Carol Eugene Domer
Carol Domer registered for the young men’s draft in 1941.
Courier Tribune
2 April 1942
page 1
News of Men in Service
Carol Domer, Centralia soldier, has been transferred from Lowry Field, Denver, to Barksdale Field, near Shreveport, La. He is in the air corps.
Courier Tribune
25 Jan 1943
page 1
A Centralia Boy Killed
Believed Serving as Bobardier in the SOuthwest Pacific
(Centralia Correspondent)
For the third time Centralia has been struck by the tragedy of this war. Robin R. DOmer received word Saturday that his brother, Carol Eugene Domer, had been killed in action in defense of his country.
…
The telegram stating that Carol had been killed was sent from Washington Saturday to Robin R. Domer, by Adjutant-General Ulio. It read: The Secretary of War desires me to express deep sympathy in loss of your brother, Carol Domer was killed in action in defense of his country in Southwest Pacific area. Letter follows.”
Carol Eugene Domer was called in selective Service in October, 1941, was honorably discharged about a week later to enlist in the air corps. He started his training at Jefferson Barracks, Mo, from there went to Lowry Field, Colo. where he graduated from the air corps Technical School. He then continued his training as a bombardier in the Bomber squadron at Barksdale, La., with a short while at south Carolina. His next station as Willow Run, Mich. Then he was stationed at Hickam Field, Hawaii for quite a while and as far as is known was sent to Australia and as far as the brother and mother know, was still serving as a bombardier.
He was born February 28, 1920 at the Domer farm 2 3/4 miles southeast of Centralia. His mother passed away when he was three years of age. Mrs. Florence Gaston became the wife of his father, Robin R. Domer, Sr., when he was four years old and was a mother to him from then on. His father died in 1938.
Carole received his schooling in the Centralia school, graduating from high school in 1938. He attended and graduated form Chillicothe Business College, went to Chicago and was in the auditing department as assistant when he went into the service for his country. He was a member of the Congregational church of Centralia and until he left was active in the Sunday School. He leaves one brother, Robin R. Domer, who is in the First National Bank of Centralia, an uncle, Estey Domer of Mayetta, and an aunt Mrs. Florence Shoemaker of Vermillion.
Courier Tribune
11 Feb 1943
page 6
Centralia
A Memorial Service Sunday
Will Honor Carol Domer,
Killed in Action
There will be a memorial service Sunday morning at 11:00 at the Congregational church in memory of Carol Domer, Centralia soldier who was killed in action.
The program will include the prelude, “Meditation,” by Morrison; Processional, “Faith of Our Fathers,” Invocation by Rev. T. C. Cocks; the choir response, “Hear Our Prayer,” Responsive Reading, Rev. C. Z. Allsbury; anthem, ”There is No Death,” by O’Hara with Miss Lela Brown as soloist.
Rev. t. K. Bosworth, Doulgass, Kansas, former pastor here, will have the topic, “From Boyhood to Manhood” followed by the hymn, “No Shadows Yonder.” b. L. Lohmuller will give “What a Patriot’s Life means tot he State.” This will be followed by the anthem, “Recessional,” by DeKeven, with Miss Elizabeth Brigham ha soloist.
“The Value of a Patriot to the Community,” will be the topic of Rev Allsbury, followed by the hymn, “My Jesus As Thou Wilt” Rev. t. C. Cocks will discuss, “The Loss of a Patriot’s Passing,” The Hymn, “Crossing the bar,” by Tennyson will be followed by the benediction given by Rev. Cocks, and the sounding of taps.
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Official messages which the family has received include the following sent to Carol’s brother, who was listed as the person to whom notices were to be sent.
From the Chief of Staff of the War Department
2 Feb 1943
Robin C. Domer,
Centralia, Kansas.
I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy on the death of your brother who was killed in action. Carol. E. Domer was a gallant soldier of the United States army whose name is now indelibly recorded on the rolls of our nation’s honored dead. As time passes, I hope that you will derive some consolation in the realization that your brother gave his life that others might live as free men. Again my deepest sympathy to you and to other members of the family. Faithfully yours, gen. George Marshall, chief of staff.
Robing R. Domer
Centralia, Kan.
It is with profound regret that I inform you that your brother, Sergeant Carol E. Domer, air corps, died on January 1, 1943 in the southwest Pacific area. This confirms my recent telegram to you announcing his death.
The official casualty report states that your brother was killed in action in defense of his country. The date and place of burial and other particulars are not given. Casualty reports contain few details. They are of necessity meager as the circumstances and pressure under which forces operate during warfare do not permit the collection and reporting of full details of a casualty. In the event additional information is received, you will be notified promptly. I extend my deepest sympathy.
J. A. Ulio
Adjutant General
——
Lost Flier’s Mother
At Centralia, Mrs. Florence Domer, who is the step-mother of Carol Domer, rearing him as her own son, from the time he was four years of age, keeps a little poem pinned up and draws comfort form it. The poem “Lost Flier’s Mother,” is by Frances Eleanor Schluneger and appeared in the Kansas City Poetry magazine.
I hold your message close to my,
my son
Long days you had been lost and
still I walked
Among my friends as I have always done
And helped at little tasks and smiled and talked
They said, “She does not mourn her son at all,
Who has been dead, no doubt, long days at sea!”
How could they know my Faith, serene and tall,
Had touched god’s hand, petitioning, and He
Had smiled, remembering your was, and spread
His swift protecting fingers on your head.
Courier Tribune
4 Mar 1943
page 1
War Hits town Hard
…
Centralia has been hit repeatedly. Carol Domer, air service, was killed in action. George Guilford, serving with the merchant marine, is missing in action. Orville Edman was listed as missing for a yer, now is reported as a prisoner of the Japanese governemnt on the Philippine Islands.
Courier Tribune
26 April 1943
Page 2
Probate Court Proceedings
The will of Carol Eugene Domer, who lost his life in the South Pacific area has been admitted to probate by petition of Robin R. Domer, a brother and sole heir-at-law. It consists of $5,000 in real estate, $8,000 in personal property. Robin R. Domer was named administrator. Inventory was filed and approved. There was an order of distribution.
Carol Domer’s family placed a tombstone for him in the Centralia, Kansas cemetery.
Carol Domer lost his life when the plane he was in went down near the Philippines. His name is included on the memorial in the Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial. His Find a Grave record for this memorial contains details about his last mission.
Carol served as a Sergeant & Tail Gunner on B-24D #41-23752, 319th Bomber Squadron, 90th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
Carol normally served with the 320th Bomber Squadron but has assigned to this mission with the 319th.
He resided in De Kalb County, Indiana prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 14, 1941, prior to the war, at Camp Grant, Illinois. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Bookkeeper and/or cashier and also as Single, without dependents.
B-24D #41-23752 took off, with a crew of 9, from 7 Mile Drome, Central Province, Papua New Guinea on a bombing mission over Vunakanau Airfield, near Rabaul, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.
After a successful bombing run, and while returning to their base, multiple engines began to start having problems and they finally had to ditch near Kawa Island, Mine Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Carol, who had been killed in the ditching, was declared “Missing In Action” and went down with the B-24 into the sea.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 36300581
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-24D #41-23752:
Diggs, Frederick T ~ S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, TN
Domer, Carol E ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, INThe rest of the crew survived the ditching and were rescued.
( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
Sgt. Carol Eugene Domer, Find a Grave, memorial ID 56759933; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56759933/carol-eugene-domer
