AIR MEDAL AWARD FOR LT. AHRENS, PRISONER OF WAR
Second Lt. Robert H. Ahrens, son of Mrs. Mary L. Ahrens of Jewell, and now a prisoner of ward in occupied Europe has been awarded the air medal and one oak-leaf cluster, according to an announcement from the army air forces.
Lieutenant Ahrens, 22, entered the service Feb. 3, 1943. He became a co-pilot on a B-24 and was a member of the 15th air force based in Italy, having gone overseas in May, 1944. He was in combat action from May 23 until June 26, when his plane was shot down over Austria.
The award was made by direction of the President, and the medal has been sent to the airman’s mother at Jewell.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, January 18, 1945
NOTES:
Robert Henry ‘Bob or Doc' Ahrens was born Dec. 12, 1922 to Irvin Carl and Mary Louise Londrigan Ahrens. He died Mar. 31, 1994 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Jewell, IA.
Lt. Ahrens was awarded the air medal and one oak leaf cluster.
The story of Lt. Ahrens, POW, Stalag Luft 1 may be found at http://www.merkki.com/ahrensrobert.htm (with permission.)
His Obituary: (Printed in the Jewell paper)
Robert H. Ahrens D.V.M.
Robert Henry (Doc) Ahrens D.V.M. 71, of 725 North Shore Dr., Clear Lake, Iowa died Thursday, March 31, 1994, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.
The body was cremated. Memorial services were held on Tuesday, April 5, 1994, at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Jewell, Iowa with Rev. Lee Laaveg officiating. Inurnment was at Evergreen Cemetery, Jewell, with Military honors by the American Legion in Jewell. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel to Clear Lake, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.
Robert Ahrens was born December 8, 1922 in R.R. Boone County, Iowa, the son of Irvin Carl and Mary Louise (Londrigan) Ahrens. He graduated from Jewell High School in 1940. He served in the U.S. Air Force during WW2 as a 1st Lt. as a pilot. He was a prisoner of war for one year in North Germany.
He married Marie Vermeersch July 12, 1948, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1950. He practiced Veterinary Medicine from 1950 until his retirement in 1983 in Jewell, Iowa. In January of 1984 the family moved to Clear Lake to live.
While living in Jewell Dr. Ahrens served three terms as city coucilman and two terms as mayor. He was a past member of Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell and the American Legion Post in Jewell.
Dr. Ahrens is survived by his wife, Marie Ahrens, Clear Lake, Iowa, 6 daughters: Marcia Hove, Stanhope, Iowa; Susan Ahrens, Iowa City, Iowa; Terry Lindaman, Jewell, Iowa; Marian Tompkins, Clear Lake, Iowa; Peggy Ruybalid, Dallas, Texas; and Leslie Ahrens, Clear Lake, Iowa; two sons: Tom Ahrens, Fair Oaks, California; and Joe Ahrens, Ankeny, Iowa; one sister, Norma Ahrens, Rogers, Arkansas; ten grandchildren: Marty Hove, Lindsay Hove, Katie Lindaman, Kristin Lindaman, Sarah Tompkins, Zach Tompkins, Jordan Ahrens, Taylor Ahrens, Evan Ahrens and Zack Ahrens. He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Gail Ahrens.
Source: Hamilton County IAGenWeb Obituaries
