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bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Dead > Roster Records > Roster Q-R, © 2025 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 13 Jan 2025
Part 20/27 of the Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster, 31 "Q-R" records
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† Querry, Miles Junior, SN 316-85-21, US Navy, Harrison Co.
† Rannells, Robert Vance, SN 17-065-979, US Army Air Force, Harrison & Crawford Cos.
† Rasmussen, Harley Norman, SN 37-691-442, US Army, Audubon & Guthrie Cos.
† Ratigan, Michael Dennis Jr., SN 37-035-643, US Army, Shelby Co.
† Rauterkus, Robert Richard, SN 37-483-565, US Army, Pott. Co.
† Reed, Lawrence Elmo, SN 37-194-285, US Army Air Force, Cass Co.
† Reestman, Milton Herman, SN 0-675-002, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
† Reifschneider, Donald Walter, SN 37-490-340, US Army, Montgomery Co.
† Reinig, Walter Henry, SN 37-035-972, US Army, Shelby Co.
† Renteria, Martin, SN 37-261-777, US Army, Pott. Co.
† Rethmeier, William F. "Jack", SN 37-663-816, US Army, Crawford & Harrison Cos.
† Reynolds, Elmer Dale, SN 37-483-681, US Army, Pott. Co.
† Reynolds, Wayne Calbert, SN 564-07-41, US Navy, Cass Co.
† Rhoads, Guy Benjamin, SN 648-06-39, US Navy, Custer Co., NE
† Rhoten, Roy Edward, SN 958-10-13, US Navy, Harrison Co.
† Riddle, Carl William, SN 648-73-55, US Navy, Pott Co.
† Rihner, John Jerome, SN 37-422-955, US Army, Shelby Co.
† Ring, Clinton Ross, SN 37-752-270, US Army, Harrison Co.
† Rink, Paul Lloyd, SN 0-723-687, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Shelby Cos.
† Ripley, William Louis, SN 0-424-680, US Army Air Force, Mills Co.
† Roach, Frederick Vincent, SN 37-190-260, US Army, Montgomery Co.
† Roarty, Paul Thomas, SN 17-004-319, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
† Robinson, William Brigham Haight, SN 0-673-901, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
† Rockwell, Harold Ralph, SN 0-782-622, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
† Rogers, Bernard Robert, SN 37-038-953, US Army, Harrison Co.
† Rohrberg, Robert George, SN 37-490-420, US Army, Pott. Co.
† Rold, John Angus “Jack”, SN 0-2-007-132, US Army, Cass Co.
† Rommel, Max C., SN 510,622, US Marine Corps, Pott. & Fremont Cos.
† Ronnfeldt, Roy Robert, served as Ronnefeldt, Roy R, SN 37-189-109, US Army, Pott. Co.
† Ross, William Thomas, SN 620-23-62, US Naval Aviation, Union & Montgomery Cos.
† Ruff, Paul Russell "Russell", SN O-307354, US Navy, Wapello & Polk Cos.
- b. 12 Apr 1923 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o Doc A. Querry (b. Cedar Co., NE) & Margaret A. Smith (b. Burt Co., NE; d. 1927); father married Grace E. (McGee) Cooper Glover in late 1920s; family moved to Omaha about 1946.
- entered service 11 Dec 1941 from Missouri Valley; next of kin father, Mr. Doc Lester Querry, 317 N. Harrison, Missouri Valley, IA; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
- Fleet Tug USS Vireo (AM-52); KIA 15 Oct 1942 off San Cristobal, SE of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese air attack on Vireo and destroyer USS Meredith (DD-434); Vireo damaged and crew transferred to Meredith; Meredith sank;, 237 crew from Meredith and Vireo died; the abandoned Vireo survived intact and was later retrieved.
- The Meredith and the Vireo - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Sea War.
- Notes: A second USS Meredith (DD-726) sank off Normandy on 9 Jun 1944 from a German mine and horizontal bomber attack.
