W. C. Sergeant Saw Vesuvius Eruption
T. Sgt. Raymond C. Bringolf, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Bringolf of this city, witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius at close range, according to a recent letter to his parents in which he also told of being bombed out of a rest camp.
Sergeant Bringolf is an engineer on a bomber based in Italy and has completed many missions over axis territory. Portions of his letter follow:
“I just returned from having a most delightful time at rest camp! Half the crew went one week and half the next. This camp is on a little island just off the coast of Italy. Our first night we spent in a city on the coast of Italy waiting to catch a boat the next day.
“About midnight we had an air-raid but I was too tired to get out of bed so I lay in bed and watched the anti-aircraft guns throwing up a barrage through the skylight. Then I heard some whistling and a crash. They hit our mess hall and a hotel just around the corner from our hotel. We didn’t eat the next morning and were only too glad to get on the boat and clear out of there.
“The rest camp is one that has been famous as a resort for tourists and there has been a song written about it. There are many historical and natural spots of interest here. The island has changed hands so many times the lat few years that the hotel regulations are printed in four languages: German, French, Italian and English. At an old castle on the island is an arch with names and home countries of the visitors, and there are names from all over the world. The castle was built by the Romans in 25 B. C.
“There are many beautiful Gurettos formed in the cliffs by water pounding them; some are big enough to row around in a boat. There are many beautiful homes here owned by rich foreigners some American. Mussolini even has a home here.
“Our hotel meals were at government expense and yet we spent $200 apiece, but we enjoyed every cent of it.
“We returned to the coast town a day early to look around. They were still digging out people from that bombing. Mt. Vesuvius, the largest active volcano in the world is just a short distance from here and after we got into bed we noticed that the sky was a fiery red over it and smoke and fire shot way up into the air. It was a beautiful sight, but proved to be very destructive. It was the largest eruption in 15 years and it formed a fiery river of molten lava a mile and half long, a third of a mile wide and ten feet deep. They had to evacuate a city on the side of the mountain and the next day it ran through the city wrecking and covering everything in its path.
“When we got back to camp, we had bad news waiting for us; now there are only six of our original crew left. I have half my missions completed now, but they seem to be getting rougher as the Germans are getting more and more desperate.
“One of my friends finished up today, he was the only man on his crew to complete 50 missions. He will call as soon as he gets home."
Source: Webster City Freeman, April 17, 1944
SGT. BRINGOLF, LOCAL GUNNER, DIES IN ACTION
Webster City Youth Killed in Bombing Raid Over Bulgaria.
Technical Sgt. Raymond C. Bringolf, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Bringolf of this city, was killed in action March 30 during a bombing mission over Bulgaria, his parents have been notified by the war department.
Further information is expected soon, according to the telegram received Tuesday from the adjutant general’s office in Washington, D. C.
Top Turret Gunner
Sergeant Bringolf was serving as a top turret gunner and aerial engineer aboard a Flying Fortress based in Italy and had completed many missions over axis territory.
Only last Monday a letter from the sergeant was published in the Freeman-Journal which told interestingly of his experiences while at a rest camp on an island just off the coast of Italy. During his stay there he saw the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
In the same letter he stated that he had half his required 50 missions completed and added, “But they seem to be getting rougher as the Germans are getting more and more desperate.”
Graduated in 1937
Bringolf was graduated from the Webster City schools in 1937 and was employed at the W. C. Creamery before enlisting Feb. 17, 1941. He took his early training at Rautoul, Ill., and later was transferred to Oklahoma City.
From there he was moved to Savannah, Ga., where he was on patrol for four months. Later he was moved again to San Antonio and then to Piota, Texas, where he completed his gunner-engineer training late last year. He left for overseas action Dec. 12, and wrote back that he had reached his new base in time to enjoy Christmas dinner there.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA – April 19, 1944 (photo included)
PARENTS GET 3 CITATIONS
Purple Heart Medal Also Honors T. Sgt. Raymond Bringolf
Three citations and the Purple Heart medal have been received by Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Bringolf of this city honoring their son, the late Tech. Sgt. Raymond Bringolf, reported killed in action March 30, while on a bombing mission over Bulgaria.
A citation signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, said in part: “In grateful memory of Tech. Sgt. Raymond C. Bringolf who died in the service of his company in the North African area, March 30, 1944. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.”
A citation of honor, signed by Gen. H. H. Arnold, commanding general of the army air forces, declares: “He was a soldier and knew a soldier’s duty. His sacrifice will help to keep aglow the flaming torch that lights our lives . . That millions yet unborn may have the priceless joy of liberty. And we who pay him homage, and serve his memory, in solemn pride rededicate ourselves to a complete fulfillment of the tasks for which he so gallantly placed his life on the altar of man’s freedom.”
