A message from the war department Saturday informed Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Latimer, Hampton, that their son, Sgt. Eugene Latimer, was killed in action over German territory December 30, 1943.
First word of the tragedy came January 14 when the war department wired that Eugene was missing in action. This message was taken by the father, station agent and telegraph operator at Hampton.
Father Lambert Hoffman of St. Mathias Catholic church, Hampton, officiated at the requiem high mass held for Sgt. Eugene Latimer Tuesday morning. Following the service, members of the Hastings American Legion post and the Hastings Veterans of Foreign Wars post conducted the military rites and presented the American flag to the young hero’s father, himself a veteran of World War I.
Eugene Latimer was born in Hampton July 15, 1922, the son of H.E. and Estella (Richmond) Latimer. He completed the Hampton grade school course and attended Farmington high school, graduating in 1939.
He was employed for a time in the State Bank of Hampton, then went to Los Angeles where he was a bank employee.
In September, 1942 he enlisted in the army and served in the medical division at Scott Field, Ill, later being transferred to the air corps. Upon completion of his training he was sent to England, arriving at the foreign base in November, 1943. He was serving as a radioman and waist gunner in a bomber group.
One sister, Aileen is serving in the Women’s Marine Reserve Corps, and the other, Patricia, is living at home and attending Farmington high school.
The sympathy of the entire community is extended to the bereft family.