Robert E. Trueblood
Find Remains of Lowell Flier Who Has been Missing Since 1945
Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Trueblood received, this week, the following information concerning their son, Sergeant Robert E. Trueblood, who met his death while fighting with the 8th American Air Force on April 10th, 1945. Of the nine crewmen on the plane only one survived.The letter follows:
The American Graves Registration Service in their search for decease American personnel recovered certain remains from the area in which you son and others of his comrades met their death. As individual indentifications could not be established at the time of the recovery, unknown designations were assigned pending further investigation, and temporary interments were made in the United States Military Cemetery overseas.
The investigation has now been completed and it has been impossible to individually identify your son's remains. It has been established, however, that the remains recovered are the only recoverable remains of your son and the three comrades with whom he lost his life. The group of remains are now casketed, and being held overseas, pending return to the United States for interment in Ft. McPherson National Cemetery, located at Maxwell, Nebraska.
The plan for the burial in one of our country's shrines of all the known groups of men for whom individual identity cannot be established, is based upon the provision of Public Law 383, 7th Congress as amended by Section 3, Public Law 368, 80th Congress. It is fitting and proper that our honored dead be interred in a national cemetery in the United States where perpetual care will be given the graves. This particular national cemetery was selected in order that no undue burden of travel might be placed on any one family wishing to attend the services.
You and the next of kin of the other men will be informed of the date and time of final interment sufficiently in advance to permit you and any interested persons to attend the ceremonies.
Not again, but always we mourn our war dead. Mr. and Mrs. Trueblood have our heartfelt sympathy in their bereavement. With the pangs of sorrow suffered in World War II still burning deep in our hearts, and with shattered nerves from the anxiety of cold war, though not refreshed, we face sorrows anew. With the Korean invasion already eight weeks old let us sincerely pray for Divine intervention in the decisions of men, wise and just leaders, inspired with Divine Grace, can and will establish World Peace.
This article, from The Lowell Tribune (Nov. 30, 1950, page 1, column 2), can also be found in the Local History Files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 3, page 68):
- Reburial Services Held for Sgt. R.E. Trueblood
- Reburial services were held Monday for Sgt. Robert E. Trueblood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Trueblood, who met his death while fighting with the American 8th Air Force, on April 10th, 1945.
- Only last summer, the American Graves Registration Service recovered his remains along with three other of the plane's crewmen, Sgt. Herman Williams of Nebraska, Sgt. Wesley Wood of Washington state and Capt. Delbert Reeves of Iowa.
- Parents and relatives of the group gathered at Fort McPherson National cemetery, Maxwell, Nebr., for the graveside military rites which were conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27th, by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations.
- Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Trueblood and son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Ebert, made the 1696 mile trip to be in attendance.
- The Truebloods express their sincere appreciation to their neighbors, the Mothers of World War II, American Legion, Post 101, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6841, for their kind remembrances, the beautiful flowers which they sent.
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