S1c Laverne Alfred Austin

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7884966

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34885529

HITTENANGO -- The first Madison county youth killed in action is LaVerne Austin, 18, son of Alfred Austin of Perryville, who received a telegram from the navy department Tuesday informing him that his son had been killed in action in the performance of his duty in the attack on Pearl Harbor,Sunday, Dec. 7.

Mr. Austin received a telegram Dec 20. informing that his son was missing. His last information from Admiral Randall Jacobs stated that the youth's body would remain there for burial and that he would receive further information from the bureau of navigation.

The youth held the rank of first-class seaman and had been in the navy just a year, the day of the attack. He was born July 25, 1923, at Perryville and attended Perryville grade school and Cazenovia central school where he was a senior when he joined the navy.

He went to Newport for six weeks training, then was sent to San Diego and shortly afterwards to Hawaii. He was home to visit his father, who is a former service man, last January.

Surviving besides his father, are two sisters, Joyce and Vivian Austin; one brother, Alfred Jr.; his grandparents Mr. and Mrs James Austin of Perryville, and several nieces and nephews.