† Rannells, Robert Vance, SN 17-065-979, US Army Air Force, Harrison & Crawford Cos.
- b. 9 Dec 1918 rural Dunlap, Boyer Twp., Crawford Co.; s/o William C. Rannells (b. Missouri; d. 1938) & Adah P. Crow (b. Beadle Co., SD), family remained Boyer Twp. during Robert's lifetime.
- student at Iowa State College, Ames, IA; married Virginia L. Lynch of Monona Co. Mar 1943 in Muskogee, OK.
- entered service 15 Nov 1942 from Ames, Story Co.; service credited to Harrison Co.; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Natl. Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI; cenotaph Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap.
- 873rd Bomb. Sqdn., 498th Bomb Gp., XXI Bomber Cmd., Twentieth Air Force, based at Isley Field, Saipan, Mariana Is.; Boeing B-29 Superfortress #42-24614 Joltin' Josie, The Pacific Pioneer radio operator with pilot Wilson C. Currier Jr.; KIA 1 Apr 1945, aircraft exploded after takeoff from Isley Field and crashed into Magicienne Bay on nearby Saipan, crew of eleven all died.
- Air Force War with Japan > Twentieth Air Force.
- Notes: Joltin' Josie, The Pacific Pioneer was to first B-29 to arrive in the Marianas, landing on Saipan on 12 Oct 1944 while piloted by Brigadier General Haywood S. Hansell, commanding XXI Bomber Command. Hansell was replaced by Curtis LeMay in January 1945.
† Rasmussen, Harley Norman, SN 37-691-442, US Army, Audubon & Guthrie Cos.
- b. 19 Nov 1924 Audubon; s/o Carl J. Rasmussen (b. Denmark) & Clara Lund (b. Exira, Audubon Co.); family moved to Guthrie Co. in early 1930s.
- entered service 1 Mar 1944 from Guthrie Center, Guthrie Co.; service credited to Guthrie Co.; buried Exira Cem., Audubon Co.
- Co. D, 18th Inf. Regt., 1st Inf. Div., VII Corps, First Army; DOW 26 Nov 1944 Germany.
- The ETO > War of Attrition > Queen/Hürtgen.
† Ratigan, Michael Dennis Jr., SN 37-035-643, US Army, Shelby Co.
- b. 9 Oct 1917 rural Panama, Grove Twp., Shelby Co.; s/o Michael Dennis Ratigan Sr. (b. rural Underwood, Pott. Co.; d. 1917) & Catherine V. Hannan (b. Wyandot Co., OH; d. 1921).
- unknown service entry data; service credited to Shelby Co.; body not recovered; memorialized Tablets of the Missing, North Africa American Cem., Carthage, Tunisia; cenotaph St. Marys Cem. Panama, Shelby Co.
- 6th Armored Inf. Bn., 1st Armored Div., II Corps; KIA 15 Feb 1943 near Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia.
- Battle of Sidi Bou Zid - The MTO > North Africa > Tunisia.
† Rauterkus, Robert Richard, SN 37-483-565, US Army, Pott. Co.
- b. 19 Dec 1913 Co. Bluffs; s/o Joseph C. Rauterkus (b. Westphalia, Germany) & Mary T. Howarth (b. Clinton, Clinton Co.).
- married Iris B. Clark of Oakland, Pott. Co. Jan 1938 in Co. Bluffs.
- unknown service entry data; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, SE of Liege, Belgium.
- 48th Armored Inf. Bn., 7th Armored Div., VIII Corps, Third Army; KIA 21 Jan 1945 near Born, north of St. Vith, Belgium. The ETO > Ardennes/The Bulge > The Bulge Eliminated.
† Reed, Lawrence Elmo, SN 37-194-285, US Army Air Force, Cass Co.
- b. 28 Jul 1914 Elliott, Montgomery Co.; s/o Ernest E. Reed (b. Elliott, Montgomery Co.) & Anna D. Barr ; family moved to rural Griswold, Cass Co. before 1925; parents divorced 1928; mother moved to Denver, CO and married Henry L. Nungesser Apr 1930; father married Edna R. (Bever) Kirchert Sep 1929 in Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; father and stepmother moved to Tazewell Co., IL in early 1930s.
