Their Story

David Miller Loring was born on July 19, 1887, in Mason City, Iowa,[1] to Ella Rosealpha Miller and Harry P. Loring.[2] In 1917 Loring registered for the draft; at the time he was working as a civil engineer at Iowa Ry & Lt Co., in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He had also served two years as a private in state infantry.[3] He then served as a private in the U.S. Army during the First World War.[4] On June 18, 1919, Loring married Lillian Ulery. They were married at the house of Lillian’s parents, in Elsberry, Missouri.[5] Later, he worked at the forest service department in Omaha. In 1936, he was transferred to the U.S. Corps of Engineers at the Rock Island Arsenal. He specifically worked at the District Headquarters in the Clock Tower building.[6]
On July 12, 1942, Loring was recalled to active service in the U.S. Army. During his service in World War II, he served in the 573rd, 576th, and the 594th Army Air Force (AAF) Base Units.[7] He mostly worked as a post engineer, and throughout his service he spent time at bases in North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska.[8]
In June of 1944, Loring celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary in the form of a dinner at the LeClaire hotel. Loring had been stationed at Fort Francis E. Warren in Wyoming and was on a ten-day leave at the time of the celebration. While at Fort Francis E. Warren, Loring had been working as assistant post engineer.[9] Later in 1944, while stationed in North Dakota, Loring was a non-ferrying officer in the Seventh Ferrying service station of the Army Air Corps. At the time, he held the rank of captain, and he worked as a post engineer.[10] Upon being discharged from the army in 1946, Loring continued working with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, as a civilian engineer.[11] In 1958, Loring retired after a total of 23 years with the Corps.[12]
On December 23, 1964, Loring passed away at the age of 77, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Davenport, Iowa. He was survived by his wife, Lillian, two children, and his sister.
References
[1]“David M. Loring,” The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois, 23 December 1964, p. 5,.
[2]“Harry P. Loring,” The Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa, 10 June 1943, p. 15,.
[3]“Loring, David Miller: WW1 Draft Registration Cards,” Fold3, n.d.,.
[4]“Loring Retires From Engineers,” The Dispatch, Moline, Illinois, 15 January 1958, p. 17.
[5]“Silver Anniversary of David Loring is Observed at Dinner,” The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa, 19 June 1944, p.8,.
[6]“News in Brief,” The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa, 19 September 1936, p. 4,.
[7]“David M Loring in the Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954,” ancestry, n.d.
[8]“Major David Loring Back in Davenport,” The Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa, 3 November 1946, p. 15.
[9]“Silver Anniversary of David Loring is Observed at Dinner,” The Daily Times.
[10]“Bannister is New Post Commander,” The Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, North Dakota, 24 November 1944, p. 5.
[11]“Major David Loring Back in Davenport,” The Quad City Times.
[12]“Loring Retires From Engineers,” The Dispatch.