Philmer Zier

[Although he is not technically from Reardan, Philmer Zier was well known to the community through frequent publishing of his activities in the Davenport Times-Tribune. He was the twin brother of Virgil Zier who lived most of his life in Reardan.]

August 27, 1942 Davenport Times-Tribune

Philmer Zier (Davenport Times-Tribune)

Mr. and Mrs. George Zier have received word from their son Philmer, who had been just a week and a half in the U.S. naval training station at San Diego, Calif., that he was appointed company yeoman and given a first class petty officer rating. Only four of the 160 men in his company received this rating. Philmer is a graduate of Davenport high school and attended business college in Spokane.

September 24, 1942 Davenport Times-Tribune

Mr. and Mrs. George Zier of Davenport have received word that their son ..., Philmer, Davenport high school graduate, who joined the navy several months ago, as been promoted to attend the aviation radio school at the naval air force base on Long Island. He has been at San Diego previously.

February 19, 1943 Spokane Chronicle

Mr. and Mrs. George Zier have learned that their son, Philmer Zier, Davenport high school graduate has completed navy school training at San Diego and has been assigned to duty at Oak Harbor, Wash.

March 18, 1943 Davenport Times-Tribune

Philmer Zier is Missing

Mr. and Mrs. George Zier of Davenport were informed last Monday, March 8, by the navy department that their son, Philmer Zier, age 21, navy radioman is missing with a navy plane. It is reported that the plane went down in Puget Sound and two of the crew were picked up. It is possible that the rest of the crew is afloat on the ocean, having struck an outgoing current in a rubber boat such as Captain Rickenbacker and his men were on.

Zier was born in the Odessa community, but attended high school here [Davenport], graduating in June, 1939. He was active in debate and music while attending school. He went to business college in Spokane before enlisting on July 21, 1942. Upon enlistment he was sent to San Diego for his basic training. In a week and a half after enlisting, he was appointed company yeoman and given a first class rating. Only four of the 160 men his company received that rating.

Philmer Zier Memorial at the Presidio, San Francisco CA (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55904350/philmer-gustav-zier)

Philmer Zier Memorial at the Presidio, San Francisco CA (https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1989905/world-war-ii-west-coast-memorial)

April 29, 1943 Davenport Times-Tribune

Philmer Zier Now Listed as Dead

Almost two months of futile search, the navy department has listed Philmer Zier, 21-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Zier of Davenport, as dead. Zier, a radioman on a bomber, was reported missing on March 8 when his plane, which was on a routine flight from its base on the coast, went down. Zier was born in the Odessa community, but attended high school here [Davenport], graduating in June 1942, and took his basic training at San Diego, Calif.

Philmer is the twin brother of Virgil Zier, a long time resident of Reardan. [Memorial at San Francisco Presidio says date of death was 6 Mar 1943 Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, USA]