- living with brother-in-law Edward Carl Smith in Wright Twp., Pott. Co. in 1930 and 1940.
- entered service 6 May 1942 from Griswold, Cass Co.; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.
- 342nd Bomb. Sqdn., 97th Bomb Gp., Fifteenth Air Force; stationed at Depienne, SW of Tunis, Tunisia; Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5875 ball turret gunner with pilot Holmes Elmore; KIA 27 Nov 1943 near Urbino, SW of Rimini, Italy; aircraft lost engine while bombing railroad yards in Rimini, fell out of formation, attacked by enemy fighters, and went down; four died, six POW.
- The MTO > MTO Air War.
† Reestman, Milton Herman, SN 0-675-002, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
- b. 18 May 1918 East St. Louis, St. Clair Co., IL; s/o Herman Reestman (b. Netherlands) & Elsie C. Hansen (b. Denmark); family moved to Co. Bluffs before 1920.
- enlisted 28 Jan 1941 at Los Angeles, CA from Los Angeles Co., CA, service credited to Pott. Co.; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
- 823th Bomb. Sqdn., 38th Bomb. Gp., Fifth Air Force, based at Durand Air Field, Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea; North American B-25 Mitchell #42-64810 navigator with pilot George R. Gable Jr.; KIA 2 Feb 1944, Coral Sea off Port Moresby, New Guinea; aircraft disappeared carrying seven while searching for B-25G-1 #42-64881 which had earlier disappeared carrying eleven on a flight from Townsville, Australia to Port Moresby.
- Air Force War with Japan > Fifth Air Force.
† Reifschneider, Donald Walter, SN 37-490-340, US Army, Montgomery Co.
- b. 1 Aug 1913 Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; s/o Gottlieb Reifschneider & Mary Nazarene, both b. Saratov Oblast, Russia.
- married Charlotte L. Wheeler Aug 1936 in Red Oak, one child.
- entered service Feb 1944 from Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; service credited to Montgomery Co.; buried Henri-Chapelle American Cem., Verviers, SE of Liege, Belgium.
- Hq. Co., 3rd Bn., 26th Inf. Regt., 1st Inf. Div., VII Corps,First Army; KIA 30 Dec 1944 near Bütgenbach, Belgium.
- Battle of Elsenborn Ridge - The ETO > Ardennes/The Bulge > The Bulge Contained.
† Reinig, Walter Henry, SN 37-035-972, US Army, Shelby Co.
- b. 13 Jan 1918 rural Portsmouth, Shelby Co.; s/o Mathias J. Reinig & Mary E. Nollen, both b. Shelby Co.; family moved to Harlan, Shelby Co. in late 1930s & parents moved to Omaha in early 1940s.
- entered service 12 Mar 1941 from Harlan, Shelby Co.; service credited to Shelby Co.; buried Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.
- 7th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div., VI Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 31 Jan 1944 Anzio Beachhead, Lazio, Italy.
- The MTO > Italy > Battle of Anzio.
† Renteria, Martin, SN 37-261-777, US Army, Pott. Co.
- b. 8 Sep 1921 Ranger, Eastland Co., TX; s/o Paul Renteria & Benancia Reo, both b. Mexico; family moved to Co. Bluffs about 1924.
- entered service 16 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
- Co. I, 120th Inf. Regt., 30th Inf. Div.; WIA 1 Aug 1944 near St. Lo, Normandy, France; DOW 17 Aug 1944 in hospital, England.
- The ETO > Liberation > Normandy.
† Rethmeier, William F. "Jack", SN 37-663-816, US Army, Crawford & Harrison Cos.
- b. 28 Feb 1912 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o William E. H. Rethmeier & Effie May Schlensig, both b. Shelby Co.; family lived in Boyer Twp., Crawford Co.
