2
Soldiers From
Walhalla Missing WALHALLA. Aug. 3. Two
Walhalla officers are missing in action in Europe, according to word
received here last week by their parents.
Probate Judge W. Frank Gillespie, of Walhalla, received a message Friday
from the War department informing him that his son, Lt. Fred E. Gillespie,
had been missing in France since June 6, Invasion day.
Lieutenant Gillespie is a paratrooper -lid has been overseas for several
months. He has been in service for approximately two years and prior
to going into service attended Wofford college at Spartanburg. He is
a graduate of Walhalla high school.
Lieutenant Gillespie's father suffered a heart attack following receipt
of the telegram, and now Is a patient, at the Oconee county hospital.
Mrs. Gillespie died a few months ago.
Second Lt. Howard Ballenger, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Ballenger. of
Walhalla, has been reported missing in action after a bombing raid over
Europe. Lieutenant Ballenger has been in service since January, 1942,
and served with the Eighth Air force in England eight months before
becoming an aviation cadet. He received his wings and was commissioned
a second lieutenant in November at Freeman field, Seymour, Ind. Lieutenant
Ballenger ls a graduate of Walhalla high school and attended Clemson
college.
[The Greenville News, Greenville,
SC, 05 Aug 1944, Sat, Page 2]
|
Interment record and grave marker for 1st Lieutenant Fred E. Gillespie at
Plot A Row 14 Grave
35 in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in
Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
Lt. Gillespie was killed in action on
June 6, 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart
Although his family opted to have
him buried in Normandy ,they installed a memorial stone in Silver Brook
Cemetery, Anderson (Anderson county), SC. His parents are boy
buried there as well/
Fred made quiet a name for himself while attending g
Wofford College in Spartanburg, sc..
He was vice-president of his class his junior
year and excelled in ROTC before graduating in
See next page for new articles regard
ing Fred in
college.
|