Jay A. and Blanche Morford Pitman, who owned a farm in Rio, Illinois, had several children, and three of their sons served in the military during World War II: Bruce, John, and Paul. Bruce Pitman was reported missing in action after being hit by an artillery shell near Kommerscheidt, Germany, in November 1944 and was officially declared dead a few months later. After attending gunnery school at Fort Knox, Kentucky, John Pitman served in the Philippines with the 169th Infantry Regiment, 132nd Infantry Regiment, and 44th Tank Battalion. He was promoted to sergeant in January 1946. Paul Pitman served in the 129th Naval Construction Battalion in the Philippines. In the summer of 1946, he spent several months onboard the War Hawk, which carried troops and civilians from the Pacific to the United States. Paul Pitman attained the rank of yeoman, 3rd class.
From the guide to the John and Paul Pitman papers, Pitman, John and Paul papers, 1944-1946, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)
