Pvt. Dale C. Motis Killed in Action
West Liberty—Pvt. Dale C. Motis, son in law of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Melick of West Liberty, was killed in action March 31 at Patten, Germany, according to word received by Mr. and Mrs. Melick. He was serving with an infantry unit and had been overseas since late January. Mrs. Motis and daughter live at Skokie, Ill.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Friday, April 13, 1945
Bodies of Four Muscatine County Veterans Being Sent Back for Burial
Bodies of four Muscatine county war dead are being returned to the United States aboard the U. S. Army Transport Barney Kirschbaum coming from Europe with war dead originally interred in France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.
According to an announcement by the Army today, the 76 bodies being returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in Iowa include:
Tech. Sgt. Mearl E. Daufeldt, air force, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Daufeldt, 2116 West Fifth street, Davenport, formerly of Muscatine;
Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, air force, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl A. Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street, Muscatine;
Pvt. Dale C. Motis, army, husband of Marian L. Motis, 1019 Calhoun street, West Liberty;
Pvt. Clarence A. Plank, army, son of Jessie L. Freise, 1232 Dale street, Muscatine.
Plans for burial in Muscatine of the bodies of Tech. Sgt. Kolmerer and Pvt. Plank have already been announced by their families.
DALE C. MOTIS
Pvt. Motis, who was 28 at the time of his death, was born in Des Moines, Ia., and attended school there. After his graduation from Drake University, he was employed by Commercial Credit company in Des Moines. He married Marian Melick of West liberty and the couple moved to Chicago where he was employed in the credit department of the Graybar Electric company.
He entered service in May of 1944 and received his basic training in Texas before entering officer’s training school at Fort Benning, Ga.
Pvt. Motis went overseas Feb. 9, 1945, and was killed in action at Arnsbach, Germany, on March 31, 1945.
He is survived by his wife and daughter, Marilee, of West Liberty and his father, Dr. Charles E. Motis, Des Moines. His mother died in May of 1945.
Burial will be in the Arlington national cemetery at Fort Meyers, Va.
Source: The Muscatine Journal, December 28, 1948
