Mr. and Mrs. William Durr of Griggsville have received word from the government that their son, Pfc. Harvey Durr, has been reported missing in the North Af­rican Area. The following tele­gram was received Saturday by the family: "The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son, Private First Class Harvey H. Durr, has been reported missing in action since eleven September in the North African Area. If further details or other information are received, you will be promptly notified." Signed, Ulio, the Adjut­ant General, Washington, D. C. Pfc. Durr entered the service on May 11, 1942 and was stationed at Camp Pickett, Virginia before be­ing sent overseas sometime dur­ing July, 1943. He was a member of the first aid unit in the Med­ical Department and was attached to an infantry division. During September his family had word from him telling of his having received the silver star for gallantry, the fourth highest ranking award made to men in our armed forces. The award had been made in July somewhere in Sicily. In the citation his action meriting the award was described as having gone out under heavy artillery bombardment to administer first aid. Since there has been no action in Sicily since hearing from him it is supposed the Pfc. Durr had been transferred to some other front in the North African Area. Harvey attended the Griggsville schools and was employed several years at the Nation-Wide store. He has two brothers, Clifford, also employed at the Nation-Wide store, and Stanley employed at the Griggsville Hardware company. The community extends sympathy to the Durr family in their distress over Saturday’s news and hope that reassuring word of the missing boy may be had soon.
Contributed by Delaine Donaldson
The Independent Press (Griggsville, Illinois), October 20, 1943