F.H.S. Classmate of Eugene Latimer, Another Hampton Boy Killed In Action
Hampton lost it’s second son in World War II. It was learned Wednesday of this week when a telegram announced that, 2nd Lt. Leo Gores, 21, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gores of Inver Grove township was killed in action June 15, probably during the second week of the invasion of France.
His F.H.S. classmate, Sgt. Eugene Latimer, also of Hampton, was killed in January in an air battle over enemy territory. Both were graduated from the Farmington High School in the class of 1939.
The day before his death, Lt. Gores wrote a letter to his fiancée, Mary Martin of Farmington, stating that he was in France and mentioned that the country was so much different than England. Miss Martin, a daughter of Lt. and Mrs. Elmer Martin received the letter Saturday. His parents also got a letter written the same day, June 14.
Leo Gores was born September, 1922, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Carl and Susan (Becker) Gores. He attended the Hampton school and also the Farmington High school, being a star right end on the Tiger football team. He was graduated in the class of 1939. Later he and his classmate and companion, Eugene Latimer, went to California where they were employed for a time. Leo later was employed in the Gores store, Hampton, and resided at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. N.P. Gores; he also worked at Gopher Ordinance Works, Rosemount. He joined the colors in September, 1942, training successively at Camp Robinson, Ark., Camp Butner, N.C., and at Fort Benning Ga., where he was commissioned a second Lieutenant in the Infantry; he trained for a time at Atterbury, Ind. His last furlough home was during the Christmas holidays. He left for overseas in February, landing in England.
Besides his parents, who live six miles north of Coates station on Highway 56, he is survived by three sisters, Dolores, of California, and Elizabeth and Geraldine at home. A sister, Pauline, 2, was killed by a train at Hampton about seven years ago.
The telegram from the war department Wednesday said more details would follow in a letter.
The news of the young officer’s death is a blow to a legion of friends and relatives.
Service for 2nd Lieut. Leo Gores, who was killed June 15, while in action in the European war theater, were held under the auspices of the Nelson-Lucking Post of the American Legion and Lyle Russell Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in the St. Mathias Catholic church at Hampton, Monday morning at eight o’clock. Rev. Lambert Hoffman, pastor, officiated at the funeral Mass and Rev. M.J. Duhr, a former pastor was also in the sanctuary.
The church was crowded with relatives and friends who had come to pay their last respects and homage to the lad they had all known and loved so well.
The catafalque, placed in the main aisle before the alter, was draped with a large flag, which was later presented to the young soldiers mother Mrs. C.H. Gores by Tom Spellman and Francis Ralph. There were few dry eyes in the sacred edifice, while the choir chanted the ritual of the Mass for the departed. Rev. Hoffman, in a few well-chosen remarks, paid a glowing tribute to the young soldier, who had offered up his life for his country.
Beside the numerous relatives and friends who motored in from all parts of the country to Attend the final rites, were Phil O. Johnson, Dr. A.J. Koppes, R.W. Ganfield, Harry Engstrom, Louis Schneider, George Kuzman, A.L. Kummer, Charles Laird, H.E. Latimer, T.R. Spellman, and Francis Ralph, member of Veterans of World War organizations and Stephen Husting, a discharged veteran of the present war, also from the county seat. The most profound sympathy of the community is extended to the grief stricken family.