Battle Casualties Sadden More Homes
STAFF SGT. DWAIN WHITMER—Mrs. Eileen Whitmer, 205 West Eighth street, received word in November that her husband, Staff Sgt. Dwain Whitmer, had been killed in action Oct. 31, 1944, in Holland. He entered service in November, 1942, and received his training at Camp Adair, Ore., before going overseas in September of this year. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Whitmer, of Wilton.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Friday, December 29, 1944
Solemn Procession Continues Through 1948 as War Dead Are Returned Home
Flag-draped caskets, coming from the European and Pacific war theaters, were brought to Muscatine county and other neighboring communities at intervals throughout the year of 1948 as the solemn procession of the country’s war dead continued to move home.
As each casket carrying a soldier, sailor, marine or flier who died during World War II was returned, last honors were accorded to the servicemen at funeral and burial rites. Final interment was in the cemetery chosen by his next-of-kin.
This year was the second for the government’s program of returning the bodies of war dead to the United States for burial in keeping with the wishes of their family. Inaugurated in the fall of 1947, the program has to date seen the return from overseas cemeteries of more than 50 bodies of men from this vicinity who died in the service of their country during the war.
The list of war dead returned to Muscatine and surrounding counties includes the following:
Staff Sgt. Dwain N. Whitmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Whitmer, of Wilton, killed in action in Holland, Oct. 31, 1944. Burial in Oakdale cemetery at Wilton.
Source: The Muscatine Journal, December 30, 1948
