Our Neighbors in the Service
Akron, Iowa – William Milbrodt, son of Herman Milbrodt residing east of Akron, was among a group of men selected at Camp Phillips, Kansas, to train at a military police school at Camp George West, Golden, Colo.
Source: Sioux City Journal, April 23, 1943
Our Neighbors in the Service
Akron, Iowa—Private First Class William Milbrodt, son of Herman Milbrodt of east of Akron, is spending a furlough here from his military duties at camp George West, Colorado.
Source: Sioux City Journal, September 18, 1943
NEWS OF SERVICEMEN.
Mrs. William Milbrodt of Westfield was notified by the War Department that her husband, Pfc. William Milbrodt, was wounded in action in Germany, March 24.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, April 10, 1945
Akron Man Gets Bronze Star Medal
Wm. Milbrodt Cited For Services.
Pfc. William M. Milbrodt, son of Mr. and Mrs Herman Milbrodt of Akron, was recently awarded the Bronze Star Medal, for his outstanding courage in firing on the enemy, forcing them to seek cover and permit his comrades to evacuate their wounded, although painfully wounding himself.
News of the award came from the 65th infantry division in Austria.
The heroic achievement for which Pfc. Milbrodt was cited took place at Frariautern, Germany, March 18, shortly before the 65th division, a part of Gen. Patton’s Third Army, broke through the Siegfried line at Saarlautern, and began a 600-mile drive across Germany deep into Austria. A member of company A, 260th infantry regiment, Pfc. Milbrodt was sent out with a small patrol to clear a path through a mine field and observe enemy positions that were holding up the advance of his company.
The bronze star citation, in describing his courageous actions, reads, in part:
"As a patrol reached an open lot, a hidden enemy stronghold only 50 yards away opened up with hand grenades and machine gun fire. Pfc. Milbrodt was wounded in the leg by a grenade fragment, but, disregarding the pain and the danger, he delivered fire from his Browning automatic rifle so effectivvelyh that his comrades were able to evacuate their wounded and the enemy was forced to seek cover. Pfc. Milbrodt’s fortitude and attention to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service."
Pfc. Milbrodt’s wife, Mrs. Lois Milbrodt, is a resident of Westfield, Iowa.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, August 17, 1945, page one.
***Further Research:
William Martin Milbrodt was born May 15, 1920 to Herman Frederich and Meta Augusta Frerichs Milbrodt. He died Dec. 24, 1991 and is buried in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye, MN.
Source: ancestry.com
