• The Day the War came home to Columbia came with the report of the first casualty of World II among the local draft boards inductees


• Reading a poignant detail in Martha Barnes Martin's Jamestown Hill reunion address prompted the Adair historian who writes under the pen name "Cyrus" to dig deeper; this entry gives further insight into the story of an Adair County hero, a Purple Heart recipient, only 28 when gave his life for his country in World War II, on D-Day, June 6, 1944: PFC MARION PAUL NARDINE

Remember the umbrella trees in the Maupin yard? Mrs. Maupins' sewing, managing the barbershop, and other enterprises to provide well for her family after Mr. Mont died. Jimmy in school, in service, Philip's birth, Marion's death at D-Day.

Mrs. James Phelps and Miss Betty Barnett had honored Mrs. Marion Nordine with "a shower" on Tuesday evening. The guests included Misses Mary Evelyn Walker, Thera Mae Roberts, Vonnie Gaston, Allene Willis, Myrtle Jessie, Daisy Wethington, Dorothy Nell Pickett, Miller Dean Gilpin, Marguerite Harris, Billye Mullin, & Mary Frances Edwards; Mesdames S.T. Davis, Frank Callison, Garnett Young, John Burr, & Maurice Moran; & Mrs. Herman Barnett.

Pvt. Marion Nordine and Mrs. Nordine announce the arrival of an 8 1/2 pound son, born on Monday, July 5, at the home of her mother, Mrs. Mont Maupin. Pvt. Maupin is stationed at Camp McQuaide, Calif.

Marion Nardine Killed On D-Day

Mrs. Frances Maupin Nardine received a message from the War Department Monday morning stating that her husband, Pfc. Marion Paul Nardine, 28, had been killed in action on Tuesday, June 6. This is the first reported casualty among the men inducted through the local board. It came as a shock to the entire community and brought close to home a realization of the tragedies of World War II.

He had recently been transferred to the Armored Forces and according to reports was a gunner on a tank.

Besides his wife and son [Phillip Wayne], Pfc. Nardine is survived by his father, Adolph Nardine, of Madrid, Iowa; four brothers... [and] three sisters...

Secretary Stimson stated that the letter was written at the request of the President and expressed sympathy over the loss of her husband, saying, 'When the medal which you will shortly receive, reaches you, I want you to know that with it goes my deepest sympathy, and the hope that time and victory of our cause will finally lighten the burden of your grief.