Darwin Nauman
June 9, 1915 ~ March 10, 2008
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Darwin Nauman, age 92, of Gettysburg, passed away March 10, 2008 at the Gettysburg Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were held at 10:30a.m. Friday, March 14, at Grace Bible Church in Gettysburg with Pastor Carey Gossen officiating. Burial was in the Gettysburg Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation was held from 1:00-5:00p.m., Thursday, at Luce Funeral Home, in Gettysburg with a 7:00p.m. prayer service at the church.
Darwin Nauman was born June 9, 1915 at Gettysburg, SD to Edwin T. and Nettie (Ramey) Nauman. He attended Gettysburg High School graduating in 1935. Following school, Darwin worked on the family farm for one year before having to take the train to Mound City, Missouri with a shipment of cattle due to there being no grass for them here. While there he and his brother David slept in a way car. After one year there, they returned to Gettysburg working on the family farm until wanting to enlist with the United States Air Corp, which he was almost too short for. They had to measure him several times to make sure that his height was tall enough. He served his boot camp time in Sioux City, NE.
Darwin entered the Air Corp in 1940 serving during World War II. They wanted him as a tail gunner, which he did for a short time with a little resistance, while stationed at the Suez Canal in Egypt. He served in the 12th Bomb Group Squadron. Darwin knew there would not be much chance for advancement if he stayed as a tail gunner. He had the chance to work as an airplane mechanic specialist which enabled him to gain a corporal ranking. He had the opportunity to see many things. Darwin trained to the English Camp. The nights were spent on guard, where they drank tea while eating bully beef and biscuits. He was also able to be involved with kidney stone surgeries while in Cairo, Egypt. The English doctor that was there did surgeries every seven minutes. Darwin was then transferred from Cairo to Palestine by a stretcher on a boat. They had to pass freshly dug graves which he thought were used for bomb protection. He was able to get a bed where the English said they had just moved a deceased gentleman from. The English took very good care of the US guys and in exchange were given a lot of money for it. He was then eventually taken back to a port field station in Lalamaine in North Africa, Egypt. The pilots were flying out of there and being sent to the front echelon in KP for three months. Darwin was sent with an English officer over the desert out of Egypt into Alexandria where their group was called the 18 angels because they flew in groups of 18. They landed miles from where they were to be, but were able to find a Lieutenant to fly him to the right place.
Darwin returned from the service to find the family farm had been separated. He went on to help build the bridge on the Missouri River. In 1952 Darwin married Vera Miller Roggow in Gettysburg. He spent the next 17 years of his life working as a custodian for the Gettysburg School System where he enjoyed being with the kids and teachers. He also worked for one year at Agar, before retiring.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW, serving as manager for a couple of years. He also was a member of the Disabled American Veterans in Pierre. His hobbies included starting TV School and being a factotum of plumbing, electrical and heating.
Darwin is survived by his constant companion, Mary Sanders of Gettysburg; stepdaughters: Gail Roggow Freeborn of Denver, CO and Sharon Roggow Ritter of Rapid City, SD; six step grandchildren, six step great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, step grandchild and siblings, Louise, Stanford, Virgil, Dwight, Lorraine, David and Eddie.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was entrusted with his arrangements.
Funeral services were held at 10:30a.m. Friday, March 14, at Grace Bible Church in Gettysburg with Pastor Carey Gossen officiating. Burial was in the Gettysburg Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation was held from 1:00-5:00p.m., Thursday, at Luce Funeral Home, in Gettysburg with a 7:00p.m. prayer service at the church.
Darwin Nauman was born June 9, 1915 at Gettysburg, SD to Edwin T. and Nettie (Ramey) Nauman. He attended Gettysburg High School graduating in 1935. Following school, Darwin worked on the family farm for one year before having to take the train to Mound City, Missouri with a shipment of cattle due to there being no grass for them here. While there he and his brother David slept in a way car. After one year there, they returned to Gettysburg working on the family farm until wanting to enlist with the United States Air Corp, which he was almost too short for. They had to measure him several times to make sure that his height was tall enough. He served his boot camp time in Sioux City, NE.
Darwin entered the Air Corp in 1940 serving during World War II. They wanted him as a tail gunner, which he did for a short time with a little resistance, while stationed at the Suez Canal in Egypt. He served in the 12th Bomb Group Squadron. Darwin knew there would not be much chance for advancement if he stayed as a tail gunner. He had the chance to work as an airplane mechanic specialist which enabled him to gain a corporal ranking. He had the opportunity to see many things. Darwin trained to the English Camp. The nights were spent on guard, where they drank tea while eating bully beef and biscuits. He was also able to be involved with kidney stone surgeries while in Cairo, Egypt. The English doctor that was there did surgeries every seven minutes. Darwin was then transferred from Cairo to Palestine by a stretcher on a boat. They had to pass freshly dug graves which he thought were used for bomb protection. He was able to get a bed where the English said they had just moved a deceased gentleman from. The English took very good care of the US guys and in exchange were given a lot of money for it. He was then eventually taken back to a port field station in Lalamaine in North Africa, Egypt. The pilots were flying out of there and being sent to the front echelon in KP for three months. Darwin was sent with an English officer over the desert out of Egypt into Alexandria where their group was called the 18 angels because they flew in groups of 18. They landed miles from where they were to be, but were able to find a Lieutenant to fly him to the right place.
Darwin returned from the service to find the family farm had been separated. He went on to help build the bridge on the Missouri River. In 1952 Darwin married Vera Miller Roggow in Gettysburg. He spent the next 17 years of his life working as a custodian for the Gettysburg School System where he enjoyed being with the kids and teachers. He also worked for one year at Agar, before retiring.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW, serving as manager for a couple of years. He also was a member of the Disabled American Veterans in Pierre. His hobbies included starting TV School and being a factotum of plumbing, electrical and heating.
Darwin is survived by his constant companion, Mary Sanders of Gettysburg; stepdaughters: Gail Roggow Freeborn of Denver, CO and Sharon Roggow Ritter of Rapid City, SD; six step grandchildren, six step great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, step grandchild and siblings, Louise, Stanford, Virgil, Dwight, Lorraine, David and Eddie.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was entrusted with his arrangements.
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we will miss your humor Uncle Darwin. May you rest in peace.
Darwin was one of that great generation that has made America great.
I met Darwin back in 1979. My father was a Marine during WW2 when he met Virgil, Darwin's brother. In 1979 we made a visit to Virgil on his ranch. During that visit we met Darwin. We went out for dinner and danced. Darwin prided himself for his polka dancing. That was a long time ago; I remember Darwin still.