Earl Meyer
Local and General News
Earl Meyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Meyer is emplyed by the McGinty Motor Company.
Sabetha Herald, 8 Oct 1941, page 9
Defense School Starts With Enrollment of 12
Sabetha Superintendent of schools W. O. Stark announces that the Defense School got underway Monday evening for the opening session under the direction of Earl Willard of Morrill. The school will meet five nights each week and this session will be held in the Lonnie Fletchall workshop building owned by Norman Morgan just north of the Methodist church. Willard will instruct 12 pupils during this session in the art of motor mechanics, fender welding and other details of machine shop work.
The twelve enrollees for this term are Gayle Snyder, Leonard Strahm, Earl J Meyer, James Wilson, Jr. Donald Williams and Wilbur Kyle of Sabetha: Ivan Wissler, Donald Elliott (husband of the former Thelma Williams), Robert Schmiedeler (son of the clerk of the district court), and Al Buser of Seneca; Marvin Hartman of Bern and Charles Dores of Morrill.
In addition to the equipment provided by Uncle Sam for last year’s defense school, $1.000 worth of tools has been bought and delivered for use by this new crop of students. The new purchases include a valve grinder, acetylene torch, grinding wheel and other important items
Sabetha Herald, 29 Oct 1941, page 1
Berwick Center
Mr. and Mrs. Luis Meyer entertained Sunday evening in honor of the birthday of Mrs. Belmer Myer and for Earl Meyer who will soon be inducted in the army.
Sabetha Herald, 11 Mar 1942, page 11
Berwick
Earl Meyer and Lawrence Miller went to Seneca Sunday where they joined those being inducted into the army from Nemaha county.
Sabetha Herald, 1 April 1942, page 3
Service Men’s Addresses
Pfc. early Meyer 538 Inf Co E. 90th Div. Camp Barkley, Tex.
Sabetha Herald, 22 Jul 1942, page 1
Berwick
Earl Meyer is home from Ft. Barkley, Texas, on a two weeks furlough.
Sabetha Herald, 18 Nov 1942, page 7
Sgt. Earl Meyer-Home.
Sgt Earl J Meyer, son of Mr and Mrs Louis Meyer of the Ber- wick neighborhood, has been home from Camp Barkeley, Texas, on a ten day furlough. He returned to Barkeley the first of this week. He has been stationed at his camp ever since last summer (perhaps longer) except for the last-tine he was on maneuvers in Louisiana last winter. He has seen several Sabetha soldiers while at Barkelely, and saw Cpl. Joe Wicki only a few weeks ago. Sgt. Meyer was a welcome visitor at The Herald office while he was home, and the editor was most unhappy to have missed visiting with him
Sabetha Herald, 16 Jun 1943, page 1
Berwick
Sgt. Earl Meyer is at home on furlough visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Meyer.
Sabetha Herald, 12 Jan 1944, page 7
Staff Sergeant Earl Meyer left for Fort Dix, N J. Monday after having spent a furlough at home. He was informed of his promotion from buck to staff sergeant just before he left his station, so didn’t have his new stripes to wear home. He is guide of an infantry rifle platoon. His company has been stationed at Dix only a short time and is receiving new equipment and having a rest period. His outfit is equipped with M-1 rifles, and recently completed an intensive training period. “We’re all anxious to get our jobs done well so we may return to normal conditions again,” he said.
Sabetha Herald, 19 Jan 1944, page 8
Injured in France
In a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Meyer, Staff Sgt. Early Meyer writes from England: “Have just been released form the hospital. Met with a little accident in France and was returned to a hospital in England. Am ready to go back again. Feeling fine.”
Sabetha Herald, 5 Jul 1944, page 1
Men In The Service
S-Sgt. Earl Meyer Killed In France
S-Sgt. Earl Meyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis-Meyer, was killed in action in France July 23, according to a telegram received by his parents from the War Department Monday.
The telegram gave no details of the death, but stated that a letter would follow. Meyer was wounded in France June 11, but apparently he had recovered and was back in action at the time of his death July 23. He entered the army in December, 1942 and received his basic training at Camp Barkeley, Texas. He was on maneuvers in Louisiana in the first part of 1943 and returned to Camp Barkeley in April. 1943. Then he trained with his infantry outfit in California before going to Fort Dix, N. J. in January, 1944. From Fort Dix he went over- seas the latter part of January or the first part of February.
