Iowa
Old Press
Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune
Muscatine, Muscatine co., Iowa
Monday, May 7, 1945
WAR END NEWS PROVIDES HAPPINESS FOR FAMILIES OF NAZI WAR
PRISONERS
News of victory in Europe had special significance in
many Muscatine home where relatives have “sweated it
through” for months and, in some cases, years with their
husbands, sons and brothers who were being held in prisoner of
war camps in Germany. Although in several homes in the area,
since February when Cpl. Robert Tadewald, Muscatine’s first
prisoner to be repatriated, returned home, liberated soldiers
have been reunited with their families, the majority of the men
released from POW camps during the final Allied offensive in
Germany have yet to arrive home.
Others Are Home
Melvin Owen, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Owen of Tipton,
came home in March, having spent months in prisoner of war camps
in Italy and Germany. A large number of prisoners were reported
liberated some time before word came of the complete capitulation
of the Nazis and messages telling of their release were welcome
news to their relatives and friends.
Others Known Free
Army men from this territory known to be liberated and
enroute home prior to the formal announcement of German surrender
include Pvt. Archie King, son of Archie M. King, 344 Stewart
road; Sgt. Robert W. Chaudoin, brother of Mrs. Harlan Dye, 1206
Orange street; Cpl. Rollin D. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orville
Smith, 105 Foster street; Pfc. Arlan Moeller, of Stockton.
Cpl. Harold G. Mueller of Buffalo Prairie; T/5 Maynard H. Sexton
of Downey; and Sgt. William D. Bivens of Buffalo Prairie; Tech.
Sgt. Glen Kennedy of Conesville; Pfc. Robert Fletcher, Columbus
Junction.
According to other information available to the Journal
the following are men from Muscatine and surrounding territory
who were members of the “barbed wire legion” in
Germany:
Tech Sgt. Howard J. Adams of Wilton; Staff Sgt. Ralph Butler,
rural route 4; Pvt. Harold Bartelt, 106 Grandview avenue; Staff
Sgt. Luther Eldon Davis, 106 East Second street; Lt. Arthur
Mittman, 708 Newell avenue; Sgt. Howard W. Hobbs, Morning Sun;
Pvt. William O’Brien, rural route 5.
In Other Camps
Pvt. Lawrence C. Proffitt, 403 East Fifth street; Pvt.
Carl J. Robertson, 313 Jackson street; Pvt. Charles E. Sterner,
Wilton; Pvt. Layman Saltsman, 410 Cherry street; Lt. Robert T.
Walter, 817 Sycamore street; Lt. Hartley Westbrook, Grandview;
Lloyd Dotson, Wapello; Pfc. Lawrence J. Dwyer, 309 West Eleventh
street.
Lt. George Eversmeyer, 101 East Fulliam avenue; Pfc. Robert
Korneman, 508 West Seventh street; Sgt. Charles McBride, 214 West
Seventh street; T/5 Robert K. Reinbrecht, West Branch; Pfc.
Richard Schreurs, 1172 New Hampshire street; and Pfc. Lloyd A.
Walker, rural route 1.
Pfc. Harry Harris, 703 East Sixth street; Lt. Donald G. Harrer,
whose wife resides at 301 Parkington drive; Pfc. George Lesnet of
Wapello; and Pvt. Frank E. Koepping, 1219 Lincoln Boulevard.
SEVERAL FROM AREA HELD BY JAPANESE
It is also known that a number from here are being held
by the Japanese. Those being held in prisoner of war camps in the
Far East are:
Bruce Watson, seaman first class, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce
Watson, 114 Park avenue;
Cpl. Everett L. Cosgrove, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cosgrove, 601
East Third street;
PFC Ray Foster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Foster of Stockton;
Capt. Cecil L. Forinash, brother of Villa Forinash of Conesville;
PFC Glen Teel, son of Mrs. W. S. Teel of Columbus Junction.
