North Iowans In Uniform
Robert W. Lewis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Holly Lewis, 410 Second street northeast, is now enrolled as an aviation cadet in the army air force pre-flight school for pilots at Maxwell field, Montgomery, Ala.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 20, 1943, Page 3
North Iowans In Uniform
Pvt. Robert W. Lewis, 410 Second street northeast, is now graduated from Shaw field, Sumter, S. Car., having completed basic training. He was the only Iowan in the class.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Tuesday, July 13, 1943, Page 12
North Iowans In Uniform
Robert W. Lewis, formerly of 410 2nd street northeast, was graduated from the army air forces pilot school at Moody field, Ga., and commissioned a 2nd lieutenant with the rating of army pilot. He is the son of Mrs. O. C. Anderson.
Source: The Globe Gazette,Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa,Thursday, September 02, 1943, Page 5
Lt. Robert W. Lewis Missing in Action Over Germany
Telegram Here Friday States He Had Been Missing Since May 12
First Lt. Robert W. Lewis, son of Mrs. O. C. Anderson, 410 2nd N.E., has been missing in action over Germany since May 12, according to a telegram received here Friday.
“The secretary of war,” stated in the telegram, “desires me to express his deep regret that your son, First Lt. Robert W. Lewis has been reported missing in action since May 12 over Germany. If further details or other information are received you will be promptly notified.”
Lt. Lewis had been overseas about 3 months and had been in Iceland before going to England, his last base. He was graduated a pilot on a Flying Fortress last November and had received his commission at Moody field, Ga., in August. He entered the service in September, 1942.
Source: Mason City, Globe-Gazette, May 27, 1944 (photo included)
Air Medal to Missing Lieutenant
The air medal has been awarded to First Lt. Robert W. Lewis, son of Mrs. Gladys F. Anderson, 410 2nd N. E., according to a letter received from the war department dated Jan. 6. Lt. Lewis has been missing in action over Germany since last May 12.
"For meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombardment missions over enemy occupied continental Europe," red the citation, signed by Brig. Gen Robert H. Dunlop. "The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this officer upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States."
The letter further stated that since the award could not be formally presented to Lt. Lewis, the decoration would be presented to Mrs. Anderson and would be forwarded to the commanding general, 7th service command, Omaha, Nebr., who in turn would select an officer to make the presentation according to the wishes of Mrs. Anderson.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, Friday, January 12, 1945, Page 10
PARENTS RECEIVE HEROES' MEDALS
In Presentation Of Awards At Joint Memorial Service
Shown above are those participating in the presentation of awards at the joint memorial service at Music hall Sunday afternoon.
Left to right are Mrs. C. O. Anderson; Capt. S. W. Ramsey, Minneapolis, who presented the air medals; Mrs. Ralph E. Watts, Mr. Watts; Col. H. H. Odell, Ames, who made the bronze star medal presentation; T. M. Woldmoe and Mrs. Woldmoe.
The bronze star medal was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Woldmoe for their son, Sgt. Cecil Woldmoe, killed in action in Bougainville.
The air medal with oak leaf cluster was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Watts for their son, T/Sgt. Donald E. Watts, war prisoner of the Germany, and the air medal to Mrs. Anderson for her son, Lt. Robert W. Lewis, missing in action in Germany since last May.
(Lock photo, Kayenay engraving)
6th MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD TO HONOR FIGHTERS
We Must Rededicate Ourselves to Ideals
Says Father Churchill
"Only if each one of us makes this memorial service the occasion to rededicate himself to the ideals which inspired those whose memory we eulogize today, shall we make certain that they have not died in vain - anything less will be unworthy of their sacrifice."
This spoke Father Churchill, Mercy hospital chaplain, at the 6th joint public memorial service at Music hall Sunday afternoon honoring the memory of 3 men who have in the past month been recorded as having given their lives for their country. They were S/Sgt. Willie Lauer, First Lt. James M. K. Pedersen and Cpl. William Quinones. Burial flags from the U. S. government were presented to their next of kin.
A special feature of the program was the presentation by out-of-town officers of awards to the parents of the 3 servicemen.
The bronze star was presented to Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Woldmoe, awarded posthumously to their son, Sgt. Cecil T. Woldmoe and presented by Col. H. H. Odell, Ames, in behalf of the war department.
The air medal with oak leaf cluster was presented by Capt. S. W. Ramsay, Minneapolis, in behalf of the air corps to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Watts, awarded to their son, Tech. Sgt. Donald E. Watts, now prisoner of war of the German government.
