Polk County

Sgt. Robert Owen Joss

 

Robert Joss Killed in Italy

Staff Sergeant Robert O. Joss, 23, was killed in action in Italy June 16, the war department has notified his mother Mrs. Mae Torri of 6320 S.W. Second ave.

Joss, son of Oscar Joss of 2618 Adams ave., was a graduate of Lincoln High school and was prominent in city and state golf circles before the war. He was a member of the state championship Lincoln High golf team and medalist in junior tournaments here.

He entered the service in November, 1942 and arrived in April this year. His last letter, dated May 19, brought word that he was in north Africa at that time. No details on his death have been disclosed by the war department.

Sergeant Jones was one of four brothers in the service. The others are Kenneth, on navy duty in the southwest Pacific; Allen, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Glenn, at Camp Farragut, Idaho.

Other survivors include a brother Lloyd of Des Moines and two sisters, Mrs. Frances McElvoy of Arkansas and Mrs. Lynn Lillie of Long Beach Calif.

Source: The DesMoines Tribune, July 22, 1944 (photo included)

Robert Owen Joss was born Nov. 29, 1921 to Oscar and Gertrude Christiansen Joss. He died June 16, 1944 and is buried in Florence American Cemetery, Impruneta, Italy.

Sgt. Joss served in World War II with the U.S. Army 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division and was KIA in Italy in the service of his country.

Source: ancestry.com