[transcribed by L.Z., November 2014]
The Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune
Muscatine, Muscatine co., Iowa
Tuesday, May 8, 1945
Cpl. Courtney In Hospital Abroad
GRANDVIEW — Cpl. Patrick Courtney is a patient at a
hospital somewhere in Germany, according to word received by his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oral Courtney, of near Grandview. No
particulars were received.
--
A gold star was presented to Mrs. Ruth Gerling Sunday afternoon
at a meeting of the Loyal Order of Moose at Burlington for her
husband, Pfc.. Kenneth Gerling, who was killed in action in
France. Gerling was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gerling
of Grandview.
Merwyn Buster has passed his examination for induction into
service and is now awaiting orders to report for duty.
Lt. Lyman Bailey, who has been stationed at Florence, S.C., as an
instructor in navigation, is spending a leave with his mother,
Mrs. Mabel Bailey.
Dorothy G. Buster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Buster, of
Letts, a recent graduate of the naval training school for yeomen
at Stillwater, Okla., has reported for duty at New Orleans, La.,
with the Waves. She is a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R.
Schafer, of Grandview
[transcribed by L.Z., January 2018]
Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune
Muscatine, Muscatine co., Iowa
May 22, 1945
RECORDS REVEAL 27 HELD PRISONERS NOW LIBERATED
Twenty-seven men from Muscatine county and surrounding
territory reported as prisoners of war of Germany have been
liberated and eleven of this group have already been given
furloughs home, according to JOURNAL records. Since the beginning
of the war in Europe a total of 42 men from this area have been
held by the Nazis at one time or another. Word from the remaining
15 prisoners is being awaited by families and relatives here.
According to information received from Mr. and Mrs. Fred C.
Koepping, whose son, Pvt. Frank Koepping, was reported a prisoner
of Germany, the last information regarding their son came from
the War Department in March, listing Pvt. Koepping a prisoner of
war at Stalag 12A, at Limburg, Germany. Another letter received
stated that he was at Stalag 12B and mail, dated in January, was
received from Pvt. Koepping from the latter camp.
A letter, dated Feb. 1, was the latest message Mrs. Luther Davis,
106 East Second street, has received from her husband, Staff Sgt.
Luther Eldon Davis, a prisoner of war since September of 1944.
[transcribed by L.Z., November 2014]
Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune
Muscatine, Muscatine co., Iowa
Wednesday, May 23, 1945
Lloyd Dotson Is Safe and Well, Family Learns
Wapello—Mr. and Mrs. Dave Dotson received word
Tuesday from their son, Lloyd, a German prisoner since November
1944, that he was safe and well and hoped to see them soon. The
supposition is that he is still overseas.
ON VISIT HERE.
Cpl. Norman Maxwell, of the army air forces, arrived
Sunday to spend a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy
Maxwell, 218 East Sixth street, and visiting other relatives and
friends. At the conclusion of his furlough, he will report back
at Westover Field, Mass., where he has completed 16 weeks
training, as a waist gunner on a B-24 bomber.
LETTERS RECEIVED FROM CPL. DOWNS AFTER LIBERATION
Wapello—Mrs. Frankie Downs received two letters
Tuesday from her son, Cpl. Philip Downs, prisoner of the Germans
since Feb. 17, 1943, stating that he was liberated by the
Russians and was well. This letter was written May 9, and the
second letter, dated Mothers day, May 13, conveyed the glad
tidings that he was on the coast of France awaiting
transportation home and probably would arrive before the letter.
These were the first letters received since before Christmas.
Lt. Harlan Widerrecht, J.G., who has been spending a 15-day leave
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Widerrecth, will leave
Sunday for Miami, Fla., where he has been on a Navy patrol bomber
since returning from South America with the exception of two
weeks spent at school in Council Point, R. I. In company with his
parents, he went to Ames last Saturday to see his sister, Helen,
student at Iowa State college, and they also visited his sister,
Annabelle, cadet nurse at Iowa Methodist training center. His
brother, Lt. James Wiederrecht, who has been in the Army four
years and overseas 29 months was still in Italy when his last
letter was written.
[transcribed by L.Z., November 2014]