Iowa State Memorial Union

Sontus Gjellefald - 2nd Lieutenant

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Date Of Death: Jan 1, 1919
War / Conflict: World War I
Hometown: Forest City, Iowa
Gold Star Hall - Wall Location: East Wall (Middle Panel)

Biography

Second Lieutenant Sontus John Gjellefald was the son of Mr. A. O. Gjellefald. He came to Iowa State College from his hometown, Forest City, Iowa.

He was formerly part of the class of 1916 or 1918 in Civil Engineering. Presumably, he left Iowa State to enlist in aviation on December 2, 1918 at Kelly Field, Texas. He transferred to the Engineering Officer Training Scholl at Camp Lee, Virginia in April 1918.

On July 3, 1918, Sontus was comissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the 79th Engineers at Camp Leach, Washington D.C. He was discharged on December 3, 1918 and died of influenza back in Forest City almost a month later on January 1, 1919.

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