Cerro Gordo County

Pfc. Donald E. Garlock

 

 

 

 

Pfc. Donald E. Garlock Reported Killed in Action

Mr. & Mrs. S. Garlock Learn of Son's Death in France on Oct. 4

Clear Lake -- That another of Clear Lake's young men has made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefields of Europe was learned Sunday morning when Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Garlock, 900 E. Main street, were notified that their son, Pfc. Donald E. Garlock, 33, had been killed in action Oct. 4.

Pfc. Garlock enlisted in the service March 12, 1943 and went first to Fort McClellan, Ala., and then to a camp in Pennsylvania before going overseas in July of that year. He was in England for a time and then in France where he received a shrapnel wound in the leg June 23. He was returned to England for hospitalization that same night. The wound was by shrapnel from an 88 mm German cannon while in the invasion of St. Lo. He later received the Purple Heart and returned to duty.

Pfc. Garlock was born at Clear Lake May 1, 1911, and grew to manhood here, graduating from high school and with his brother, Herbert, operating a roller skating rink for about 10 years. He spent one season in construction work in Alaska. He was a member of the Methodist church at Garner. Pfc Garlock was a gunner with the anti-tank division and had recently received a medal for expert marksmanship.

Pfc. Garlock was married Oct. 17, 1940, to Miss Ruth Duesenberg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duesenberg, Garner, at the Little Brown church near Nashua. Mrs. Garlock is now at Northport, Ala., where she had a clerical position in a government hospital.

The message was received first by the American Legion post at Garner who notified Mrs. Garlock's parents who then notified Mr. and Mrs. Garlock and also their daughter. Mrs. Garlock, Jr. was ill and unable to talk with her parents Saturday night but has since contacted relatives to say that she is better but will not be able to come home at this time. Therefore no plans are being made for memorial services

Besides his wife and parents, Pfc. Garlock is survived by 3 brothers, Ernest Garlock, Clear Lake; Herbert Garlock, ship's cook 2/c, New Caledonia and Pfc. Myron Garlock, Camp Edison, Fort Monmouth, N,J.; 2 sisters, Mrs. E. C. Westcott, Mason City, and Mrs. Wallie Haughen, Clear Lake; and a number of distant relatives.

Source: The Mason City Globe-Gazette, Oct. 16, 1944 (photo included)