John Edward Rhodes

1920 - 1945  (24 years)

• Name	John Edward Rhodes
  Birth	12 Sep 1920	Fayette County, Illinois
  Gender	Male
  Death	14 May 1945	Tinian Island
  Notes	Service Column News "The Altamont News" (Altamont, IL) Thursday, June 21, 1945(page 1) "SGT. JOHN E. RHODES KILLED IN ACTION" "Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Rhodes of this city received the following telegrams from the War Department, the first saying that their son, M. Sgt. John E. Rhodes, was missing in action, and the second informing them that he had been killed in action:" "June 16" "Joseph L. Rhodes," "The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son, M. Sgt. Rhodes, John E. , has been missing in action over Tinian since May 14, 1945. If further details or other information are received you will be promptly notified." "J. A. Ulio, the Adj. General" "June 19, 1945" "The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son, M. Sgt. John E., was killed in action on Tinian Island, 14 May 1945. He had previously been reported missing in action. Confirming letter follows." "Ulio, Adj. Gen." Obituary "The Altamont News" (Altamont, IL) Thursday, June 28, 1945 (page 1) "SKETCH OF ALTAMONT FLYER KILLED IN PACIFIC" "John E. Rhodes, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Rhodes, was born in Fayette County, Avena Township, on September 12, 1920. He came with his parents to this city in February, 1923. He received his education in the grade and high school, graduating in 1940. He received one week's mechanical training at the University of Illinois through the Farm Bureau of this couty." "He enlisted in the U. S. Army January 28, 1941, taking his basic training at Jefferson Barracks, from there going to the air base at Chanute Field at Rantoul, Ill. Upon his graduation he was sent to Barksdale Field, La., being later transferred to the Columbus Air Base of Columbus, Miss. Upon completion of his training here, he was promoted to private first class but before having an opportunity to sew on his stripes was promoted to sergeant." "He then moved to the Army Air Field at Blythville, Ark., where he spent twenty months, going then to Lowry Field at Denver, Colo., where he received instructions for flight engineer duty, graduating with five others from a class of originally fourteen with the rating of technical sergeant." "His next move was to Lincoln, Neb., where he was assigned to a B-29 Super Fort, going to Harvard, Nebr., from which place he made a trail flight to New York and back, flying over this city on the trip. He was then sent to Mather Field, Calif., from where he left on December 22 for the South Pacific, landing in the Marianas on December 27. One week after landing in these islands he was promoted to master sergeant, which rank he held at the time of his death." "He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Rhodes, two brothers, Francis, who has received an honorable discharge with the rank of T5, having been almost five years in the service, thirty seven months of that time in the European theatre, and Charles, private first class, who has been in the army for three years, having been in the Pacific theater in the past year in the Leyte and Okinawa battles. He also leaves three sisters, Margaret of Springfield, Mary of St. Louis, and Rachel of Oklahoma City, Okla., his grandmother, Mrs. Nancy Rhodes, and other relatives and friends." "Further details will be published when they are received." "MEMORIAL SERVICE" "Memorial services will be held on Monday, July 2, with Requiem Mass at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Clare Catholic Church for M. Sgt. John E. Rhodes, who was killed in action over Tinian on May 14, 1945." More About JOHN EDWARD RHODES: Misc. Fact: Never Married; NO DESCENDANTS
  Person ID	I41861	McKenzie Genealogy
  Last Modified	29 Oct 2021

  
  

  Father	Joseph Lewis Rhodes,   b. 28 Dec 1891, St. Elmo, Fayette County, Illinois d. 15 Aug 1992, Altamont, Effingham County, Illinois (Age 100 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Barbara M. Vogel,   b. 24 Dec 1887   d. 31 Mar 1966, St. Louis, Missouri (Age 78 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	12 Jan 1915
  Family ID	F15884	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart