1942 . . .

Akron Register-Tribune
August 27, 1942

AKRON BOY TAKES PART IN GREAT RAID ON DIEPPE BASE
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dirks, of this city, received a cablegram the first of this week from their son, Lieut. Leonard Dirks, who is located in England and serving with the American Rangers, that he participated in last week’s large scale raid on the Nazi base at Dieppe, France, and had returned to England without mishap. Lieut. Dirks is a member of one of the first contingents of American troops to arrive in the British Isles in this war, and was assigned to the American Rangers (similar to the British Commandos) some time ago. Upon hearing that the Rangers participated in the Dieppe raid, his parents assumed that Leonard had taken part in the affair and their belief was verified upon receipt of his message.