Sabetha Herald, 23 Aug 1944, page 1
Men In The Service
Memorial for Sgt Earl Meyer.
A memorial service for Sgt. Earl Meyer, son of Mr and Mrs Louis Meyer, who lost his life in battle in France on July 23, will be held at the Apostolic Christian Church northwest of Sabetha on Sunday, October 22 at 1:30 p. m. The public is invited to attend this service and pay tribute to the memory of one who gave his life for his country. Earl was an exemplary young man. He was reared on the home farm near Berwick and lived there until called into service.
Sabetha Herald, 18 Oct 1944, page 1
Memorial for Sgt Earl Meyer. A memorial service for Sgt. Earl Meyer, son of Mr and Mrs. Louis Meyer, who lost his life in battle in France on July 23, will be held at the Apostolic Christian Church northwest of Sabetha on Sunday, October 22 at 1 30 p. m The public is invited to attend this service and pay tribute to the memory of one who gave his life for his country Earl was an exemplary young man He was rear- ed on the home farm near Berwick and lived there until called into service.
Courier Tribune, 2 Nov 1944, page 6
Remains of Sgt. Earl Meyer En Route Here For Burial
The remains of Staff Sergeant Earl J. Meyer, who was killed in action in France July 23, 1944, are en route to this country, according to a telegram received this week from the quartermaster depot in Kansas City by Sergeant Meyer’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Meyer. When they reach the distribution center they will be brought to Reinhart Funeral Home, designated by the family, accompanied by military escort The family does not plan to request military services at the funeral.
Sergeant Meyer was born on his parents’ farm near Berwick July 4, 1919 He attended the neighborhood school and assisted on the farm until he was called into service and sent to Camp Barkeley, Texas, March 29, 1942, to receive his training. He remained there until April, 1943, when his group was moved to Shreveport, La. From there he was sent to California for desert maneuvers. In January, 1944, he was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey, and April 1 was sent overseas. He was wounded in action in France June 11, 1944, but was back in service July 17. On July 23, he was killed in action.
Soon after his induction Earl was made a corporal, then in January 1943 was made sergeant, and less than a year later was promoted to staff sergeant.
Sabetha Herald, 31 Mar 1948, page 1
Body of S-Sgt. Earl Meyer Reaches Port at New York
Kansas City, Mo. April 5.-Accompanied by appropriate military escort, the body of the late Staff Sergeant Earl J. Meyer which arrived April 3 at the port of New York aboard the United States Army Transport John L. McCarley, will be forwarded through the American Graves Registration Distribution Center here to Sabetha, Kan. for final interment. Louis Meyer, 216 Main Street, Sabetha, father of Earl has been informed.
The McCarley, which sailed from Cherbourg, carried bodies of 2,619 Americans returned at request of next of kin from the D-Day military cemeteries at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mar, Blosville and LaCambe, Normandy.
A period of two weeks is expected to elapse after arrival of the transport before remains are started from the Kansas City Center to the final destination. Forwarding of bodies will continue from that time over a period of six weeks. Before remains leave the Center for final destinations next of kin will be notified in time to make final plans for services
Military escorts accompanying bodies from the Center to final destinations are from the same branch of service as the deceased and of comparable rank or grade.
Sabetha Herald, 7 Apr 1948, page 1
Services for Earl Meyer Will Be Held Saturday
Graveside funeral services for S-Sgt Earl J Meyer, who was killed in action in France July 23, 1944, will be held in the Sabetha cemetery Saturday morning at 10 00 o’clock. The remains will reach Hiawatha at 4 14 Friday afternoon, accompanied by military escort, and will be brought by the Reinhart Funeral coach to the Reinhart funeral home, where they will lie in state Friday night. There will be no services at the funeral home. The coach will be escorted to the cemetery Saturday morning by members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and after the brief graveside services taps will be sounded.
In accordance with custom, business houses in Sabetha will remain closed from 9 30 to 10 30 Saturday morning in tribute to Sergeant Meyer
Sabetha Herald, 28 April 1948, page 1
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Killed in Action in WWII
Earl Meyer (1919-1944)
Compiled by Patty Locher
Sabetha Herald Staff
Staff Sergeant Earl Meyer, son of Louis Sr. and Sarah Hartter Meyer of rural Sabetha, participated in the invasion of Europe in June 1944.
On June 11, he was wounded while unloading equipment and, after recuperating, he was again sent into action on July 17.
