Their Story

Richard W. Trevor was born on July 1, 1925, in Davenport, Iowa, to Thomas and Leona Trevor.[1] He also had a twin brother and a sister. He attended Davenport High School where he played football.
After two years of high school, Trevor registered for the Selective Service and was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army in September 1943.[2] His enlistment was recorded at Camp Dodge, Herrold Iowa, a military installation now in the city of Johnston, Iowa.[3] He trained at Camp Beale and San Luis Obispo, California.[4] Private First Class (Pfc.) Trevor was assigned to service in the Philippines in July of 1944 with the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion.
On October 25, 1944, Pfc. Trevor was assigned to a detail constructing a bridge at Dulag, Leyte in the Philippines.[5] He was loading timber in a storage dump. A Japanese bomber hit an adjoining gasoline and ammunition dump, resulting in an explosion and fire. Those who could be identified were listed as killed in action. Those who could not be identified were listed as missing in action. Pfc. Trevor was originally listed as missing in action. Pfc. Trevor was awarded the Purple Heart.[6], and the WW2 Victory Medal.
In the Autumn of 1945, Pfc. Trevor’s parents received a telegram from the U.S. War Department informing them that he had been declared killed in action.[7] According to military records, Pfc. Trevor was honored in burial in the Philippines near the site of this attack, alongside others who also perished.[8]
In 2005, the National Cemetery at the Rock Island Arsenal was contacted by an extended family member of Pfc. Trevor with a request for a grave marker to commemorate and honor his time in service and for giving his life to his country.[9] It is a common practice by the military to honor a veteran in this way – whether they be buried in a foreign country or lost at sea. It allows for families to pay their respects to their service members at a physical, local site.
On June 21, 2005, Pfc. Trevor was recognized with a Memorial headstone at the National Cemetery at the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois.

headstone photo from PFC Richard William Trevor (1925-1944) – Find a Grave Memorial


[1] PFC Richard William Trevor (1925-1944) – Find a Grave Memorial
[2] Richard W Trevor in WWII Army Enlistment Records – Fold3
[4] 05 Dec 1944, 8 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[5] 13 Sep 1945, 6 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[6] Richard W Trevor in American Battle Monuments Commission – Fold3
[7] 13 Sep 1945, 6 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[8] Richard W Trevor: PERSON, pictures and information – Fold3 – Fold3
[9] Rock Island National Cemetery – National Cemetery Administration (va.gov)
[10] DPAA Famweb World War II Home Page (crmforce.mil)
[11] The History of the Purple Heart | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans (nationalww2museum.org)
References
REFERENCES
1 (one) Davenport man killed; Two are missing in action. (1944, December 5). The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Administrative offices, Rock Island National Cemetery Complex. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Billits by F.C.B. (1945, September 15). The Daily Times. (Davenport, Iowa). Accessed July 2022.
History of the Purple Heart. (2021, August 6). National WWII Museum. New Orleans, Louisiana. Accessed July 2022.
Pfc. R. W. Trevor killed at Leyte family informed. (1945, September 13). The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Pfc. Richard Trevor is listed as dead. (1945, September 13). The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. Accessed July 2022.
Pfc. Richard William Trevor. Find a Grave. Accessed July 2022.
Pfc. Trevor is dead, family is notified (1945, September 13). Quad-City Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Richard W. Trevor. Camp Dodge Herrold Iowa. Accessed July 2022.
Richard W. Trevor. Defense POW/MIA accounting agency, World War II accounting. Accessed July 2022.
Richard W. Trevor. WWII Army enlistment records. Fold3.com. Accessed July 2022. Richard W Trevor in WWII Army Enlistment Records – Fold3
Richard W. Trevor. Memorial. Fold3.com. Accessed July 2022. Richard W Trevor: PERSON, pictures and information – Fold3 – Fold3
Scott Army man killed and two others missing. (1944, December 5). The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. Accessed July 2022. 05 Dec 1944, 2 – The Rock Island Argus at Newspapers.com
Two Davenporters are reported as missing in action. (1944, December 5). The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Accessed July 2022. 05 Dec 1944, 8 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com