Pekin Mourns Death of
Lance Cpl Jordan Bastean.
Less than two years out of high school, Lance Cpl.
Jordan S. Bastean of Pekin has been killed in combat
conditions while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom in
Afghanistan. Bastean was killed Sunday, October 23,
“while conducting combat operations in Helmand province,
Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine
Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary
Force” out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., according to a
Department of Defense press release. The news of
Bastean’s death, devastating to those who knew the
19-year-old, was officially released Monday evening. By
Sunday night, however, it had already swept across a
social network website and Monday morning spread to shock
students and staff at Pekin Community High School.
Just as quickly came high praise, somberly spoken, for the
young man liked by “everyone who met him,” said lifelong
neighbor Eric Petri, and “among the top five” out of
nearly 1,000 cadets the school’s JROTC master sergeant has
supervised. Bastean “excelled in everything,” not
just as a four-year cadet and captain of the program’s
champion-caliber Air Rifle Team, said Master Sgt. Joseph
Fabish. “He was a very well-rounded person. I’d trust him
completely in anything. “I’m just devastated,”
Fabish said. “This is hitting the cadets pretty hard
today.”
submitted by dlbr - Pekin Daily Times 10/25/2011
Fund To Honor Fallen
Marine
Jordan Bastean’s family hopes those who wish to remember
and honor their fallen family member will give to a cause
that helps Bastean’s fellow U.S. Marines in
Afghanistan. Bastean, 19, a lance corporal only a
few weeks into his first tour in Afghanistan, was killed
Sunday in combat operations in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom. He was a 2010 graduate of Pekin
Community High School. His remains arrived Tuesday
night at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, his uncle,
Edward Bastean of Pekin, said in a news release
Wednesday. Bastean’s parents, Kathy of Pekin and
Steven, who recently enlisted in the U.S. Army, arrived
earlier Tuesday to receive him home in what his uncle
called a dignified and “well-orchestrated event showing
respect and honor to our fallen hero.” “Our family
continues to mourn this tragic loss and is grateful to
have Jordan back on U.S. soil,” Edward Bastean said.
The family is working on funeral arrangements, possibly
for mid-next week, with Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes &
Crematory of Pekin, he said. Aware of the desire of many
to honor the fallen Pekin native, his family has set up a
memorial fund through the Marine Parents
organization. The family requests donations be made
to the Marine Parents Outreach Program entitled The Care
Package Project in support of combat-deployed Marines and
Corpsmen, Edward Bastean said. “As a Marine mom,
Kathy Bastean has been actively involved with The Care
Package Project in the past and wanted to continue to give
and honor her son by setting up the memorial fund to help
provide soldiers that are still in Afghanistan a little
something from home,” he said. Donations may be made
online at www.marineparents.com/bastean.asp. Donations in
Jordan Bastean’s name also may be made by calling the
non-profit Marine Parents organization at (573) 449-2003 weekdays between
9-5 p.m. or by mailing a check to MarineParents.com, P.O.
Box 1115, Columbia, MO 65205.
submitted by dlbr - Pekin Daily Times 10/27/2011
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SSG "Matt" Maupin laid
to rest with assistance from Bartonville based 724th
Trans. Co.
CINCINNATI - Sgt. 1st Class
Ronald Owens said he prayed for the safe return of Staff
Sgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin for the last four years. On a
bittersweet Sunday he, along with five other members of
the Bartonville-based 724th Transportation Co., finally
brought the soldier home, carrying his casket before
thousands of mourners and well-wishers. "Not that we have
him safely home, but he's home," Owens said Sunday after a
memorial service. "As a member of the 724th, being able to
be a part of laying Matt to rest was huge." Military
workers and supporters from across the country joined in
memorials for a slain Army reservist who had become a
poignant picture of the war in Iraq after he was captured
by insurgents. Thousands walked past Maupin's casket
during a daylong visitation at a civic center in Clermont
County, east of Cincinnati, where he grew up. Many of them
headed to Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati
Reds, for an afternoon memorial service. The crowd
occupied the lower portion of the 42,000-seat stadium,
behind home plate, stretching from first base to third.
The Cincinnati Enquirer said about 3,500 were in
attendance. Maupin's flag-draped casket was on a platform
in the area of the pitcher's mound. The only people on the
field were members of the 338th
Army
Reserve Band and about 100 family
members, dignitaries, and military representatives,
including those from the 724th, in which Maupin served.
"It will definitely put tears in your eyes," said Sgt.
Maj. Eric Hill of the 724th. Maupin's remains were found
in Iraq last month, nearly four years after he was
captured when his fuel convoy was attacked near Baghdad
on April 9, 2004. He became the face of the war for many
Americans after the Arab television network Al-Jazeera
aired a videotape in April 2004 showing him wearing
camouflage and a floppy desert hat, sitting on a floor
surrounded by five masked men holding automatic rifles.
