Hundreds of Jamestown residents today were stunned over word that 1st Lt. Boon E. Takagi an American born of Japanese descent may have been killed in action with the first Japanese-American outfit to see action in Italy. Lt. Takagi was assigned to Company C 100th Infantry Battalion 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Lt. Takagi is survived by his mother Mrs. Lulu Belle Takagi,three sisters and two brothers. He is preceded in death by his father Rokujieo Takagi. The officers mother received a letter from a Sgt. of Hawaiian descent a member of the Lt's outfit that Lt. Takagi had died during transport to a first aid station after being wounded. It is believed that official notification from the War Department may have been sent to Mrs Winifred Takagi wife of the officer who is living in Arkansas. The last word received here from Lt. Takagi was dated 4th of July and received the 13th of July.

The young officer is well known in this city and was an accomplished swimmer and gymnast. He was actively associated with the YMCA serving as a volunteer leader under Franklin B. Demerest and was a member of the swimming team. He served as a life guard during the summer at Midway Park. Lt. Takagi was married on Jan 1st 1944 in Arkansas where he was assigned to the 58th Infantry at Camp Robinson. He went overseas in Feburary. The soldier took his basic training at Camp Croft S.C. and was commissoned at Officers Training School in Ft. Benning Ga. A graduate of Jamestown High School class of 1937,Lt Takagi had been employed at the Jamestown Electro-Plating Company before going into the service. From the Jamestown Post Journal Jamestown NY after July 12th 1944.

Note: No obiturary could be found at this time. It was confirmed that Lt. Takagi was KIA in or near Via Cassia Italy on the above date. It is also confirmed that Lt. Takagi was awarded the Purple Heart. Lt. Takagi is buried at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Florence,Toscana Italy PL H R 10 G 20. Actual burial here