Harold B. Loomis

HAROLD B. LOOMIS

Harold B. (Hal) Loomis, 92, died January 22, 2016 at his Manhattan Beach [CA] home. Born in Wisconsin and raised in South Dakota, Hal moved to California in 1943.
   After WWII, Hal returned to the South Bay, where he met and married Joan Straka. In 1952, they bought the Manhattan Beach home where they raised their family. Joan passed away in 2009 and Hal remained in their home until his death.
   A lifelong love of aircraft led Hal into the aerospace industry and fueled his personal passion for flying. A certified aircraft mechanic and licensed pilot, Hal took pride in his Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, which he rebuilt from military surplus. For many years, he was on the contest committee for the Reno Air Races.
   Hal was also proud of his service as a U.S. Army Paratrooper, a reservist and a member of the California Civil Air Patrol.
   Surviving Hal are his daughters: Catha (spouse: Mary Anne Joyce) of Portland, OR; Cindy of Santa Monica, CA; and Jan of Chino Valley, AZ; and his granddaughter, Jordan Baetzel.
   A beloved father, grandfather, uncle, friend and neighbor, he will be dearly missed. No formal services are planned. Hal will be buried later this year at Black Hills National Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

[Daily Breeze, Torrance, CA, from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31, 2016]

[courtesy of "Nicole S"]

Grave marker for Harold B. Loomis in Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis (Meade county), South Dakotas.

Charles enlisted in the Army at Los Angeles, CA on 23 March 1943. His enlistment record classed his occupation in the as "Mechanics and repairmen, airplane" category and his obituary shows that he pursued that line of work after the war as well..

[Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, SD) Tue, Nov 14, 1944, Page 6]

PARATROOPER: Pfc Harold B. Loomis, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Loomis, has won the right to wear the "Wings and Boots" of the paratroopers. He has completed four weeks of jump training.

On 26 October 1945, Pfc Loomis was transferred from either the 504th or 505th PIR, the order lumped a number of men together without distinguishing which unit each had come from.