April 1, 1944
Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Journal-Gazette, Pg. 3 -
Pvt. Lyle C. Ott, 19, has been missing in action in Italy since February 16, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clint Ott of 801 East State Blvd, formerly of Kimmell, learned by telegram Friday.
Private Ott, serving with the infantry, has been in North Africa and Italy since going overseas in November, 1943. He has inducted soon after his graduation from Cromwell High School last April.
A brother, S Sgt. Lenier Ott is with the army in Shrieveport, LA.; Pvt. Ott trained at Camp Helby, Mississippi.
Jan, 1945
Mr. and Mrs. Clint Ott Receive Belated Data On Death Of Son
After many months of striving to obtain reliable and authentic information relative to the time, place and occassion of the death of their son, Private Lyle C. Ott, Mr. and Mrs. Clint Ott of 801 East State Boulevard, Fort Wayne, formerly of Kimmell, have received communications from the office of the Quartermaster General, Washington, which outline the facts as they have been obtained by the division of our war department.
Regarding the burial of their son, Mr. and Mrs. Ott have been advised:
"The official report of burial discloses that the remains of your son were interred in Plot J. Row 33, Grave 1251, in the U.S. Military Cemetery Carano, located approximately 30 miles northwest of Naples, Italy." (The burial took place "on the 28th of Dec 1944.")
Another letter from the same office conveys this information:
"Your desire to be fully informed regarding the death of your son, Private Lyle C. Ott, is most understandable. Information now available shows that on 16 February 1944 your son and other members of his organization were engaged in an attack on enemy positions near Cairo, Italy. During this engagement the third platoon, of which he was a member, was surrounded by the enemy, thereby cutting them off from the rest of the company. Every attempt was made to reach the stranded men but without success, due to the superior force of the enemy. Subsequently he was reported missing in action. Later a casualty message received from the Commanding General on the Mediterranean Area stated that he was killed 16 February 1944 in Italy, the same day he was previously reported missing. I regret that no further details regarding his death were given, but I am sure you will understand how extremely difficult it was under actual battle conditions to record all information regarding casualties."
This letter also explains why Mr. & Mrs. Ott had reveived no word from Lyle's commanding officer or chaplain. It states that "this procedure of reporting casualties was not in effect at this time."
The letter also explains why Lyle was not granted a furlough following the completion of his basic training and before being sent overseas. It states: "Generally it was possible to grant leave after completion of basic training, but cases did occur where this was not possible due to the urgent need for personnel with specific qualifications and training. You may be assured, however, that this did not result from discrimination nor callousness on the part of the military authorities, but was one of the sacrifices necessitated by the magnitude of the war."
Lyle's parents have not yet received his personal affects, but the letters they have received infer everything possible will be done to return these to them.
Explanation of the great difference in the date of death as compared to that of burial it is assumed that the interment on December 28, 1944 was the second or final burial. That is the body was in a temporary grave from February to December.
16 FEB 1945
Ft. Wayne, Journal Gazette, Pg. 1
TWO MORE FORT WAYNE MEN KILLED IN ACTION; SIX WOUNDED; TWO ARE MISSING
Two more Fort Wayne infantrymen, Pvt Lyle C. Ott and Pfc Jean E. Counseller, have been killed in action while six others have been been wounded and two are reported missing.
Pvt. Ott, 19, son of Mr. & Mrs. Clint Ott, 801 East State Boulevard, was killed while serving with an infantry division, according to a telegram received yesterday by his parents. He was graduated from Cromwell High School and soon after graduation in April, 1943, he entered the service. Pvt. Ott received his training at Camp Shelby, Miss., before going overseas in November 1943, and had served in North Africa and Italy.
Surviving besides his parents are two brothers, Lester Ott, with the infantry in France, Roger Ott, at home, and three sisters, Carnee Ott at home, Edith Stahley, Kimmel, and Flo Carson, New Waverly.