- entered service 9 Mar 1943 from Rt. 3, Dunlap, Harrison Co.; service credited to Crawford Co.; buried Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap.
- Co. H, 179th Inf. Regt., 45th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Fifth Army; DOW 30 May 1944 near Campoleone, south of Rome, Lazio, Italy.
- Breakout from Anzio Beachhead - The MTO > Italy > Battle of Anzio.
† Reynolds, Elmer Dale, SN 37-483-681, US Army, Pott. Co.
- b. 8 Dec 1917 Co. Bluffs; s/o Harry P. Reynolds (b. Union Co.; d. 1924) & Alice P. Anderson (b. Lake Co., SD); mother married John J. Carroll Sr. Mar 1928 in Omaha.
- entered service 13 Jul 1943 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Walnut Hill Cem., Co. Bluffs.
- Co. K, 30th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div.; KIA 16 Aug 1944 near St. Tropez, southern France.
- Operation Dragoon - The ETO > Liberation > Southern France.
† Reynolds, Wayne Calbert, SN 564-07-41, US Navy, Cass Co.
- b. 29 Aug 1925 Des Moines; s/o Frank I. Reynolds (b. Pott. Co.) & Leatha O. Wolfkill (b. Page Co.); family moved to Jasper Co. in the late 1920s, to Lewis, Cass Co. early 1930s and to California mid 1942.
- entered service Oct 1942; buried Oakwood Cem., Lewis, Cass Co.
- served in Pacific Theater on USS Medusa (AR-1) & USS Hinsdale (APA-120); d. 2 Sep 1945 Sarpy Co., NE; cause unknown.
† Rhoads, Guy Benjamin, SN 648-06-39, US Navy, Custer Co., NE
- b. 4 Mar 1918 Cozad, Dawson Co., NE; s/o John C. Rhoads (b. Jefferson Co., PA) & Rose M. Sprague (b. Greene Co.; d. 1935); family lived in rural Calloway, Custer Co., NE; relatives lived in Co. Bluffs.
- unknown service entry data; next of kin father, Mr. John Calvin Rhoads, Callaway, NE; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
- Submarine USS Seawolf (SS 197); DNB 3 Oct 1944 off Morotai, Dutch Indies, south of the Philippines; Seawolf sunk by friendly fire, all 83 crew & 17 US Army passengers died.
- Naval War with Japan > US Submarine Force.
† Rhoten, Roy Edward, SN 958-10-13, US Navy, Harrison Co.
- b. 3 Nov 1926 Modale, Harrison Co.; s/o William E. Rhoten & Olive M. Fox, both b. Harrison Co.; family lived at several locations in or near Harrison Co. before settling in Magnolia, Harrison Co. in the 1930s.
- entered service 11 Feb 1945 from Magnolia, Harrison Co.; next of kin parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Edward Rhoten, Box 176, Magnolia, IA; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
- Cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35); KIA 30 Jul 1945 in the Philippine Sea en route from Guam to Leyte; Indianapolis sunk by Japanese submarine I-58; 879 died, 316 survived.
- Naval War with Japan > Third & Fifth Fleets.
† Riddle, Carl William, SN 648-73-55, US Navy, Pott Co.
- b. 7 Dec 1920 Bloomington, McLean Co., IL; s/o George W. Riddle (b. Illinois) & Maude E. Gaines (b. Tazewell Co., IL); parents separated; mother and Carl moved to Co. Bluffs late 1930s.
- entered service 16 Nov 1942 from Co. Bluffs; next of kin mother, Mrs. Maude Ellen Riddle, 1706 Ave. F, Council Bluffs, IA; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
- Destroyer USS Cooper (DD 605); KIA 3 Dec 1944 off west coast of Leyte, Philippines; Cooper sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedo; 191 died, 168 survived.
- Battle of Ormoc Bay - Philippines Liberated > Philippines Naval War.
† Rihner, John Jerome, SN 37-422-955, US Army, Shelby Co.
