Iowa
Old Press
Waterloo Daily Courier
April 22, 1943
LIST IOWANS AS PRISONERS IN ITALY
Davenport, Ia.—(AP)—Most Rev. Henry P. Rohlman, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Davenport, announced Thursday the names of 21 Iowa soldiers who are being held prisoners of war by the Italians.
All the soldiers reside in the Davenport diocese, which embraces 22 counties. Their families already have been notified by the bishop.
Word of the fate of the soldiers was received at the chancery office here from the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, Most Rev. Amlito Giovanni, in Washington, D.C., who was notified direct from Vatican City.
The soldiers and their home towns were given as:
Two From Melcher:
Pvt. Robert DeGoey, Knoxville; Pvt. Richard Wombacher, Parnell; Pvt. William Seddon, Melcher; Pfc. Martin Wood, Melcher; Pfc. Leo Cross, Baxter; Pfc. Bernard Lynch, West Branch; Pfc. Wayne Brownlie, Davenport;
Cpl. Melvin Owen, Tipton; Joseph Eilbeck, Hiteman; Cpl. Herman Biltermann, Avery; Hugo Deininger, Lowden; Pvt. Earl Conklin, Davenport;
Pvt. Cleo Kemp, Fort Madison; Pfc. Lyle Sheldon, Lost Nation; Pfc. James Fridley, Selma; Pfc. Ansel Moughler, Troy; Pvt. Leon Lind, Iowa City;
Cpl. Carroll Nichols, Knoxville; Philip Bailey, Letts; Sgt. Carroll R. Balman, Colfax; Second Lieut. John Leech, Fairfield.
Three of Sibley Unit.
Sibley, Ia.—(AP)—Three members of a former Sibley national guard unit, reported missing in action in Africa on Feb. 17, now are prisoners of Italy, according to notice received by relatives.
They are Pvt. Herbert Paul Echter, Pvt. William Lindaman, Little Rock; and Sgt. Daryl Betten, Orange City.
Francis M. Case of Melvin, Ia., reported missing in action in the Philippines more than a year ago, has been reported a prisoner of Japan.
THREE MORE PRISONERS.
Washington D.C.—(AP)—The War Department announced that Cpl. Frank H. Gillespie of Red Oak, Ia., John D. Jones of Corning, Ia., and Pfc. Edwin P. Martion of Creston, Ia., are prisoners of Italy.
[transcribed by LZ, Mar 2021]