IOWAN MISSING OVER GERMANY
Robert Vollbrecht Is Lost in Bomber Plane
Riceville—Mrs. Nellie Vollbrecht has received word that her son, S/Sgt. Robert Vollbrecht is missing in action in the raid Jan. 11, over Germany.
Robert was chief engineer on a bomber plane.
Riceville has 260 stars on her honor roll for those serving their country and this is the first one listed missing and none dead.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, Feb. 3, 1944
NOTES ABOUT LOCAL SERVICE MEN.
Mrs. Nellie Vollbrecht received a card Monday morning from her son, Staff Sgt. Robert Vollbrecht, who is a prisoner in Germany. This is the first direct word from Robert since he was reported missing in January. The card said that he was neither wounded or sick.
Source: Elma Riceville New Era, March 30, 1944
According to Sgt. Howard F. Wood, formerly of Grundy Center, Iowa, four Cedar Rapids men are among 78 Iowa men held in a German prison camp, Stalag XVII B, located at Krems, Austria. Sgt. Wood left the camp as an exchange prisoner, returning to the United States on the Gripsholm. The Cedar Rapids men in the camp are David Blodgett, Winston Lowe, Robert Vollbrecht and Thomas McDonald. Sgt. Wood said he left camp on July 26 and that all the Iowa men were well and reasonably happy under the circumstances. They are kept busy with their theater, library, studies and sports. They are receiving Red Cross packages regularly each week.
Source: Cedar Rapids Tribune, October 26, 1944
Robert F. Vollbrecht
Date of entry on extended active duty: 28 Nov ‘42
Place of entry on active duty: Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa
Date of discharge or separation: 6 Nov ‘45
Date of departure for foreign service: 11 Nov ‘43
Date of return from foreign service: 4 Jun ‘45
Source: Iowa, World War II Bonus Case Files
Robert Fred Vollbrecht was born June 18, 1923 to Julius and Nellie Seavy Vollbrecht. He died Dec. 23, 1997 and is buried in Mount Clark Cemetery, Central City, IA.
Sgt. Vollbrecht served in World War II with the U.S. Army. He also served in Korea.
Source: ancestry.com
