GREENE YOUTH ONE OF FOUR TO CAPTURE TWELVE IN ITALY
Roy Gabe Writes His Mother, Mrs. William Gabe, of Action in Italy. Says He Has “Seen Enough.”
A Greene boy who has learned “plenty about combat and have had several close calls,” Roy Gabe, son of Mrs. William Gabe, east of Greene, has been moved from the front line in Italy for a rest.
In a letter to his mother, dated June 14, Roy said that he hopes he is through with combat, as he with the other boys had gone through enough.
He expressed satisfaction, however, that he “did all right with my rifle. Four of us boys captured 12. We killed two and wounded two before the rest gave up.”
After writing he has had other experiences and had several close calls, he said, “I guess the good Lord has been with me.”
Roy has been somewhere about Rome, as he said, “the country north of the Italian capital looks good. Wheat and oats crops are doing well. The Italians are now cutting, pulling grain binders with cows. Surely looks funny.”
The Greene youth said that he is now a squad leader and has been for some time. He expects to get a rating soon.
In closing, Roy said that he hoped that the war would soon be over.
Source: Greene Iowa Recorder, Wednesday, June 28, 1944
Roy Wilhelm August Gabe was born Oct. 3, 1916 to William and Wilhelmina “Minnie” Oldenburg Gabe. He died Oct. 19, 1944 and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Powersville, IA.
Sgt. Gabe served in World War II with the U.S. Army, Co F, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Infantry Regiment and was KIA in Italy.
Source: ancestry.com
