Orlie Meskimen

Orlie Leroy Meskimen was born in a tiny cottage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on January 6, 1919, the only child of Clifford Leroy and Clara Rebecca (Mason) Meskimen. When he was a young boy his parents moved to Shellsburg, Iowa, where although they were not wealthy, he enjoyed a happy childhood. His maternal grandmother, May Mason, also lived in the home with them. He loved her dearly. As a young boy during the Great Depression, he spent much of his time hunting and fishing, and for the most part enjoyed a Huck Finn childhood.

In high school he was a star basketball athlete. Following graduation he attended the University of Iowa for a brief time, studying chemical engineering, followed by employment with the Rock Island Railroad. Orlie enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in December of 1940, andbegan writing letters home shortly after his arrival at Camp Claiborne in early March of 1941.

The book Dear Folks Love Orlie is his story taken from his letters. These letters were lovingly kept by his parents for over forty years before being discovered by his children while clearing out their grandparent’s home. Orlie stated in one of his letters that he wished to write a book when he returned from the war. He eventually made it home from the war, got married, and had five children. Life got busy and the book did not get written … until now. Because of his letters, his book will now exist.

Orlie was awarded the following medals during the course of his military career:

3 Bronze Stars for exemplary service in ground combat against the armed enemy while assigned as first sergeant in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations

Combat Infantry Badge

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

Good Conduct Medal

American Defense Medal

French Croix de Guerre Medal with Palm

During his military career, Orlie was documented as experiencing exhaustion, shortness of breath, sinking spells when sleeping on his left side, and heart palpitations. These early health concerns, coupled with the combat conditions he endured in Africa and Italy, surely took a toll on his health. Orlie passed away at the age of 54 on June 4, 1973, from a massive heart attack.