Harry Lee Laughlin

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Harry Lee Laughlin Veteran

Birth
Taylorsville, Bartholomew County, Indiana, USA
Death
20 Mar 1946 (aged 20)
Philippines
Burial
Lineville, Wayne County, Iowa, USA Add to Map
Plot
Lot 1 Row 4-6
Memorial ID
View Source
A telegram arrived for Dorris S. Laughlin of Woodland neighborhood, advising him of the death of his only son, Harry lee Laughlin.

Harry Lee, son of D. S. Laughlin, and Mrs. L. K. Langford of Elgin, Ill., was born in Indiana on December 3, 1925. He was 20 years, 3 months, and 17 days old. He spent most of his life here in Lineville attending and finishing the Lineville High School. He was a good pupil and liked by his schoolmates.
He enlisted in the service of his country in 1943 for three years service. His time would have expired December 13, at which time, in a letter written in February to his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Laughlin, he was planning on coming home.
Harry Lee was in the prime of life when he gave his life in the service of his country, and no man can do more.

Following is the telegram received: 0801 a.m. March 23, 1946 WUX Washington, C. C. 6:39 pm Mar. 22 Dorris S. Laughlin Lineville Iowa
I deeply regret to inform you of the death of your son Harry Lee Laughlin seaman first class U.S.N. on March 20, 1946 as a result of being struck by falling crane boom, in the service of his country. His remains were interred in an allied cemetery, Leyte. Further details received you will be informed. Sincerest sympathy is extended to you in your great loss. Vice Admiral Louis Denfield the Chief of Naval personnel.

Leyte Cemetery was a temporary cemetery created by the military during wartime. After the war, fallen men and women were disinterred and sent back home to loved ones, or if families made the request, were re-buried in permanent military cemeteries. This was the case with Harry. His mother asked that he stay with his fellow fallen soldiers, and he was buried in Manila. Another memorial exists for that location.
A telegram arrived for Dorris S. Laughlin of Woodland neighborhood, advising him of the death of his only son, Harry lee Laughlin.

Harry Lee, son of D. S. Laughlin, and Mrs. L. K. Langford of Elgin, Ill., was born in Indiana on December 3, 1925. He was 20 years, 3 months, and 17 days old. He spent most of his life here in Lineville attending and finishing the Lineville High School. He was a good pupil and liked by his schoolmates.
He enlisted in the service of his country in 1943 for three years service. His time would have expired December 13, at which time, in a letter written in February to his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Laughlin, he was planning on coming home.
Harry Lee was in the prime of life when he gave his life in the service of his country, and no man can do more.

Following is the telegram received: 0801 a.m. March 23, 1946 WUX Washington, C. C. 6:39 pm Mar. 22 Dorris S. Laughlin Lineville Iowa
I deeply regret to inform you of the death of your son Harry Lee Laughlin seaman first class U.S.N. on March 20, 1946 as a result of being struck by falling crane boom, in the service of his country. His remains were interred in an allied cemetery, Leyte. Further details received you will be informed. Sincerest sympathy is extended to you in your great loss. Vice Admiral Louis Denfield the Chief of Naval personnel.

Leyte Cemetery was a temporary cemetery created by the military during wartime. After the war, fallen men and women were disinterred and sent back home to loved ones, or if families made the request, were re-buried in permanent military cemeteries. This was the case with Harry. His mother asked that he stay with his fellow fallen soldiers, and he was buried in Manila. Another memorial exists for that location.

Gravesite Details

The grave stone is a marker erected in Harry's memory. He is buried in the Philippines.