Richard Schreurs, Held Prisoner, Safe and Well
Word that PFC Richard Schreurs, army infantryman who had been a prisoner of war in Germany for about six months, has been freed was received Thursday by his mother, Mrs. Anna Schreurs, 1172 New Hampshire street.
Information of her son’s liberation came in a letter from an Army chaplain in Germany with whom PFC. Schreurs had visited. The letter stated that the liberated soldier was safe and well and in good spirits.
PFC. Schreurs was listed as missing in action in Germany on Nov. 24, 1944, in a message received on Dec. 13, by his wife, Mrs. Arlene Schreurs. Word that he was a prisoner of the Germans was received here on Feb. 10, of this year.
PFC. Schreurs had been hospitalized for a short time in England in July for wounds in the left arm inflicted by a German sniper. He has been in service for about two years, and holds the Combat Infantryman’s Badge for service in France.
His brother, Staff Sgt. Robert Schreurs, who has been serving in the Mediterranean theater of war for the past 32 months, is in the United States en route home.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, May 18, 1945
Robert Schreurs Has Completed Service in Army
Staff Sgt. Robert Schreurs, son of Mrs. Harry Schreurs, 1172 New Hampshire street, is back in Muscatine and today was preparing to don civilian clothing after being in active military service overseas since Nov. 1, 1942.
Sgt. Schreurs was mustered out at Jefferson Barracks following his arrival back in the country on May 15, and now he plans to take it easy for two or three weeks before getting back to a civilian job.
Sgt. Schreurs was flown to this country from Naples, Italy, landing at LaGuardia field in New York just 36 hours after the start of the trip.
He entered the service on Nov. 10, 1941, taking his training at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. He was sent overseas on Nov. 1, 1942, taking part in the Casa Blanca and North African campaigns, including Tunisia, Sicily and others. The past 20 months he had spent in Italy as a member of the 15th air force, serving as supply sergeant in a group servicing bomber squadrons.
“I miss a lot of friends since getting back in Muscatine,” Sgt. Schreurs said, in speaking of changes occurring here since his departure. The climate in Italy was bad, he related, and damp weather alternated with hot, dusty weather.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, May 22, 1945
Robert Sheldon Schreurs was born Sept. 14, 1917 to Harry Edward and Ruth A. Schreurs. He died Aug. 28, 1979 and is buried in Saint Marys Cemetery, Keota, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
