Lester Levi Hoy

Pfc. Lester Hoy Killed In Germany Feb. 17

Pfc. Lester L. Hoy, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Hoy, and a former member of Lusk High School class of '45, was killed in action in Germany, February 17.

The family received the word through the Torrington telegraph office Saturday from the Adjutant General.

Lester had gone overseas just before Christmas. He entered the service June 20, going to Camp McClellan, Ala., for basic training, and home in November on furlough en route to Camp Meade.

He was serving with an armored division in the Third Army. His last letter home was written February 18. (sic)

Pfc. Hoy was born at Lusk, October 17, 1925, and was a Junior in High School when called. He lettered three years in football for Lusk High.

A member of the Lusk Baptist Church, memorial services will be held for him there in the near future.

Surviving besides his parents are ten brothers and sisters, Maynard Hoy, Lusk; Wyoma Hoy, Lusk; Alice Norman, Tulsa, Okla., who is to be home next week; T/5 Albert C. Hoy, now serving with the Army in England; Oneita Siemsen, Kendred, N.D., who arrived Wednesday to be with the family; Lola Hoy, attending Lusk High School, and Richard Wayne and Dale, in school at Jay Em, near where the family lives.

The Lusk Herald
March 15, 1945
MEMORIAL SERVICES SET FOR LESTER HOY

Memorial services will be conducted for Pfc. Lester L. Hoy at the Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon, March 25, at 2:30 p.m.

The young man who gave his life for his country, died on German soil, February 27. He was a member of the Baptist Church of Lusk.

The Lusk Herald
May 17, 1945
Hoys Receive Awards For Son Who died in Action

Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Hoy have received a certificate of award of the Purple Heart to their son, Private First Class Lester L. Hoy, for wounds received in action which resulted in his death, February 27, 1945.

The certificate is signed by J.O. Ulio, adjutant general, and Henry L. Stimson, secretary of war.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoy had previously received the Purple Heart which was awarded posthumously.

They have also received the following from the late President:

"In grateful memory of Private First Class Lester L. Hoy, A. S. No. 37365000, who died in the service of his country in the European area, February 27, 1945. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings.

FRANKLIN D, ROOSEVELT,
President of the United States of America."

Both of the certificates are beautifully made, the first has a Purple Heart embossed at the top with a picture of George Washington in gold in the center of the heart.

The other has the eagle and United States flag and the Army seal all in appropriate colors.

The Hoys plan on having them framed so as to better preserve them.

If there had not been a war, Lester would have been a member of the graduating class of Lusk High School this week.

The Lusk Herald
March 22, 1945
LARGE CROWD AT HOY MEMORIAL RITES

A crowd that filled the Baptist Church to capacity attended the memorial service Sunday afternoon for Pfc. Lester Hoy, killed on the Western front February 27.

Rev. Ezra Duncan, pastor of the church, presided at the service, with Rev. Clyde Hampton paying tribute to Lester, as a young man whom that pastor had received into the church. To the church in honor of Lester, Mrs. Lydia Taylor presented a gold star from the American War Mothers.

Music for the service was rendered by a young people's quartet composed of Grace Ellen Wilson, Minette Watson, Dan Christian, and Joe Bonner, accompanied by Mrs. J.P. Watson, and a duet by the two young women. Taps was played by Miss Watson.

The family had special programs carrying Lester's picture printed for the service.

From the Tom Weigand Genealogy Collection
Last Rite Held for PFC Lester Hoy

Nearly five years after Pfc. Lester L. Hoy, 19, was killed in action in Western Germany, his remains were brought home for final internment. He had been buried in Luxembourg and was returned to the states recently and from the Chicago distribution center was accompanied to Lusk by Sgt. James Bush.

The last rites were conducted from the Peet chapel on Thursday afternoon, June 9, Rev. H.T. Clark, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lusk, officiated.

The songs "Beyond The Sunset", "Only A Touch Of The Master's Hand" and "Softly Now, The Light Of Day" were sung as a duet by Mrs. A.F. DeCastro and Miss Justin Watson with Mrs. J.P. Watson as the organ accompanist.

Former schoolmates acted as the casket bearers. They were Boyd Anderson, Harry Fernau, Jr., Robert Owens, Cecil Kaan, Ed Boner and Jim Fagan. Military honors were accorded the deceased by members of Weiten-Dupes Post No. 4 of the American Legion.

Lester Levi Hoy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Hoy of Lusk, was born October 17, 1925 and gave his life for his country while fighting on German soil in the battle that followed the battle of the bulge.

He lived with his parents on their ranch south of Lusk and attended Lusk High School up to and including his junior year, when he was taken in the U.S. Army at the age of 18. While in school he was active in athletics, was a member of the first string football team, outstanding in track and other sports.

Upon entering the army he received his first training at Fort McClelland, Alabama; from there he was sent home on a short furlough and in about two weeks was sent overseas, where he served under General Patton in the Fourth Armored Mechanized Division and was killed in action on Feb. 27, 1945.

While taking his training in the states he had received a metal for marksmanship.

A few years pervious to his death he was baptized and be came a member of the Lusk Baptist Church.

Survivors include his father and mother, six brothers, Albert C., Richard, Dale, Wayne all of this city; Maynard of Thermopolis, Wyo.; and Harold, whose address is unknown; four sisters, Mrs. Lola Darnall of Lusk, Wyo., Mrs. Wyoma Cole of Ivanhoe, Calif., Mrs. Alice Norman of Ogden, Utah and Mrs. Oneita Siemsen of Fargo, North Dakota.

Note: This obituary above, the gravestone, and several other articles and sources indicate that Pfc. Hoy died February 27. The Lusk Cemetery records, and the following article both have the death date as February 17, 1945.

The Lusk Herald
March 15, 1945
School Section
LESTER HOY KILLED ON WESTERN FRONT

Lusk High students were grieved to learn of the death of their schoolmate, Lester Hoy. Lester was a member of the class of '45. He had played football all three years that he attended high school. Lester was one of the first boys from the class of '45 to go into the armed forces. In June he joined the U.S. Army and took his basic training in Alabama. He was shipped across just before Christmas.

A short time ago word was received that Robert Kraft had been killed in action in Belgium. Bob was a member of the class of '44. He had received all of his schooling except his last year in the country schools. Bob went to Lusk High the first semester of his Senior year and then graduated before going into the army.

Lusk High wishes to extend its whole-hearted sympathy to the families of both Lester and Bob.

Thon Book No. 4
Body of Pfc. Lester Hoy Is Being Returned for Burial

The body of Pfc. Lester Hoy, who was killed in Germany in 1945, is expected to arrive in Lusk for reburial shortly. The parents Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Hoy, received word some time ago that the body had arrived in New York.

Pfc. Hoy was killed Feb. 17, 1945 while serving with an armored division, and was buried in Hamm cemetery in Luxemburg.

Lester was a junior in Lusk High School when called to the service June 20, 1944. He went overseas just before Christmas.

Memorial services were held for him from the First Baptist Church here Feb. 27, 1945.

The Lusk Herald
June 9, 1949
Services for Pfc. Lester Hoy Thursday

Re-interment services for Pfc. Lester Hoy will be held with full mlitary honors by Weiten-Dupes Post of the American Legion, on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock.

Rev. H.T. Clark, pastor of the Baptist Church, of which Lester was a member, will conduct the service. The body will arrive with military escort Wednesday evening.

Pfc. Hoy, in a tank battalion, was killed in Western Germany, February 17, 1945, and was buried in a Luxemburg Cemetery.

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