Orville C. Breeding (Pfc) (1945)

BREEDING, MAPES, LORENS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/28/2006 at 13:57:03

Winterset Madisonian - July 11, 1945

FORMER LOCAL BOY STARVED TO DEATH AS GERMAN PRISONER

Word of Orville Breeding's Death in Nazi Prison Is Received

A former Winterset boy who was captured last December by the Nazis while fighting on the Western front was starved to death by his captors before he could be freed this spring, it has been learned. The soldier was Pfc. Orville C. Breeding, aged 26, of Des Moines, brother of M. E. Breeding of Winterset.

The soldier's wife, Mrs. Dorothy Breeding of Des Moines, was informed by the War department recently of her husband's death on April 18 in German prison camp Stalag 9B. Subsequently she learned from a Waterloo soldier who had been liberated from that same camp later, that her husband died of starvation. The Waterloo soldier said he had helped to bury Private Breeding. His information was substantiated by a letter from the war department received Monday by Mrs. Breeding.

Private Breeding was the son of Mrs. Nora T. Breeding of Des Moines. He was born in Winterset and lived here until he was about 12 years old, attending the Winterset schools. In recent years his home had been in Des Moines.

He was inducted into the army in April, 1944, and went overseas the following October. He served on the Western front with the 110th Infantry division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 12, and later was reported as a prisoner. The last word received from him was a card, dated Jan. 6.

In addition to his wife and his mother, Private Breeding is survived by two children, Barbara Ann, aged 4, and Michael, aged 3. He also leaves three sisters, Francine Breeding of Georgia, Mrs. Edna Mapes of Council Bluffs, and Mrs. Alice Lorens of Des Moines; and six brothers, Alfred and Wesley Breeding of Des Moines, Paul Breeding of the U.S. navy, stationed in Maryland, Bud Breeding of the U.S. army, stationed in Belgium, Wayne Breeding of the U.S. Paratroop infantry, now in France, and M. E. (Red) Breeding of Winterset.