Hill said he was awestruck by the well-wishers who came
to the ballpark, lined the streets and filled the
cemetery as Maupin's casket was carried to the gravesite
by a horse-drawn carriage. In another fitting tribute,
Hill said as soldiers folded the flag that was draped
over the casket and walked it over to Maupin's parents,
a dove swooped down over the soldiers and flew out the
cemetery, following the flags that lined the lane. "It
was white as silk," Hill said. "It was an unbelievable
moment." Maupin, a 20-year-old private first class when
he disappeared, was listed as missing-captured until a
tip from local Iraqis led to the discovery of his
remains on the outskirts of Baghdad, about 12 miles from
where the convoy was ambushed. The Army had promoted
Maupin three times since his capture, to keep his military career
on a par with his contemporaries in case he survived. At
a private ceremony with his family on Saturday, the Army
awarded Maupin the Bronze Star, Purple Heart,
Meritorious Service Medal, the POW Medal and other
commendations. Hill, who is deployed in Iraq and was
given leave to come back for the funeral, said bringing
Maupin home was important to the 724th, which had 75
members present Sunday. "Not a day goes by that doesn't
remind me of Matt," he said. "We got to come home. It'd
be nice if he walked off the plane, but at least he's
home." Added Owens, "There is a sense of relief that now
we've brought all of our soldiers home." Since Maupin's
capture, the Yellow Ribbon Support Center founded by his
parents, Keith and Carolyn Maupin, has sent nearly
10,000 packages of toiletries, magazines, snacks and
games to soldiers. They have said that work will continue.
submitted by dlbr 10/05/11 Peoria Journal Star 04/28/08
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Pekin Youth,
Gunner on Bomber, Is Missing
SSG Maurice Dobbins 25, Army Air Corps
gunner, has been reported missing in action in the
European area, according to a war department telegram
received last night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everett H
Dobbins, 1005 North Capitol Street.
Younger Brother Joins Up
The wite, addressed to SSG Dobbins' wife, who
returned to her home in Pueblo CO a few weeks ago, arrived
just a few hours after the soldier's younger brother
Randall, had passed his first examination to become an air
cadet. The message from the Adjutant General stated
that SSG Dobbins was "reported missing in action, in
European area since March 22. Additional information
will be sent to you when received."
In "Greatest Raid" (?)
A United Press story just a week ago today
reported "an American aerial assault on Wilhelmshaven
naval base and submarine building and repair center in
northwest Germany, and is believed possible that SSG
Dobbins may have been in one of those planes. The item
said that the attack was described by participating pilots
as the most concentrated yet undertaken by the 8th U.S.
Air Forces and that "good results" were achieved in the
raid. An Air Corps officer said that the American
planes "plastered the devil out of the target" and
reported that many fires sprang up in the wake of the
bombers.
Two Crashed Into Sea
Three bombers were lost, according to the
story, at least two crashing into the North Sea, but many
of the interesting German fighters were
destroyed. Only Saturday Mrs. Dobbins received
a V-mail letter from her son, stating that he was
"someplace in England" and that tho, he would like to tell
her what he was doing, he couldn't. His parents
believe that he had been overseas between six and seven
weeks, as he was home on furlough January 09 to 12,
accompanied by his young wife, Lucile, whom he married in
Colorado, December 12, 1942. About February 07 he
was sent to Florida, and tho he wrote a few letters from
there, it is thought he left soon for England. The
letter received Saturday was dated March 12 and was the
first his parents had received from overseas. It was
just 10 days later that he was reported missing in action.
Worked at Quaker Oats
Tho born in Chicago, SSG Dobbins came to
Pekin with his parents in the spring of 1915 when he was a
baby, and lived here since, attending Lincoln School,
Washington Junior High and Pekin Community High
School. he was employed as a machine operator at the
Quaker Oats company for three and a half years prior to
his enlistment in the army March 21 1942. Just a year ago
anda day before he was reported missing.
Was Skilled Bomber
After three weeks at Jefferson Barracks MO,
he was sent to Las Vegas NV where he was graduated from
gunnery school and received his sargeant's rating.
From there he went to Tucson AZ; Boise ID; Wendover UT;
Pueblo CO; and Saline KS. During his training he
became an assistant engineer and was promoted to staff
sargeant. In the new capacity he was expected to be
able to take over any position on the ship - piolot,
navigator, etc. His parents believe he was an aerial
gunner on a Liberator bomber, a ship carrying a crew of
nine, when he was reported missing.
