As happy as the pigeon is proud are these United States soldiers captured during the Tunisia battle. Here they tell an officer (right) how they escaped from an Axis prison ship in the harbor at Bizerte because repeated aerial bombardment by Allied planes kept the ship from sailing. (Note: Jay D. Robertson is standing third soldier from the left.) |
Source: The DesMoines Register, May 14, 1943 (photo included)
A PURPLE HEART FOR ROBERTSON
Another Member of Fighting K. Co. Wounded In Action
Mr. and Mrs. John Robertson, of Akron, have received a Purple Heart decoration from their son, Corporal Jay Robertson to whom it was awarded after he was wounded in action in Italy during October. Corporal Robertson has recovered sufficiently to be able to send his own Purple Heart decoration back home.
Corporal Robertson is a cousin of Lieut. Harvey Locer, who is at present on one of the Aleutian islands from which the Japs have been driven back.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, November 29, 1943 (photo included)
AKRON SOLDIER AGAIN WOUNDED.
Cpl. Jay Robertson Is War Casualty for Third Time In European Area
Mr. and Mrs. John Robertson, northeast of Akron, received a letter a few days ago from a buddy of their son, Jay Robertson, informing them that their son had been wounded in the right arm and right leg while in action in the Cassino sector in Italy, which makes the third time Cpl. Robertson has been a casualty in the European war theater durinig the past six months, according to the Akron Register-Tribune.
The seriousness of his present injuries was not stated, but his comrade intimidated he would be able to write to his parents within a short time. Cpl. Robertson was slightly injured early last October in the North Africa campaign. His second injury came October 23, 1943, when a serious bullet wound put him out of commission for several months and earned for him the Purple Heart award. He was able to resume active service, and his last misfortune came early in April. The young man’s many friends wish him a rapid recovery and hope he may soon be granted a well deserved furlough home.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, May 1, 1944
Sgt. Jay Robertson Back Home Soon
Sgt. Jay Robertson, who left LeMars for a year of training with K. company, and who went through the entire North African and most of the Italian campaigns, telephoned his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Robertson of Akron, that he is now in the Schick hospital at Clinton, Iowa.
Sgt. Robertson told his folks that he is now able to be around with the use of cane and is feeling fairly well. He had been wounded 4 times. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson and son Calvin left yesterday afternoon for Clinton to visit their son.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, September 11, 1944
Akron, Ia.—Sgt. Jay D. Robertson, who served four years in the Army and earned 106 points, has been given an honorably discharge. He was a member of the 34th division.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, July 24, 1945
Jay Robertson was the son of John and Ruth Robertson, who farmed northeast of Akron, Iowa. Originally with the National Guard in Company K, he fought in World War II in North Africa and was captured by the Germans during the Tunisia battle. He escaped from an Axis prison ship in the harbor of Bizerte. His unit fought up the boot of Italy, where Robertson earned several citations. Surviving the war, he returned to Plymouth County and married Opal Sommervold.
Bio & photo courtesy, Tim Tone, family researcher
