OVERSEAS DUTY
Lt. Robert Ostlund, son of Mrs. Mary Ostlund of this city, has been assigned to overseas duty, according to word received here. Lieutenant Ostlund has been stationed at Camp Young, Indio, Cal., and recently received his silver bars and first lieutenant rating.
His present address is: APO 9348, care of Postmaster, New York City, N.Y.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, January 13, 1944
RECEIVES PROMOTION
Robert Ostlund, in the quartermaster corps of the army, son of Mrs. Mary Ostlund of this city, has been promoted from second to first lieutenant, according to an Associated Press dispatch received Tuesday from Washington, D.C. Lt. Ostlund was among 11 Iowa officers to receive promotions.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, January 18, 1944
When John Ostlund, 19, son of Mrs. Mary Ostlund of this city, received his bombardier’s wings March 18 at Deming air field, N. M., he was commissioned a second lieutenant as a “triple threat” officer in the air corps as he was schooled in gunnery, navigation and bombing.
His commissioning completed a “triple threat” in the Ostlund family since his older brothers William and Robert hold commissions in the navy and the army, respectively.
OLDEST OF TRIO
Lt. (jg) William Ostlund, 25, oldest of the trio, now on submarine duty in the south Pacific, enlisted in the navy in February, 1942, entering the naval academy at Annapolis the following September. Following his graduation and commissioning as an ensign in January, 1942 he volunteered for sub duty and was transferred to Key West, Fla., and later to New London, Conn., for special training. He left for overseas duty last July and has seen plenty of action aboard his sub which last December received the presidential unit citation for outstanding performance of duty. He won his lieutenancy last December.
Lieutenant Ostlund is a graduate of the Webster City schools with the class of 1936 and received his B. A degree in business administration at Butler university, Indianapolis, Ind., in 1941.
STATIONED IN ENGLAND
First Lt. Robert Ostlund, 24, now overseas in England, enlisted in January, 1942, taking his initial training with the quartermaster corps at Camp Warren, Cheyenne Wyo. He took officers training at Camp Lee, Va., and was commissioned March 19, 1943, being transferred first to Sacramento, Cal., and later to Camp Young, India, Cal., where he was in charge of troops preparing for overseas action last January. Lieutenant Ostlund graduated from Webster City high school in 1937 and, like his elder brother, received his B. A. degree at Butler university in 1941.
Lt. John Ostlund entered the service in 1942 leaving to begin training Feb. 2, 1943. He took his initial work at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., later took college training at Hastings, Neb, and then went into pre-flight training at Santa Ana, Cal. He attended gunnery school at Kingman, Ariz., and wound up his bombardier’s course at Deming three weeks ago. The youngest of the Ostlund “triple threat” aggregation graduated in 1942 from high school here and attended Butler university for a short time before returning to Webster City and entering junior college until he was called to duty.
All three of the officers were athletic standouts in Webster City during their prep careers. The lieutenants were particularly outstanding in basketball but also participated in baseball and football with William adding track to his activities.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, April 6, 1944 (photos included)
