Hamilton Heritage Hunters Genealogical Society

08/23/2025

06/06/2025

Paul Howard Daniels was born June 13, 1905 in Webster City, Iowa to James H. and Ruth Symons Daniels. He died June 27, 1984 and is buried in Meadowbrook Memorial Park, Paris, TX. He was a retired Navy Captain, serving his country for 30 years.

CDR Paul Daniels served aboard the USS Herndon (DD-638) and spent nine months escorting troopships across the Atlantic from New York to various British ports as the massive buildup for the invasion of France hit full strike. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Herndon was off Omaha Beach, down front in “Bald-headed Row” ahead of the first assault waves. Despite heavy counter fire from enemy batteries, she bombarded enemy targets ashore. Herndon remained off the Normandy beaches providing fire support, screening troopships, and anti-submarine patrol until June 19.

05/26/2025

05/25/2025

HONORING IOWA WAR CASUALTIES FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO IRAQ

Civil War 1861-1865 — Cpl. George J. Godfrey, died 22 Mar 1863. He served with H Company, 3rd Iowa Volunteers and is buried in Memphis National Cemetery, Memphis, TN.

Spanish-American War 1898 — Pvt. Guy Stuart Barkhuff, died 22 July 1898. He served with Company 52, Iowa Infantry and is buried in Homewood Cemetery, Ellsworth, IA.

World War I 1917-1918 — Cpl. Frank Marcheck, died 6 Aug. 1918. He served with 4th Division, 39th Infantry Regiment and is buried in Oise-Aisne, Cemetery in France.

World War II 1941-1945 — Petty Officer James R. Carney, died 18 Apr. 1944 (at sea) in the sinking of the USS Gudgeon (SS-567) and was awarded the Purple Heart. He is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu Hawaii and has a cenotaph in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, IA.

Korea 1950-1953 — Cpl. Walter John Lanken, died 19 Sept. 1950 and served in both World War II and Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.

Vietnam 1955-1975 — Michael Evan Antill, died 28 Dec. 1967 in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. He served with Company 3, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry division. He is buried in Palestine Cemetery, Huxley, IA.

Persian Gulf 1990-1991 — SPC Michael Ward Mills, died 25 Feb. 1991 in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. He served with the 14th Quartermaster Group out of Virginia and is buried in Hillside Memorial Cemetery and Park, Central Square, Oswego County, NY.

Afghanistan 2001-2021 — Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon Thomas “JT” Tumilson, died 6 Aug. 2011, Saydabad, Afghanistan when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, IA.

Iraq 2003-2021 — Sgt. Jon Edward Bonnell, Jr., died 7 Aug. 2007 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, specializing in security and bomb detection. He is buried in Fort Dodge Memorial Park, Fort Dodge, IA.

05/25/2025

Honoring Alonzo Newton Hathway, Marine Pilot, lost at sea, 15 Feb. 1944. He is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines. 🇺🇸ps://iagenweb.org/wwii/WWIISurnames_H/HathwayAlonzoNewtonjr.html

05/24/2025

Honoring Capt. Kenneth Otto Nichols, KIA 1 July 1944, Italy. He is buried in Florence American Cemetery, VIa Cassia, Italy. 🇺🇸https://iagenweb.org/wwii/WWIISurnames_N/NicholsKennethO.html
Honoring 1st Sgt. Charles Meyers, KIA 1 July 1944, Italy. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA. 🇺🇸https://iagenweb.org/wwii/WWIISurnames_M/MeyersCharlesE.html

05/23/2025

Honoring Ens. William C. Ostlund, Ens. U.S. Navy Submarine Service MIA 18 Apr. 1944 aboard the USS Gudgeon (SS-211). 🇺🇸https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/ostlund-w-c.htm

05/22/2025

Honoring Cleo H. Hall, Ens. Merchant Marines who died Dec. 21, 1945 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA. 🇺🇸
https://iagenweb.org/wwii/WWIISurnames_H/HallCleoH.html

Honoring Petty Officer Marvin J. Hall, U.S. Navy who was declared MIA aboard the submarine USS Tullibee which was sunk by one of its own torpedoes. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines and has a cenotaph on the family headstone in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA. 🇺🇸
https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/hall-m-j.htm

05/21/2025

Honoring Pvt. Willard O. Scheppler, died 1 June 1944. For wounds received in action Apr. 23, he was awarded the Purple Heart. 🇺🇸https://iagenweb.org/wwii/WWIISurnames_S/SchepplerWillardO.html

05/20/2025

Honoring Sgt. Marvin J. Williams, U.S. Army Aerial Engineer, KIA 10 May 1944 on a bombing mission over Austria. Widow Lila Mae Bever Williams Hunter, Hamilton County, IA. 🇺🇸 Widohttps://iagenweb.org/wwii/WWIISurnames_W/WilliamsMarvinJames.html

Staff Sgt. Marvin J. Williams, an engineer aboard a Liberator bomber, has arrived safely overseas and is stationed in Africa, according to word received here by his wife. Sergeant Williams was formerly stationed at Muroc, Cal., where he completed advanced training the first of this year.

05/19/2025

Honoring Lt. James Albert Chaffe, USMC - KIA 18 June 1945 🇺🇸 Widow - Betty Lee Ayers Chaffe Erickson - Hamilton Co. native

James A. Chaffe joined the Marine Corps on 10 October 1942. He participated in a Commissioning Program called V-12 attending College at Oberlin College Ohio as an enlisted Marine. In April 1944 he completed recruit training in the 12th Recruit Training Battalion Parris Island SC and then became part...