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Gold Star For One Of Three Outmans Mr. and Mrs. Archie Outman, Heuvelton, have a service flag in a window of their home which bears a gold star for one of their three sons, S-Sgt. Donald R. Outman, killed over Romania in an air battle July 3, (1944), and S-2c Dean, and S-2c Durwood, who are serving with the Navy. Seaman Durwood Outman entered the Navy in March, 1943, and is stationed somewhere in a French post with the United States fleet. Seaman Dean Outman entered the Navy in May, 1944, and is with a destroyer force somewhere in the Pacific. S-Sgt. Donald Outman who gave his life for his country the day before the American Fourth of July, was a nose-gunner in a B-24 with the 15th AAF stationed in Italy. He had been awarded the air medal with oak leaf cluster for meritorious achievement in sustained operational activity against the enemy. The Purple Heart medal honoring Sgt. Outman in death has been received by his family as well as the citation of honor certificate. The family received in early September a letter written in Italy under date of August 24 (1944) from S-Sgt. Hector P. Sapien of Sgt. Outman's crew, addressed to Mrs. Outman. "It was a great shock," the letter begins, "for us to lose Don that way, especially for me as Don and I had been together a long time." Their studies together in schools in Denver, Colo., in Florida, Salt Lake City, Utah, and the fact that when the new gunnery crew was organized Sgt. Outman and Sgt. Sapien were the only ones of the original group who had been together, brought them very close as they were ordered on duty abroad. "Don told me quite a lot about his brothers and everybody else. I almost felt I knew them all. He talked a lot about Ginney and the say he was going to get married -- but we didn't get that furlough before coming overseas. We had a good time coming over, all of us. "I can probably say I was one of Don's best friends. We all loved him -- everybody who knew him liked him. I don't believe he had a single enemy in this army. He was a good athlete in all sports, and above all a very good gunner. The first time we encountered enemy fighters, he shot one down -- he was the only one who did. Direct Hit in Turret "His death was one of those things. We had a direct hit that exploded right in the turret, so you see he never knew what hit him. It could have been any of us... I was the first to get to him. I had my first aid kit and expected to help him. Imaginve my grief when I had to report to the pilot that he was dead. I don't mind telling you that we all cried like babies all the way back. "Don is buried here in Italy. He had a soldier's funeral and an Army chaplain was present. "...Now we have all completed over 50 missions, with a lot of close calls, and are preparing to return back to the states... I only wish some people back home would learn how our boys fight and die for our country -- and could really appreciate the sacrifice some of the gallant mothers go through... "Goodbye now, and before I close I want to tell you I'll never regret the time I have spent in this Army because it brought me together with such a fine boy as Don. As long as I live he will always remain in my memory. Regards from the rest of the crew. Sincerely, Hector P. Sapien, S-Sgt.

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