Herbert Otto Wunnenberg 1895 - 1918

WUNNENBERG

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 6/4/2014 at 15:10:43

Sperry Boy Who Fell Carrying America's Demands to the Boche at the Point of the Bayonet.

Fighting shoulder to shoulder with his comrades, always eager to near the front of the advancing troops, never wavering in the face of shell or machine gun fire, but always plunging onward determined to carry the demands of America to the Boche on the point of his bayonet: That was the bravery of Private Herbert Otto Wunnenberg of Sperry, Iowa, who fell wounded on a battlefield in France, to die later in a base hospital near the firing lines. Private Wunnenberg received mortal wounds while taking part in the last great allied drive. For five days he fought with his company driving the Germans back. His division had advanced twelve miles in the five days.

His death came at a moment before the Americans halted their advance, but he died secure in the belief that he had given his best in life to his country.
News of the death of the young man reached his parents, nearly a month after the signing of the armistice and was a severe blow to them. Private Wunnenberg, entered the service February 28, 1918, entraining for Camp Dodge on that day. He arrived overseas during the latter part of May. A month later he was on the firing line.

The young man was known in Burlington being employed at the West Burlington shops before entering the army. His parents, three brothers, one Private Vernon Wunnenberg serving in France survives him.

Burlington Hawk Eye, 1918-12-22 Sunday