Ives, William T.

WILLIAM THOMAS IVES

AIR CADET

U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS

William Thomas Ives was born in Wapella, Illinois on April 14, 1919. He was the son of Joy Lester and Ruth (Scott) Ives. William T. Ives graduated from Wapella High School, Wapella Illinois in 1936. Upon graduation he attended the Illinois State Normal School from 1936 to 1930 and then attended the University of Illinois graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1940. William T. Ives married Jeannette Kolp of Clinton, Illinois on July 27, 1941. The two raised their daughter Billie Joy. 

William came to the Decatur community in 1940 to be the inaugural teacher of a new vocational agriculture program at Decatur High School. In his two and a half year stint at DHS,  Mr. Ives taught physical education, vocational agriculture, and served as an assistant coach for the football and basketball teams. In the 1942 Decatur High School Ravelings Yearbook, it was said of Mr. Ives, "his home life hasn't been of sufficient duration as yet to develop hobbies. Every time he starts to do so, his wife commands him to help with the dishes. Every now and then he slips away, however, to take in a round of golf".

William enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps on June 24, 1942. William became an air-cadet on January 9, 1943. He received his training at air fields in San Antonio, Texas and Fredericks, Oklahoma. During training, Cadet Ives was killed along with another air-cadet in a Cessna UC-78-B (aircraft #42-71925) aircraft in a mid-air collision at Fredericks, Oklahoma on September 25, 1943. The other cadet killed in the crash was Keith James of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Cessna UC-78 was a multi engine advanced trainer used to prepare cadets to fly combat aircraft.  Cadet Ives was within six weeks of having acquired his wings and second Lieutenancy-ship before his fatal crash. William's wings were later awarded to his widow Jeannette. Upon Williams' death, Jeannette moved back to Clinton, Illinois where William is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery. Sigurd Anderson, a fellow teacher at Decatur High School and senior John Spahr both traveled to Illinois to attend the service as representatives of the school. 

For his service and sacrifice, Cadet Ives earned the American Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. 

Information collected and researched by Derek Sommer, 2014. 

SOURCES

             Decatur Daily Democrat 28 September 1943 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program.” Newspapers.library.in.gov, newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DCDD19430928.1.1&srpos=8&e=------194-en-20-DCDD-1--txt-txIN-William+Ives------. Accessed 14 Mar. 2024.

 Indiana Historical Bureau, comp. Gold Star Honor Roll: Adams County. Bloomington: Indiana War History Commission, 1949. Print.Vol. 1 of Indiana in World War II.

 Publications, Student, ed. Ravelings Yearbook. Decatur, IN: Decatur High School, 1944. Print.

 Publications, Student, ed. Ravelings Yearbook. Decatur, IN: Decatur High School, 1943. Print.

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