Advances
Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Groves of Stanhope, that their son, Roger, has been promoted to staff sergeant. Sergeant Groves is a squad leader of an infantry division with the Fifth army in Italy and holds the Purple Heart medal for wounds received in action. He left Webster City in February, 1941, with the Iowa National Guard and has been in Ireland, England and North Africa before being transferred to Italy.
Source: Webster City Freeman, Webster City, IA - June 19, 1944
ROGER GROVES IS CASUALTY
Staff Sergeant Listed As Missing in Italy Since July 1.
Staff Sgt. Roger L. Groves, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie D. Groves of near Stanhope is missing in action in Italy, according to a war department telegram received Thursday morning by his parents.
Sergeant Groves is listed as missing since July 1, No other details were immediately available, the war department message said.
In late reports, Sergeant Groves was acting as a leader of a group of soldiers operating much of the time behind German lines. He was last heard from in a letter written June 30.
A member of the Iowa National Guard unit which left this city for Camp Claiborne, La., in February, 1941, he served in North Ireland, England and North Africa before being transferred to the Italian fighting zone.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - July 20, 1944 (photo included)
Roger L. Groves, Staff Sgt. U.S. Army - MIA/POW
Roger L. Groves was born Jan. 5, 1920 to Leslie and Margaret Olson Groves.
Roger was listed as missing in action in Italy July 1, 1944. He had served in North Ireland, England and North Africa before being transferred to the Italian fighting zone. He was with Co. E, 133rd Inf. 2nd BN, 34th Div.
He became a prisoner of the Germans being held at Stalag 7a Moosburg, Bavaria.
Obituary 1920-1968
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - June 15, 1968
Roger L. Groves, son of Leslie and Margaret Groves of Stanhope, was born January 5, 1920, and passed away following a cerebral hemorrhage at his home in Pontiac, Mich.
He grew to manhood in the Stanhope community where he was educated and attended church. He farmed for a short time before joining the National Guards at Webster City. He served with the 133rd Infantry in 1941 when the division left Webster City for Camp Claiborne during World War II.
He fought with the famous 34th “Red Bull” division in italy, was taken prisoner, and spent 11 months in a German prison camp. He received the Purple Heart and other citations before he was given an honorable discharge.
After returning home, Mr. Groves farmed for a while and was later employed in the George Mesik Body and Fender shop in Webster City. He then moved to Pontiac, Mich., where he was employed by the Drayton Collision and Glass Co.
Mr. Groves was a member of Eagles Lodge No. 2887 and the American Legion. He is survived by his parents; one daughter, Mrs. Larry Coffman; one son, Private Roger W., in the U.S. Army; one step-daughter, Sharon Rice; and a stepson, James Rice of Pontiac; two brothers, Harley Groves of Webster City and Gerald of Williams; a sister, Bonnie, (Mrs. James Healy) of Milwaukee, and his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Groves of Webster City.
Military funeral services were held June 3 at the Donelson-Johns Funeral Home and burial was made at Perry Mount Park Cemetery at Pontiac.
Sources:
ancestry.com
World War 2 POW Archive
