Service News
Pfc. Robert White, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert White, 1302 Newell street, is now in a hospital in France, recovering from trench foot contracted in combat duty. He arrived in France last December. Prior to that he had received his training at Camp Roberts, Cal., Camp Adair, Ore., and Fort Leonard Wood., Mo. He has been in the hospital since Jan. 14.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, February 08, 1945, Page 7
Three From Waterloo Die in Action
Three Waterloo men Thursday were listed as killed in action, two in Europe and one in the Pacific. They were:
Marine Pfc. Jack L. Padget, 18, Iwo Jima.
Pfc Robert B. White, 19, France.
First Lt. James Edward Elmo Buker, 22, Belgium.
[NOTE: Portions of this article regarding Pfc. Padget and Lt. Buker have been omitted but appear on their individual webpages within this site.]
Private White was killed in action Feb. 23 in France while serving in the infantry attached to the Seventh army, according to a war department telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. (Bob) White, 1302 Newell street.
Private White had last written his parents on Feb. 17, stating that he had just been released from a hospital in France where he had been a month receiving treatment for frozen feet and expected to return to combat immediately.
He entered service a month after graduating from East high school in June, 1943, took his basic training at Camp Roberts, Cal., and was in the air force training for three months at Washington State college, Pullman, Wash., after passing the army air force examination with at top score out of 250 candidates.
On April, 1944, he was transferred to the infantry at Camp Adair, Ore., and was also stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., before going overseas in December, 1941.
He spent a 10-day furlough here in August.
Born Apr. 12, 1925, in Waterloo, son of W. E. and Marie Peters White, he resided here until entering service. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran church.
Surviving besides his parents, are one sister, Eleanor, his maternal grandfather, August Peters, both at 1302 Newell street; and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John N. White, 1905 East Fourth street.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, March 08, 1945, Page 1 (photo included)
Memorial Rites Today for R. White
Memorial services for the late Pfc. Robert Bradford White, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. White, 1302 Newell street, who was killed in action in France. Feb. 23, will be conducted at 4 p. m. Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran church. Rev. W. D. Gerring will give the memorial address. The treble choir will sing.
Private White entered service a month after being graduated from East high school in June, 1943, and was in army air force training at Washington state college for three months. Transferred to the infantry in April, 1944, he was sent overseas the following December.
The Waterloo youth, who served as a machine gunner with the Seventh army, was killed by shrapnel from a shell which exploded near him near Spicheren, France. His parents have received his posthumous award of the Purple Heart and a presidential citation.
Private White is buried in the United States military cemetery at Epinal, France.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, May 20, 1945, Section Two, Page 15