The citation announcing the award of the Purple Heart to Sgt. Bringolf, was signed by Maj. Gen. J. A. Ulio and Secretary of War Henry Stimson. The medal was awarded “for military merit and wounds received in action.”
Sergeant Bringolf, an aerial gunner had completed more than 25 missions from a bomber base in Italy and had three nazi planes to his credit.
MEMORIAL FOR SGT. BRINGOLF
Services to Be Held Sunday Afternoon at 2 O’clock.
Memorial services for T. Sgt. Raymond Bringolf, son of A. R. Bringolf of this city, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Foster funeral home. Sergeant Bringolf, 24, of the United States Army Air force, was killed in the line of duty March 30, 1944, while on a mission over Bulgaria.
A graduate of Lincoln high school here in 1937, Bringolf enlisted in air service Feb. 14, 1941. He received his training at St. Louis, Mo., and Rantoul, Ill., serving for a time on patrol duty between Savannah, Ga., New Orleans, La., and New York City.
He completed his training at Arlington, Texas and Grand Island, Neb., going overseas Dec. 12, 1943. His last leave home prior to his overseas transfer was in September of 1943.
Sergeant Bringolf received the campaign ribbon for service in north Africa and had also been awarded the Purple Heart. He was last based at Foggia, in Italy
His mother died in July, 1940. He is survived by his father, his stepmother, a brother, Bob, and his grandmothers, Mrs. Mary Kilburn and Mrs. Nellie Bringolf.
Source: Webster City Freeman, Webster City, IA - June 1, 1944
Gunner Is Honored on Armistice
Staff Sgt. Raymond C. Bringolf, who was killed early this year while on duty as an aerial gunner in Italy, was honored posthumously in a special presentation ceremony at the American Legion Armistice day program held Saturday at Washington Central gymnasium.
For meritorious service while on duty, with the 15th army air force in Italy, Sergeant Bringolf was awarded the air medal plus one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster—the equivalent of six additional air medals. Lt. Irvin E. Stabber of the army air force’s service detachment at Des Moines made the presentation to A. R. Bringolf, the sergeant’s father.
The presentation was a surprise event on a well balanced program which was headlined by a patriotic address by James I. Dolliver of Fort Dodge, representative-elect from the sixth district.
2 Planes to His Credit
Lieutenant Stabber, in reading the citation to the Webster City gunner, pointed out that he was credited with the destruction of two enemy aircraft; a Focke-Wulf 100 on Jan. 24, 1944 and a Messerschmitt 109 on Feb. 25. The lieutenant represented the war department in presenting the medal and clusters to Mr. Bringolf.
Mr. Dolliver contrasted the two World wars in his short but forceful address of the day. He declared:
“This Armistice day we can well make three resolutions: 1. We must win a complete victory; 2. We must project into the future as far as possible a peaceful world; and 3. We must receive the returning servicemen with a sympathetic understanding and a warm welcome following their discharge.”
Preceding Mr. Dolliver’s address, Adjutant N. B. Scoles read the names of Webster City American Legion men who had died in the last year. These included: Dr. E. F. Rambo, Dr. H. L. Youth, Harry Talbot and the Rev. R. J. Frein.
World War II Roll
The adjutant also read the following names of Webster City servicemen who have died while serving in World War II:
Chester W. Algoe
Raymond G. Bringolf
Franklin D. Brock
Kenneth W. Cornett
Charles H. Harris
Bernard E. Hoshaw
William H. Ingertson
R. G. Julian
Charles E. Meyers
Charles K. Naden
Kenneth O. Nichols
Howard F. Olmstead
Robert Patterson
Walter F. Pfaffenbach
Harold E. Seiser
Truman D. Sharkey
Donald R. Shelton
Roland J. Silvers
Wendle D. Smart
Donald F. Wahlers
James V. Wilke
Marvin J. Williams
Robert D. Wylie
Before the Armistice day program which began at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, the Legion sponsored a parade and a short service at the Legion monument on the Des Moines street boulevard east of the court house. Legionnaires also participated in a short flag raising ceremony at Riverside field just before the Iowa Falls-Webster City football game got underway Saturday afternoon.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Nov. 13, 1944
Raymond Clair Bringolf, Tech Sgt. U.S. Army Air Corps – KIA
Raymond Clair Bringolf was born in 1919 to Alva Ray and Mable Ada Ritchie Bringolf. He died Mar. 30, 1944 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Sgt. Bringolf served with the 96th Squadron, 2nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) as an aerial engineer-gunner aboard a Flying Fortress. He was killed on a bombing mission over Bulgaria.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal plus one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, and campaign ribbon for service in North Africa.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
World War II Memorial