Capt. Ramsay also made the air medal presentation to Mrs. O. C. ANDERSON, awarded to her son, Lt. Robert W. LEWIS, missing in action in Germany since last May.
Col. Odell in presenting the bronze star decoration expressed his sympathy in behalf of the war department to Mr. and Mrs. Woldmoe and said he shared in their pride of "this American soldier." He read the following citation which accompanied the medal:
"For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on the Solomon islands on March 26, 1944, Sgt. Woldmoe gallantly sacrificed his life in the line of duty while serving as a member of a patrol order to reconnoiter a sector of the perimeter to determine possible enemy strength and dispositions.
"This man in returning in his own lines was ambushed by a superior force of the enemy and elected to fight gallantly in the face of enemy machine gun fire until succumbing to inevitable death."
Capt. Ramsay likewise expressed his sympathy in behalf of the air corps in making his presentations. He stated that he was giving the medals to Mr. and Mrs. Watts and to Mrs. Anderson "for sake keeping until the return of their sons."
"For exceptionally meritorious service over enemy-occupied territory in continental Europe and for the coolness and courage displayed," was the citation read by Capt. Ramsay, accompanying the air medals awarded to Lt. Lewis and T/Sgt. Watts.
"Those of us who have had even the most cursory contact with this global ward have been forever impressed by the tremendous sacrifice that it entails," said Father Churchill.
"Its scope is so great that any one individual is almost overwhelmed by the magnitude of the struggle. In a spirit of faith we must accept these sacrifices and never allow ourselves to think that these dead have died in vain.
"In the words of the immortal Lincoln, 'We take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.'
"Because of the sacrifice of these young men, our cause will not fail . . . and we the living shall have profited by this memorial service also if we go away from it with our faith strengthened and our determination renewed," concluded Father Churchill.
Miss June Dudgeon sang "The Lord Is My Shepherd" and "Come Unto Me," accompanied by Mrs. Roy Servison. Miss LuAnn Moen sang "My Aching Heart," written by Mrs. Woldmoe, with Miss Beatrice Lysne accompanying. Mrs. Servison played a 5 minute prologue at the beginning of the service. Prayer was by the Rev. A. N. Rogness.
Company E of the Iowa state guard under the command of Capt. Leslie Whipple furnished the honor guard and firing squad with Lt. Glen Berg in charge. Pfc. Reeser Adams and Pfc. JOHNSON made up the guard of honor at the shrine symbolizing the dead soldier's resting place. In the firing squad were Cpl. Carel Schultz, Cpl. William Cooper, Cpl. Conrad Olson, T/5 Almar Anderson, Pfc. Reeser Adams and Pvt. William Pickart. Constantine Kregotis of the company was bugler.
The services were under the direction of the American Legion and the Veteran of Foreign Wars with all patriotic organizations participating. Fred Wilts, Legion post commander, presided.
WRITES SONG ABOUT BROTHER
KILLED in B-17 OVER GERMANY
Jerry Lewis Places "Will You Remember" With Local Stores
"He was just a little lad, with wings upon his chest. He flew across the ocean blue, and there he came to rest"
That's the way Jerry Lewis starts the song, "Will You Remember?" which he wrote in memory of his brother, 1st Lt. Robert W. Lewis of the army air force, who was killed May 12, 1944, while he was piloting a B-17 over Germany.
The Lewis boys grew up in Mason City. Jerry Lewis got a scholarship for a course of instruction by the Free Guilding Radio Players in Hollywood, given by the University of Southern California in a contest, following his introduction to radio entertainment on the "Patty and Her Gang" juvenile show on station KGLO.
In Hollywood, Jerry Lewis got into the entertainment field to the extent that he appeared on several television pictures and played a 2 weeks engagement at the Ambassador hotel in Los Angeles as a member of the cast of Noel Coward's "Hay Fever."
Jerry also did USO work and later took to writing songs, including such numbers as "Christmas," "I Told You So," and "Roses in the Rain."
He regards the song about his brother as his best, however, and while in Mason City on business this week he placed copies of the song with Vance and Reed music stores.
Jerry has organized his own music publishing business, the Lewis Music Publications, Hollywood, to publish his songs. He does his own writing and designing and engages other firms to do the printing.
The song sheet of "Will You Remember?" carried the picture of Lt. Lewis against a background of planes and fluffy clouds.
Source: The Globe Gazette, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, January 23, 1946, Page 11
1st Lt. Robert W. Lewis is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City, IA. He is memorialized at First Congregational UCC Columbarium, Mason City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
