Biography
Private First Class Eldon Ralph Boots was born in Oelwein, Iowa on October 19, 1919. He attended Oelwein and New Hampton public school.
In 1937, he enrolled at Iowa State College in the Architectural Engineering program (Graduated in 1941). During vacations, he worked for the R. A. Stolz Construction Company of New Hampton. He enlisted with the Army Air Corps in 1940 and volunteered for foreign service in the Philippine Islands on December 13, 1940. He went overseas from Treasure Island, California on January 18, 1941 and landed on Luzon on February 10. He was stationed at Nichols Field serving the ground crew of the 20th Pursuit Squadron. That April, he was assigned for Control Tower work after passing an examination. He also did work in radio and code at the Control Tower at Clark Field, north of Manila.
The last word from him was a letter written in February 1942, received by his mother in March the following month. He was reported missing in action as of April 1942. His official date of death is May 26, 1942.
Eldon's aunt was Mrs. H.O. Moyer. He had cousin named James Hardy Moyer who later graduated in Civil Engineering in 1951.