Iowa State Memorial Union

Rex Shirk - 2nd Lieutenant

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Date Of Birth: : Feb 21, 1919
Date Of Death: Oct 3, 1942
War / Conflict: World War II
Hometown: Grundy County, Iowa
Gold Star Hall - Wall Location: West Wall (by Entrance Door)

Biography

Year at ISU: 1941

Second Lieutenant Rex Allen Shirk was born in Grundy County, Iowa on February 21, 1919 to Asa J. Shirk and Burdine Allen.

He played football for two years at Iowa State College, and then entered the National Guard in Waterloo, Iowa on February 17, 1941. He transferred to the Air Corps November 1941. He trained in basic flight at Goodfellow Field, and later was sent to an advanced flying school for special training in observation flying. He was commissioned second lieutenant May 20, 1942.

Rex lost is life in a plane accident at Rice Air Field while serving as an observation pilot.

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