him. He died Oct. 11.
Shortly before I started writing this article in the correspondents room at the 5th army headquarters, Pfc. Harry Bonnema, LeMars, the tallest GI on duty here, came in with a black eye and his usual grin.
A few nights earlier when he was in a jeep he was holding to the windshield looking up trying to see 3 Jerry planes, which were strafing the area. The machine hit a bump, which resulted in a bruise above the Iowan's right eye.
I had just returned from visiting Cpl. Lyle Claude, Ames, who was in an engineer's outfit assigned to furnishing water to the front lines. That means day and night work regardless of weather and all of the obstacles rain, snow, cold, mud, and ice create.
Corporal Claude lived in Webster City until 4 years ago. He was reading copies of the Freeman-Journal of that city in which there were some of my stories when I called on him in the old Italian house where he sleeps. He said 2 of his buddies were Pfc. Lloyd Mills, Adel, and Pfc. Earl Cannon, Des Moines.
Corporal Claude landed in Italy in September of 1943 and has had many thrilling experiences of which he would say little. He has 5 brothers in uniform: Pfc. Harold, in the army in New Guinea; Pfc. James in the army in Guam; Pfc. Charles, in the army in Germany; T/5 Kenneth in the army in Texas; and Seaman 3/c Clare Claude in the south Pacific.
Iowans listed as homeward bound on 30 day furloughs:
Second Lt. Clifford Spears, Toledo; Sgt. Paul Ramage, McGregor; Cpl. Joe Nemes, Cedar Rapids; and Pvt. Frank Dorsett, Council Bluffs, all of the 34th division, and all participated in the Tunisian and Italian campaigns.
Lt. Spears received a battlefield promotion from sergeant and wears 4 campaign stars on his European theater ribbon, the combat infantryman's badge, the purple heart and a unit citation. Sergeant Ramage has 4 stars on his European ribbon, the badge the purple heart and a unit citation. Corporal Nemes has the drivers badge. Pvt. Dorsett has 2 brothers in the army, Edward, a south Pacific veteran who was at home on furlough, and Howard Dorsett in the army air forces in India. He was in the Iowa national guard for 8 years prior to it federalization on Feb. 10, 1941.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, February 9, 1945
