World War II Honor Roll - Their Stories
DALE CARNEY
Dale L. Carney, seaman second class, entered the U. S. Navy Reserve from South Dakota. He died on October 28, 1943. His remains were not recovered. He was awarded the Purple Heart, and his name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridbe, England. His next of kin, mother Izetta Carney, lived at 109 2nd St. NW, Huron, and later, in Rivera, California.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
National Archives and Records Administration. World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas. (Ancestry.com)
World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945. (Ancestry.com)
American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov)
RAYMOND CHRISTENSEN
Raymond Christensen was born on February 2, 1914 in Huron, South Dakota. His parents, Peter C. Christensen and Ella Monsen Christensen, were natives of Denmark and Norway, respectively, and his father owned half-interest in Bell Bakery. The family lived in town for awhile, before his father took up farming in rural Beadle county, near Virgil. Raymond worked as a farmhand, traveling around the midwest wherever work was available.
In 1938, he enrolled in the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture, and sold insurance for State Farm to support himself. In January of 1942, he enlisted in the service, and found himself, two months later, at the 561st Tech School in Illinois, and in a few months in Boca Raton, Florida in a training school, preparing to join the 417th Night Fighters Squadron. This was an assignment that was so dangerous that only volunteers were taken, and Ray trained as a radar operator.
In November of 1943, he joined the squadron and began flying missions. A letter to home described the experience as "hair-raising," as they flew low over the ocean to avoid detection by enemy planes. Ray flew with pilot Joseph Leonard.
On the night of May 13/morning of May 14, on one such mission, their plane went down under enemy fire. Radar lost contact with them east of Corsica. Six planes were sent in a search and rescue attempt, joined by six more in the early hours of May 14. All they found was "much debris, an oil slick and two life rafts."
Ray was awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.
Flight Officer Raymond Christensen's name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. He was survived by his parents, Peter and Ella Christensen of Gardena, California; three sisters, Lillian Knutz of Beadle county, SD; Edna Carey of Harlingen, TX; and Sylvia Neiffer of Huron, SD, and one brother, Clarence, who was also serving his country.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov)
Missing Air Crew Report, KW#161
Beaufighters in the Night: 417th Night Fighter Squadron USAAF. Lt. Col Braxton "Brick" Eisel - USAF. 2007.
Flight Officer Christensen in his flight suit
EVERETT CHRISTOPHERSON
Everett Christopher was born in 1920 in South Dakota to James and Marie Christopherson. His family farmed in Vernon township. He married Maxine Rawstern of Wolsey on August 19, 1940
He enlisted in the military on August 02, 1944 in Los Angeles, and his civil occupation was in the metal working occupations. He was married.
He was killed May 23, 1945 in Luzon.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
1930 Federal Census, South Dakota, Beadle co.
Ancestry.com. South Dakota Marriages, 1905-1949
JAMES M. CLARK
James M. Clark was born about 1924 to Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Clark, who farmed 12 miles north of Huron. He graduated from Huron High School with the Class of 1942, and joined the army the following year, from California, on August 03, 1943. One year later, he arrived in England, where he served in the 378th Infantry, 95th Division. At the age of 20, he was died of wounds on November 28, 1944 in France, and is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France - Plot B, Row 21, Grave 46. He was survived by his parents, and a sister, Mrs. Al (Mildred) Saccani of Sacramento, California.
Lorraine American Cemetery
St. Avold, France©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Daily Huronite, Huron, S.D. Sunday, December 24, 1944
National Archives and Records Administration. World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas.
American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov)
SGT. RICHARD CONDIT
Richard Condit, a member of the Army Air Force, was killed on May 31, 1943 when on a routine flight. His bomber crashed near Avon Park, Florida. At the time of his death, he was an Aberdeen, and former Huron, resident.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, June 22, 1943
LT. HOWARD CONNER
Howard A. Conner was born in Huron on August 23, 1918 to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Conner of 360 Frank Ave. SE. He attended Huron High School, graduating with the Class of 1937, and was active in Spanish Club and Pep Club. As a young man, he worked at Huron Theater, and later as a clerk at Tunell's Shoe Store.
He left Huron on Tuesday, January 28, 1941 bound for Sioux Falls to get his final physical before being sent to camp to start his one-year military training. Comrades Edward Kalahar, of Huron, and Peter Tschetter of Carpenter left at the same time. They reported for duty at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and the following month, Conner was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, and assigned to the 99th Anti-Tank Battalion. In August of 1942, he was sent to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, to serve in a tank destroyer batallion. In January of 1932, he transferred to the Army Air Forces, and graduated and received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant at Aloe Army Air Field in Victoria, Texas on November 3, 1943.
He took a short leave to visit loved ones in Minneapolis and Huron around November 15, and then headed to Panama, where he spent the remainder of his military career, except for one month in the Galapagos. Two weeks prior to his death, his parents received a letter from him saying that he was back in Panama. During this time, he took a transition course at the Sixth Air Force Fighter Command Training School in Panama, completing it in February of 1944. He served as a pilot.
Howard Conner, Class of 1937
On March 26, 1944, Lt. Howard Conner was killed in a plane crash in the Republic of Panama. His parents received notice via telegram on March 29. A confirmation letter was sent a short time later, reading in part, "It is with regret that I write you confirming the telegram of recent date which informed you of the death of your son, 2nd Lt. Howard A. Conner, Air Corps, March 26, 1944 near Cape Pacord, Republic of Panama. The official casualty report states that he was killed as the result of an airplane crash and that his body was recovered." The letter further stated that there were no more details for the bereaved family at this time.
Besides his parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Conner of Russell, Iowa, he was survived by two sisters: Mrs. Marvin R. Murphy (who, with her husband, was in the service and stationed at Hempstead, Long Island, New York) and Mrs. Loran R. Blackford (the former Lucille Conner) of Portland, Oregon, whose own husband was on New Caledonia for over a year. Mrs. Blackford came home to Huron to be with her parents.
A memorial service was held in Howard's honor the following month at the Presbyterian church. Miss Norma Martin played the organ, while Loftus E. Ward sang. Reverend Joseph Gray, pastor, read a tribute to the fallen soldier, written by Miss Dona Brown.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Thursday, January 30, 1941
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Thursday, March 30, 1941
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Tuesday, February 15, 1944
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Thursday, March 30, 1944
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Wednesday, April 5, 1944
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Thursday, April 6, 1944
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Thursday, April 13, 1944
1937 "Tiger", Annual of Huron High School, Huron, S.D.
