A 1936 graduate of Redding Consolidated High School, William Lloyd ABARR served in the U.S. Army tank battalion in World War II. He was captured in North Africa by the Germans on his birthday, February 14, 1943. He was a prisoner of war in a German prison camp for 26 months until he was freed by Allied forces in 1945.

Mount Ayr Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
March of 1943

Tech. Sgt. William Lloyd ABARR, a member of the U. S. armed forces, has been reported missing in action since his birthday anniversary, February 14, according to information conveyed in a telegram received Thursday morning by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harlan ABARR, of the Redding vicinity.

The telegram signed by the Adjutant General, reads, as follows:

"The Secretary of War desires me to express his deepest regret that your son, Tech. Sgt. Will L. ABARR, has been reported missing in action in the North African area since February 14. Additional information will be sent you when received."

William, or Bill, as he was known, entered the armed service [Army Infantry] March 2, 1941, and received his basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. He was transferred from Fort Knox to Fort Dix, N. J., then to Ireland and from there to Africa.

Mr. and Mrs. ABARR have two other sons serving their country. Lewis Barton ABARR is with the coast guard, stationed in the Hawaiian Islands, and Joseph Waugh ABARR, a member of the U. S. Navy and a survivor of the Yorktown, is stationed at Seattle, Wash.

ABARR is the second Ringgold county boy missing in action on the Tunisian front. Mr. and Mrs. A. FOSTER, of Mount Ayr, received word March 6 that their son, Charles, was missing.

Mount Ayr Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
date clipped off

Mr. and Mrs. Harlan S. ABARR, of Middle Fork township, received a letter this week from their son, Cpl. William L. ABARR, a prisoner of war somewhere in Germany.

Cpl. ABARR was captured by the Germans February 14, his birthday anniversary. He says in his letter "I'll never forget my birthday this year." He asks his parents to send everything they can, preferably candy.

The tone of his letter indicates he is in high spirits and even a bit of humor is detected when he writes, "Well, there isn't much to write about as I am sticking pretty close to home."

His letter reads as follows:

"I wrote a card recently but you will probably get this first as it is supposed to go air mail. How are you folks and everyone making it? Don't ever say anything against the Red Cross. It really is helping me now by giving us a box of eats each week. Go to the Red Cross immediately and get all the information you need. Send everything you can, preferably candy. I can write two letters and four cards a month. I'll never forget my birthday this year. How's the farm work coming? It will probably be a long time before I get any news from home. We can receive all the letters that are written to us. I play checkers quite a lot. I've had sauer kraut twice. Well, there isn't much to write about as I am sticking pretty close to home. I am feeling fine, being well treated as getting all I need to eat. Hope you are all feeling fine. So long for this time."

The ABARRS have two other sons serving their country, Barton, in the army, and Joe in the Navy.

NOTE: William ABARR was held prisoner at Stalag 3B located at Furstenberg.

Submission by Theola Weeda collection

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2013

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