[Decatur Daily Democrat Adams County, Indiana, Saturday, November 13, 1944]

PFC. EARL E. SUMAN, ONE OF SIX BROTHERS IN WAR, REPORTED DEAD

The sextet of Suman brothers, all of whom are serving their country in the armed forces overseas has been broken with the death of Pfc. Earl E. Suman, 23, who, the war department informed the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Suman, Sr., of Decatur route six, died on October 16.

The Decatur infantryman was first reported missing in action in France on September 18. On October 13, the war department notified the parents that their son was a prisoner of war.

Last night's message did not give details as to his death, or explain if he had died from wounds previously received. One supposition is that the young soldier was reported missing and that the final check up at the battle front later proved that he had been killed in action.

Pfc. Suman was a member of General Patton's third army and was attached to the 319th infantry. The designation of his company was not learned.

Pfc. Suman entered the army in July, 1942. He took basic training at Camp Forest, Tenn., and went overseas last July.

Two of his five brothers have been wounded in action. They are, Pfc. Gordon C. Suman, of the U. S. marines, wounded on Saipan in the Pacific, on July 31; Pvt. Kenneth Suman, of the army, wounded twice in action, and now at the front again; Pfc. Walter E. Suman and Cpl. Harry Suman, Jr., both in France, and Pvt. Otho Suman, a marine serving in the South Pacific.

Of any family in the county, the Suman brothers had the distinction of being the only group of six serving in the armed forces.

[Article provided by F-A-G contributor Karin King # 47469179]

Rank: Private First Class

Combat Organization: 319th Infantry 80th Division

Death Date: 16 Oct 1946

Monument: Lorraine, France

Last Known Status: Buried

U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal

Additional Army Awards

*

Handwritten-Fri. Oct. 6, 1944

Pfc. Earl E. Suman Is Reported As Missing In Action In France

With two of their six sons in the Armed Forces having been wounded in action, a third son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Suman of Decatur Rural Route Six, is now reported missing in action in France since September 18, the War Department has notified the parents.

He is Pfc. Earl R. Suman, 23, midway in the ages of the sextet of brothers who are now serving their country overseas. The message listing a third son as a war casualty was received by the parents late last evening.

When the pictures of the six Suman brothers were printed in this paper last July at the opening of the fifth war loan drive, the parents believed that Pfc. Earl R. Suman was then on his way overseas. Presumably he arrived in France in July. He entered the Army on July 15, 1942 and took basic training at Camp Forrest, Tenn., and at other camps in this country.

On July 31, Pvt. Gordon C. Suman, of the U. S. Marines, the youngest son, was wounded in action in the Pacific. He was either on Saipan or Tinian Island, the parents stated.

Pvt. Kenneth Suman, 20, has been wounded twice in action. He has been in Italy and was wounded in October, 1943 and again last January. The latest word that parents have had from him is that he is back in action.

The other three sons are: Pvt. Otho Suman of the marines: Pfc. Harry Suman Jr., with the infantry in Italy and Pfc. Walter E. Suman, an infantryman, formerly stationed in England.

Mr. and Mrs. Suman are the parents of 13 children.

Pfc. Earl R. Suman is an infantry man attached to Co. K of the 319th Infantry. He is a graduate of Pleasant Mills High School.

Adams County, Indiana Historical Museum

Scrapbook "1944Jul-Mar1945" Image 52

Transcribed by Janice Vasilovski