Mapleton Soldier Missing in Action, Parents Informed
Mapleton, Ia.—The War Department Friday notified Mr. and Mrs. William McShannon that their son, T. Sgt. John McShannon was missing in action with the United States army in Belgium.
The last letter his parents received from him was written December 17, and at that time he reported it was rather quiet. Then on December 24, he came up missing.
Sgt. McShannon had seen some tough fighting as a member of the 83d armored reconnaissance of the Third armored division. He has been a radio operator with this “eyes and ears” branch of the service. He was with Gen. Patton’s Spearhead division of the Third army going through France and then upon reaching Germany he was transferred to the Spearhead division of Gen. Hodges First army, seeing some of the heaviest fight around Aachen. He was with Gen. Hodges when reported missing.
He is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. William McShannon and was 25 years old last May. Before going overseas he was married to Miss Carole Jensen, daughter of M. E. and Grace Jensen of Mapleton. The wedding took place July 12, 1943. Mrs. McShannon is working in Sioux City.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, January 31, 1945
Sgt. John Douglas McShannon died Dec. 24, 1944 and is buried in Saint Clair Cemetery, Ute, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
