SGT. FISHER IS MISSING
W. C. Soldier Was Member of Iowa National Guard Unit.
Staff Sgt. Alvin R. Fisher, 24, is missing in action in the Italian war theater, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Fisher of this city, have been notified by the war department.
Sergeant Fisher, a member of the Iowa National Guard unit which left this city in February, 1941, is listed as missing since Oct. 18.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher last heard from their son in a letter written Oct. 11. He had been unwounded in the many fierce engagements in which many other National Guardsmen from this city were killed or injured.
The sergeant holds the combat infantryman’s award for his part in the Italian campaign.
Sergeant Fisher has two brothers in the army: Pfc. Richard, who is now in France, and Pvt. Harold, now stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Nov. 4, 1944
TWO MORE ING MEN MISSING
T. Sgt. Philbrook, Pvt. Myrl Ray Reported Lost Oct. 18.
Relatives of two more Iowa National Guardsmen from Webster City received notices over the weekend that the soldiers were missing in action in Italy, it was disclosed Monday, bringing to three the number of 34th infantry members lost in action on Oct. 18.
Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Philbrook, living southeast of this city, have received a war department telegram that their son, Tech Sgt. Arthur C. Philbrook ha been missing in action since Oct. 18.
Was Section Leader
Sergeant Philbrook served as a section leader with the ING company and had participated in some of the bitterest fighting in the Italian campaign during which the 34th infantry or “Red Bull” division, made a name for itself as one of the outstanding units of the American Fifth army. He was last heard from in a letter written Oct. 10.
Pvt. Myrl Ray, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ray of this city, was also listed as missing since Oct. 18, in a telegram receive by his parents.
Private Ray has been attached to the supply department of the ING company sine going overseas nearly three years ago. He was last heard from in a letter received by his parents and dated Oct. 14.
Third Casualty
Previously reported missing in action Oct. 18, was Staff Sgt. Alvin Fisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Fisher of this city.
All three of the missing men were members of the company which left Webster City in February, 1941 for training at Camp Claiborne, La. In January, 1942, the company was transferred overseas among the first American soldiers to be convoyed across the Atlantic.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Nov. 6, 1944
Fifth ING Casualty Lost in Action in Italian Sector
Staff Sgt. Robert Simpson, son of George and Mary Simpson of this city, is missing in action in Italy according to the War Department message received by his parents.
Missing since Oct. 18, Sergeant Simpson was a section leader with the Iowa National Guard unit from this city attached to the 34th “Red Bull” infantry division.
This makes the fifth Hamilton county serviceman to be reported missing in action in the Italian zone since Oct. 16. All were members of the National Guard unit, which left Webster City in February, 1941, and trained at Camp Claiborne, La., before being convoyed overseas in January, 1942.
In addition to Sergeant Simpson, the following men have been reported missing in telegrams received here since last weekend:
Staff Sgt. Alvin Fisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Fisher, Webster City;
T. Sgt. Arthur Philbrook, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Philbrook, Webster City;
Pvt. Myrl Ray, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ray, Webster City;
Pfc. Robert Read, brother of Hadley Reed, Stanhope.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, November 8, 1944
2 MORE MEN NOW CAPTIVES
T. Sgt. Philbrook and Pfc. Dilley Had Been Missing
Two more Webster City soldiers, previously reported missing in action in Germany and Italy, have been reported prisoners of war in messages received here by relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Philbrook have been notified by the War Department that their son, T. Sgt. Arthur C. Philbrook, a member of the 34th Infantry, was a captive of the nazis after having been reported missing since Oct. 18, in Italy.
This makes the third out of four Webster City Iowa National Guardsmen to be listed as prisoners after being announced as missing since mid-October. Staff Sgt. Robert Simpson and Staff Sgt. Alvin Fisher were announced Tuesday to be prisoners of war. Official word on the whereabouts of Pvt. Myrl Ray, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ray, has not yet been received.
Mrs. Lawrence Dilley received word Wednesday that her husband, Private First Class Dilley, missing since Oct. 4., in Germany, is now a nazi prisoner.
Private Dilley, who has been overseas since August, was wounded in action Sept. 16, while serving with his infantry unit. He reported back for duty at the front Sept. 20, and then was listed as missing Oct. 4. The Webster City serviceman has been in the Army since December, 1943.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, January 3, 1945
S. SGT. FISHER LIBERATED FROM GERMAN PRISON
Staff Sgt. Alvin Fisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Fisher of this city, was liberated from Stalag 7-A prison in Germany on April 30, his parents have been advised in a letter from their son.
The letter states that the sergeant is feeling well and is in good condition following his release from captivity. He was captured in Italy last Oct. 18 while serving with 34th infantry forces.
He expects to be transferred home soon, he wrote his parents.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, May 28, 1945
AT HOT SPRINGS
Wearing the Purple Heart for wounds received in Italy, S. Sgt. Alvin R. Fisher, Webster City, has arrived at the army ground and service forces redistribution station, in Hot Springs, Ark., after a 60- day furlough at home.
S. Sgt. Fisher, who was a prisoner of the Germans for six and one half months, spent 39 months in Africa and Italy. He arrived in the United States during June.
Source: Webster City Freeman, Webster City, IA - Aug. 16, 1945
NOTES:
Alvin Ralph Fisher was born Nov. 14, 1921, to Ralph A. and Ethel M. Davis Fisher. He died Dec. 19, 2009, and is buried in the Fort Dodge Memorial Park, Fort Dodge, IA.
Sgt. Fisher was declared missing in action in the Italian war theater in Oct. 1944. He was a squad leader with the “Red Bull” division. He was a prisoner of the Germans for six and one half months, spending 39 months in Africa and Italy.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and combat infantryman’s award for his part in the Italian campaign.
Sources: Daily Freeman Journal and ancestry.com
