Harding Killed in Action in Germany in February 15
Had Been Overseas One Month to Day He Met His Death
Pvt. Mitchell A. Harding, son of Mrs. Fern Harding, route 4, was killed in action on Feb. 15 somewhere in Germany, according to a message received from the war department.
Pvt. Harding had been overseas one month to the day on which he was killed. He had left the states on his birthday, Jan. 8, it was stated, and had landed in Scotland on Jan. 15. Mrs. Harding had received a letter from her son just a half hour before the message telling of his death came.
Mitchell was born Jan. 8, 1921, in Mason City. He attended the Mason City schools and was graduated from high school with the class of 1939. At the time of entering the service last July he was employed at Jones Welding and Machine shop. Previous to that he had worked at the Art Servison and Rudy Heiler grocery. At one time he had been a carrier boy for the Globe-Gazette.
Surviving him are his mother, 3 sisters, Ruth, Bonnie, and Leona Mae, and a brother, Glenn, all at home. Leona Mae is employed at Mercy hospital. He was preceeded in death by his father in 1931.
Source: The Mason City Globe-Gazette, March 1, 1945
MEMORIAL FOR SERVICE MEN SUNDAY
Five members of the armed forces who have given their lives in combat will be honored at the 8th joint public memorial service to be held at Music hall Sunday afternoon at 3:45, with the Rev. Russell Pope, pastor of the Church of the Open Bible, giving the eulogy.
Burial flags given by the United States government will be presented to the next of kin of these 5 servicemen to be thus honored; Salude F. Flores, killed in Leyte; Michael Chimbidis, killed in Luxembourg; Mitchell A. Harding, killed in Germany; Lloyd Phillip Allen, lost on U. S. S. Warrington; and Robert C. Jacobson, killed on Iwo Jima. The Gold Star citation scroll given by the national department of the American Legion will also be presented to those receiving the flags.
The program will open with a 5 minute prologue to be played by Mrs. Roy Servison. Mrs. Harold Wolfe will sing 2 selections with Mrs. Servison at the piano. Company E of the Iowa state guard will furnish the honor guard and firing squad for the day. John Reuber is bugler.
All veteran organizations and their auxiliaries and all other patriotic organizations will attend in a body with their colors. They are requested to be at Music hall at 3:45.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Friday, March 23, 1945, Page 14 (photo included)
Mitchell Arthur Harding was born Jan. 8, 1921 to Leon H. and Fern Mitchell Harding. He died Feb. 14, 1945 and is buried in Elmwood Saint Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
