SGT. DON KEARNEY KILLED IN ACTION
Was Fighting With U.S. Air Corps in North Africa
Sgt, Donald Kearney, 26, of Ocheyedan, a gunner in the U.S. Air Corps, was killed in action October 20, in North Africa, according to word received through the War Department by his mother, Mrs. Addie May Kearney of Ocheyedan during the past week.Sgt. Kearney enlisted in thee service September 29, 1942. His sister, Mrs. Walter Peterson, lives in Sibley. A brother, William Kearney serves with the ground crew of the Air Corps somewhere in France.
Sgt. Kearney's wife resides in California.
From Sibley Gazette-Tribune November 16th, 1944.
MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD IN HONOR OF DONALD KEARNEY
Many Pay Respects To Soldier Who Died on Bombing Mission
Memorial services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Methodist church in Ocheyedan for Sgt. Donald Kearney, with the Rev, Harold Dayton in charge. Guy Woods Post of the American Legion assisted in the services.Sgt. Donald Kearney, of North Africa, was born June 8, 1919, at Sanborn, Iowa. He was the third son of Mrs. Addie Kearney of Ocheyedan, Iowa.
A message received by Mrs. Kearney stated he was killed in action October 20. 1944, while returning from a bombing mission over Munich, Germany. "After being hit by flak near Venice, Italy, the aircraft was forced to ditch off the coast of Yugoslavia in the Adriatic Sea. He was killed upon crashing, when the aircraft broke in two, the front end sinking immediately." Donald was 25 years of age.
