Robert G. Dew

Military Service
War: WWII
Entered Service: 12 April 1942
Killed In Action: 27 September 1944
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Co. I 504th Parachute Infantry
Rank: Sergeant

Personal Details
Born: 17 January 1921
Died: 27 September 1944
Parents: Glenn R. and Caroline nee Ellison Dew
Spouse: unmarried

Buried:
unknown

Robert Dew Is a Paratrooper

Pvt. Robert G. Dew, 21, who enlisted with the Paratroops in April has been transferred from Camp Roberts, Calif. where he received his basic training to Fort Benning, Georgia where parachutists receive initial training. Robert has acted as Corporal during his entire stay at Camp Roberts and was offered the position of Corporal for the duration but he preferred finishing his training as a Paratrooper. He is a graduate of Grundy high school and is the only volunteer Paratrooper from Grundy county, altho this is not official. A brother, Kenneth, enlisted in the Marines in January. He left the U.S. in March for parts unknown. Sons of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew, World War veteran.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 27 August 1942

Pvt. Robert Dew Talks To Community Club On Para-trooping

The entertainment program at the meeting of the Grundy Center Community Club Monday evening in the American Legion hall was headed with a talk by Pvt. Robert Dew, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Dew, who is now home on a short furlough from a paratroop training camp in the southern part of the country.

Pvt. Dew is one of the few men from Grundy county to qualify as a parachute jumper in the United States army. He completed his qualifying jumps a short time before being called to his home. Members of the Community club were interested in the rugged type of training that the parachute troops have to undergo to qualify for their position in the army, and also the experience that a person has in jumping from an airplane.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 1 October 1942

Paratrooper Addresses Students

The student body had with them at their assembly meeting Thursday afternoon, Robert Dew, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Dew, of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

His talk touched various points of his vigorous training at Fort Bragg. This training was divided into four groups, A, B. C. D. In each of these divisions he had to undergo a series of basic fundamentals. Long, strenuous runs, careful packing of their chutes and miles of crawling through tunnels filled with entanglements of various sorts kept Sgt. Dew busy and bruised all of the time.

Paratrooper Dew is required to make a jump once every two weeks, in which he is equipped with many pounds of weapons. He stated that he especially liked the days he spent preparing for these jumps, when he was required to ride up and down in a preparatory tower.

This talk proved to be one of the most popular of the year and was sponsored by the new staff.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 February 1943

Paratrooper in Sicily

Sgt. Robert Dew son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew, was among the first paratroopers to land on Sicilian soil. A recent letter to his parents is printed on page two of this paper.

---

Robt. Dew Writes From Sicily

Sicily, August 6th

Mother & Dad: Well I have a spare minute so will drop you a line. The Capt. sent you a telegram t'other day saying I was O.K. so you wouldn't worry.

I've been so darn busy and tired that I couldn't write, and a little action now and then.

I pick almonds right off the trees, and they've got swell grapes here and they're getting ripe. The pears are a little green yet.

I've got myself a German pistol and put 2 notches in the handle. Yeah, I've scored O.K. I have several souvenirs.

How's Kenny anyway? Haven't heard from you in regard to him in some time.

I suppose you're going strong with the combine, dad. I sure would like to be there running it. These mountains get rather tiresome running up and down even tho we are making the "jerry" run.

I suppose "Marg" gets kinda worried but that's a woman for you.

I reckon the papers are full of our attack on the Island. Well I reckon when I jumped I was one of the first to put foot on enemy territory. Quite an adventure.

Will write soon. Don't worry for I am going back to the base in N.A.
Just,
Bob

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 September 1943

A letter from Sgt. Robert Dew, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew, in North Africa, states he had received no mail for several weeks, and on returning to his base in North Africa from Sicily he had 35 letters, 5 registered and a package. Sgt. Dew will be a bit busy off duty.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 September 1943

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew received a letter this week from their son, Sgt. Robert Dew, paratrooper, who is in Italy now. He said he had not received any mail for a long time but when he finally did get some there were 53 letters and ten Grundy Registers. The letters dated back as far as August.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 December 1943

Robert Dew Is Injured in Italy

Mr. and Mrs. Glen R. Dew of Beaver township received a message Friday from the War Department telling them that their son, Sgt. Robert Dew, who is with the American army in Italy, had been injured in an accident. The nature of the injury was not explained. The message from the War Department reads:
"Regret to inform you your son, Sgt. Robert G. Dew, was on Dec. 11th slightly wounded in an accident in Italy. You will be advised as reports of condition are received.--The Adjutant General."

Robert Dew, second son of Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Dew, enlisted in April, 1942, and a year later was sent to North Africa. He was one of the first paratroopers to land in the Sicilian invasion and was there on the front for 4 weeks. His last letter dated Dec. 5 was written in Italy, and it was there the accident occurred.

His younger brother, Pfc. Kenneth L. Dew, who is with the U.S. Marine Corps, has been stationed on the island of Samoa in the S.W. Pacific for the past 21 months. He has left there and is now in the South Pacific and has been in a major battle, as stated in a letter written Dec. 7 and received here Dec. 27.