- b. 24 Dec 1915 Washington Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o John Rihner (b. Pleasant Twp., Pott Co.; d. 1932) & Anna Marie Seversen (b. Iowa; d. 1928).
- married Cleal N. Taylor of the Omaha/Co. Bluffs area.
- entered service 7 Nov 1942; service credited to Shelby Co.; buried Shelby Cem., Shelby Co.
- Co. G, 116th Inf. Regt., 29th Inf. Div.; KIA 3 Sep 1944 Brittany, France.
- Battle of Brittany - The ETO > Liberation > Normandy.
† Ring, Clinton Ross, SN 37-752-270, US Army, Harrison Co.
- b. 16 Mar 1926 Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE; s/o Joshua A. Ring (b. Lancaster Co., NE) & Carrie W. Elkins (b. Fremont Co.); family moved from Nebraska to Cincinnati Twp., SW of Modale, Harrison Co. 1937 and to NW of Modale 1944.
- 1944 Modale High School graduate.
- entered service 16 Sep 1944 from Rt. 1, Mondamin, Harrison Co.; service credited to Harrison Co.; buried Cheney Cem., Lancaster Co., NE.
- Co. C, 182nd Inf. Regt., Americal Div.; KIA 12 Apr 1945 Cebu Island, Philippines, bullet wound.
- Philippines Liberated > Southern Philippines.
† Rink, Paul Lloyd, SN 0-723-687, US Army Air Force, Pott. & Shelby Cos.
- b. 26 Sep 1918 Co. Bluffs; s/o Ernest L. Rink (b. Harrison Co.) & Sarah M. Barrett (b. Shelby Co.); parents divorced; mother married Rev. Judson T. Perkins Jul 1944.
- entered service 31 Jan 1943 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Shelby Cem., Shelby Co.
- 742th Bomb. Sqdn., 455th Bomb. Gp., Fifteenth Air Force, based at San Giovanni, near Foggia, Apulia, Italy; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #42-78500 navigator with pilot Louis Stengl; KIA 17 Aug 1944 over Ploesti, Romania, aircraft fell SE of target area; crew of ten all died.
- The MTO > MTO Air War.
† Ripley, William Louis, SN 0-424-680, US Army Air Force, Mills Co.
- b. 3 Apr 1917 Logan, Harrison Co.; s/o Louis E. Ripley, a Methodist minister (b. Fremont Co.; d. 1943) & Viola Carter (b. Page Co.; d. 1924); father married Mabel McCrary Aug 1927; family lived in Shenandoah, Page Co. & Emerson, Mills Co., moving to Des Moines in early 1940s.
- lived in Loveland, Larimer Co., CO in Oct 1940.
- entered service 30 Dec 1940 from Shenandoah, Page Co.; married Harriett Runge 1943 in Mason Co., TX; body not recovered; cenotaph Farragut Cem., Fremont Co.
- unit unknown; d. 27 Sep 1946 in crash of Consolidated Catalina over water near Eglin Air Force Base, Okaloosa Co., FL; three died from crew of 10.
† Roach, Frederick Vincent, SN 37-190-260, US Army, Montgomery Co.
- b. 3 May 1914 SW of Red Oak, West Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o George V. Roach (b. Montgomery Co.) & Mary C. Borsdorf (b. Clay Co.).
- entered service 3 Apr 1942 from Rt. 4, Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; service credited to Montgomery Co.; buried St. Marys Cem., Red Oak.
- 358th Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div., VIII Corps, First Army; WIA 23 Jul 1944 north of Periers & NW of St. Lo, Manche, Normandy, France; DOW 24 Jul 1944.
- The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy, July 1944.
† Roarty, Paul Thomas, SN 17-004-319, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
- b. 3 Jul 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o John J. “Bernard” Roarty (b. Poweshiek Co.) & Mary T. Fitzgerald (b. Co. Bluffs).
- entered service 9 Aug 1940 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried St. Joseph Cem., Co. Bluffs.
- 787th Tech. School Sqdn., Lincoln Army Air Base, Lancaster Co., NE; d. 8 Jul 1942 near Lincoln; auto accident.
