William L. Young, World War II CasualtyPorter County Data on World War II Casualties . . . .
William L. Young
Staff Sergeant, US Army
Date of Death: April 2, 1945
Cause of Death: Killed in Action (Germany)
Hometown: Valparaiso
Newspaper Notices:
One Missing, One Dead and One Injured
A Valparaiso soldier lost his life on the western front; a Valparaiso naval
flyer was reported missing after a combat mission, and a Wheeler army pilot,
listed as missing, has been liberated from a German prison camp. Still another
man was reported as wounded in action in the European region.
This was the price paid today by Valparaiso and Porter county in the nation's
struggle for victory over her enemies in Europe and in the Pacific theater of
operations.
The dead soldier is S/Sgt. William L. Young, husband of Mrs. Gretchen L. Young,
703 Franklin avenue, Valparaiso.
The missing flyer is Ensign Harry Large, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Large, 662
Lincolnway, Valparaiso.
The pilot prisoner released, is 2nd Lieut. Charles Smith, 25, husband of Mrs.
Lorraine Smith, of Hobart, and son of Mr. and Mrs. John I. Smith, of Wheeler.
The wounded man is Pvt. George Poparad, Jr., son of Mrs. Anna Toth, of
Chesterton, RFD 1.
S/Sgt. Young was killed in action in Germany on April 2, 1945, according to a
telegram received today by his wife from the secretary of war. Young was a
veteran of seven years of service in the army. Besides his wife he is survived
by a son, Michael William, one year old, March 17; his mother, Mrs. Jean Shogren,
of St. Peter, Minn., and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Young, living in
California. He was born in Valparaiso 27 years ago.
Ensign Large was reported as missing since April 10 in the South Pacific,
according to a message received from the Navy department Tuesday by his parents.
It marked the second time he has been missing in combat duty. The first time he
was picked up on March 31, four hours after his craft had been shot down in the
Pacific.
On the last mission on April 10 he failed to return and the Navy department
listed him as missing. His parents received a letter posted on April 8, two days
before he was reported missing.
Ensign Large was a member of the 100th Fighting Squadron of the Pacific Fleet,
and had been in service two years and two months.
He was graduated from Valparaiso high school where he was a member of the
school's undefeated football team, and also played at Iowa City, Ia., in 1943
with the Iowa Pre-Flight team, also undefeated that year.
2nd Lieut. Smith, news of whose release from a German prisoner camp was received
from the War department by his wife and parents, was shot down in a bombing
mission over Austria on Feb. 25, 1943. In a letter he wrote to his wife he
stated he took a ---rain back in American lines while stepping from a train in
American held territory he saw a former pal, Billy Warble, of near Wheeler, and
darted out of line to greet him. The two had a talk together before Warble was
due to join his outfit.
Smith, who is a pilot on a B-24 bomber, has been in the Air Corps over two
years. He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and two
Oak Leaf clusters. He has a son, John Edward, four months, whom he has never
seen.
George P. Poparad, Jr., private in the U. S. Army, was reported by the War
department as wounded while fighting in the European region.
__________________________________________________________________
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; April
18, 1945; Volume 18, Page 2, Column 6, and Page 3, Column 8
Trinity Lutheran
Washington and Chicago
Rev. D. A. Flesner
Sunday school, 9:15. Morning worship, 10:30. Immediately following the worship
service there will be a brief memorial service for S/Sgt. William L. Young, who
was killed in action on April 2.
The Vestry will meet Monday evening at 8:00. The Tri-Service league will meet
Thursday evening at 8:00.
__________________________________________________________________
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; April
27, 1945; Volume 18, Page 2, Column 6
Return to
List of
Porter County World War II Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook