Four County Boys on Casualty Lists

Four boys from southern Monroe County and nearby communities in other counties have been reported by the War Department in recent casualty lists.

Reported killed in action are Pfc. James Weldon SPURLING, son of Thomas SPURLING, northeast of Centralia, and First Lieut. Richie V. FOUNTAIN, son of Mrs. Mary Lou FOUNTAIN, Route 4, Centralia.

Reported missing are Corp. Thomas C. CREED, Jr., son of Thomas C. (Dick) CREED, of Santa Fe; and Pfc. Garland W. DONALDSON, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oaklie DONALDSON, near Rowena.

Pfc. SPURLING, Corporal CREED and Pfc. DONALDSON all served in the quartermaster corps in England.  All were reported casualties since April 28.  All these boys, and two others who were reported missing, Pfc. Ralph EARNEST and Pfc. Darrell D. FERGUSON, were friends in Audrain County, went through training together in this country and went overseas in January of this year.

Before entering the service, Pfc. SPURLING, who was 20 years old, was employed by the Western Union in Columbia, and he also worked for the Harbison Walker Refractories at Vandalia.

Corporal CREED, also 20 years old, attended Paris High School and then was employed in the saw mill at the A. P. Green Brick Plant before entering service in February, 1943.  The last letter from him was received from England on April 29.  Besides his father at Santa Fe, Corporal CREED has two sisters, Mrs. W. E. CLEMENT and Mrs. Howard PEAK of Mexico and three brothers, Russell, of Mexico, Pvt. Ray CREED, in training at Amarillo, Texas, and Ralph of Santa Fe.

DONALDSON entered the army on February 12, 1943, and went overseas in January.  Before entering the service he worked for the A. P. Green Firebrick Co., in Mexico.  He served at Camp Pickett, Virginia, with a quartermaster company before going overseas.  He has a brother, Corporal Jack O. DONALDSON, and a nephew, Pvt. Clifton ROBBINS in the service.

Source: Monroe County Appeal dated 18 May 1944; submitted by Judy Baker Barklage.