Obituary

  Aledo--Lieutenant Commander Bernard Mack, navy pilot, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Mack of Preemption township, southeast of Reynolds, lost his life Jan. 5 when his plane crashed while taking off from a carrier.
  Catholic memorial services with all crew members present were held on board the carrier Jan. 7, according to information sent to Mr. and Mrs. Mack. Previous to the announcement of his death, Commander Mack had been reported missing in action since Jan. 5.
  Commander Mack was one of the first boys of western Illinois to enlist in the navy air corps, which he entered in 1936. His advance in rank was rapid. He acted as an instructor at various naval bases before he went into combat service. He had not been home in three years.
  He was married to Miss Betty Lee Jordan of Washington D.C., who survives along with a young son, Michael Robert, whom Commander Mack had never seen.
  He was born Oct. 21, 1914, in Preemption township, and was graduated from Reynolds high school and St. Ambrose college in Davenport, where he became interested in aviation.
  Surviving, in addition to the widow and son, are his parents; a sister, Mrs. Robert Young, at home, and seven brothers, three of whom are in service and another is to report for duty soon. The brothers are: Leo, at home; Lieutenant Joseph, in army service, New York city; Lieutenant Dan, navy pilot stationed at Quonset Point, R. I.; William, machinist's mate (third class), at Boco Chico, Fla.; and Francis James and John Robert, all at home.
  Memorial services will be held in St. Catherine's parish at a date to be announced later.
(Aledo Press-Citizen, 1945)