In Memory of
Army Fl O
Eugene Franklin Palmer
Canova, South Dakota
Miner County
June 23, 1918  March 14, 1945
Killed in Action over Belgium

Eugene Franklin Palmer was born on June 23, 1918, at Ramona, South Dakota, to Frank and Myrtle Palmer. He had two brothers and four sisters. When Eugene was only a year old, his mother fell ill and died in the influenza epidemic of 1919. Eugene attended school at Salem, Canova, De Smet, and Webster, S.D., graduating with the class of 1936 in Canova.

Following graduation, Eugene enlisted for a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, stationed at Ft. Meade, S.D. After his discharge and college training at Chillicothe, Missouri, Eugene enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he served for three years. After successful service, Palmer transferred to the United States Air Force, just as he was about to receive his warrant officers First Class rating, on June 2, 1944.

While stationed in Washington, DC with the US Air Force, Fl O Palmer married Miss Harriet Marie Reid of Keene, Ontario, Canada, on August 5, 1944. Palmer was ordered overseas in January of 1945.

USAC Flight Officer Eugene Palmer died March 14, 1945, when he was shot down while piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt over Belgium. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, grave #34-2581.

A quote from his memorial bulletin is as follows:

As Eugene bravely did his duty, and risked his life at the call of his country, we who morn his death wish to bravely and cheerfully bear our bereavement hoping for a glad reunion in the future life.

The following quote from General J.A. Ulio was also found in Eugenes memorial bulletin:

I know the sorrow this message has brought you, and it is my hope that in time the knowledge of his heroic service to his country, even unto death, may be of sustaining comfort to you. I extend to you my deepest sympathy.

"He Is Just Away"

I cannot say, and I will not say,
That he is dead. He is just away;
With cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,
He has wandered into an unknown land.

And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be since he lingers there.
And you,-O you, who the wildest yearn
For the old-time step, and the glad return.

Think of him faring on as dear
In the love of There, as the love of Here;
Think of him as the same, I say;
He is not dead, he is just away.

--J Whitcomb Riley

This entry was respectfully submitted by, Allison M. Honomichl, 8^th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, November 21, 2000. Information for this entry was provided by Lorraine Koepsell, Canova, South Dakota, half sister of Flight Officer Eugene Palmer.