Liebenstein, John A. 'Jack' 1920-1944

LIEBENSTEIN, BOREHARDT, MUELLER, GRANT

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Final funeral services for 2nd Lt. John A. Liebenstein, son of Mrs. H.J. Liebenstein, will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Schultz Funeral home with Rev. R.C. Schlueter officiating.

Burial will be in the Council Hill cemetery.

His casketed remains will arrive from overseas Friday morning.

The body of 2nd Lt Liebenstein, who served overseas with the infantry in the United States Army, was interred in Italy and is being returned to this country for final interment at the request of his mother.

He was born Feb. 24, 1920, in Milwaukee, Wis., a son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Liebenstein. The family later moved to Fredericksburg, where he graduated in 1937 from high school. He attended the University of Iowa for one year. Upon his father's death, he operated the family's general store from 1939 to 1942.

He entered the service Nov. 22, 1942, taking his first training at Camp Wolters, Texas. He later took officers training, going overseas to Italy in September, 1943.

He died from wounds received in action [illegible words] hospital at Ceracoli, Italy. He was wounded that day in a foray into enemy territory. As his patrol was withdrawing, he was wounded by an exploding mine. He ordered his men to withdraw to safety.

He at first was reported missing in action and was believed to have been captured by the Germans. Subsequent searches failed to locate him, and a year later the war department reported him dead. Last summer, however, Mrs. Liebenstein received word that his buried body had been located.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action after he was reported missing in action. It was sent to his mother by the war department.

He was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his mother, two sisters, Mrs. Willis (Doris) Mueller of Fredercksburg and Mrs. W.F. (Phyllis) Grant of Burlingame, Calif.; a grandmother, Mrs. John Liebenstein and an aunt, Miss Agnes Liebenstein, both of Hubbard.
~Monona Leader, Thursday, March 3, 1949; pg 1

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Note: Another reburial obituary from the Waterloo Daily Courier, March 7, 1949 included the following information:

"He was commissioned second lieutenant in the infantry and served with the 88th division in Italy. He was seriously wounded in enemy territory in the Minturo area and was declared missing in action Apr. 11, 1944, and died the following day."

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His parents were Harry J. & Amalie 'Mollie' (Borehardt) Liebenstein.