W. Leisenring Pilot Killed In Action In Sicily
Enlisted As Buck Private In 1938; Sisters In Service

A West Leisenring pilot in the Army Air Corps was killed in action over Sicily, according to word received by his parents today. The young pilot was Second Lieutenant Elmer L. Baran, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Steven Baran, West Leisenring. He graduated from Dunbar Township High school with the class of 1937. In January, 1938, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a buck private and went up through the ranks until he attained his commission last winter. Lt. Baran was shipped overseas in February. Prior to that he was located at Langley Field, Virginia. Piloting a fighter plane the young flier participated in many aeriel combats during his career. Besides his parents he is survived by two sisters in the Army, First Lieutenant Ann Marie Baran, Los Angeles, Cal., and Second Lieutenant Helen Louise Baran, stationed in Kentucky; two brothers, Joseph Steven baran, with the Signal Corps in North Africa, and John Paul Baran, who leaves for service on July 29. Lt. Baran's father is well-known throughout the region as a farmer. He was largely responsible for the erection of the honor roll recently dedicated in West Leisenring. (Uniontown Evening Standard, Uniontown, PA, Thursday, July 22, 1943, p. 1, Col. 6, Continued, p. 3, Col. 1)

Lt. E. L. Baran Rites Sunday

Funeral will be held Sunday for 2nd Lt. Elmer L. Baran, son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Baran of West Leisenring, shot down over Hergla, Tunisia, on July 13, 1943. Prayer services will be held in the family home at 2:30 p.m., followed by additional rites in St. Polycarp's R. C. church with rev. S. Moravek officiating. Burial will be in the soldiers' plot at Sylvan Heights cemetery under direction of the Haky funeral home, with military rites at the graveside in charge of VFW Post 47 and members of Genral Marshall post Amvets, acting as pallbearers. Lt. Baran was graduated from Dunbar township high school and enlisted on January 4, 1938, going to Langley Field, Va. He was a pilot with the 487th Bomber Squadron, 340th Group. Surviving are his parents and these brothers and sisters: John P. and Joseph S., of Uniontown; Matilda Jean and Mrs. Bernard (Ann Marie) Howell, of Birmingham, Ala., and Mrs. Malcolm (Helen) Voorhees, of San Francisco, Cal. (Uniontown Evening Standard, Uniontown, PA, Friday, December 09, 1949, p. 14, Col. 6)

Sylvan Heights Cemetery
Oliver, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA