Chapter Eleven
Honoring the Gold Star Gleaners Honoring 130 Society members — the Gold Star Gleaners — killed in WWII. Harold Spangler, Sugar Ridge Arbor (OH) Pilot Officer Harold LeRoy Spangler was killed Sept. 17, 1942, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Scotland. “First Gleaner War Claim Paid on Ohio Member,” read the headline in the Gleaner Forum. “From his Wing Commander came word of the death of Pilot Officer Harold LeRoy Spangler who, as a member of the crew of an aircraft, lost his life during flying operations near Bladenock, Wigtownshire, Scotland… . This young man, who had been interested in flying for some time, joined the Canadian Air Force before the United States entered the war and had not transferred at the time of his death. He had been a member of Sugar Ridge Arbor for a little over two years. Funeral services took place at 1:30 p.m. September 21, at Kirkinner Cemetery (in) Wigtownshire, Scotland. The sympathy of the membership goes to the youth’s mother, Mrs. Catherine Armitage.” Spangler was 28 when the Avro Anson twin-engine plane he was piloting crashed half a mile from Wigtownshire’s airfield. He also left a wife, Anna Harvey Spangler.
World War II, the deadliest war in human history, formally ended Sept. 2, 1945. The war killed more than 70 million people. Thousands of Gleaner Life Insurance Society members left home to answer the call of freedom. Of those, 130 members died in military service. They were known as the Gold Star Gleaners. Gleaner Life encouraged support for the Allies’ cause. Home Office members served, Victory Gardens were planted, and food and other resources were rationed. Perhaps most important, the Society waived war exclusions attached to many insurance policies and paid face amounts for members who died in military service. This helped many families survive the death of a loved one. Next of kin often received little information from the U.S. War Department. Some were told only that their son had died “somewhere in France.” Gleaner members were in fact involved in many of the war’s notable actions. At least one was at Pearl Harbor and at least two died after enduring the infamous Bataan Death March. Many died liberating Italy, France and the Philippines. Some service members were lost in icy waters off Greenland, others in China and the jungles of New Guinea. One was age 47; others just 18. An honor roll was printed in 1946 but, as more was learned, a 2020 project for the 75th anniversary compiled more details about all 130. Following are their stories, listed by policy claim date.
Duane Jackson, Eaton Rapids Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Duane Jackson was killed Oct. 17, 1942, in a motorcycle accident at Camp Cook, California, where he was receiving tank corps desert training. He had been drafted and enlisted at Fort Custer, Michigan, March 9, 1942. Jackson was 27 and had worked as a farm laborer. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Jackson of Eaton Rapids. Gleaner District Manager Russell L. Jones assisted the parents in preparing proofs that were delayed due to difficulty contacting Jackson’s commanding officer, whose unit was constantly moving. Richard W. Vogel, Alpine Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Richard W. Vogel died Sept. 6, 1942, traveling to an Army air base for training. He was treated at the Salt Lake City Army Air Base in Utah. Vogel, 38, was a farmer and a Society member of more than 20 years. He enlisted Aug. 20, 1942, at Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery 113
