Memorials › PFC Harry Clinton Ritchie

PFC Harry Clinton Ritchie

3 Sep 1917 – 11 Aug 1943

Birth	3 Sep 1917
Death	11 Aug 1943
Cemetery	Cliff Table Cemetery Merna , Custer County , Nebraska , USA
Added by	Starlight on 18 May 2014
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58595894

Bio

Harry C Ritchie is listed on the Tablet of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial at Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy. Remains never recovered. ******** The Custer County Chief Thursday 13 September 1945, p. 6 PFC. HARRY RITCHIE Pfc. Harry Clinton Ritchie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ritchie, was born Sept. 3, 1917 at Rising City, Nebraska and departed this life August 11, 1943, at the age of 25 years 11 months and 8 days. At the age of 6 months his parents moved to the West Table where he grew to manhood. He was baptized by Rev. Phillips at Milburn. He was a graduate of the Merna high school, class of 1936. In 1939 he went to Iowa where he found employment and remained there until he entered military service on May 20, 1941. He received training at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and Camp Clairborn, La. He received one furlough in October and spent a couple of days at home. He was shipped overseas in January 1942. He was in the first boatload of men to go ashore in North Ireland in this war. He was later transferred to London where he remained a short time with an antitank company of the 34th division. He was in the campaign across Africa. Later he wrote home that he had been in all large cities and across every mountain in Africa. In June 1943 he was transferred to the third division and sent to Sicily. Several letters were received by relatives headed "Sicily." In August 1943 he was reported missing in action. August 14, 1945 a message from the war department stated that in making an amphibious landing 15 miles behind enemy lines near Brolo, Sicily he was lost from his crew. He leaves to mourn his departure his parents, four sisters five brothers, six nieces and five nephews and many other relatives and his fiancee, Miss Viola Gruhn, of Sabula, Iowa. One sister and two brothers, a niece and nephew preceded him in death. Memorial services were held, sponsored by the American Legion, led by Otto Blakeman, on Sunday August 26, 1945 at Cliff Union church. Rev. I. M. Phillips gave the address and Mrs. Emma Pirnie a reading in behalf of the Legion Auxiliary."Safe in the Arms of Jesus" and "God Bless America" were sung by Mrs. Glenn Graybeal and Mrs. Bert Sittler with Eleanor Jean Pirnie at the piano. Ira Burton jr. and Everett Crisp carried the flags accompanied by Charles Jacquot and Clarence Avis. Taps was played by Bobby Graybeal. The Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to Pfc. Harry C. Ritchie as well as the combat infantry badge. ************ The Custer County Chief Thursday 23 August 1945, p. 14 CLIFF 13 Miles West of Merna Memorial services for Pfc. Harry Ritchie will be held next Sunday August 26 at the Union church at 2:30 p.m. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ritchie and has been reported missing in action since August 11, 1943. ************ The Custer County Chief Thursday 23 August 1945, p. 1 DECLARED DEAD Pfc. Harry C. Ritchie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Ritchie who reside on the table west of Merna, has been declared legally dead by the war department after being missing in action nearly two years. The parents received official notice to this effect last week. The notice stated that records showed Pfc. Ritchie was a member of a battalion making an amphibious landing 15 miles behind enemy lines near Brolo, Sicily on August 11, 1942. When the troops landed he was missing, and no further information has ever been gained. The parents were notified the following month that their son was missing, but had received no further information during the months since. Ritchie entered the service May 20, 1941 at Clinton, Iowa. He received his basic training at Camp Claiborne, La., ans was stationed at fort Dix in January 1942 before being sent to north Ireland. He saw action in northern Africa before being reported as missing August 11, 1942. *********** The Custer County Chief Thursday 16 September 1943, p. 1 PVT. HARRY RITCHIE LISTED AS MISSING Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ritchie, who reside in the Highland neighborhood west of Merna, were notified Sunday by a telegram from the war department in Washington that their son, Pvt. Harry Ritchie, is missing in action in the European theater of war. The announcement stated that he had been missing since August 11. The parents received two letters, one dated August 26 and one dated August 28, from theri son, but it is not known what relation these postmarks might have with the official government message. Pvt. Ritchie was located in Sicily, according to latest word received by his parents.

Inscription

IN MEMORY OF HARRY C RITCHIE NEBRASKA PFC CO E 30 INF 34 INF DIV WORLD WAR II BSM-PH

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