TROOPER RATES HIGH CITATIONS
Royal Jacobs Honored for Service to Nation
Rudd -- Mr. and Mrs. Royal Jacobs are awaiting details of the death of their son, Pfc. Royal A. Jacobs who was killed in Holland on September 24, 1944. The young man was born near Rudd on January 22, 1923.
The Iowa paratrooper played a prominent part in American military operations prior to and on D-Day, which undoubtedly prove one of the brightest pages of American history.
He saw active service at Carantan, Normandy, on D-Day and received the presidential citation which corresponds to the distinguished service cross, or, in air force to the distinguished flying cross and is the only ribbon worn on the right breast.
His division was one of the first to land several hours before D-Day and zero-hour. He landed in 5 feet of water and was obliged to cut loose from his parachute.
They had no contact with any but Germans for 2 days and nights but knew the other outfits were there as they, could be heard firing. He said, and all in his outfit agree, that it was nothing short of a miracle what was accomplished by their airborne troops. No details of the battle in which Pvt. Jacobs lost his life have been received.
Besides his parents he is survived by one sister, Mrs. Raymond Ballhagen of Rudd and one brother John of Bristow.
He attended Rudd high school from which he was graduated with the class of 1941. He enlisted in the paratroop infantry November 30, 1942, at Mason City, received his training at Camp Taccoa at Ft. Benning, Georgia, Camp Mackall, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, returning to Camp Mackall from which place he was sent to England January 16, 1944.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, October 14, 1944
HERO HONORED -- Memorial services for Pfc. Royal A. Jacobs, son of Mr. and Mrs. Royal Jacobs of Rudd, who was killed in action in Holland, Sept 24, 1944, were held at the Methodist church at Rudd Sunday. He was a paratrooper in the 101st airborne division. He received the presidential citation and the purple heart award posthumously.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, May 23, 1945 (photo included)
WWII DEAD DUE TO ARRIVE
North Iowans Among Bodies on Way Home
Washington—Among the bodies of 4,384 World War II dead due to arrive from Europe aboard the U. S. Army transport, Barney Kirschbaum, are 76 Iowans, according to announcement by the department of the Army.
Armed forces dead originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg are among those being brought back to this country.
North Iowans in the list include the following, together with the next of kin:
Pvt. Orval R. Alden; Milton L. Alden, Thornton.
Pvt. Wayne W. Dale; Mrs. Nettie D. Felkey, Armstrong.
Pfc. Neil L. Gilbertson; Jane Gilbertson, Burr Oak.
Pfc. Royal A. Jacobs; Hezzie R. Jacobs, Rudd.
1st Lt. Alan R. Jacobson; Chris Jacobson, Britt.
Sgt. William L. Monroe; Lloyd E. Monroe, Estherville.
1st Lt. Robert L. Sill; Nina S. Christopher, Eagle Grove.
S/Sgt. Edwin E. Sowles; Mrs. Mary F. Sowles, Mason City.
2nd Lt. Robert L. Van Horn; Carl C. Van Horn, Hampton.
1st Lt. Jens T. Weiby, Jr.; Jens T. Weiby, Sr., Armstrong.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, December 29, 1948
Royal Alton Jacobs is buried in Rudd Evergreen Cemetery, Rudd, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
