Private Earl W. Medlock

World War II US Army 379th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division Service Number: 37707657 Born: August 20, 1914, Wauneta Inducted: December 8, 1943 Killed in action, December 3, 1944 in the battle for the Roer, Germany Buried: Stratton, Nebraska

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Medlock of Haigler. Husband of Clara Blecha of Wauneta.

Clipped from December 1944 newspaper

Pvt. Earl Medlock is Killed in Action With Third Army
War Dept. Telegram Tells of Dundy County Youth's Death on Dec. 3rd

Pvt. Earl W. Medlock made the supreme sacrifice on December 3rd while fighting with the Third Army on the banks of the Roer River in Germany in the gigantic Allied drive to smother Hitlerism into an inglorious past. He gave his life heroically to a cause so fine that its depth is barely understood in places distant from the festering lands where the battle rages.

The shocking news of the loss of another of Dundy county's young men came in a message to his wife, the former Miss Clara Blecha on Wednesday at the family home in Haigler, at a time when she and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Medlock were just telling friends that they had just received a letter from him which had been written on November 22nd. The message was brief and the words weighed heavily with grief.

The news will make Christmas, 1944, a memorable date for Pvt. Medlock's family and many friends and to his one son, Everett Eugene who in his seventh year last visited his father in August before he ventured into foreign lands in the service of his country. Earl enlisted in the Army on December 8, 1943 at Denver and during his training he earned sharp shooting medals for machine gun, rifle and carbine. Born at Wauneta, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Medlock, on August 20, 1914, Earl was thirty years of age. He was married to the former Miss Clara Blecha on March 14, 1936.

Clipped from 1946 newspapers

Brothers To Be Returned Soon
Earl and Leonard Medlock Among War Dead Now Enroute to States

The two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Medlock of Haigler, who made the supreme sacrifice to their country on two far-flung battle fronts in the second World War, will be laid at rest following a double funeral at Haigler at a date to be announced later. The funeral is being arranged following word received by Mr. Medlock that the bodies of both sons will arrive in Haigler for the combined service.

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MEDLOCK BROTHERS FUNERAL MONDAY

Funeral services are planned for Monday afternoon for the two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Medlock of Haigler, Pvt. Earl Medlock and Pvt. Leonard Medlock, who made the supreme sacrifice for their country on two far-flung battle fronts in the second World War. The double military service will be under the direction of the Haigler post of the American Legion and will begin at one o'clock at the high school auditorium in Haigler. The service is being arranged by the Roach Mortuary.

Pvt. Earl Medlock gave his life to his country while serving with the Third Army in the battle of the Roer against the Germans on December 3rd, 1944, and his younger brother, Pvt. Leonard C. Medlock, made the supreme sacrifice in the campaign of Okinawa against the Japanese on May 17, 1945.

Pvt. Earl Medlock was born at Wauneta on August 20, 1914. On March 14, 1936, he was wed to the former Miss Clara Blecha and was the father of one son, Everett Eugene. He entered the United States Army on December 8, 1943, at Denver and enjoyed but one furlough home in August, 1944, just before embarking for France.

Pvt. Leonard Medlock was born at Haigler on May 16, 1921 and was called into army service in September, 1944. Following a furlough home in February, 1945, he embarked for service in the South Pacific where he made the supreme sacrifice on the Ryukyu Island battle of the Okinawa campaign, on May 17, 1945. He was married to the former Miss Jessie Stafford on May 16, 1939 and was the father of two children, Opal Carroll and Joan. He was twenty-four years of age.

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