Pfc. E. S. Alexander First World War II LuVerne Casualty
LuVerne: Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Alexander, of LuVerne, are in recipt of word from the War Department stating that their son, Pfc. Everett Sherman Alexander, was killed in France on July 6, 1944.
Pfc. Alexander was 30 years of age and had entered the service in March of 1942. He landed in England in April of this year. This brings to LuVerne its first World War II casualty.
Besides his parents, Pfc. Alexander is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Luther Nygaard, Mrs. George Demering and Irma Alexander, and also one brother, Vernon, all of the LuVerne vicinity.
Although LuVerne has had no previous reports of war casualties, two local men are now prisoners of war in Germany. Corp. Howard Smith, son of Mrs. Georgia Smith, and Corp. Gordon Dimler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dimler, were captured by the Germans more than a year ago, and are now held in the same prison camp in Germany, according to word received from Corp. Dimler only recently.
Source: The Algona Upper Des Moines, Tuesday, August 8, 1944
MEMORIAL RITES AT LUVERNE FOR PFC. ALEXANDER
Memorial services for Pfc. Everett Sherman Alexander, of LuVerne, were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Methodist church with Rev. Robert Phillips officiating.
Pfc. Alexander was born June 2, 1912, at Bradgate, Iowa, and gave his life for his country July 6, 1944, while serving in the Atlantic war zone.
The American Legion and Auxiliary honored the young hero by attending the services in a body. Baskets of flowers for the altar and generous donations to the American Red Cross were given by relatives and friends in his memory.
The processional was played by Mrs. Ray Stone, while the relatives and the Legion and Auxiliary marched in. Rev. Phillips then offered words of assurance and prayer. The congregation sang, “God Bless Our Native Land.” Legion Commander Walter Engel and Auxiliary President, Georgia Chapman, spoke in behalf of their organizations. Herman Meyer, Chaplin, then offered prayer. A trio composed of Mary Margaret Phillips, Mary Espeland and Dorothy Swanson sang, “Still, Still With Thee.”
Rev. Phillips chose as his theme, “Greater Love.” Following the sermon, the congregation sang “Abide With Me.” The United States flag was then presented to the Alexander family by two soldiers from the prisoner of war camp at Algona. Taps were sounded by Richard Smith who is home on leave from the Navy. The congregation then stood and pledged allegiance to the flag. The colors were then retired by color bearers, Grover Rentz and Charles Kwallek.
Honorary Pallbearers were Elmer Hunt, Charles Nygaard Roy Nygaard, George Wolf, Harold Wolf and Theodore Johnson.
Pfc. Alexander was 30 years of age and had entered the service in March, 1942. He landed in England in April of this year. He farmed with his father before entering the service.
Besides his parents, Pfc. Alexander is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Luther Nygaard, Mrs. George Detmering and Irma Alexander and also one brother, Vernon. Many out-of-town relatives and friends attended the service, and the church was filled to capacity.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, August 15, 1944
KOSSUTH'S WAR DEAD.
Alexander, Everett Sherman, Pfc.
killed in action in France. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Alexcander, R.F.D. 2, LuVerne, Ia. Sister: Mrs. Luther Nygaard, LuVerne, Ia.
Source: The Algona Upper DesMoines, Tuesday, January 22, 1946, page 7
Everett Sherman Alexander was born June 2, 1912 to Orville Sherman and Jessie Edna Olinger Alexander. He died July 6, 1944 and is buried in Normandy, France. He has a cenotaph in Union Cemetery, Humboldt, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
