Dies on Guam

Sergeant Arthur A. Morgan (above), former member of the Carthage police department, died July 7 on Guam of wounds suffered in an oil explosion June 28, friends in Carthage have been informed. His wife, Mrs. Hazel Morgan, lives in Oklahoma City. Three brothers, all in service, one of whom has been a prisoner of the Japanese, and a sister also survive. He was born in Pineville. (Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO, Tuesday, August 21, 1945, p. 5, Col. 7)

SGT. MORGAN'S BODY TO CARTHAGE TODAY

Funeral for Former Police Officer, Fatally Burned on Saipan, to Be Wednesday.

Carthage, Mo., June 21. - The body of Staff Sergeant Arthur A. Morgan, who was fatally burned July 7, 1945, on Saipan while serving with a military police unit of the army air force, will arrive here tomorrow for reburial. Sergeant Morgan, a former Carthage policeman, was inducted into the army in 1943. Before coming to Carthage he had served in the coast guard and the marine corps. When he suffered his fatal burns, he was supervising burning of trash on the Pacific island. It supposedly was to have been filled with oil but by mistake gasoline had been poured in and when the trash was ignited the incineration exploded. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Hazel Morgan, who now live in Oklahoma City, and a brother, Otto Morgan of Sulphur Springs, Ark., who was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor fell and he was a prisoner of war for the remainder of the conflict. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Knell service home. The Rev. R. H. Bodine will officiate and burial will be in Park cemetery. Carthage fireman and policeman will act as pallbearers. (Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO, Tuesday, June 22, 1948, p. 5, Col. 1)

***********************************************

U.S. Army Service No. (ASN): #37520361

Enlistment Date: 04/06/1943 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Arthur A. Morgan is listed as Died Non-Battle in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Benton County, Arkansas.

U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 lists his residence as 918 South McGregor, Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri. Contact person listed as Mr. Vern S. Hankla (Father-in-law) of Sulphur Springs, Benton County, Arkansas. Place of birth listed as Pineville, Missouri on 01/10/1911. Middle name listed as Andrew. Employed by Mr. Vic McKinney, 231 North Garrison Avenue, Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri as of 10/16/1940 registration date.

***I would like to thank mokennehan Find A Grave ID 47119719 for creating this memorial in addition to adding the obituary to it***

***I would like to thank NJBrewer Find A Grave ID 47097113 for adding their gravesite photo to this memorial***