PVT. GILLMAN IS MISSING
Third W. C. Soldier Lost in Luxembourg Area Dec. 18.
Pvt. Guy M. Gillman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gillman of this city, has been missing since Dec. 18, in Luxembourg, his parents were notified in a war department message received here Tuesday morning.
Private Gillman was serving with an infantry unit in Luxembourg and may have been among the many American soldiers reported taken prisoner in the recent nazi breakthrough in that sector.
The Webster City soldier was the third from this vicinity reported missing during December in the Luxembourg area. Monday the Freeman-Journal was notified that Capt. O. C. Buxton and Pfc. Arthur Wensel were missing since just before Christmas.
Private Gillman was last heard from in a letter written Dec. 12, and received by his parents Dec. 30. He had been overseas since Oct. 15, and was located at Camp Roberts, Cal., before being transferred overseas.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA, January 16, 1945
CAPTIVE
Pvt. Guy N. Gillman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gillman of this city, is a prisoner of war in Germany, his parents have been notified by the war department. Private Gillman was first reported as missing in Luxembourg since Dec. 18, and the war department message, made available through the International Red Cross was the first news his parents had heard from him since December. He had been overseas with an infantry unit since October.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - April 3, 1945 (photo included)
CAPT. BUXTON, GILLMAN FREE
2 Servicemen Write About More Than 100-Day Ordeals.
Two Webster City homes which were darkened last December after the nazis scored the breakthrough in the Ardennes sector were much brighter Saturday with the receipt of letters from Capt. O. C. Buxton and Pvt. Guy N. Gillman, both liberated after more than 100 days in German prison camps.
The captain, reported missing in action in Luxembourg shortly before Christmas, and then later listed as a war captive, is now in a hospital in England where he has dispatched two letters to his wife and family.
Excerpts from Letters
Excerpts from these letters follow:
“It was one of the happiest moments of my life to get out from behind that barbed wire entanglement and away from nazi captivity. These Yanks in tanks looked mighty good coming up the hill to rescue us.
“That was Monday, April 2, about 8:30 in the morning. That made me a prisoner of war for 106 days. And we are told that we are headed for the states. I am in a general hospital in England, nothing seriously wrong, just that the Jerry didn’t feed us enough food. As it was they were gradually starving us to death.
“Imagine white bread, food, clean sheets, showers and toothbrushes and to get rid of body lice, fleas and bed bugs, all in one day. Thanks to this great U. S. army of ours.
Feeling Better
“What a quiet and peaceful Sunday—no bombers, fighters or artillery to sweat out. I am feeling better and stronger. They seem quite interested in my condition here from a dietary standpoint and are giving me heavy vitamins, especially B1 and B2.
“I wanted to stay and come with the other officers since we had been through so much together, but the other doctor with me discouraged it so I flew out to England.
“I repeat again, it is wonderful to live like a human being again. My experience has really made a Christian out of me because without God’s help I never could have made it!”
Private Gillman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gillman, was captured Dec. 18 in Luxembourg and had been overseas since October with an infantry unit. Excerpts from his letter, written April 4, from Paris, are as follows:
“Well Mom and Dad, you are going to be pretty happy when you receive this letter to know that your son is safe and sound, back with the U. S. forces. Don’t think I am not happy, I couldn’t be any happier.
“I slept between white sheets last night. How I did sleep. It was the most glorious feeling.
“The Germans treated me pretty rough. I am thanking God to this day that I survived through it all. I prayed all the time and God pulled me through all the way.
“I could write a book on the life of a prisoner of war. I was in the hands of the Germans for 101 days. When I get back home, I will tell you all about it. I will be coming home pretty soon too. It sure will feel good to get back to the U. S. again."
Source: Webster City Freeman, Webster City, IA - Apr. 16, 1945
Guy McCollough Gillman, Pvt. U.S. Army - MIA/POW
Guy McCollough Gillman was born Nov. 27, 1923 to Fred G. and Sadie C. Phillips Gilman. He died Feb. 6, 1994.
Pvt. Gillman was declared missing Dec. 18, 1944, later declared a prisoner of war in Germany.
OBITUARY - Feb. 8, 1994
Guy M. Gillman, 70, Slater
Guy M. Gillman, 70, Slater, died Feb. 6, 1994 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Soderstrum-Riis Funeral Home in Slater. Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery in Slater. Visitation is after 3 p.m. today with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Guy M. Gillman, son of Fred and Sadie ()Phillips) Gillman, was born Nov. 27, 1923 in Webster City. He lived in Webster City until 1958, in Madrid from 1958-68, then moved to Slater. He worked as a machinist at John Deere in Ankeny, retiring in 1984. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
On Aug. 1, 1945, he married Charlotte Speck in Fort Dodge.
He is survived by his wife; daughters, Karen Martin of Perry, Linda Good of Ogden, Guyneth Hatfield of Slater and Roberta Johnson of Newton; sister, Dorothy Proctor of Elliott; brother, Everett Gilman of Pleasanton, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
