Obituary Record

Donald F (Lt. Colonel U.S. Army) Newell
Died on 12/7/1944
Buried in Blair Cemetery

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Veterans remembered

Veterans Tribune Plaza “Honoring Service…Celebrating Freedom”

This week, the Veterans Tribune Plaza Committee is honoring the service of the late Lt. Col. Donald Newell who served in the Pacific theatre during World War II. Newell was the son of the Rev. and Mrs. A. F. Newell of Blair. Rev. Newell was pastor of the Congregational Church in Blair. Donald Newell was married to the former Frances Bross of Blair and at the time of entry into combat was a lieutenant from the reserve corps of Oklahoma University.

In a July 20, 1944 Enterprise article, “the well known Blair boy has recently completed two weeks operations on Manus Island. Admiralty group in the Pacific during which time he served as a Major in Field Artillery. Before the operation was completed, a request was sent to higher headquarters requesting that Donald be raised to Lt. Colonel. The request has been acted on and granted. This is what the Army calls a “Combat Promotion” or a field promotion during actual combat operations.

According to a citation that accompanied his field promotion, “if Lt. Col. Newell had not executed his responsibilities in such an outstanding manner, and in the face of manifold and continuing difficulties, the lives of many of our men would have been lost for the want of prompt and effective fire support.” Colonel Newell was awarded the Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious achievement.

According to a Dec. 21, 1944 Pilot Tribune article, “word of the death of Lt. Col. Donald Newell was received early this week by his parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Bross, and other Blair friends. Seriously ill since Nov. 30, according to official war department information, Colonel Newell died in Brisbane, Australia, on Dec. 7. Although he had suffered a knee wound some weeks ago, the immediate cause of the colonel’s death is not yet known”.

If you have a story of a veteran from Washington County, please call Pat Hunsche and share that story for possible future publication. To place a veteran’s name on the wall the only requirement is that at some time the veteran must have resided in Washington County. Contact Pat Hunsche at 426-2013 to verify the name has been recorded for placement on the Veterans Wall.

The campaign to raise funds for the Veterans Tribute Plaza is underway. Visit our web site at veteranstributeplaza.com for information, or call (402) 426-6689.

Pilot Tribune 21 Dec 1944

Col. Newell Dies in Australia

Cause Of Former Blair Man’s death, December 7 Not Yet Known

Word of the death of Lt. Col. Donald Newell was received early this week by his parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Bross, and other Blair friends. Seriously ill since Nov. 30, according to official war department information, Colonel Newell died in Brisbane, Australia, on Dec. 7.

Although he had suffered a knee wound some weeks ago, the immediate cause of the colonel’s death is not yet known.

He leaves his wife, Mrs. Frances Bross Newell, and two children, Nancy, 9, and Lee, 11, of El Paso, Tex.; his parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Arthur F. Newell, of Kansas City; a sister, the former Lydia Newell, now residing in Wisconsin; and a brother, Perry Newell.

Pilot Tribune 6 May 1948

Body of Col. Newell Home

Ex-Blairites Body Being Brought Back From Pacific For Burial

The body of Lt. Col. Donald Newell, former Blairite who was killed in the Pacific theatre during World War II, is being brought home for burial. Announcement was made by the War Department yesterday that his body and those of 46 other Nebraskans are now aboard the Cardinal O’Connell U.S. transport due soon at a California port.

Col. Newell, a graduate of Blair High School was the husband of Mrs. Frances Bross Newell. Mrs. Newell, daughter of Mrs. Jake Bross and the late Mr. Bross, has been teaching school here.

Col. Newell’s parents are the Rev. and Mrs. Arthur F. Newell, now of Kansas City. The Rev. Mr. Newell is a former pastor of the Blair Congregational Church.

Enterprise 20 July 1944

Former Blair Boy Is Now Lt. Colonel

The Enterprise is in receipt of a communication regarding Donald Newell, former Blair boy and son of Rev. and Mrs. A. F. Newell. The Newells lived here a number of years ago during the time Rev. Newell was pastor of the Congregational church.

The well known Blair boy has recently completed two week’s operation on Manus Island, Admiralty group in the Pacific, during which time he served as a Major in Field Artillery. Before the operation was completed a request was sent to higher headquarters requesting that Donald be raised to Lt. Colonel. The request has been acted upon and granted. This is what the Army calls a “Combat Promotion” or a field promotion during actual combat conditions.

Another article

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“If Lt. Col. Newell had not executed his responsibilities in such an outstanding manner, and in the face of manifold and continuing difficulties, the lives of many of our men would have been lost for the want of prompt and effective fire support,” reads the citation in connection with operations on Manus Island which promoted Don Newell, former Geologist in the Corpus Christi Division, to his present high rank. He has recently been awarded the Bronze Star, a new decoration for exceptionally meritorious achievement. Newell, in field artillery, has been in the thick of the fight in the Admiralty Islands north of New Guinea. When called to active duty in May, 1941, he was a lieutenant from the reserve corps of Oklahoma University. The 33 year old officer is the father of two small children.

Enterprise 21 Dec 1944

Lt. Col. Donald F. Newell Dead In Australia

Lt. Col. Donald F. Newell, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Newell, formerly of Blair but now of Kansas City, Kansas, is reported as have died in Brisbane, Australia, on December 7th.

Deceased had been in the armed forces for a number of years and had been in active service in the Pacific area. While a boy in Blair, he met Miss Frances Bross, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Bross of Blair and they were wed.

The wife with their two children aged 9 and 10 years, is at El Paso, Texas, but knows nothing as yet except that her husband is dead after a long illness.

Besides the wife and two children, and the parents, Lt. Col. Newell leaves a brother, Perry, also in the service, and two sisters, Mrs. Dwight Spraker of Kansas City and Mrs. Lydia Marvin of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Note: Donald F Newell; born 24 Nov 1911; died 7 Dec 1944; Buried Blair Cemetery Blk 77 Lot 5 Gr 8; Find a Grave # 110491408 ~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Washington County Pilot-Tribune on 12/21/1944


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