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Obituary |
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Copied from "The Tri-County News", Friendship, TN Thursday, August 16, 1945 IVEN M. MANSFIELD Mr. and Mrs. Otis Mansfield of Crockett Mills, Tenn. have received a letter form Ch. Eugene B. McAlister and Capt. J.A. Sakas, stating the exact date of [the death of] their son, T-Sgt. Iven M. (Jake) Mansfield who was killed in Maleco, Luzon. On the afternoon of May 28, 1945, the Co. L 128th Inf. set up perimeter on the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, P(hillippine) I(slands). The trail was up the mountain side, balancing on a narrow knife like ridge plunging into steep valleys. It was too narrow even for a company; 128th Inf. pushed on. Mortar fire began falling among the men of the first Platoon of which Jake was platoon Sargeant. Several of his men were injured by shrapnel and he went to their assistance. While Jake was assisting with injured men, a mortar shell landed beside him. The shrapnel struck Jake in the stomach killing him instantly. His body was brought to the rear, and was given a Christian burial in the beautiful U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery, Santa Barbara, Luzon Island. T-Sgt. Jake Mansfield was inducted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 25, 1942. The day he was twenty-one years old. He took his basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. He went overseas February 10, 1943. He never had a furlough back home. He landed March 2nd in Australia, under Gen. MacArthur. He was a member of Red Arrow Division who fought on Buna, Saider, Aitape, Morotai, new Guinea, Leyte and Luzon. He was wounded on Thanksgiving day in 1944 and was awarded a Purple Heart. Then, April 4, 1945, he was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for being wounded again and losing the hearing of his right ear when knocked back by Jap ammunition. On May 4, 1945 he was slightly wounded and a few days following was sent back into action. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield will be awarded a Purple Heart, requested by the President , in honor of their son, who sacrificed his life in defense of his country. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otis Mansfield, five brothers, Sgt. Lexie and Cpl. Finis Mansfield, serving in Europr, Homer, Lendell and Tony, four sisters, Beauton, Mary Lou, Mignonne and Avrone Mansfield of Crockett Mills, grandmother, Mrs. J. H. Mansfield of Humboldt, and a lot of relatives and friends.
*I do not have the original obitutary but a typewritten transcription. My uncle's body was later re-interred at the Maury City Cemetery. |
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The Crockett Times Alamo, Tennessee Thursday, August 12, 1948 Vol. 16 No. 24 Services for Sgt. Ivan Mansfield--Funeral services for Sergeant Ivan Mansfield were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the First Christian Church at Crockett Mills. Sergeant Mansfield, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Mansfield of Crockett Mills, joined the Army on October 10, 1942 and was killed in action on May 28, 1945 during the Luzon Campaign, Philippine Islands. Sergeant Mansfield was a member of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. This Regiment saw action at Buna-Sanananda, Saidor, Aitape, Leyte, and Luzon. The caliber of the soldier and the character of the man are appropriately stated in the citation awarding him the Bronze star Metal "For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy near Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands on 28 May 1945. When six were wounded during heavy fighting Sergeant Mansfield voluntarily went forward and assisted in their evacuation. He then started to reorganize the perimeter defense against the intense enemy assaulting and while so doing he was killed by enemy artillery. Sergeant Mansfield's extreme heroism was an inspiration to his fellow soldiers." In addition to this citation Sergeant Mansfield was twice awarded the Purple Heart. In addition to his father and mother, Sergeant Mansfield leaves surviving him, brothers: Finis Mansfield, Lexie Mansfield, Homer Mansfield, Lendell Mansfield and Tommy Mansfield; sisters: Beauton Mansfield, Mignaone Mansfield, Avrone Mansfield and Mrs. Nell Moore; grandmother, Mr. J. H. Mansfield. The burial was in Maury City Cemetery. Friendship Funeral Home was in charge.
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