ALGONA SOLDIER FALLS IN FRANCE
Richard Batt Killed Serving U. S. Overseas
Algona—Mr. and Mrs. William Batt received notice from the War Department that their son Richard Wallace Batt, was killed in action in France, Sept. 25.
Richard was born Sept. 26, 1924, on a farm near Swea City. When a little boy he moved with his parents to Titonka and 18 months ago the family moved to Algona. He was graduated from high school in Titonka with the Class of 1942. He was in the second group of 18 year old boys to register and went into service Aug. 12, 1943. He was assigned to the infantry and was sent overseas Jan. 1, this year, arriving in Italy Feb. 6.
He was in the Casino battle and the break through at Anzio beachhead. He was with the invasion forces in southern France, Aug. 15.
He is survived by his parents and 7 brothers and sisters. They are: Cpl. William Batt, in France, Pvt. Daryle Batt, Camp Robinson, Ark., Howard, Betty, Jean Robert John, Maxine and Harold at home.
Source: The Mason City Globe-Gazette, October 24, 1944 (military photo included)
RICHARD BATT KILLED SERVING OVERSEAS
Richard W. Batt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Batt, Algona, reported killed in action in France Sept. 25. A private first class, Richard was a former Titonka boy, and had been in the service since August, 1943. He was sent overseas January 1, of this year. His parents and the family have lived in Algona a year and a half.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, October 31, 1944
PURPLE HEART TO PARENTS OF PVT. DICK BATT, BURT
Burt: Mr. and Mrs. Will F. Batt recently received the Purple Heart which was awarded posthumously to their son, Pvt. Richard W. Batt. Pvt. Batt died from wounds received serving his country Sept. 25, 1944. He entered the service in August, 1943, going overseas in January of 1944. This is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Batt. They have three other sons in the service, Cpl. Wm. N. Batt serving in France; Daryl W. with the Army probably serving overseas, who was home four days at Christmas, and Howard J., who is with the Merchant Marine since November, 1944. There are four children in school.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, February 1, 1945
80 Kossuth Men Officially Listed As Casualties In War
FIRST RELEASE OF STATE HISTORICAL DEATH SUMMARIES
Eighty men from Kossuth county lost their lives while in the service of their country in World War II.
KOSSUTH'S WAR DEAD.
Batt, Richard W. Pfc
Killed in France, Sept. 25, 1944. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Batt, 314 W. McGregor, Algona, Ia.
Source: The Algona Upper DesMoines, Tuesday, January 22, 1946 – page 7.
2 Transports Bring Yanks Home to Rest
Two ships returning with World War II dead from Europe and the Pacific are scheduled to arrive this week.
The army transport, Lawrence Victory, carrying the bodies of 4,183 Americans was to dock at the Brooklyn army base Friday. On this ship are 59 Iowans. The dead on this ship were originally interred in temporary military cemeteries at Epinal, St. Mere Eglise, LaCambe and St. Juan, France.
The Cardinal O’Connell, making her second funeral ship voyage, is due Friday at San Francisco with the remains of 2,024 war dead from India, Guadalcanal, Australia, New Zealand, the Central Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands. On this ship are 42 Iowans.
North Iowans on the 2 ships are as follows:
Lawrence Victory:
Pfc. Richard W. Batt, Burt.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, May 7, 1948
RICHARD W. BATT BODY TO ARRIVE
The body of Pfc. Richard W. Batt will arrive in Algona tomorrow, Wednesday morning, from an overseas military cemetery. It will be met by an escort from the Algona Legion and there will be a military guard until the body is taken to Burt for final funeral rites at 2 o’clock in the Methodist church. Elder E. Y. Hunker of Independence, Mo., will be officiating clergyman.
Dick’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Batt, have expressed the wish that friends who might contemplate sending flowers, instead contribute the amount toward a memorial gift.
Pallbearers will be Merlyn and Teddy Hoover, James Spear, John Rike, Richard Beenken and Edwin Giesking.
RITES ON MAY 26 FOR PFC. RICHARD BATT AT BURT
Burt—Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Batt received word Thursday that the body of their son, Pfc. Richard Batt, would arrive in Burt, Wednesday. Funeral services will be held that afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Methodist church. Interment will be at East Lawn Cemetery in Algona.
Richard was born Sept. 26, 1924, at Swea City. The family later moved to Titonka where he attended grade school and high school, graduating in 1942. He was inducted into the Army Jul 22, 1943, and received his training at Fort McClellan, Ala. He came home for a few days at Christmas and in January was sent overseas. He served first in Italy, but was sent to France, where he was killed on Sept. 25, 1944.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, May 25, 1948
Richard Wallace Batt was born Sept. 26, 1924 to William Floyd and Beula Berdene Taylor Batt. He died Sept. 25, 1944 and is buried in East Lawn Cemetery, Algona, IA.
Pvt. Batt served in World War II with the U.S. Army 143rd Infantry 36th Infantry Division.
Source: ancestry.com
