Their Story

Dwight Lloyd Michl was born on September 9, 1925, in Bettendorf, Iowa.1 In January of 1944, Michl graduated from Davenport High School, where he ran track and served as a lieutenant colonel in the school’s R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officers Training Corps). After high school, he worked at the Davenport Besler Corp for a short time.2 On March 27, 1944, Michl entered active service at Camp Dodge, Iowa, in the U.S. Army during World War II.3 He was assigned to Company F, 29th Division, 175th Infantry, and was briefly stationed in the United States at Camp Roberts, California, and at Fort Meade, Texas.
On November 1, 1944, Michl left to serve overseas.4 He spent most of his time in the Army serving overseas in England, France, Holland, and Belgium.5 Michl had high praise for the Red Cross who seemed to follow him across Europe. In several letters home, he described the items provided and how it made the guys feel. From Germany, he wrote, “Yesterday, in the midst of all this, the Red Cross unit came, and you should have heard the fellows. They brought us everything – cigarets, matches, candy, gum, coffee, fresh doughnuts, even writing paper. Oh boy, did we love that unit!”
His last assignment was in Germany with the Ninth Army. On February 23, 1945, Michl was seriously wounded in the abdomen and hand while in battle in Germany.6 He was taken to the hospital to be treated and was discharged in May.7 On May 20, 1946, Michl returned to the United States and was honorably discharged from the Army six days later.8
After his service, Michl attended Iowa State Teachers college, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in August of 1950.9 He taught 6th grade at Washington School in Bettendorf for seven years.10 On August 27, 1957, Michl received a master’s degree in supervision in elementary education. At the time, he also taught fifth grade at Lincoln School in Bettendorf.11 In December of 1959, he married Ethel Mae Beck at Zion Lutheran Church. At the time, Michl worked as the principal of Pleasantville School.12 Around 1961, Michl began working as an elementary school principal in the Lohrville School District.13
Michl passed away on July 27, 1968, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Iowa City. He had been ill for the six weeks prior to his death. He was survived by his wife, parents, and two sisters.14
References
1“Bettendorf,” Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa, 28 July 1968, p.18, 28 Jul 1968, 18 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com
2“Report 2 More Men Wounded on Nazi Front,” Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa, 8 March 1945, p.11, 08 Mar 1945, 11 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com
3“Dwight Lloyd Michl in the Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954,” ancestry, n.d., Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954 – Ancestry.com, accessed 5 November 2022.
4“Dwight Lloyd Michl in the Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954,” ancestry.
5“Red Cross Followed Him,” The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa, 19 March 1945, p.7, 19 Mar 1945, 7 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
6“Report 2 More Men Wounded on Nazi Front,” Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa.
7“Dwight L. Michl in the U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954,” ancestry, n.d., U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954 – Ancestry.com, accessed 5 November 2022.
8“Dwight Lloyd Michl in the Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954,” ancestry.
9“Davenporters in Graduating Class at Cedar Falls,” Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa, 21 May 1950, p.15, 21 May 1950, 15 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com
10 Dwight Michl, Quad-CIty TImes, Davenport, Iowa, 28, July, 1968, 28 Jul 1968, 18 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com
11“Tuesday, August 27, 1957: Get Degrees,” The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa, 27 August 1957, p.5, 27 Aug 1957, 5 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
12“Miss Ethel Beck and Dwight L. Michl Say Vows at Zion Ceremony,” The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois, 30 December 1959, p.6, 30 Dec 1959, 6 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com
13“Bettendorf: Dwight L. Michl,” Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa, 28 July 1968, p.18, 28 Jul 1968, 18 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com
14“Bettendorf: Dwight L. Michl,” Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa.