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1LT Earl Lyon Cotton Jr.

Birth	:	28 Sep 1923 Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	19 Dec 1945 Okinawa, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa, Japan
Burial	:	Calvary Cemetery, Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.5205994, -96.4424973
Plot	:	Golgatha, Lot 360, grave 3
Inscription	:	1st LT 316 AAF TRP CARR SQ WORLD WAR II
Description	:	U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES 316th Troop Carrier Squadron 301st Fighter Wing U. S. Army Air Force A/S, Air Corps Lt. Earl Cotton Jr. Loses Life In Explosion of Okinawa Land Mine A memorial mass for Lt. Earl Cotton Jr. will be held at the Cathedral in Sioux City Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. Miss Anna Gerst and members of the Chris Gerst family will attend the rites for their nephew and cousin. First Lt. Earl L. Cotton, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Cotton, 1101 Summit street, was killed December 19 in the explosion of... Read More	U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES 316th Troop Carrier Squadron 301st Fighter Wing U. S. Army Air Force A/S, Air Corps Lt. Earl Cotton Jr. Loses Life In Explosion of Okinawa Land Mine A memorial mass for Lt. Earl Cotton Jr. will be held at the Cathedral in Sioux City Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. Miss Anna Gerst and members of the Chris Gerst family will attend the rites for their nephew and cousin. First Lt. Earl L. Cotton, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Cotton, 1101 Summit street, was killed December 19 in the explosion of a Japanese land mine on Okinawa, it was learned by the parents in a letter from the public relations office of the Okinawa air depot. "Lt. Cotton, a pilot (of a C-46) with the 316th troop carrier squadron of the Eighth air force, struck the mine while walking late at night through an open field near headquarters of the Okinawa air deport," the letter reported. "In the explosion set off at his step, Lt. Cotton died immediately," the letter continued. A telegram and letter of confirmation concerning his death were received by the parents from the war department December 27 but the date and cause of Lt. Cotton's death were not revealed at that time. The following is taken from a letter received January 7 by the parents of the Sioux Cityan from Capt. Martin B. Malloy, C. P., Catholic chaplain of Lt. Cotton's squadron: "The morning following the accident a requiem mass was said in the presence of three local Catholic chaplains. He received the last rites of the Catholic church. Close friends of Earl and officers of his squadron acted as pallbearers. He was given a military funeral and was buried on the afternoon of December 20, 1945, in the Island Command cemetery on Okinawa. His commanding officer and I led the cortège. Lt. Cotton, born September 28, 1923, in Sioux City, attended Cathedral school and was graduated from Trinity high school in June 1941, where he was active in football and boxing. He was employed at the Johnson Biscuit company before entering the service in January 1943. He received his wings a year later at LaJunta, Colo., and was sent overseas in October, 1944, to Bellows field, Hawaii, where he was stationed about a year. Lt. Cotton then was transferred to Okinawa. He was promoted to first lieutenant last October. THE ALTON DEMOCRAT, Alton, Iowa, Thursday, 17 January 1946, Page 1 ∼When Earl Lyon Cotton was born on September 28, 1923, in Sioux City, Iowa, his father, Earl, was 36 and his mother, Marie, was 33. He had three siblings. He died on December 19, 1945, in Okinawa at the age of 22. According to 1940 U.S. Federal Population Census, Earl had three siblings. Residence: Area D, Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa Earl Cotton, 52 yrs, Male Maria Cotton, 50 yrs, Female Phyllis Cotton, 20 yrs, Female Claire Cotton, 18 yrs, Male Clyde Cotton, 18 yrs, Male Earl Cotton Jr., 16 yrs, Male Iowa, U.S., Armed Forces Grave Registrations Name: Earl L Cotton Jr Age: 22 Birth Date: 28 Sep 1923 Birth Place: Sioux City, Iowa Death Date: 19 Dec 1945 Death Place: Okinawa, Okinawa

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is 1LT Earl Lyon Cotton Jr.'s memorial?
1LT Earl Lyon Cotton Jr.'s memorial is located at: Calvary Cemetery, Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA.
When did 1LT Earl Lyon Cotton Jr. death?
1LT Earl Lyon Cotton Jr. death on 19 Dec 1945 in Okinawa, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa, Japan
Where are the coordinates of the 1LT Earl Lyon Cotton Jr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 42.5205994
Longitude: -96.4424973

Family Members:

Parent

PVT Earl Lyon Cotton

(1887 - 1975)

Marie Ann Gerst Cotton

(1890 - 1978)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Calvary Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5205994, -96.4424973

2. Logan Park Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5377693, -96.4304810

3. Chief War Eagle Memorial
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4939003, -96.4543991

4. Saint Thomas Episcopal Church Columbarium
Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5031000, -96.4063000

5. United Church of Christ Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5491900, -96.4041300

6. First Congregational Church of Christ Memorial Ga
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5492800, -96.4035900

7. McCook Cemetery
North Sioux City, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5538460, -96.4886070

8. Floyd Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4968987, -96.3756027

9. Mount Sinai Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4943810, -96.3711700

10. Mount Carmel Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4956017, -96.3685989

11. Saint Michaels Calvary Cemetery
South Sioux City, Dakota County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4552994, -96.4503021

12. Charles Floyd Monument
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4626480, -96.3779330

13. First Brides Grave
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4579500, -96.3756500

14. Carmelite Monastery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4579000, -96.3675000

15. Roost Cemetery
Dakota County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4466900, -96.5023200

16. Graceland Park Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4589005, -96.3486023

17. Independent Farane Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4552600, -96.3500170

18. Hancock Township Cemetery
Millnerville, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6124970, -96.4813510

19. Dakota City Cemetery
Dakota City, Dakota County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4216500, -96.4143100

20. Boals Family Plot
Dakota City, Dakota County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4345000, -96.5151000

21. Saint Johns Cemetery
Jackson, Dakota County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4706001, -96.5658035

22. Memorial Park Cemetery
Sioux City, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4528008, -96.3261032

23. Saint Peters Cemetery
Jefferson, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6045799, -96.5594025

24. Woodbury Township Cemetery
Sergeant Bluff, Woodbury County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4083800, -96.3570480