Sgt. Charles W. Katt

Katt and Comer KIA

In Different Divisions, Both Are Casualties On Same Day

Wives And Young Sons, Unacquainted, Live Just Around The Corner From Each Other

Sgt. Charles W. Katt killed in sinking of HMT ROHNA, Nov. 27, 1943.

(January 7, 1944) - Nutley's casualty list was enlarged this week with reports of two more soldiers missing in action on the same day and in the same area.

They are Charles Katt, a sergeant in the infantry and Frederick Comer, a private in a construction battalion, both of whom arrived in the North African area the later part of October.

Although their wives and young sons are not acquainted, they live just around the corner from each other, and have been told that the news that their men have been missing since November 26 came just last week.

Both declared that they had received cables assuring them of their husband's safe arrival abroad and related that their men had embarked without final furloughs.

The 22-year-old sergeant, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Katt, of Conover avenue, told in one of his last letters that he had met and spend two days with Donald Mulien of Harvard street. This was just five days before he was reported missing.

Letter From Ulio

His wife, the former Miss Aileen Rulison, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Rulison of town, who is living at the Conover street address with their nineteen months old son, Charles Richard, received an assuring letter from Adj. Gen. Ulio this week, however, which stated that "the term 'missing in action' is used only to indicate that he whereabouts or status of an individual is not immediately known.

"It is not intended to convey the impression that the case is closed. I wish to emphasize that every effort is exerted to clear up the status of our personnel. Under war conditions, this is a difficult task as you must readily realize.

"Experience has shown that many persons reported missing in action subsequently have been prisoners of war. However, since we are entirely dependent on the governments with which we are at war to forward this information, the War department is helpless to expedite these reports."

The soldier was inducted in December 1942 and received his training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and Camp Shenango, Pa.

He is a graduate of Nutley high school as is his wife, and is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron, Post 70.

He was employed at the Atlantic Terminals, Port Newark, before entering service. His three sisters are Eleanor, employed by the American Insurance company in Newark, Dorothy, a student in Junior school and Joan who attends Washington school.

More on Sgt. Charles Katt

Charles Richard Katt Guttilla was killed in action in Vietnam on Feb. 20, 1967.

The Nutley Sun, January 7, 1944: In Different Divisions, Both Are Casualties On Same Day