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1SGT George M. Comley

Birth	:	1915 Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA
Death	:	9 Feb 1944 Italy
Burial	:	Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.9389000, -94.9747009
Inscription	:	1SGT, 168 INF, 34 INF DIV WORLD WAR II
Description	:	SGT. Company F, 34 Division, 168 Infantry George K. M. Comley was born in 1915 in Texas to Frank Comley and Vida Leona Darnold. He died February 9, 1944. He was willed in action in Cassino, Italy. At the time of his death, he was a 1st Sgt with the 34th Infantry, 1st Sgt, Company F, 34 Division, 168th Infantry. George K. M. Comley was born in 1915 in Texas to Frank Comley and Vida Leona Darnold. He died February 9, 1944. He was willed in action in Cassino, Italy. At the time of his death, he was a 1st... Read More	SGT. Company F, 34 Division, 168 Infantry George K. M. Comley was born in 1915 in Texas to Frank Comley and Vida Leona Darnold. He died February 9, 1944. He was willed in action in Cassino, Italy. At the time of his death, he was a 1st Sgt with the 34th Infantry, 1st Sgt, Company F, 34 Division, 168th Infantry. George K. M. Comley was born in 1915 in Texas to Frank Comley and Vida Leona Darnold. He died February 9, 1944. He was willed in action in Cassino, Italy. At the time of his death, he was a 1st Sgt with the 34th Infantry, 1st Sgt, Company F, 34 Division, 168th Infantry. Another one of Villisca’s fighting sons, St. George Comes with the American forces overseas has been cited for gallantry in action and has been awarded the Silver Star Medal. St. Comley, son of Mrs. Vida Comley of Villisca and a member of Company F. left here with that unit at the beginning of the war for training and later for overseas duty, and has been with the outfit in all its service in Africa and Italy. Several weeks ago he was reported “missing in action,” and up to the present his mother has had no further official information about him. Monday of this week, Mrs. Comley received a letter from the overseas headquarters of the 168th infantry regiment, of which Company F. is a part, informing her of the citation given her son. The letter, written April 24, 1944, by Captain Robert E. Rion of the personnel office reads: It is with my deepest appreciation and admiration that I sent the enclosed unexpurgated citation by the Commanding General of the Divion to you. It explains very clearly, yet not in great detail, the manning in which a gallant soldier fought for his country. “Your son’s act of gallantry will live forever in the lives and minds of the men in the Regiment, in the stories they will one day relate. His outstanding devotion to duty shall never be forgotten and you as his Mother, will possess the medal-the recognition by the War Department for services of the highest tradition.” The citation dated March 4, 1944, reads: Subject: Award of the Silver Star (Missing in Action) To: Commanding Officer, Co. F., 168th Infantry Regiment. 1. Under the provisions of AR-600-45 and as announced in General Orders No 18, Headquarters 34th Infantry Division, dated 7 March 1944, a Silver Star is awarded to the following named individual, missing in action: “George K. Comley, 20705562, First Sergeant, Company F, 168th Infantry Regiment. For gallantry in action on 4 November, 1943, in the vicinity of Capriati, Italy. During an attack on enemy positions the wire team of Company F was confronted with dangerous minefield cleverly concealed in rough terrain. As the Company Headquarters advanced into the minefield to reach their objective, several were wounded by exploding mines. Sgt. Comley with the least confusion possible, supervised the evacuation of the wounded and led the remainder of the platoon forward. As the advance continued the platoon was subjected to intense emery machine-gun and motar fire but in spite of these added handicaps, Sgt. Comley led his men through the mined area and established a CP on the Company’s objective. Sgt. Comley’s courage and initiative was an inspiration to the men under his control and reflected great credit on the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered military service from: Villisca, Iowa. Next of Kin: Mrs. Vida Comley (Mother), Villisca, Iowa. Signed, Chas W. Ryder, Major General, U. S. Army, Commanding. Villisca Review, Thursday, May 11, 1944, page 1 WAR DEPARTMENT CONFIRES BELIEF SGT. GEO. COMLEY KILLED IN ACTION WAS FIRST REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION ON BATTLEFRONT IN ITALY Mrs. Vida Comley, heard that her son, First Sgt. George Comley was killed overseas was no longer left in doubt. This week when Mrs. Comley received a letter from the war department confirming a telegram that arrived here earlier telling her that he was killed in action February 9, 1944 in Italy. At that time Sgt. Comley was reported missing in action, but information which Mrs. Comley received following that message led her to beloved he had been killed. It had then been six weeks since she had received a letter from him, but until the message from the war department came, she had believed that, in because of his long service overseas that he had been given a furlough and was on his way home. The letter just received from the war department, which was sent by Adjutant General Ulio said in part: We realize the burden of anxiety that has been yours since he was last reported missing in action and we deeply regret the sorrow this report brings you. May the sacrifice that he made for his home and country be a source of sustaining comfort. Sgt. Comley was a member of the Company F. when that outfit left in March 1941, for training at Camp Clairbourne, LA. and was with that company through all his overseas service up to the time of death. Villisca Review, Thursday, August 17, 1944, page 1

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is 1SGT George M. Comley's memorial?
1SGT George M. Comley's memorial is located at: Villisca Cemetery, Villisca, Montgomery County, USA.
When did 1SGT George M. Comley death?
1SGT George M. Comley death on 9 Feb 1944 in Italy
Where are the coordinates of the 1SGT George M. Comley's memorial?
Latitude: 40.9389000
Longitude: -94.9747009

Family Members:

Parent

Frank Edmond Comley

(1886 - 1932)

Vida Leona Darnold Comley

(1890 - 1971)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Villisca Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9389000, -94.9747009

2. Carlisle Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9225006, -94.9835968

3. Findley Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9578018, -94.9571991

4. Bakers Cut Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9083200, -94.9585900

5. Arlington Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9975014, -95.0093994

6. Nodaway Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9627991, -94.8858032

7. North Page Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8857994, -95.0511017

8. Fairview Cemetery
Valley Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8570862, -94.9671860

9. Mission Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0052986, -95.0603027

10. Sciola Baptist Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0340000, -94.9859000

11. Mamre Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9865480, -95.0886400

12. Bolt Family Burying Ground
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0362750, -94.9950660

13. North Grove Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8422012, -94.9396973

14. Mamrelund Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9810486, -95.0959320

15. Methodist Grove Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9136009, -94.8332977

16. Baldwin Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9768982, -94.8244019

17. Thompson Cemetery
Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0527000, -94.9161000

18. Rose Hill Church Cemetery
Clarinda, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8215000, -95.0340000

19. Guss Cemetery
Guss, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8502657, -94.8510869

20. Tabor Cemetery
Wallin, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0543700, -95.0619900

21. Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery
Douglas Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8430000, -95.1044000

22. Brooks Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9728012, -94.7953033

23. Strand Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0730000, -94.9100000

24. Mortons Mill Cemetery
Morton Mills, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0793991, -95.0085983