Telegram Came Here
In Pueblo, he met and married Miss Lucile
Frasher, who came to Pekin with him on furlough, just
before he was sent across. She remained in Pekin for a
visit after he returned to Kansas, then to Florida, but
later she went to her home in Pueblo, and is employed
there now. The Dobbins believe the war department thought
young Mrs. Dobbins was still in Pekin, as the wire for her
came to their residence last night and they notified her
of the message. Beside his younger brother, Randall,
popular PCHS senior and talented drummer, Sgt. Dobbins has
an elder sister, Mrs. Jim Champion, Pekin; a younger
sister, Miss Lorena Dobbins, at home, and a grandmother,
Mrs. Alma Rutledge, Elmhurst, who is visiting in Pekin.
Randall, 17, has been ordered to report to Rantoul
tomorrow to complete his cadet examination, but he will
not be called to service before his 18th birthday in
October.
Pekin Daily Times March 30, 1943
Copyright:
44th
Bomb
Group
Roll
of
Honor
and
Casualties, compiled
by
Will Lundy, 2005 edition.
www.44thbombgroup.com
506th SQUADRON:
506th Sq., #41-24191 X, Fouts CACTUS
506th Squadron Crew: Entire Crew KIA
BRENNER, JOSEPH L. Bombardier 2nd Lt.
Chicago, ASN 0-727081 KIA, initially buried in
Wilhelmshaven Illinois
DOBBINS, MAURICE H. Asst.
Eng./Hatch S/Sgt. Pekin, ASN 16055011 KIA, WOM
Margraten Illinois
FOUTS,
VIRGIL R. Pilot 1st Lt. Los Angeles, ASN 0-437434
KIA, WOM Cambridge California
KLOSE, KENNETH A. Tail Turret S/Sgt.
Buchanan, ASN 37276328 KIA, WOM Margraten North
Dakota
LINDAU, EDWARD W. LW Gunner S/Sgt.
Palatine, ASN 36012770 KIA, WOM Margraten Illinois
NAVAS, FRANK Co-pilot 2nd Lt. Scranton, ASN 0-730577
KIA, WOM Margraten Pennsylvania
NORDQUIST, RICHARD K. Radio Oper. T/Sgt.
San Antonio, ASN 16020714 KIA, WOM Cambridge Texas
RUSSELL, ELDO A. Top Turret T/Sgt. Denver,
ASN 18070094 KIA, WOM Margraten Colorado
SEAMAN, ROBERT H. Navigator 2nd Lt. Reading, ASN
0-663420 KIA, WOM Margraten Pennsylvania
WIESER, JERRY H. RW Gunner S/Sgt. Burbank,
ASN 39247916 KIA, WOM Margraten California
Note: Lt.
Brenner’s body was the only one recovered.
On the same Wilhelmshaven mission this
506th Squadron crew, flying its first mission, as well
as the 506th’s first mission, was observed to be having
a difficult time holding its position in the formation.
Mission debriefing reports show that the aircraft was
singled out for attack by FW 190s. Eye witness accounts
stated: “During the first attack from enemy aircraft,
ship #191 was hit in #4 engine, which caught fire and
the ship began to lose altitude and leave the formation.
Shortly afterwards, the #3 engine also caught fire and the
ship headed for the Island of Baltrum, In the East Frisian
group, off the coast of Germany in the North Sea.”
44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties
14 May 1943
Page 62 www.44thbombgroup.com July 2005 edition
Eye witnesses from the other crews in the formation
reported seeing five chutes open from this aircraft
prior to losing sight of this ship. This aircraft was
last seen at approximately 10 miles northwest of Baltrum
Island. Grave registration investigations
in 1948 pertaining to this crew and comments made in
their Service records indicate that “the temperature
of the waters in the North Sea in March is such that,
had the parachutes landed in the waters, life would
not have been possible beyond a few hours immersion
therein.” It should be noted that
the isolated grave of the bombardier 2nd Lt. Joseph L.
Brenner was found after the war near Wilhelmshaven.
The reports determined that “while no other bodies had
been found, it is reasonable to conclude that the
plane crashed in the water and that the men who
parachuted from the airplane, as well as those who
went down with it, were unable to reach land and that
none of the crew survived beyond the date of their
disappearance, 22 March 1943.” Research
done by Virgil Fouts’ nephew in German archives
indicates that aircraft #191 was claimed as a victory
by Lt. Hans Pancritius, a FW 190 Luftwaffe pilot of
Staffel 8/JG1, flying out of Leeuwarden, Holland. Lt.
Pancritius was killed by a B-17 gunner on 17 July 1943
in Yellow 12, FW 190A-5/U, #7366, 80 km north of
Borkum Island in the North Sea. At the time he was 22
years old and Commander of 3/JG11. He had 10 kills to
his credit. While doing his
research, Fouts’ nephew also discovered the pilot who
shot down Capt. Warne’s B-24. It was Olt. Gerhard
Sommer, Staffel 1/Gruppe 1 out of Leeuwarden.
submitted by Debi Murphy-Bruns
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