Wilfred Claude Varn

April 9, 1942

SIX FLAGLER MEN LEAVE FOR ARMY

Six Flagler county men left this week to enter military service in the Army.

Gilbert Tucker, lieutenant in the reserves, was called to duty and was assigned to Fort Bragg, N. C.

The five others went to Camp Blanding. They are Homer Malcolm Anderson, George Hubert Crews, Alfred Robert Tucker, WILFRED CLAUDE VARN, and Hubert Eldy Ward.

October 8, 1942

WILFRED VARN, brother of Flagler county's only WAVE, has just been promoted to Corp. Tech. He is stationed at Ft. Monmouth, N. J. Wonder if any of his buddies in the outfit, call him "Rabbi" as some of his U of F classmates did?

January 28, 1943

Cpl. WILFRED VARN writes to The Tribune that he has been transferred to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma City, Okla. He said that he arrived there in the "middle of a western blizzard" and the first night it was 14 degrees below zero (he added that he didn't mean 14 below freezing, either). "But in spite of the weather, everything is fine out here and I like it."

March 11, 1943

Had a nice long letter from Cpl. WILFRED VARN a few days ago. Wilfred spent quite a long time at Ft. Monmouth, N. J. and then was sent to Oklahoma and now has been transferred to Casper, Wyoming.

May 13, 1943

It looked sorta like "old home week here last week end. We saw at one time at Holden's T/Cpl WILFRED VARN, signal corpsman from Casper, Wyo (who was having his first furlough since he went in over a year ago); Top Sgt. Kenneth Hunter from Ft. Knox, Ky. Sgt. Hunter has been in the hospital again, but is getting along OK now; S/Sgt. Louis Simpson from Sheppard Field, Texas and who teaches 'em how to tear 'em apart and put together again; and "Little" Joe Smith, aviation cadet now located at Miami. Wednesday evening VARN and Simpson took off for Daytona Beach "to look over the WAAC installation -they never having seen many of the uniformed gals. We can't tell you how many thousands are in DB but there's plenty. Locals now call Daytona. Beach Wackville.

June 10, 1943

WILFRED VARN, with the signal corps at Casper, Wyoming, has been made sergeant. Wilfred was here a short time ago visiting friends and relatives, He is a nephew or Mrs. J. A. Henderson of Bunnell and son of C. G. Varn who is now residing in Jacksonville.

June 24, 1943

Sgt. WILFRED VARN who has been stationed at Casper, Wyo., has been transferred to Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Fla., and was over visiting his folks a few days ago.

September 9, 1943

Sgt. WILFRED VARN has been in Deland for a few days doing some special work. He is in the army signal corps and located in Tallahassee. Wilfred was at Flagler Beach Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Varn.

September 30, 1943

Sgt. WILFRED VARD who has been studying a few weeks at Stetson University at Deland and a short time at Rollins College at Winter Park has been sent to Harvard University for further training.

October 28, 1943

We received a card from Sgt. WILFRED VARN from Stanford University al Palo Alto, California. Wilfred said "Sorry I don't have time to write a good long letter, but they are really keeping me busy in a course which I was to go to Harvard (University) for."

March 30, 1944

Sgt. WILFRED VARN writes us from Washington, D.C. to change the address on his paper from Stanford University, California, to Washington. He adds: "It is always good to read about folks in Bunnell and what they are doing as well as about those who are scattered all over the world in the armed forces. Give everyone my very best regards, and thanks again for sending The Tribune."

June 22, 1944

Sgt. WILFRED VARN, stationed in Washington, D.C., was here a short time one day last week.

December 14, 1944

A V-Mail from Sgt. WILFRED VARN, with the army, who has been skipping about in the Pacific for several weeks, but has stopped long enough to write from Brisbane, Australia. He relates:

"I believe that at last I can give you an address which will not be as temporary as the last ones. This makes my third APO number, but so far it is the best.

The week I spent in New Guinea was certainly an experience. I couldn't help but think of the good old State of Florida during all of that time, but it also showed me what handicaps the fellows up at the front are going through, even when not in actual combat. No one in the States can envision what life under such conditions unless they have gone through it themselves. It is beyond description.

And my feeling toward the Red Cross has been bettered by at least 500 per cent. If it were not for them, the boys would be miserable. The Red Cross provides facilities and comforts that make it the most popular and make the Red Cross huts the most popular in the Pacific.

Please send The Tribune to this address. I haven't received one since the last of September, and I am awaiting them with untold eagerness. Give my regards to everyone in Bunnell."

June 21, 1945

First off this week, we understand that Lt. (jg) Corise Varn, formerly of Bunnell whose parents live at St. Augustine now, recently reported for duty in the Hawaiian Islands.

Before entering the Waves in October 1942, she worked as accounting clerk in the Florida Welfare Board, Jacksonville. Her brother, Sgt. WILFRED VARN, was stationed in Australia at last accounts.

September 27, 1945

WILFRED VARN, nephew of Mrs. J. A. Henderson here, has been promoted from Sgt. to 2nd Lt. and is now on Luzon in the Philippines.

October 4, 1945

WILFRED VARN, who has been down in the Southwest Pacific a number of months with the rank of Cpl., is now in the Philippines and with the rank of 2nd Lt. He was in Brisbane, Australia on V-J Day but “flew from there to Manila by ATC and B-24 via New Guinea and Biak to Clark Field Philippines.” He added “Went from Clark Field to Tarlac by G. I. operated train, but the flag man tried to stop the train at San Miguel, waving a red lantern a-plenty but they carried me right by. Anyway when I arrived at Hq. I was greeted as Lt. Varn." He said he does not expect to be home for another 12 months.