Army Musician Is Missing In Africa
Private Robert L. Owen, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Owens, 1000 Douglas Street, has been reported by the war department missing in action since February 17 in North Africa.
He was a 1940 graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs and was active in music activities there. He joined an infantry band unit of the Council Bluffs National Guard in the fall of 1940. He was sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and later to Fort Dix, New Jersey, before going overseas to Northern Ireland and later to North Africa.
His parent’s former residents of Council Bluffs, have lived here since May, 1942.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 11, 1943 (photo included)
Experiences of Soldiers from This Territory Told in Army Magazine
Robert Owen, Sioux Cityan, Member of Party in African War
One Sioux City soldier, Robert Owen: another Iowa soldier and one South Dakota soldier were mentioned in a recent issue of the African edition of Stars and Stripes, the United States army newspaper, as having taken part in a hazardous journey just before the initial break-through at Kasserine.
“A large group of Nazi armored cars rushed an infantry unit at Hataba pass and the order came through to disperse quickly to the hills,” said the article. “Three combat engineers, one medic, one guy from the motorized artillery, another from a cannon company, and one French horn player and one clarinet player in the infantry band all got together with three lieutenants.
“For seven days and seven nights they hunted for their lines, always one full day behind the German advance. Guided by a compass they marched through three days of rain, slept on wet ground, lived on bread and water and goat’s milk and six quietly killed chickens.
“After walking for days on their paper thin shoes they reached Sbeitia and after that Kasserine and Bou Chebka, only to discover that the Germans had been there ahead of them. So they kept moving, the medic treating their sore feet en route.
“They spent one night in an Arab hut and the next morning found all their rifles stolen except one that one guy slept on. Right after that they saw six Italians headed their way. With four pistols and one rifle they opened fire, killing one Italian, wounding another and capturing three prisoners. They kept their prisoners with them until it became too impractical, then they let them go.
“Early the next morning they came across a French patrol which directed them to the French line near Tebessa. Their first meal was corned beef, and that, they said, tasted like caviar.”
The South Dakotan in the party was John Pine of Deadwood. The other Iowan was Harold Au of Clinton.
The article was written by Ralph G. Martin.
The copy of the Stars and Stripes was received by A. E. Line, 3132 Jennings Street. It came from his son, Lieut. Col. Gerald Line, who himself has seen considerable action in North Africa and who has had some close calls.
Source: The Sioux City Journal-Tribune, April 9, 1943
SPEND THREE YEARS OVERSEAS
Sgt. Robert L. Owen, left, and Sgt. Clifford L. Owen, right, have completed over three years of overseas service and are enjoying furloughs in the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Owen, 1000 Douglas street. Robert, on a 45-day furlough, was formerly in France, while his brother served in Panama. Also visiting the Owen home are Mrs. C. L. Owen and Miss Shirley Christiansen of Council Bluffs.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 25, 1945 (photo included)
Robert Lavern Owen was born May 31, 1921 to William R. and Mildred Avery Sigafoos Owen. He died Aug. 2, 1999 and is buried in Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Council Bluffs, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
