CALHOUN MAN GIVES LIF IN ATTU ACTION

John B. McNew Killed In Action In The North American Area

DEATH OCCURRED ON MAY 30TH

Mr. and Mrs. James McNew, who reside on what is known as the old Dorner farm, one half mile west of the Green school, received the sad news last weeks from the war department, that their son, Sergeant John B. McNew of the U.S. Army has been killed in action. He died on May 30. “In the North American area presumably while engaged in combat duty at Attu."

John B. McNew was born February 24, 1915 at Kirksville, Missouri. Five years later, with his folks, he moved to Missouri Valley. In 1930 his family came to Bennington, Nebraska and resided there until March, 1943 when the move was made to their present home.

He joined the army July 14, 1941, and was sent to Fort Ord, California. He was sent to the North American area about May 8.

Those surviving him are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James McNew; four brothers, Charles, Scott, Robert and Daniel and two sisters.

#2-Pilot Tribune 1 July 1943

McNew was Third to Die in War

Sergeant From Ft. Calhoun Died “In North American Area” May 30

Sgt. John B. McNew, 28, of Ft. Calhoun, whose death was announced last week, was the third Washington countian known to have met death in the present war. The other two were Lt. Robert K. Flynn of Blair and Pfc. Paul Schmidt of Arlington.

Sgt. McNew’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. James McNew of south of Ft. Calhoun, formerly of Bennington, were notified by the war department that their son died in the “North American combat area”, presumably in Alaskan territory, May 30.

Sgt. McNew joined the army two years ago, and was sent out to active duty about seven weeks ago from Ft. Ord, Calif. He is survived by his parents and several brothers and sisters.

#3-Pilot Tribune 10 Feb 1944

Washington, D.C. Brother War Victim

An interesting sidelight to the contest is the fact that the second place winter, Miss McNew, is a sister of Sgt. John B. McNew, Washington county’s third known war casualty.

Sgt. McNew, 28, died in the North American combat area, presumably in the Alaskan territory, May 30, 1943.

#4-Pilot Tribune 9 Sept 1948

Body of Sgt. McNew Home

Fort Calhoun Youth, Who Died In Alaska, Is Being Brought Home

The body of Sgt. John B. McNew is being brought home for final interment at Fort Calhoun.

Sgt. McNew, son of Mr. and Mrs. James McNew of Fort Calhoun, met his death in Alaska while serving with the Army during the recent war.

His body and those of 115 other Nebraskans were among the 1,556 bodies of American servicemen returned to America. They came aboard the army transport Honda Knot, which docked at San Francisco this week.

The body is expected to arrive in Fort Calhoun within a few weeks and will be consigned to the Sievers Funeral Home there.

#5-Enterprise 7 Oct 1948

(Photo)

Calhoun War Victim Brought Home For Burial

John Bealton McNew, veteran who met his death in action in the Aleutian Islands on May 30, 1943, was returned to his home in Calhoun for burial on Sunday, October 3rd.

He served his country well and the fact that he received the Purple Heart and the Gold Star proves more than weak words can say.

He was born in Kirksville, Mo. February 24, 1916. Later the family moved to Missouri Valley, Iowa where he spent his school days. At the age of twelve he became a member of the Christian Church. He was loyal to his faith and lived a life that was an example to his friends.

The family later moved to Bennington, Nebraska where he lived until he entered the service on August 7, 1941.

He was ordered overseas and there he met his death. He leaves to survive him his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James McNew, three sisters, Mrs. Viola Kerber of Norfolk, Mrs. Fred Ferris of Council Bluffs and Mrs. Dorothy Kruse of Herman and four brothers, Charles, Raymond, Robert and Daniel, all of Fort Calhoun besides a number of nephews and nieces.

Rev. Layton Jackson of the Calhoun Presbyterian church officiated at the services in the church and Miss Lois Sievers sand “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” and “Going Home”.

At the graveside the Bennington Legion Post performed the beautiful Military Service in respect to their highly respected comrade.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~