Surnames: Terrio, Griffiths, Berger, Merrill, Folstad, Olson

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 11/04/1943

Terrio, Cleo C. (29 Aug. 1915 - 24 Oct. 1942)

Memorial services for Lt. Cleo C. Terrio, of the Army Air Force, who was killed in England on Oct. 24, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Presbyterian church with the Rev. G. E. Griffiths in charge.

Frank Terrio received a message, Saturday morning, from the Adjutant General concerning his son, which named the time as Oct. 24 and the place near Braintree, Essex, England, and stated a letter would follow.

Cleo C. Terrio was born in Athens, Wis., Aug. 29, 1915. The Terrio family moved to Abbotsford in 1919. Here Cleo, known to almost everyone as "Peasoup," attended grade and high school and was graduated with the class of 1933. He received his letter for basketball, having played on the high school team.

Following graduation he worked for Irvin Marcus at the Bootzin store. When the Stanley branch of the store was opened, he was transferred there and was manager. From here he enlisted in the Air Corps and left June 30, 1941. He reported to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., from where he was sent to Scott Field, Ill. While attending radio school there he wrote his cadet examinations. At the completion of the course in radio training, about Jan. 1, he was sent to Savannah, Ga., and assigned to a group which later left for Australia.

All his personal things were aboard ship and while the group was lined up for roll call before leaving in the trucks for the ship. He was paged. A wire had come from Washington stating that he passed his examination and was to attend cadet school. After training at three different camps in California, he was sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to a bombardier school and here the latter part of October, 1942, he received his wings and commission as second lieutenant. He was then given his first furlough, which also was his last.

At the expiration of the furlough, he attended navigator’s school in Florida and in June left for England.

From his many letters home and after missions had been accomplished, the family knew he had been over France and the Low Countries on may occasions. One time he sent a clipping from, "The Stars and Stripes," a publication in England, telling of the Mauradiers" or B-26. Lt. Terrio was bombardier and navigator on this type of plane. Recently, he received an advancement to the rank of first lieutenant.

He leaves his father, Frank Terrio, and a sister, Mrs. Lloyd (Beatrice) Olson, in Abbotsford; his sister, Anne, Madison, a brother, Franklin, Memphis, Tenn., and Cpl. Arlie, in the southwest Pacific. His mother died March 23, 1920.

The Terrio family requests that those of you who write to Cpl. Arlie Terrio, in the Southwest Pacific, kindly refrain from mentioning to him anything concerning the recent news of Lt. Cleo Terrio.

The family is asking the Red Cross to contact him through their field representative in that area and give him the message at a suitable time.

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 11/04/1943

Deeply impressive memorial services for Lt. Cleo Terrio, of the Army Air Force, who lost his life, Oct. 24, in England, were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Presbyterian church.

At the opening of the service the flags and post colors were placed on each side of the chancel by members of the Charles F. Hanson post No. 139 of the American Legion and the Knaack-Thompson Post No. 865 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who attended the services in a body. Floral tributes from friends had been places on pedestals at the front of the church.

Two hymns, "The Lord is My Shepherd," and "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go," were sung by a trio composed of Mrs. W. R. Berger, Miss Marguerite Berger and Miss Jessie Merrill, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. A. J. Folstad.

The Rev. G. E. Griffiths gave an inspiring sermon on "The Greatest Fighter of All."

The services were attended by all the members of the Terrio family and many friends from Abbotsford and vicinity.