Spirit Lake Youth Killed on Okinawa
Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McCormick, who farms near Spirit Lake, were advised by government telegram Thursday of last week that their son, Russell, 20, had been killed in action on Okinawa. The youth was with the first marines. The family had heard from him since he had been on the island and he had written that he was in a “hot spot.” He wrote that he landed on the island on Easter Sunday.
The youth had been in service one year Feb. 26. He was a graduate of the Spirit Lake high school in 1941, and had been solo cornetist in the high school band.
A sister, Fern, is an army nurse stationed at Topeka, Kans. There are two brothers and a sister at home, Robert, Clyde and Janet.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, May 24, 1945, Page 1
Body of Russell Charles McCormick
Arrived Wednesday
Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McCormick received official notice over the weekend that the body of their son, Russell Charles McCormick, was enroute to Spirit Lake and would arrive on Wednesday for reburial.
Pfc. McCormick had been interred on Okinawa since his death on May 3, 1945.
The funeral services will be held in the Presbyterian church on Friday, Feb. 11th at 1:30 p. m. conducted by Rev. Carl Sinning.
Pfc. Russell Charles McCormick 940419 U. S. M. C. R., was born July 9, 1924, near Storm Lake, Iowa. He was killed in action on May 3, 1945, on Okinawa. He would have been 21 years of age had he lived until July 9, 1945.
He was the son of Charles J. and Wilma G. McCormick. He leaves to mourn, his parents, two brothers, Robert J. and Clyde Lee, and one sister, W. Janet at home, and one sister, Lt. O. Fern, a nurse in the army, one grandmother, Mrs. Winifred Huston near Early, Iowa.
He attended school at Sulphur Springs and Spirit Lake, graduating from the Spirit Lake school in 1941.
As soon as he could hold a horn, he started to play in school. He played in the summer bands at Newell and later at Storm Lake and Spirit Lake. He was with them when they went to the National at Minneapolis in 1940. He went to the National with a cornet solo in 1941.
He entered the marine service in February, 1944. In the fall of ’44 he went to the S. W. Pacific as a replacement in the 1st Div. of the Marine Band. From there the invasion was made on Okinawa on April 1, 1945. During combat the band members are stretcher bearers. It was in this line of duty that he gave his life.
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, February 10, 1949, Page 8
Funeral Services Held For Pfc. McCormick
Funeral services were held for Pfc. Russell Charles McCormick February 11, 1949 at 1:30 p. m. Rev. C. G. Sinning officiated at the service which was held in the Presbyterian church. Pfc. McCormick received Military honors from the Timpe Post No. 23 and Flag presentation was made by Sgt. Sidney F. Simmons.
Special music was furnished by V. C. Arnold, W. C. Hanson, J. R. Liggett and Paul Redington with Mrs. K. B. Welty accompanist. Pall bearers were R. Boettcher, Glen Garver, Edward Donovan, Ike Miller, Harold Sharp and Paul Thoelke. Interment was made in Lakeview Cemetery, Spirit Lake.
Pfc. Russell Charles McCormick, son of Charles J. and Wilma G. McCormick, was born near Storm Lake, Iowa, July 9, 1924, and was killed in action on Okinawa May 3, 1945, at the age of 20 years, 9 months and 24 days. A member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, he was playing in the marine band an serving as a stretcher bearer in battle when he lost his life.
Those from out of town attending the funeral services were: Miss Marguerite McCormick of Lincoln; Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Shuff, Mrs. Wm. Rocke Jr. of Nemah, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Shaw, and Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Luft of Storm Lake, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Ancel Stephen of Sulphur Springs; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Huston and Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn Huston of Early; Mr. Charles Huston and daughter Dorothy, Mr. and Mrs. Millard Huston and children from Spencer; Phil Huston, Mrs. Reva Cinder, Mr. Charles Mann of Sheldon; Mr. Hartley and Mr. and Mrs. Claire Byers and Mr. and Mrs. Harold [remainder of article missing]
Source: The Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Thursday, February 17, 1949, Page 8
