WITH THOSE IN SERVICE
VISITING HERE—Sgt. Maynard Dunker, U. S. Army Air Corps, is spending a ten-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunker, route 1, Muscatine. Sgt. Dunker is the assistant engineer on a B-17 bomber.
His address is: Sgt. Maynard Dunker, 93rd Bomb. Sq. 19th Grp., V Provision, Pyote, Tex.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Thursday, November 11, 1943 (photo included)
READY FOR COMBAT DUTIES
Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker of Muscatine, engineer and gunner, is a member of the crew of a Flying Fortress (see the photo), which will soon complete an intensive course in combat flying at the Alexandria Army Air Base, Alexandria, La., and in the near future will go overseas to a combat area. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Dunker of Muscatine and attended the Illinois City schools.
In the picture are:
Front row, left to right: 2nd Lt. Richard H. Goodlette, Hazard, Ky; 2nd Lt. Frank F. Evans, Pittsburgh, Pa.; 2nd Lt. John E. Launius, Essex, Mo.; 2nd Lt. Eugene J. Metz, Towanda, Pa.;
Second row, left to right: Sgt. Walter B. Nicodemus, Jr., Harmony, Pa.; Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker, Muscatine; Sgt. Raymond H. Schuster, Waterbury, Conn.; Sgt. Ted E. Dilley, Decatur, Ill.; Sgt. James W. Cook, Gainesville, Ga.; Sgt. James A. M. Helms, Gonzales, Tex.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Monday, January 24, 1944 (group photo included)
REACHES ENGLAND
Word has been received that Sgt. Maynard Dunker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunker of Illinois City, has arrived safely to England and his parents have received a new address. He is serving with an air corps unit.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Monday, March 13, 1944
MISSING
Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker, 24, was reported missing in action during a bombing raid over Germany on March 23, according to a message received Wednesday night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Dunker, route 1.
Sgt. Dunker was an engineer on a Flying Fortress and had been in the service since 1942.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Friday, April 7, 1944 (photo included)
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION
Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker, 24, Muscatine, was officially listed as missing in action in the European theater of operations in an Associated Press dispatche from the War Department released from Washington D. C. today. Seven other Iowans were listed as missing, six in this theater, with one of the number from the Mediterranean area and one from the Southwest Pacific area.
Sgt. Dunker’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Dunker, rural route No. 1, had previously received official notification. Serving as an engineer on a Flying Fortress, he has been missing in action over Germany since March 23, according to the message.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, May 1, 1944
SGT. M. DUNKER, FORT ENGINEER, KILLED IN WAR
Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker, 25, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Dunker, route 1, was killed in action in the European area on March 23, according to a message received this morning by his parents.
Sgt. Dunker was reported missing in action over Germany since March 23 in a message received by the parents recently. He was an engineer on a Flying Fortress.
Sgt. Dunker entered the army air corps on Sept. 29, 1942, and had been in combat areas since January of this year. Nothing had been heard of the youth between the time the message was received telling of his being missing in action and the telegram today announcing he had been killed in action.
He was born in Mercer county, Ill., on Dec. 2, 1919, and received his education at the Pine Bluff school. He was a member of the Pine Bluff church.
Surviving in addition to the parents, is a sister, Mrs. Velma Becker, of Hazel Dell, Ill. A brother, Alvin, preceded Sgt. Dunker in death.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, May 12, 1944 (photo included)
CARD OF THANKS.
WE TAKE this means of thanking all of our friends, neighbors and relatives for the many cards and letters sent to us during the “Miss in Action” and during our bereavement of Sgt. Maynard Dunker. These kind deeds were deeply appreciated. ~Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunker, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Becker.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Monday, June 12, 1944
DUNKERS RECEIVED PURPLE HEART AWARDED TO SON
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunker, of rural route No. 1, Muscatine, received the Purple Heart awarded to their son, Sgt. Maynard Dunker, aged 25 years, who was recently reported killed in action on March 23 in the European theater of operations.
The Purple Heart came together with citations signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and another signed by Secretary of War Stimson.
Sgt. Dunker, who was at first reported missing in action, was serving as an engineer-gunner on a Flying Fortress.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 14, 1944
140 Have Made Supreme Sacrifice in Muscatine Area In War Against Axis Powers; Many Reported Wounded
The names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice in World War No. 2, compiled from records maintained by The Journal, follow:
Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Dunker, rural route 1, killed in action March 23, 1944, over Germany.
Source: Muscatine Journal, Victory in Europe Edition, May 7, 1945
Solemn Procession Continues Through 1948 as War Dead Are Returned Home
Flag-draped caskets, coming from the European and Pacific war theaters, were brought to Muscatine county and other neighboring communities at intervals throughout the year of 1948 as the solemn procession of the country’s war dead continued to move home.
As each casket carrying a soldier, sailor, marine or flier who died during World War II was returned, last honors were accorded to the servicemen at funeral and burial rites. Final interment was in the cemetery chosen by his next-of-kin.
This year was the second for the government’s program of returning the bodies of war dead to the United States for burial in keeping with the wishes of their family. Inaugurated in the fall of 1947, the program has to date seen the return from overseas cemeteries of more than 50 bodies of men from this vicinity who died in the service of their country during the war.
The list of war dead returned to Muscatine and surrounding counties includes the following:
Sgt. Maynard L. Dunker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunker, Illinois City, route 1, killed in action March 23, 1944, in Germany. Burial at the Drury-Reynolds cemetery.
Source: The Muscatine Journal, December 30, 1948
