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.
Karsten, Vincent Pvt.
Killed in New Guinea Dec. 7, 1942. Mother: Mrs. Margaret Karsten, Swea City, Ia.
Source: The Algona Upper DesMoines, Tuesday, January 22, 1946 – page 7.
BODIES OF IOWA VETS RETURNED
North Iowans Among Yanks on Transport
Remains of 4,459 Americans who lost their lives during World War II are being returned to San Francisco from Manila aboard the United States Army Transport Lt. George W. G. Boyce, the department of the army announced Monday.
Armed forces dead originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands are among those being brought to this country.
A total of 110 remains are being returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in Iowa.
North Iowans in the list include the following:
Pvt. Vincent D. Karsten, Swea City.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, June 1, 1948
Vincent Karsten Funeral Today
Swea City—The body of Vincent Karsten, killed in New Guinea on the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor day, was expected to arrive home Monday, July 12, according to word received Saturday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Karsten.
Vincent’s death was the first among service men who enlisted from Bancroft, and his is the first gold star on the service flag in St. Johns Catholic parish. Mr. and Mrs. Karsten, who now reside in Swea City, lived in Greenwood township at the time of their son’s enlistment.
The body was to arrive at Burt via Northwestern train and will lie in state here until Tuesday, July 13, when funeral services will be held at 9:30 at St. John’s church, Bancroft. Final burial will be made in the Catholic cemetery.
Vincent enlisted on Jan. 3, 1942. He was 28 years old. A brother, John, now in process of being discharged from the Army, had not yet (Saturday) located in an effort to notify him of the funeral on Tuesday.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, July 13, 1948
NOTE: Buried in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Bancroft, Iowa. Tombstone dates are: Born 1/22/1914; Died 12/7/1942
