NEWS: War Dead Returned from Europe, Area Heroes, July 12, 1948, Blair County, PA

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COUNTY WORLD WAR II DEAD BEING RETURNED

PFC. ADAM C. CONRAD
CPL. CHARLES F. CRAGG, JR.
S/SGT/ RALPH MUSSELMAN
PVT. ROBERT E. PEARCE
PVT. TERRENCE L. WESTON

BODIES OF 5 WAR HEROES COMING HOME

Two Altoona and Three County Youths Returned From Europe.

  The bodies of five Blair county youths who made the supreme sacrifice in the 
European theatre of operations in World war II are among those of 4,363 
Americans being returned to the United States from Europe aboard the army 
transport Oglethorpe Victory, the department of the army announced yesterday.
  Also among the 406 bodies being returned to Pennsylvania upon instructions of 
next of kin are those of 17 young men from the counties surrounding Blair,
  The war heroes were originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in 
France and Belgium.

Blair County Heroes.

  Altoona and Blair county heroes being returned are:
  Pfc. Adam C. Conrad, aged 20, of Newry, whose next of kin is Mrs. Geraldine 
Yingling, a sister, of 2513 Broad avenue.
  Cpl. Charles F. Cragg, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Cragg of 201 
Coleridge avenue, Llyswen.
  S/Sgt. Ralph Musselman, aged 30, husband of Mrs. Malda Musselman and son of 
Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Musselman of Claysburg, R. D.
  Pvt. Robert E. Pearce, aged 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Pearce of 714 
Seventh avenue, Juniata.
  Pvt. Terrence L. Weston, aged 25, husband of Mrs. Betty (Hoover) Weston and 
son of Kirjath M. Weston of 905 Jefferson avenue, Tyrone.

HEROES OF AREA.

  Among heroes of the surrounding area are:
  S/Sgt. James H. Conrad, whose next of kin is William Conrad of DuBois.
  Cpl. Lester R. Cussins of 610 South Juliana street, Bedford.
  Pfc. James DeAngelo, next of kin, Alice Dinant of Point street, Philipsburg.
  2nd Lt. William A. Defibaugh, next of kin, C. M. Defibaugh of Bedford.
  Pvt. Joseph W. DeRalph, next of kin, Mrs. Margaret DeRalph of DuBois.
  Pfc. Ross S. Devore, next of kin, Mrs. Pearl Rosky of Ebensburg, R.D. 1.
  Pvt. William R. Defour, next of kin, Julius T. Defour of Madera.
  Pfc. Ralph L. Erdley, next of kin, James W. Erdley of Colner.
  Pfc. Thomas E. Fresh, next of kin, Reuben Fresh of 927 Conemaugh avenue, 
Portage.
  2nd Lt. Robert J. Green, next of kin, Mrs. Catherine M. Green of 819 St. 
Joseph street, Gallitzin.
  Pfc. Mike W. Gyurke, next of kin, Mike Gyurke of Nanty-Glo.
  S/Sgt. Clyde R. Hagerich, next of kin, Roscoe Hagerich of Conemaugh.
  S/Sgt. Harold E. Lowery, next of kin, Eugene Lowery of 229 South Thomas 
street, Bedford.
  Sgt. Charles D. Moppin, next of kin, Mrs. Florence V. Moppin of DuBois.
  Pfc. Catl [Carl?] Prestes, next of kin, Walter Prestes of 607 Johnson avenue, 
Portage.
  Pfc. Marcy F. Shaffer, next of kin, Harry Shaffer of Manns Choice, R.D. 1.
  Pfc. Balo W. Sigety, next of kin, Mrs. Elizabeth Sigety of Clearfield.

DIED IN ETO.

  Pvt. Adam Carl Conrad of Newry was killed in action in Germany Oct. 15, 1944, 
while serving in the infantry.  He entered the service Jan. 3, 1943, and had 
been overseas from November, 1943, being stationed in England prior to moving 
onto the continent.  Adam was well known as a baseball player in the county 
prior to entering the service.
  Cpl. Charles F. Cragg, jr., was killed in action in Luxembourg Jan. 10, 1945, 
while serving as a tank commander in the 3rd army.  He entered the service in 
August, 1943, and went overseas in February, 1944.  Cpl. Cragg was graduated 
from McDonough Boys school in Maryland a short time before entering the army.
  Pvt. Ralph Musselman of Klahr was first reported missing in action Jan. 18, 
1945, and then as killed in action in Luxembourg.  He entered the service in 
April, 1944, serving in the infantry, and went overseas in November, 1944.  
Prior to entering the army he was employed at his father's farm and at the 
General Refractories plant in Sproul.
  Pvt. Robert Ellsworth Pearce was killed in action in France Nov. 15, 1944, 
while serving in the infantry.  He entered the service Jan. 25, 1943, and went 
overseas in August, 1944.  Prior to entering the service he was employed as a 
machinist apprentice in the Juniata shops.
  Pvt. Terrence L. Weston was killed in action Feb. 18, 1945, in Germany.  He 
entered the army July 13, 1944.  Prior to entering the service he was employed 
as a naval inspector in Akron, O.  While a student at Tyrone High school he was 
a star in football.

Altoona Mirror, Monday, July 12, 1948, pages 1, 10