Corp. Paul Ostwinkle With 34th Division, Sends Package Home
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ostwinkle, City, parents of Corp. Paul Ostwinkle, are in receipt of a package miled to them by their son, now with the 34th Division, somewhere in the Mediterranean war area. The package contains a pair of sandals, the soles of woven grasses, with a canvas top; a wallet made from goat skins; a purse made from camel’s hide; some of the paper and silver money in use in North Africa; a stone taken from the famous King Bruce castle; a stone from the cathedral in which St. Patrick is said to have held mass centuries ago, and one from the amphitheatre in Carthage. He also sent a rosary which he had himself fashioned from beads using communication wire picked up in evacuated German strongholds. Paul entered the Army in 1941 and for a time was stationed in North Ireland. He writes that he has witnessed many casualties in his outfit and that he had, up to the time of writing, taken part in four major engagements.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, October 14, 1943
Paul Ostwinkle Now With 5th Army, Italy
According to a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ostwinkle, city, Paul Ostwinkle is now a member of the celebrated 5th army in Italy, battering the Nazi ranks on its way to Rome. The letter was written October 5th and said that going had been tough because of much mud. Paul, it will be remembered, was a member of the 34th Division, with Clark, and famous for its activities in North Africa. He has been in the service two years and eight months, being one of the first to volunteer out of Algona.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, December 2, 1943
Algona Boys Have Reunion In Italy
In a letter written to his mother, Mrs. R. L. Robinault, Steve Murchland tells of having enjoyed a reunion with seven other Algona soldiers now serving in the Italy battle area. While Steve doesn’t so state, it is presumed that the reunion was held in a hospital, because of the latest word from Paul Ostwinkle stated that he was receiving treatment.
The letter:
“We had a regular Algona reunion today. Looked up Elmer Cook and Joe Elkins and then the three of us went over and got John Hopkins and Gordy Dewel. We then went down to see Harold Banwart, Bob Selzer and Paul Ostwinkle. Boy, did we ever have a lot to talk about. Elmer, Joe, Gordy, John and myself are only about ten to twelve miles apart. Elmer is the closest. He is about a mile and a half from me. The boys are all coming over to our outfit to get to ride and drive the tanks for the fun of it. They seem to think it would be great sport to ride and drive them. I don’t see it that way any more since we have both light and mediums, though I guess they will enjoy themselves. Saw one of Elmer’s late Algona papers again too. If I don’t get mine at least get some late news that way.”
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, March 28, 1944
PAUL OSTWINKLE HOME FROM ITALY
Cpl. Paul Ostwinkle arrived in Algona Friday for a visit with his father, C. H. Ostwinkle. Paul served in the Tunisian and Italian campaigns, and has seen 29 months of overseas service. He returned home from Oran, Algeria. Paul will have a 21-day furlough and then go to San Antonio, Texas, for further assignment. He is in the field artillery.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, August 15, 1944
Chas. Ostwinkle received word last week that his son, Cpl. Claude (Barney) Ostwinkle has landed in Italy. Claude’s wife, the former Mary Lee Peters, received a cablegram last Tuesday telling of her husband’s whereabouts. Mrs. Ostwinkle has been living with her mother, Mrs. John Reker, at Bancroft, but they will move November 1, to Mason City where Mrs. Reker recently bought a home. The other Ostwinkle son, Paul Ostwinkle, who served 26 months overseas in the African and Italian campaign, is now at Coolidge, Ariz.
Source: Algona Upper Des Moines, October 24, 1944
