Mayville Momotor 6-28-1945

REPORTED DEAD AFTER BEING MISSING FOR YEAR

TECH. SGT. WARD H. BLASIUS

Mrs. Francene M. Smith received a letter we

print below, informing her that her brother,

Ward Blasius, according to government filings,

is declared dead due to the fact that twelve

months has elapsed he was reported missing

in action. On Monday of this week Mrs. Smith

received the Purple Heart medal, awarded

posthumously from Secretary of War Henry L,

Stimson. It was in July, 1942, Ward entered

the service. He trained at Atlantic City

Windover Field, Utah. Sioux Falls, S. D. In

December 1943 he left the states and served

as radio man with the l5th Air Force in Italy,

Until he was reported missing in action on

June 4, 1944. Ward was one of the fine

handsome young men of our community. who

was a prominent young farmer and had

expressed intentions that following the war

he planned to return to his farm home

northwest of town to again take up farm work

his future livelihood. He was active in the

young peoples group of the Baptist church at

the time of his enlistment and his blue star,

now turned to gold, on the church Service

flag, mark's the first gold star to appear

among the 53 names represented. His brother,

Pfc, Clare Blasius, now stationed in Italy.

Mrs. Smith is an only sister and one half

brother Jack Hobson, and his father, John

Hobson, reside on the farm. His mother passed

away a few months before he left the states.

The deep sympathy of the people of the

entire community is extended to the family.

June 5, 1045

Dear Mrs. Smith:

Since your brother, Technical Sergeant Ward

H. Blasius, Air Corps, was reported missing in

action Juno 4, 1944 the War Department has

entertained on the hope that he survived and

that information would be revealed dispelling

the uncertainty surrounding his absence.

However, as in many cases, the conditions of

warfare deny us such information, records

concerning your brother shows that the B-24

"Liberator" aircraft, in which he was a crew

member, was on a bombing mission, to

Genoa, Italy on June 4,1944. During this

mission your brother's plane was seen to

sustain severe damage from enemy

antiaircraft fire over target area. The plane

was last sighted on the same day, in the

immediate of Genova, Italy. approximately

10:40 A.M. Reports now received indicate that

your brother's plane crashed in the vicinity

of Genoa.

Full consideration has recently been given to

all available information bearing on the

absence of your brother, including all

records, reports and circumstances. These

have been carefully reviewed and considered.

In view of the fact that twelve months have

now expired without the receipt of evidence

to support a continued presumption of

survival, the War Department must terminate

such absence by a presumptive finding of death.

It has been recorded under the provision of

Public Law 400 77th congress approved March

7, 1942 as amended.

The finding does not establish an actual or

probable date of death; however, as required

by law, it includes a presumptive date of

death for the termination of pay and

allowances of pay, settlement of accounts

and payment of death gratuities. In the

case of your brother this date has been

set as June 5, 1945, the day following

the expiration of twelve months absence.

I regret the necessity for this message

but trust that the. ending of a long

period of uncertainty may give at least

some small measure of condolence.

I hope you may find sustaining comfort in

the thought that the uncertainty with

which war has surrounded the absence of

your brother has enhanced the honor of

his service to his country and of his

sacrifice.

Sincerely yours,

J. A, Ulio,, Maj. Gen.

The Adjutant General of the Army

Memorial Services

Memorial services will be held

Sunday, August 12, 1945 at 2:30

o'clock, in the Baptist Church

for Sgt. Ward Blasius. Sgt.

Blasius was reported missing in

action on June 4, 1944, and recently

was declared dead by the

War Department. The American

Legion will assist with the services.

***************************************************************

U.S. Army Service No. (ASN): #16108438

Ward H. Blasius is listed under Finding Of Death in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Tuscola County, Michigan.

***I would like to thank Barb LaJoie Find A Grave ID 46513318 for creating this memorial***

***I would like to thank Veneita Find A Grave ID 47516698 for adding her gravesite photo to this memorial***

***I would like to thank Rose of Sharon Find A Grave ID 48623013 for adding their photo to this memorial***

***I would like to thank MI_Roots Find A Grave ID 47891314 for adding their photo to this memorial***

***I would like to thank usafdo Find A Grave ID 48612389 for adding their photo to this memorial***