Warthman, Loren A. 

LOREN ALFRED WARTHMAN

PRIVATE
U.S. ARMY

Loren Warthman was born May 13,1916 in Kirkland, Indiana to Wilmer and Anna (Yake) Warthman. Loren had nine siblings including brothers Paul, Harold, Donald and Dale. His three sisters were Vellma (Reed), Luella (McAhren), Edna (Everett), Donnabelle and Elberta (Huffman). 

Loren completed his High school education at Kirkland High School. He had a love for basketball, but played baseball for the school. His sister, Edna remembers that Loren would often set up a game and invite all the other children to play. She also fondly remembers walking to school each day with Loren. In 1941, Loren married Chrystal Christener of Monroe, Indiana. 

Loren was drafted on November 17, 1942 and was sent to Camp Wheeler in Georgia for basic military training. He was then assigned to the 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. He participated in the North African, Sicily and Italian Campaigns. During his service he had his feet and legs frozen, and was wounded. For his injuries, Loren was awarded the Purple Heart. 

On March 16, 1944 after a German counter-attack at Carono, Italy he went missing. A group of soldiers went out to find Loren, and came back empty handed. Loren was then declared Missing In Action (MIA). On August,1,1944 he was declared deceased. In 1949 a farmer went out to work on his land and discovered Loren's remains. Evidence suggests that Loren was in a foxhole with a fellow soldier during the counter-attack when an artillery shell exploded in the hole, killing them both. He is laid to rest at Oakland Cemetery in Craigville, Indiana. 

For his service and sacrifice, Private Warthman was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, American Theatre Campaign Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Service Ribbon, and the Purple Heart with bronze oak leaf (denotes he earned it twice). Private Warthman also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Information researched and collected by Becca Gunter, 2014. 

SOURCES

Ancestry. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug. 2014. http://AncestryLibrary.com.

Anderson, Barbara Baker. "Find A Grave." Find A Grave Photo. Volunteers, n.d. Web. 19 Aug. 2014. http://www.findagrave.com.

Berne Witness [Berne] 16 Nov. 1942. Print.

Evert, Edna. Personal Interview. 20 Nov. 2014.

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.

"Loren A. Warthman Declared Dead." Decatur Daily Democrat [Decatur] 1 Aug. 1944, 175th ed., Column 4: 1-2. Print.

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