Willis Conklin Honored at Picnic
Willis Conklin, who will leave for the Navy on July 6, was honored at a picnic supper given by a group of friends Sunday evening at the home of Mrs. Harold Fletcher, 115 Thirteenth street northeast. A farewell gift was presented to him.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, June 29, 1942, Page 8
Willis L. Conklin, 20, husband of Mrs. Donna L. Conklin, 904 Tenth street northeast, reported for duty at the Great Lakes naval training station here last week, according to a dispatch from the station.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, July 24, 1942, Page 14
Mason Cityan Graduated From
Great Lakes Naval Hospital
GREAT LAKES, Ill. – A Mason City man was graduated this week from the hospital corps school of the U. S. Naval hospital here. The graduate, a member of a class of 494 men, is now advanced in rating.
Graduation from the hospital corps school terminated a six-week course of preliminary training which includes the study of anatomy and physiology, hygiene and sanitation, material-medica and weights and measures, first aid and bandaging, nursing, transportation of casualties and dietetics.
More intense training is in store for the men before they are sent to duty at sea or to other shore stations.
The Mason City graduate is Willis L. Conklin, 21, son of Mrs. Lou Conklin, 904 Tenth street northeast, hospital apprentice second class.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, July 24, 1942, Page 14
Promoted At Quantico
Willis L. Conklin, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Denton, 904 Tenth street northeast, has received a promotion to the rate of pharmacist’s mate third class at Quantico, Va., where he is stationed. He entered the service in July, 1942.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Wednesday, February 10, 1943, Page 7 (photo included)
Gets Advanced Rating
Word has been received that Willis L. Conklin, overseas since last fall, has received the rating of pharmacist’s mate 2/c. Conklin’s wife and daughter live at 203 13 N. E. He is the son of Mrs. L. F. Denson at 904 10th N. E. Before entering the service in July, 1942, Conklin was employed at the Osco Self Service drug store.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, February 29, 1944, Page 16
To Embarkation Post
Willis L. Conklin, pharmacist’s mate 1/c, has left for a port of embarkation on his new assignment after spending a 21-day delay in order in Mason City with relatives and friends.
Conklin is with an amphibious force and spent a year overseas in Scotland and England and saw active service in the Mediterranean area. Before enlisting in the service in July, 1942, he was employed at the Osco drug store here. His wife and daughter live at 216 3rd N. E. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Denson, 904 10th N. E.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Monday, November 20, 1944, Page 9
Purple Heart Awarded Posthumously
Received Here by Mrs. Conklin
Mrs. Willis L. Conklin, 1224 Washington N. W., has received the purple heart decoration posthumously awarded to her husband, PhM 1/c Conklin, who died in the south Pacific on April 22, of wounds received in action.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, September 04, 1945, Page 7
Willis Lloyd Conklin was born Aug. 9, 1921 to Charles W. and Mary Peterka Conklin. He died Apr. 22, 1945 and has a cenotaph in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, IA and is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing, Court 5, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Petty Officer Conklin served with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Teton (AGC-14) in World War II and was MIA/KIA. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
