A February 3, 1944, Lowell Tribune article (page 1, column 5) announced the induction of Rex M. Fifield into the Army. The following is the part of the article about Mr. Fifield:
Nineteen more men were inducted into the service last week from Local Board No. 1, Crown Point, and are now awaiting distribution to various camps for basic training. Rex M. Fifield, son of Mrs. Clem Fifield, who has enlisted as an aviation cadet, is the only one from Lowell in the latest call.
This Lowell Tribune article was found in the April 12, 1945, issue (page 1, column 6):
Latest reports in the last few days have added three more local boys to the casualty list. They are: T/Sgt. Robert McClanahan, son of Mrs. Mamie Tilton, Lowell, slightly wounded in Manila; Cpl. Harold R. Osby, U.S. Marines, son of the Harold M. Osbys, Schneider, wounded on Iwo Jima, and Sgt. Rex Fifield, son of Mrs. Clem Fifield, Crown Point, who formerly lived east of town, missing in action over Japan.
T/Sgt.McClanahan, 26, entered the service in March, 1940, and went overseas in May, 1943. He was stationed in the Admiralty Islands and other Pacifid Islands before going to the Philippines, where he was wounded March 8th in the clean-up of Manila.
The telegram from the War Department to his mother last week-end was as follows:
"The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son, T/Sgt. Robert McClanahan was slightly wounded in Manila, March 8, 1945. Adjutant General."
A letter from Robert previous to receiving the telegram, informed his mother that he was in a hospital in the Philippines and recovering nicely, but didn't state why he was hospitalized.
The Harold M. Osbys of Schneider, were notified by telegram on March 23 that their son, Cpl. Harold R. Osby, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, was wounded in the battle for Iwo Jima on February 28.
Cpl. Osby, 23, who attended the Schneider grade school, entered service in December, 1943, and has been stationed in the Pacific for several months. Well known in this community, Osby is the third casualty from the south end ot the county on Iwo Jima. The other two were Pfc. Francis Cronkhite, killed in action, and Pfc. Paul Cottingham, who was wounded.
Sgt. Fifield, 25, has been missing since March 10-11 over Tokyo, according to a letter from his commanding officer to his mother, written on March 21st. The Lowell flyer, central fire control man and gunner, was lost on what was probably his first mission--he had been overseas only a month--during the first mass night attack by Guam-based Super Forts on the Jap homeland. His plane was one of two which failed to return after the raid.
Rex was graduated from Lowell high school with the class of 1938, where he starred in football, participating in many of the games during Lowell's three-year winning streak, later attending Purdue university. Previous to entering the service a year ago, he farmed his mother's farm on the Range Line in Eagle Creek township. Like his father, Clem Fifield, who died three _____ ago, he took an active interest in politics, serving as Republican precinct committeeman.
Because there is a possibility that he might have been able to use his parachute, his many friends here are awaiting word confirming his safety, although it would mean that he would be a prisoner of the Japs.
Last updated on January 13, 2012.
Go to Rex Fifield, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
