Our Neighbors in the Services
Moville, Iowa—Staff Sergeant Wilbur (Borny) Bornschein, son of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Bornschein, who is the gunner on a Flying Fortress, the Hell-Lena, based in England, has written his parents he has shot down two enemy planes. He has been abroad only eight weeks.
“Boy if you just see the number of planes going out. At times the sky is black with them, then the R.A.F. goes out at night. Believe me, Germany is taking an awful pounding,” he wrote.
Since the letter, Mrs. Bornschein received a birthday telegram from her son.
Sergeant Bornschein enlisted July 7, 1942, at Des Moines and took his gunnery training at Las Vegas, Nev. His wife Rosalie is employed at the Ankeny ordnance plant at Des Moines.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, July 9, 1943
Awards To Two Lost In Action
Sergeant Hurlo, of City and Bornschein, Moville; Decorated
Decorations for a Sioux Cityan and a Moville man, both recently reported missing in action, were announced by the war department Wednesday.
The two are Technical Sergeant John Hurlo, 27, son of Mrs. Alexandria Hurlo, 1713 23d street and Staff Sergeant Wilbur L. Bornschein, son of Dr. and Mrs. F.C. Bornschein, Moville.
The bronze oak leaf cluster to the air medal was awarded to Sergeant Hurlo, who was reported missing in action August 17 in the European area.
The air medal was awarded to Sergeant Bornschein, a gunner on a Flying Fortress based in England, who was reported missing in action since September 27. He had taken part in almost 50 missions over enemy territory.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, October 14, 1943
