Phone in Your News column
--Mrs. Maud Culbertson of Keystone, and her son Cpl. Dean Culbertson on leave from camp in Texas, are expected Friday to spend the holiday vacation at their apartment here. This is Dean's first furlough in over a year.
Source: Fayette County Leader, December 23, 1943
DEAN CULBERTSON IN GERMANY
Miss Margaret Paine received the following from Deal Culbertson, who is now in Germany, written Nov. 2.
Well Margaret,since writing you last we have seen three more foreign countries: Belgium, Holland and Germany. Right now we are in an abandoned home which we have fixes up and have made quite cozy. The stove works fine and we can soak our rations for a change and also have vegetable stew and soups. We surely do miss good home cooked food with bread and butter, but some day we will have it all again.
Of course, we have seen countless most interesting things to tell all of you at home some day, and I wish I had brought a camera with me -- I could have priceless pictures that words can't describe.
Source: Fayette County Leader, November 23, 1944
Sgt Dean Culbertson On List of Missing
A telegram was received from the war department Friday, stating that Sgt. Dean Culbertson was reported missing in action in Germany on Nov. 21. The message was forwarded to his mother, Mrs. Maud Culbertson, principal of the Stanwood high school. Dean was in the 406 division of the infantry and was thought to be with either the 1st or 9th army.
He is a graduate of Fayette high school, Upper Iowa University and Iowa State College. Before entering the service in the fall of 1942, he was located in South Lyon, Mich., where he served as a poultry expert at a stock farm which was owned by the president of the Norge Mfg. Co.
Source: Fayette County Leader, December 14, 1944
SGT. CULBERTSON KILLED IN ACTION
Reported "Missing" Ten Days Ago -- War Department Message Received Today
A message from the war department received Tuesday, stated that Sgt. Dean Culbertson has been killed in action in Germany on Nov. 21. A message received ten days before had listed him as "missing."
Dean was in the infantry and was thought to be either in the 1st or 9th army.
His mother, Mrs. Maud Culbertson, principal of the Stanwood school, is expected Saturday, and will be a guest in the home of the Misses Amy Leigh and Margaret Paine during the holiday vacation.
Fayette friends were deeply grieved by the news of the death of Mrs. Culbertson's only son. Mrs Culbertson and Dean came to Fayette, when he was but a small lad; he grew to manhood here, his mother teaching for a time in the grade school and later in the high school. He was graduated from Upper Iowa University, and from the Iowa State College, specializing at the latter in the poultry department, and followed this line of work until he entered the service. In public school and college Dean had many friends.
Source: Fayette County Leader, December 21, 1944
Dutch Boy Tends Local Man's Grave
European Boy Writes to Mrs. M. Culbertson About Son's Grave
Mrs. Maude Culbertson received a letter this week form a youth in the Netherlands, who lives near the cemetery where he son, Cpl. Dean Culbertson is buried.
The letter is published in order that others may know the sentiment that exists in some other countries, regarding American soldiers, who have given their lives for those countries and our country.
Cpl. Culbertson was a graduate of Fayette high school and Upper Iowa University and Iowa College, Ames. He served for two years in the infantry, leaving the States in September 1944 for the European theater where he as assigned to Gen. Patton's ninth Army. He was killed in battle but a few weeks later.
Geleen, Aug. 8, 1946
Dearest Mrs. Maud Culbertson,
I have just received the home address of your killed son, Dean C. Culbertson. He is buried at Margraten (Holland). I have adopted the grave of your son. I am now a boy of 16 years and have learned my English at school. We owe the American heroes much and therefore we have adopted a grave. I am Catholic and go often to Margraten to pray and bring some flowers. I should like to send you a picture of the grave but it is impossible because we have no the photos here in Holland. We have three children, a girl of 11 and a girl of 6 and 1. We all have adopted a grave of an American soldier, father and mother too. You understand that there are perhaps mistakes in my letter for I have had English now for a year only. If there will be better times you come perhaps to the Netherlands to visit the grave. I hope you will write soon back and tell us how old etc your son and send us please a picture of your son and yourself.
With best wishes of our grateful Netherland friends.
Huub de Heus
Mauritspark 3
Geleen, Netherlands
Source: Fayette County Leader, August 29, 1946
March 6, 1915 - Nov 21, 1944
Source: fieldsofhonor-database.com
