Louis D. Benda of Gilbertville
Is War Casualty
Gibertville, Ia. – Death of Pvt. Louis D. Benda, 19, somewhere in Luxembourg Nov. 9, was reported by the war department in a wire to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Benda. He was serving with a combat engineer battalion. No details of his death have been announced as yet.
Private Benda entered the service Dec. 18, 1943. He volunteered for overseas duty and left the United States in June, 1944.
The parents have received a letter from him dated Nov. 8.
He was born on a farm near Traer. The family has lived in the vicinity of Washburn and Gilbertville since 1926.
Surviving besides the parents are two brothers, Edward J. Benda, La Porte City, and Frank T. Benda, Traer; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Redricks, La Porte City, and Mrs. Milo Kalpek, 815 Iowa street, Cedar Falls.
Private Benda was graduated from grade school near Washburn and was employed in farm work before entering the army. He was home on furlough last April.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, December 05, 1944, Page 5 (photo included)
Pvt. Benda served with the 159th Engineer Combat Battalion.
He is buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium.
Source: abmc.gov
