Skip to content Skip to footer
Menu

Ernest F. Latta

Home...BiographiesErnest F. Latta

Ernest F. Latta

The following was found in the February 18, 1943, Lowell Tribune on page 2, column 1:
    A letter from Sgt. Ernest Latta informs his parents, the Jess Lattas, that he has been transferred from his station in Hawaii.
This March 25, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, columns 2-3:
    Sgt. Ernest Latta writes his parents, the Jesse Lattas, that he has met the Japs. He also says he gets The Tribune and really enjoys it, although the news is a little late.
This April 15, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 3:

    SGT. ERNEST LATTA WINS SILVER STAR

    GALLANTRY IN ACTION BRINGS COVETED HONOR TO LOCAL SOLDIER

    The following order has been received by us from the Bureau of Public Relations of the War Department, telling of the awarding of the Silver Star to Sgt. Ernest F. Latta, son of the Jess Lattas, of Shelby.

    The order follows:

    By direction of the President, the Silver Star was awarded March 20, 1943, by Lt. General Millard F. Harmon, commanding the United States army forces in the south Pacific area to Ernest F. Latta, Sergeant, Infantry, United States army for gallantry in action on January 10 and 11, 1943, at Guadalcanal. In two different engagements, Sergeant Latta went forward under enemy fire and brought wounded men out of the field of enemy fire to safety. In the first engagment, the troops at the head of the column were suddenly subjected to enemy fire, Sergeant Latta went forward, exposing himself to enemy fire to carry a wounded soldier to cover. On the following day Sergeant Latta accompanied a patrol on a mission to destroy an enemy position. Within a few yards of the objective a number of the patrol fell wounded. Sergeant Latta went forward, accounted for the enemy who wounded his companion and dragged the soldier to safety.

This March 30, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:
    Staff Sgt. Ernest Latta has recently been promoted to Platoon Sgt.
This Lowell Tribune article was found in the January 11, 1945, issue (page 2, column 2):
    Sgt. Ernest Latta has made a new rating as Technical Sgt.
The following February 8, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 5, column 4:
    Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Latta have received word that their son, T/Sgt. Ernest Latta is now stationed in the Philippines.
This June 14, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Latta and family of Goodland, formerly of Shelby have been entertaining S/Sgt. John Long of Indianapolis, who has been a buddy of their son, Ernest Latta, the past 4 1/2 years in the Southwest Pacific. He left Ernest in the hospital, but expected him to come home soon.
This July 26, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 5, column 3:
    Mrs. Vearl Van Clake was in Lowell a short time yesterday. She came from her Orlando, Fla., home to visit her parents, the Jesse Lattas at Goodland, and other relatives and friends. Her brother, M/Sgt. Ernest Latta, has just arrived home after four and one half years duty in the South Pacific. This is his first visit home in that time.
Last updated on December 9, 2004.

Return to World War II Veterans
Return to Biographies