HAERLE, BEVENS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 04:18:16 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, July 26, 1945
Page 1

Tomales Boy Killed After POW Release

Sgt. John Haerle, released from a German prison camp by the Allied Armies, was killed in Belgium on May 18, according to a telegram from the War Department which reached his parents, Rev. and Mrs. George F. Haerle, at Tomales this week.

The parents had expected their son’s arrival daily after a message came from military headquarters in Germany, dated May 17, stating that Sergeant Haerle had been liberated and would soon be home. The final message gave no details of his death.

John was graduated from Tomales High School in 1942. The month he reached 18, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, trained as a radioman gunner, and was awarded high honors. He reported for duty in England last fall.

While on a mission over Germany, his plane was shot down. Mr. and Mrs. Haerle received a message at Thanksgiving that he was missing in action, and in January were informed by the Red Cross that he was in a prison camp. No other word reached his parents until he was liberated.

Sergeant Haerle was a brother of Reinhild Haerle of San Jose and Mrs. Eugene Bevens of San Francisco. Mrs. Bevens’ husband, a member of the famous U. S. Canadian Paratroops, was killed in action over a year ago.