† Robinson, William Brigham Haight, SN 0-673-901, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
- b. 30 May 1916 Co. Bluffs; s/o Roland P. Robinson (b. Douglas Co., IL) & Nina K. Swanson (b. Warren Co., IL).
- married Helen Virginia Lainson of Co. Bluffs, one child, divorced; married Pauline I. Anderson 1942.
- entered service 18 Apr 1942 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, Lorraine, France.
- 779th Bomb. Sqdn., 464th Bomb. Gp., Fifteenth Air Force, based at Pantanella, near Foggia, Apulia, Italy; Consolidated B-24J Liberator #44-41053 Black Mike bombardier with pilot Norman O. Overholt; KIA 10 Sep 1944 near Glinzendorf ten miles east of Vienna, Austria; aircraft hit by flak & exploded over target, eight (maybe six) died, two or four lived.
- The MTO > MTO Air War.
† Rockwell, Harold Ralph, SN 0-782-622, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
- b. 19 Mar 1922 Co. Bluffs; s/o Ralph R. Rockwell & Katherine J. Weiss, both b. Co. Bluffs.
- married Norma R. Boyer of Co. Bluffs Nov 1943 in California.
- entered service 28 Mar 1943 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
- 360th Service Gp., Combat Replacement Training Center, Fifth Air Force, based at Nadzab Air Field complex near Lae, NE New Guinea; on Douglas C-47B Skytrain/Dakota #43-16204 with pilot Jacob E. "Jack" Wondaal, en route from Nadzab, New Guinea to Port Moresby, New Guinea; DNB 19 Feb 1945, aircraft crashed near Waa, New Guinea; seven died, radio operator survived.
- Air Force War with Japan > Fifth Air Force.
† Rogers, Bernard Robert, SN 37-038-953, US Army, Harrison Co.
- b. 23 Jan 1913 Pisgah, Harrison Co.; s/o Robert F. Rogers & Ethel F. McDunn (d. 1938), both b. Harrison Co.; family lived in rural Pisgah, Harrison Co.
- attended Wayne State College, Nebraska; worked as auto salesman in Woodbine, Harrison Co.
- entered service 21 Jun 1941 from Woodbine, Harrison Co.; service credited to Harrison Co.; buried Magnolia Cem, Harrison Co.
- Co. B, 6th Engineering Combat Bn., 6th Inf. Div.; KIA 31 Mar 1945 near Shimbu Line, Central Luzon, Philippines; radio operator hit by shrapnel from nearby artillery burst.
- Philippines Liberated > Luzon.
† Rohrberg, Robert George, SN 37-490-420, US Army, Pott. Co.
- b. 29 May 1925 Silver City, Mills Co.; s/o Henry C. Rohrberg & Emma M. Spetman, both b. Mills Co.; parents divorced; mother married Alfred Elmore Mar 1932 in Sarpy Co., NE and moved to Co. Bluffs.
- entered service 17 Feb 1944 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Memorial Park Cem., Co. Bluffs.
- Co. F, 13th Inf. Regt., 8th Inf. Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 23 Feb 1945 near Düren, North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany.
- The ETO > To the Rhine > Ops Veritable & Grenade.
† Rold, John Angus “Jack”, SN 0-2-007-132, US Army, Cass Co.
- b. 12 Nov 1924 rural Avoca, Fairview Twp., Shelby Co.; s/o William A. Rold (b. Fairview Twp.) & Lillie McKenzie (b. Plumas Co., CA); family moved to Benton Twp., Cass Co. NE of Atlantic in late 1920s.
- entered service 18 Mar 1943 from Rt. 3, Atlantic, Cass Co.; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Atlantic Cem.
- Co. K, 276th Inf. Regt., 70th Inf. Div., XXI Corps, Seventh Army; DOW 8 Mar 1945 Forbach, near Saar River, Lorraine, France.
- The ETO > To the Rhine > Operation Undertone.