Kenneth enlisted two years ago January 6 and has not been home since, having been sent out of the States a few months later.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 6 January 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Glen Dew received a letter this week from their son, Sgt. Robert Dew, written Dec. 26. This is the first letter they have had since being notified by the War Dept. that he was wounded Dec. 11 in Italy. He stated he had been unable to write for some time, said he could explain in one short paragraph. He had received two grenade wounds in the right forearm while at the front lines. He stated they were flesh wounds and was getting along all right.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 January 1944

Bob Dew Is Awarded Purple Heart

Sgt. Robert Dew, paratrooper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew, has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received while in action in Italy December 11. He was injured in the arm after which he was sent back to Africa for treatment. In a letter received by his parents last week, he said that he expects to re-join his unit soon. He was also ? the good conduct medal recently. He is sending the Purple Heart medal home.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 27 January 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew have received the Purple Heart awarded their son, Sgt. Robert Dew, who was wounded in action in Italy, and was in hospital in North Africa for some time, he was able to rejoin his group in Italy in January. A letter from him written March 16 was received by his parents this week. He stated he was at Anzio beachhead and the shells were flying overhead.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 6 April 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew received a letter Wednesday from their son, Sgt. Robert Dew, paratrooper, saying that he had left the Anzio beachhead fighting zone in Italy and had arrived somewhere in England.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 4 May 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew received a letter last Thursday from their son, Sgt. Robert Dew, a paratrooper. He is in Holland now, and says it rains most of the time. He told his folks that he is all right but very busy. The letter was written September 26. His faolks had not heard from him for a month, and were greatly concerned.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 October 1944

Paratrooper Missing

Sgt. Robert Dew, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew of Beaver township, has been reported missing in Holland since September 27, according to a message received from the war department Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Dew heard from their son recently. The last letter was dated the day before he was reported missing. It is possible and hopeful that the paratrooper is a prisoner of war.

Sgt. Dew enlisted with the paratroops in April 1942. Following a year's rugged training, he was sent to North Africa. He was among the first paratroopers to invade Sicily. It was while in Italy last December that he was wounded. He received the Purple Heart for his injury in combat. He was in France before entering Holland.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 November 1944

Sgt. Robert Dew Is Now Officially Reported Dead

Was Reported Missing In Action Sept. 27, 1944; Had Been Wounded 3 Times Previously

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew received a message from the War Department last Friday in which their son, Sgt. Robert Dew, was officially reported as having lost his life in the service of his country.

Sgt. Dew was a paratrooper with the 504th Infantry. His Company was charged with the mission to seize and hold Huevel Woods in Holland on September 27th of last year. The troop was overcome by a large force of the enemy. Sgt. Dew was wounded in the action, and was being removed on a stretcher a second time and because of the ferocity of the attack it was impossible to evacuate him.

The letter from the War Department states that they had been unable to find any record of his death and they were not certain that he is no longer living. A rule adopted by the War Department requires that a man missing in action if no trace has been found of him for a year be declared officially dead.

Robert Glenn Dew was born January 17, 1921, in Washington township, Grundy county. He attended the rural school and graduated from Grundy Center high school with the class of 1939. He won letters in football.

Robert enlisted April 12, 1942 in the paratroops. He received his basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif., and his parachute training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Bragg, N.C. His last leave home was in February 1943, when he came to be present for the 25th wedding anniversary of his parents.

He left for overseas May 1943, stationed in Africa. He took part in the first airborne invasion in Sicily and also saw action in Salerno and Anzio Beachhead in Italy. He was later transferred to England and took part in the airborne invasion at Normandy. It was in the paratroops invasion near Nijmegen, Holland, where he was reported as missing on Sept. 27, 1944.

He received the Good Conduct Medal, Infantry Badge, and the Purple Heart for wounds received during action in Italy.

Surviving are his parents; two brothers, LeRoy of near Lincoln, and Kenneth, a Marine, at Guam; his grandfathers, J. W. Dew of Morrison and O. C. Ellison of Gladbrook, and two nephews; also his fiancee, Miss Margaret Hughes of Marshalltown, and a host of friends and relatives.

Letter from the War Dept.
To Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dew:
Since your son, Sergeant Robert G. Dew, 17067016, Infantry, was reported missing in action 27 September 1944, the War Department has entertained the hope that he survived and that information would be revealed dispelling the uncertainty surrounding his absence.

However, as in many cases, the conditions of warfare deny us such information. The records concerning your son reveal that he was a member of the 504th Infantry which on 27 September 1944 was charged with a mission to seize and hold Den Huevel Woods, Holland. While carrying out this mission, your son's unit was overrun by a large number of enemy infantry supported by tanks, and the unit was forced to withdraw. Your son was seriously wounded and was being removed by stretcher when the enemy counterattacked and he was again wounded. The heavy fire made it impossible to evacuate him.

Full consideration has recently been given to all available information bearing on the absence of your son, including all records, reports and circumstances. These have been carefully reviewed and considered. In view of the fact that twelve months have now expired without the receipt of evidence to support a continued presumption of survival, the War Department must terminate such absence by a presumptive finding of death. Accordingly, an official finding of death has been recorded under the provisions of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, approved March 7, 1942, as amended.

The finding does not establish an actual or probable date of death; however, as required by law, it includes a presumptive date of death for the termination of pay and allowances, settlement of accounts and payment of death gratuities. In the case of your son this date has been set as 28 September 1945, the day following the expiration of twelve months' absence.

I regret the necessity for this message but trust that the ending of a long period of uncertainty may give at least small measure of consolation. I hope you may find sustaining comfort in the thought that the uncertainty with which war has surrounded the absence of your son has enhanced the honor of his service to his country and his sacrifice. Sincerely yours, Edward Witsell, Major General, Acting the Adj. Gen. of Army

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 October 1945

Memorial For Sgt. Dew

The tenth gold star was recently added to the high school honor roll in memory of Sgt. Robert Dew, who was recently reported officially dead by the War Department.

Sgt. Dew graduated in 1939 and was the only paratrooper to have enlisted after completion of his high school career in Grundy Center high school. He enlisted in that service very shortly after the outbreak of the war, and took extensive training at Fort Benning, Ga.

Before going overseas Sgt. Dew returned home on furlough and during that time he gave a talk to the high school student body concerning the life and training of a paratrooper.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 November 1945