12. | McDowell, Adrian Eugene was born on 21 Feb 1926 in Clay City, Clay County, Illinois (son of McDowell, Clayson Adrian and Luke, Nella Grace); died on 28 Sep 1976 in Clay County Hospital (Old Location), Flora, Clay County, Illinois; was buried on 1 Oct 1976 in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. Other Events and Attributes:
- Occupation: Farmer, Oil Field Worker
- Reference Number: MCDO.A001
- _FGRAVE: 18364010
- Military Service: World War II, Private First Class, 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd 'Ozark' Infantry Division, United States Army
- Funeral: 1 Oct 1976, Cardascio-Easley Funeral Home, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois
Notes:
An unknown newspaper article carried the following entry:
Two Burned: Adrian McDowell is a patient at the Memorial hospital in Fairfield, being treated for burns received at his work for Oilfield Service company. At the same time, David Taylor, owner of the company, was borned (sic) but less seriously. The men were pumping gasoline into a tank when a motor backfired, igniting the gas.
Another unknown newspaper article later carried the following entry:
Undergoes Skin Graft Adrian McDowell, who was seriously burned a month ago, underwent skin graft to his right leg, Monday, at the Memorial Hospital in Fairfield. His condition is satisfactory.
On the 26th of December 1963, the following newspaper article was published: (newspaper unknown).
Clay City Man & His Son Have A Narrow Escape
"Adrian McDowell and his son, Roger, age 10 of Clay City, had a harrowing experience Thursday night at about 10 p.m. They were returning home in Mr. McDowell's pickup truck from delivering material to an oil well near Kinmundy, when they struck a stretch of ice on the road. The truck went out of control and hit a bridge abutment, and then turned over, tumbling into a creek. Roger was asleep at the time, but he woke up when he hit the icy water. The boy ran about a quarter of a mile to a farm house, where he was put to bed immediately. But the farmer couldn't get his car started, so he ran to another home, nearby, where a vehicle was obtained. Both Mr. McDowell and the boy were rushed to Clay County Hospital in Flora, where Roger was released after treatment. Mr. McDowell remains a patient there. His left leg was reportedly broken in three places."
Another newspaper article carried this report of the same incident:
Local Father and Son Injured in Truck Mishap "Adrian McDowell was taken to Clay County Hospital, Thursday night at 11:30 after he lost control of his pickup truck southeast of Omega, crashing into a bridge. The truck skidded on the icy road, overturning three times and throwing Mr. McDowell from the truck on its third turn, landing in a creek. His son, Roger, a passenger, went into the water with the truck but was able to climb out of the vehicle and onto the bank where Adrian had pulled himself. Ten-year-old Roger, who escaped with cuts and bruises, ran to summon help for his father. At the hospital, x-rays revealed several breaks to Adrian's right leg. This is the same limb that was severely burned in an oilfield accident ten years ago."
Adrian was a member of Odd Fellows Lodge, and a member of Bethel United Methodist Church of Clay City.
Military Service:
Entered active service as a draftee on June 14, 1944 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Selected for the Infantry, completed basic training and qualified in the military occupational specialty of Light Mortar Crewman (607). Departed the Continental U.S. on February 10, 1945 bound for the European Theater of Operations. In vicinity of Linnich, Germany, assigned to and served with the 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd 'Ozark' Infantry Division, through the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns and into the occupation. Earned The Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign with 2 bronze battle stars, WWII Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). Honorably discharged as a Private First Class on May 30, 1946 at the Separation Center, Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission.
Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=2012080
Adrian married Gray, Elsie Leona on 8 Oct 1948 in Louisville, Clay County, Illinois. Elsie (daughter of Gray, John Jasper and Mitchell, Mary Elsie) was born on 27 Nov 1929 in Clay City, Clay County, Illinois; died on 19 Jan 2014 in Flora Healthcare Center, Flora, Clay County, Illinois; was buried on 22 Jan 2014 in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. |