Six days later, on July 23, 1944, he was killed in battle near Gonfreville, France, one of more than 291,000 American service members who died as a result of combat action during World War II.
Meyer was born at the farm home of his parents near Berwick on July 4, 1919. He attended Berwick Centre School and assisted his dad on the farm.
His siblings provided the following memories of his growing up years.
Earl was small for his age when he was young. He grew up to be 5’6′ and had darker hair than anyone else in the family. Grandma Hartter called him “Klem Suhs Herzly” (little sweetheart).
In school he was called “Little Earl,” because he was small and there was another Earl in school who was taller and older.
Our cistern of rainwater was under the wash house the milk separator was also in this building. There was a little door on the floor over the cistern. One day Earl was walking across this door carrying a bucket with a little milk in it, the corner of the door went down, Earl’s feet went down with it.
He caught himself just in time. This door was fixed as soon as possible so this wouldn’t happen again.
In the fall when dad had lots of book work and adding to do, he would gather the boys around the table with paper and pencil. He gave them figures, they would add them, subtract or whatever, if they all got the same answer he took that for the correct answer. If someone got a different answer they had to do it over. I think he worked it too. Dad was good in math himself, but this was good training for the boys and something to do.
The boys all made birdhouses at different times, some as school projects. One that Earl made was a miniature Berwick Centre School.
It was put on a post by the rock flower garden and was there for many years.
Earl was usually quiet and conservative, thought things out for himself, and believed in giving his best. He helped with the farm work until at the age of 22 he was called into service on March 29 1942.
The 90th Infantry Division was activated at Camp Barkeley near Abilene Texas on March 2 1942. That summer the members of the Division began their training in preparation for deployment to the European Theater of Operations.
As a private Meyer was sent to Camp Barkeley on April 6, 1942 and was assigned to Company I 358th Infantry Regiment 90th Infantry Division (Texas Oklahoma) Third Army.
According to articles printed in The Sabetha Herald after his de[ath] soon after induction Meyer was promoted to corporal and in January 1943 was promoted to sergeant. Less than a year later he was promoted to staff sergeant.
His infantry unit went on maneuvers in Louisiana in the first part of 1943 and returned to Camp
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north to assist capturing the port of Cherbourg, then turned back south towards the Carentan area.
Earl rejoined the action on July 17 and was killed in action on July 23 at Gonfreville, about five miles southwest of Carentan.
On Aug. 22, 1944, Meyer’s parents received the following message, which was reprinted in the Oct. 25, 1944, issue of The Sabetha Herald:
“It is with regret that I am writing to confirm the recent telegram informing you of the death of your son, Staff Sergeant Earl J. Meyer, Infantry, who was killed in action on 23 July 1944 in France
“I fully understand your desire to learn as much as possible regarding the circumstances leading to his death and I wish that there were more information available to give you
“Unfortunately, reports of this nature contain only the briefest details as they are prepared under battle conditions and the means of transmission are limited
“I know the sorrow this message has brought you and it is my hope that in time the knowledge of his heroic service to his country, even unto death, may be of sustaining comfort to you
“I extend to you my deepest sympathy Sincerely yours, JA Uho, Major General, The Adjutant General of the War Department’
Meyer’s body was recovered and was buried in Monarch VII Corps Cemetery at Blosville, France, 20 miles north of St Lo
The Rev Theo Beer of Akron, Ohio, a cousin of Louis Meyer, conducted a memorial service on Oct 22. 1944, at the Apostolic Christian Church southeast of Bern
Meyer was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart
In April 1948 his remains were brought back to Sabetha for burial in the Sabetha Cemetery Graveside services were held May 1, 1948
In addition to his parents, Meyer was survived by five brothers, LeRoy, Velmer, Louis. [F]remond and Ezra Glenn, and five sisters, Mildred (Mrs Alvin) Strahm, Lena (Mrs Oscar) Strahm, Alberdine, Lenora and Rosalee, all of the local community
Currently. Velmer, Louis, [F]remond, Ezra Glenn and Lena of Sabetha and Alberdine of McPherson still survive
Several of Meyer’s cousins also served in the military during World War II, including Elgin Strahm who in July 1943 also made the supreme sacrifice
Sources The Sabetha Herald articles from 1944, Earl Meyer’s family members, a 90th Infantry website and 2194 Days of War An Illustrated Chronology of the Second World War compiled by Cevare Salmaggi and Alfredo Pallavasını published by Wind ward New York and London
Sabetha Herald, 19 May 2004, page 28