† Rommel, Max C., SN 510,622, US Marine Corps, Pott. & Fremont Cos.
- b. 1 Sep 1923 Co. Bluffs; s/o Frank C. Rommel (b. Silver City, Mills Co.) & Flora E. Van Doren (b. Nebraska); family moved to rural Tabor, Green Twp., Fremont Co. about 1935 and returned to Council Bluffs in the early 1940s.
- entered service 8 Dec 1942 from Tabor, Fremont Co.; next of kin parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rommel, 10 Charles St., Council Bluffs, IA; buried Natl. Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.
- Co. E, 6th Marine Regt., 2nd Marine Div.; KIA 27 Nov 1943 Buariki Is., Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands.
- Battle of Tarawa - Central Pacific > Gilbert Islands.
- Local History & Family History Note: brother of Margaret (Rommel) Bertelsen Winkler, former Big Pigeon area rural schoolteacher; died with my uncle's nephew, Ralph Paulson of Ames, Story Co.
† Ronnfeldt, Roy Robert, served as Ronnefeldt, Roy R, SN 37-189-109, US Army, Pott. Co.
- b. 4 Jun 1919 Pleasant Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Charles W. Ronnfeldt (b. Germany; d. 1937) & Louise Heesch (b. Scott Co.; d. 1943); mother and the younger children moved from Pleasant Twp. to Avoca, Pott. Co. in the late 1930s.
- married Nona M. Ernst Oct 1942 in Sarpy Co., NE.
- entered service 23 Mar 1942; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Graceland Cem., Avoca, Pott. Co.
- Co. G, 358 Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div., XX Corps, Third Army; KIA 6 Dec 1944 Pachten, near Dillingen, on Saar River, north of Saarlautern (now Saarlouis), Saarland, Germany.
- The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine/Third Army.
- Notes: The 358th Inf. Regt. crossed the Saar River on 6 December 1944 against heavy enemy fire and continued advancing into the Siegfried Line until 21 December. On 5 January 1945, the 90th Div. was relieved by the 94th Div. and transferred to the Ardennes.
† Ross, William Thomas, SN 620-23-62, US Naval Aviation, Union & Montgomery Cos.
- b. 25 Jun 1921 Burlington, Des Moines Co.; s/o Thomas D. Ross & Frances E. Bayles (d. 1942), both b. Clarinda, Page Co.; family moved to Creston, Union Co. before 1925; father moved to Red Oak, Montgomery Co. in early 1940s, married Gertrude H. Lockwood, and d. 1946.
- unknown service entry data; next of kin parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Duff Ross, 303 Valley, Red Oak, IA; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
- Patrol Sqdn. VP-54; Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina BUNO 04403 radio operator with pilot Walter Howell Cummings; d. 15 May 1943; aircraft disappeared on routine night patrol from Guadalcanal; crew of 12 died.
- South & SW Pacific > Solomon Is., Guadalcanal.
† Ruff, Paul Russell "Russell", SN O-307354, US Navy, Wapello & Polk Cos.
- b. 8 Jan 1910 Ottumwa, Wapello Co.; s/o Edward M. Ruff & Minnie M. Hammes, both b. Burlington, Des Moines Co.; family remained in Ottumwa.
- 1931 Grinnell College graduate; taught & coached in Greenfield, Adair Co., Villisca, Montgomery Co. and Atlantic, Cass Co. before moving to Lincoln High School, Des Moines; married Marion Ellis of Jackson Co. Aug 1939 at Maquoketa, Jackson Co.
- entered service 23 Aug 1943 at Des Moines with Ottumwa, Wapello Co. listed as permanent address; buried Ottumwa Cem.
- Minesweeper USS Valor (AMc-108) Executive Officer, assigned to Eastern Sea Frontier, Newport, RI; d. 29 Jun 1944 at southern reaches of the Cape Cod Canal; Valor struck by destroyer escort USS Richard W. Suesens; nine died from crew of 18.
- WWII Germany > Battle of the Atlantic.