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Alden Watts Jr.

Birth	:	28 Dec 1914 Bonaparte, Van Buren County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	15 Jun 1944 Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan
Burial	:	Maryborough Crematorium, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate	:	-25.5116294, 152.6716756
Description	:	Mr. and Mrs. Alden Watts of Bonaparte received the official notification on Tuesday from the war department of the death of their son, Alden Watts, Jr., age 30, on Okinawa on June 15, 1944. Mr. and Mrs. Watts had heard indirectly last week end by a letter of Elwin Muntz of Mindanao to his wife at Bonaparte that Alden had been fatally wounded by a Jap thrown hand grenade at night on June 14, and had died on the 15th. The information came to Elwin Muntz by way of a chain latter written by eight cousins in the Pacific war theatre. ... Read More	Mr. and Mrs. Alden Watts of Bonaparte received the official notification on Tuesday from the war department of the death of their son, Alden Watts, Jr., age 30, on Okinawa on June 15, 1944. Mr. and Mrs. Watts had heard indirectly last week end by a letter of Elwin Muntz of Mindanao to his wife at Bonaparte that Alden had been fatally wounded by a Jap thrown hand grenade at night on June 14, and had died on the 15th. The information came to Elwin Muntz by way of a chain latter written by eight cousins in the Pacific war theatre. Alden had written an installment of this letter on June 14 and it was mailed by his sergeant to Elwin Muntz following his death. Names of the cousins participating in the chain letter are LaVerne and Donald Von Seggen, Elwin Muntz, Dinsmore Muntz, Merle Muntz, Melvin Muntz, Vernon Muntz and Alden Watts, Jr. Alden is survived by his parents and three sisters, Mrs. Beatrice Jairl of Cincinnati, Iowa, Mrs. Faye Randolph and Miss Freida Watts of Bonaparte. He was born Dec. 28, 1914 and was graduated from Bonaparte high school with the class of 1932. He was inducted into the army Oct. 26, 1942 and had served overseas for eleven months with a company of engineers. The remains of Pfc. Alden Watts, Jr. arrived in Bonaparte Wednesday evening, April 6. Funeral services were held at the home Saturday, April 9, at 2 p.m. with Rev. John S. Ellis in charge. Interment was in Bonaparte cemetery with military services in charge of the Sargeant-Osweiler post, American Legion of Bonaparte. Six cousins of the deceased acted as bearers. They were Laverne Von Seggen, Donald Von Seggen, Merle Muntz, Densmore Muntz, Elwin Muntz and Keith Muntz. Keith Gaston contributed the musical numbers. Alden Watts, Jr. was the oldest child of Alden Watts, Sr., and Katherine Muntz Watts. He was born on the present Watts farm south of Bonaparte, on Dec. 28, 1914. His elementary education was received in the White Oak school in Farmington township and graduated from the Bonaparte high school in 1933. The next few years were spent in farming, and a year in the ordnance plant in Burlington. He was a regular attendant of Story Chapel Sunday school and church. He went into the service of his country on Oct. 26, 1942 as a member of the 321st Engineers Battalion, being sent to Camp Adair, Oregon. His company was moved to Ft. Lewis, Wash. on May 1, 1943. During this time Alden qualified as an expert marksman, with a 30 cal. light machine gun, and earned the coveted expert badge, "The 96th Division Highest Markmanship Award." The group sailed for Hawaii in July 1944, and these army engineers later took a prominent part in the invasion of the Philippines at Leyte. He was hospitalized for five months at Biak with jungle ulcers and had returned to active duty for only two weeks when fatally wounded. It was while on guard duty on Okinawa June 15, 1945, and a hand grenade tossed by a Jap in the early morning hours caused his death a few hours later. He was buried with full military honors on Okinawa, Ruyukus Islands. First word of his death came from a cousin, Elwin Muntz, who was located in Mindanao. There were eight cousins located in the Pacific theater, who kept contract through a chain letter. The official notification was received by the parents on July 1945. Alden is survived by his parents, and three sisters, Mrs. Beatrice Jairl, Davenport, Iowa, Mrs. Faye Randolph, Bonaparte, Iowa, and Mrs. Frieda Riney of Keokuk, Iowa. Also three nieces, one nephew, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted at the home on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock by the Rev. John S. Ellis, under the auspices of the Bonaparte. Sargeant Osweiler post of the American Legion. Interment in the Bonaparte cemetery. **Handwritten: Rec. Rep. 14 Apr. 1949 Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book H, Page 154, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Alden Watts Jr.'s memorial?
Alden Watts Jr.'s memorial is located at: Maryborough Crematorium, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia.
When did Alden Watts Jr. death?
Alden Watts Jr. death on 15 Jun 1944 in Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan
Where are the coordinates of the Alden Watts Jr.'s memorial?
Latitude: -25.5116294
Longitude: 152.6716756

Family Members:

Parent

Alden “Pete” Watts Sr.

(1885 - 1960)

Katherine M. Muntz Watts

(1891 - 1967)

Siblings

Faye J. Watts Randolph

(1918 - 1999)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Maryborough Crematorium
Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.5116294, 152.6716756

2. Maryborough Lawn Cemetery
Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.5126410, 152.6731850

3. Maryborough Cemetery
Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.5165460, 152.6735930

4. Maryborough Pioneer Cemetery
Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.5232830, 152.6746380

5. Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens
Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.5317100, 152.6952600

6. Commissioner Bidwill's Grave
Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.5631670, 152.7110000

7. Barlows Farm Cemetery
Takura, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.3330030, 152.7191200

8. Tiaro Cemetery
Tiaro, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.7173650, 152.5856850

9. Aalborg Danish Cemetery
Nikenbah, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.3169800, 152.8047240

10. Bayside Gardens Crematorium
Nikenbah, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.3135540, 152.8020030

11. Howard Remembrance Park
Howard, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.3054360, 152.5470520

12. Hervey Bay Crematorium
Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.2991870, 152.8075780

13. Polson Cemetery
Point Vernon, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.2522717, 152.8135186

14. Deborah Cemetery
Netherby, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.7827119, 152.4940048

15. Big Woody Island Cemetery
Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.2828650, 152.9544730

16. St Mary's Anglican Churchyard
Brooweena, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.6155810, 152.2342900

17. Munna Creek Cemetery
Gundiah, Fraser Coast Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.8943010, 152.4806150

18. Agnes Vale Station Cemetery
Childers, Bundaberg Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.2720660, 152.2496070

19. Childers Lawn Cemetery
Childers, Bundaberg Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.2241618, 152.2642764

20. Dickabram Cemetery
Miva, Gympie Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.9604510, 152.4848260

21. Apple Tree Creek Cemetery
Apple Tree Creek, Bundaberg Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.2254030, 152.2386650

22. Gunalda Cemetery
Gunalda, Gympie Region, Australia
Coordinate: -25.9877920, 152.5557680

23. Tozer Park Cemetery (Defunct)
Gympie, Gympie Region, Australia
Coordinate: -26.0008330, 152.7438890

24. Neerdie Cemetery
Gympie, Gympie Region, Australia
Coordinate: -26.0008540, 152.7442570