Local News
Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Kuhl, Dick and Helen, visited over the week-end with Robert Kuhl at Carbondale, Ill., where he has been training in the Army Air Force. They left Corning last Friday and returned Sunday evening.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, July 01, 1943, Page 2
Local News
Margaret Parker and Patty Kuhl returned Tuesday evening from Carbondale, Illinois, having visited there since last Friday with Robert Kuhl, who is in training in the army air corps as a cadet. They attended several social affairs sponsored for the cadets, and report a fine time.n the
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, July 29, 1943, Page 6
Service News
Robert Kuhl, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Kuhl, has recently been transferred from Carbondale, Ill., to San Antonio, Texas, where he has been classified to train as a pilot.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, September 02, 1943, Page 4
Service News
Robert L. Kuhl, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Kuhl of Corning, graduated with the “Invasion Class” at Eagle Pass Army Air Field on Tuesday, June 27th, and received the wings of a pilot and commissioned as a second lieutenant. He will remain at the Central Flying Training Command’s advanced school for a few weeks further training, before his leave. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl and Patty attended the graduation and the festivities which accompany the occasion. They report a fine trip and a wonderful time while there. A complete schedule of events was arranged for the graduates and guests.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, July 06, 1944, Page 6
Obituaries
LT. ROBERT L. KUHL
Robert L. Kuhl, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. Kuhl, was born in Harlan, Iowa, December 28, 1921. When he was seven years of age, the family came to Corning to make their home. It was here Robert attended school and grew to young manhood, graduating with the class of 1940. In the fall of that year, he entered Creighton University, Omaha, continuing his studies there until he entered military training with the A. A. F. He enlisted in the Air Corps in July 1942, and left for training February 20th, 1943.
From Jefferson Barracks, Mo., he was sent to Carbondale, Illinois, where he studied under the C. T. D. until August. At San Antonio, after six weeks in the classification center, he entered pre-flight training at a base near there. From there he trained at Cimarron Field, Oklahoma, for nine weeks, and on to Garden City, Kansas, for nine weeks of basic training. At Eagle Pass Army Air Field, Texas, hw graduated as a pilot, on June 27th with the “Invasion Class,” remaining there another six weeks after graduation for a traditional period of training with the P-40, and in aerial and ground gunnery. After this period, he enjoyed a furlough, which he spent with his family and friends in Corning.
At the end of his leave, he entered the processing center at Baton Rouge, La., spending 18 days in ground school, and on September 5th, was sent to Abilene, Texas, for combat training in the P-47’s in a replacement training unit. He was in the final weeks of training for active participation in combat work, and would have finished in a month.
Tuesday afternoon, October 31st, during a period of routine training, Robert made his last flight, crashing to the earth when his plane failed to gain altitude when he attempted to circle the field for a landing. Death is presumed to have been instantaneous before his plane burst into flames. The crash occurred at 2 o’clock and the message reached his parents about 4 o’clock.
The entire community feels the loss of a life so full of promise. Robert was universally liked by acquaintances and friends, the old and the young. His were the interests of a normal boy, and he entered into fun and work with equal zest and interest. His manner was unassuming, but always friendly, in his quiet way. The fine example of his brief life will ever live with his associates, and the high honor of his sacrifice to hallow his memory. His buddies in the service give ample tribute to the inspiration of his clean, upright life, and to his outstanding skill in his chosen service to his country. The body was accompanied to Corning by his close friend and commander, Lt. Raymond C. Kirwen, of Gibsonburg, Ohio, who has trained and “bunked” with Robert since they both entered the classification center at San Antonio.
Robert is survived by his grieving family, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Kuhl, Richard, Patricia and Helen; his grandmothers, Mrs. Louisa Schlets of Defiance, Iowa, and Mrs. Gertrude Meuer, Bristol, South Dakota, and a large circle of other near relatives, and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, November 6 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning at 10 o’clock. Rev. M. J. Powers officiating at the Requiem Mass. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery. Pall bearers were James Lyons, Charles Lyons, Wayne Ryan, Philip Gauthier, Darwin Marlatt and Maurice Mullin. The Requiem Mass was sung by Ralph Remy.
Relatives attending funeral services for Lt. Kuhl from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Marx of Bristol, South Dakota; Michael J. Meuer, Ohmah; Mrs. Louisa Schlets, Defiance; also from Defiance were Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Lohr, Mrs. Delphine Fromm and Mrs. Joe Finken. From Templeton, Ia., were: Leo Kuhl and Mrs. Margaret Kuhl. Those from Earling, Iowa, were: Mr. and Mrs. John Finken, Louise Heitman and Margaret Albers. From Omaha were: Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Quinn, Mrs. Zeno Korth and Miss Pat Loehr. In attendance from Harlan were: Mr. and Mrs. Casper Schwab, Mrs. F. F. Wunder, Roy Adams and E. A. Howe. From Des Moines were Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Kuhl.
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Appearing in the last issue of the High School paper, the Red Raider, was the following tribute to the last Lt. Robert L. Kuhl, written by Mrs. Donald Akin, a member of the faculty.
LT. KUHL REQUIESCAT
Our young friend, Lt. Bob Kuhl, of the A. A. F., has met death while in the service of his country. Corning High School is grateful for the privilege of paying tribute to a favorite son. A shyness, an infectious grin, a quiet courtesy – all these things have made for Bob a place forever his in the heart of friends. His boyish spirit will continue to march with his comrades wherever they may be and linger with us here at home. We mourn a life so swiftly ended, but let us be glad he was ours for a little while. Perhaps God stooped and gathered what was so justly His, lest it be trampled on.
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A letter of tribute to Lt. Kuhl, written by a close friend, Lt. Roland E. Lee, A. A.F.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl:
It is extremely hard for me to write you and I know it must be even more difficult for you to read this; however, I feel I must because of what Bob has meant to me.
He was ever ready to be of service.
I want you to know that it has made me MOST happy to have known Bob. Being with him, I know realize, had been the highest privilege possible and I cannot thank you enough for extending to me that honor. Bob’s friendship has been a real and constant inspiration for me, not only on the ground, but also while up in the air, for he was the best type of pilot the army can hope to produce. In my course through this army, I have found few fellows whom I have considered to be real men. Bob not only met the standards but led the way. If only I can so guide myself to be HALF the man Bob IS, I shall consider my part in this world as having been well played. I say “Is for” it is impossible to quench a spirit such as was his. He will always continue to be an inspiration for me.
Please, if there is anything at all I can do for you in any way, let me do it on behalf of the pleasure you have afforded me in Bob’s friendship.
Sincerely,
Ted Lee.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, November 09, 1944, Page 6
