| Notes |
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSsr=41&GSmcid=46988653&GRid=33168956&
6 April 1940 census of San Jose, Santa Clara County, CA, found the Lounsbury family living in dwelling #236 on South 21st Street. They said that they lived in Sedan, Chautauqua County, KS, on 1 April 1935:
Elmore Lounsbury 67 KS - Completed 8 years of education
Nancy Jane 55 KS - Completed 1 year of college, Employed as clerical at college library
Fred 20 OK - Completed 4 years of high school, Employed as a new electrical worker
Irven 16 OK - Completed 1 year of high school, Employed as newspaper carrier
The 1956 edition of Polk's City Directory of Eureka, Humboldt County, California, found Irven G. Lounsbury and wife Billie M. Lounsbury living at 1423 Pine Street. Irven showed his employment as a house painter.
Irven divorced Lyda Chapman March 1970, San Luis Obispo County, CA.
Irven divorced Gail M. Bland/Woodward 5 July 1983, Santa Clara County, CA.
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Irven Lounsbury joined the US Army in San Francisco, CA, on 23 Feb 1943. At the time, he was living in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, CA, and was single with no dependents. He said that he had 4 years of high school, he was 70" tall and weighed 157 pounds. Originally assigned to the US Army Air Corps, he was reassigned to the infantry due to a broken or damaged ear drum.
Irven G. Lounsbury, Private, US Army, Serial Number 39125025:
During WWII, while serving in Europe with the US Army Cavalry, 106th Infantry Division, Irven was wounded in the leg and captured by the German Army on 16 December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. The jeep that he was driving encountered the advancing German Army and was immediately attacked. A German officer pulled his pistol and threatened to shoot Irven, who lie on the ground seriously wounded, until Irven's Army buddy begged the officer to spare his life and offered to carry him, which he did. Listed as "Missing in Action" by the US Army, he spent the rest of the war in German hospitals and POW camps recovering from his wounds. His family didn't know that he had survived until after the war ended and he was repatriated on 24 July 1945.
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/print-record-detail.jsp?dt=466&mtch=3&cat=all&tf=F&q=Lounsbury&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=88451&rlst=88451,88450,134551
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=lounsbury&sx=&f16=&f17=&rg_f18__date=&rs_f18__date=0&f22=&f20=&f6=&f10=&f39=&f29=&f41=&gskw=&prox=1&db=wwiipow&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=1&h=75088&recoff=7&ml_rpos=2
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Combat Chronicle - Battle of the Bulge:
The 106th Infantry Division received its final state-side training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, from 27 March 1944 to 13 October 1944.
The 106th Infantry Division arrived in the United Kingdom on 17 November 1944, trained briefly, then moved to France on 6 December 1944. It relieved the 2nd Infantry Division in the quiet area of Schnee Eifel on 11 December 1944 for further training.
The German Ardennes Offensive was thrown in force without warning at the 106th on 16 December 1944 with a large thrust through the Schnee Eifel area (now called Schneifel) by the German Sixth SS Panzer Army and German Fifth Panzer Army. At this time the division has been on the continent for only 15 days with many new soldiers at an average age of 22 years. In addition, the division had minimal supplies and ammunition.
Immediately the 422d and 423d Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off from the remainder of the division by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schonberg, just east of St. Vith. They were in a forest that had small roads and little terrain where maneuver was practicable. The regiments lacked armored support, and though they regrouped for counterattack, they were blocked by the enemy and lost to the division on 18 December 1944. The division suffered 641 killed and 1,200 wounded in these early actions. Over 7,000 soldiers were captured and sent to various POW camps throughout Germany. One of the division's losses in this action was Kurt Vonnegut, who suffered the rest of the war as a prisoner and later drew upon his experiences to write his novel "Slaughterhouse Five".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/106th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
A detailed account of the battle can be found at http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_7.htm
See also: http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/utils/getfile/collection/p4013coll8/id/3408/filename/3418.pdf
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ARMY REVEALS SOLDIER IS MISSING -
Military officials today announced Private Irven G. Lounsbury, 21, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmore Lounsbury, 426 South Fulton Street, a member of a reconnaissance group, has been missing in action in Germany since December 16th.
The youth went overseas last November. he received preliminary training and cadet flier training in Texas.
Educated in San Jose, Lounsbury was a shipyard worker in Oakland before entering the military service in February 1942. he won the good conduct ribbon.
A brother, Fred, who is serving in the navy, is stationed at San Diego.
The Fresno Bee 18 January 1945
http://interactive.ancestry.com/51453/News-CA-FR_BE_RE.1945_01_18-0030/495503390?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dNews-CA-FR_BE_RE%26db%3d%26so%3d2%26rank%3d0%26_80000002%3dirven%26_80000003%3dlounsbury%26gskw%3d%26gs2co%3d1%252cAll%2bCountries%26gs2pl%3d1%252c%2b%26year%3d%26yearend%3d%26sbo%3d1%26sbor%3d%26ufr%3d0%26wp%3d4%253b_80000002%253b_80000003%26srchb%3dp%26prox%3d1%26ti%3d0%26ti.si%3d0%26gss%3dangs-b&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&rc=2140,2175,2233,2208;2307,2175,2493,2208
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RETURNED -
Private Victor E. Johanson and Private Irven G. Lounsbury of Fresno, both of who had been held by the Germans in prison camps, have reported to the army ground and service forces redistribution station in Santa Barbara after having recently been returned from Europe.
Lounsbury, who was taken prisoner last January, was released in April and Johanson, also captured in January, was rescued in May. Johanson is a son of Mrs. Cecelia Johanson of Fresno and Lounsbury's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmore Lounsbury, make their home at 462 South Fulton Street.
The Fresno Bee 14 September 1945
http://interactive.ancestry.com/51453/News-CA-FR_BE_RE.1945_09_14-0013/495761421?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dNews-CA-FR_BE_RE%26db%3d%26so%3d2%26rank%3d0%26_80000002%3dirven%26_80000003%3dlounsbury%26gskw%3d%26gs2co%3d1%252cAll%2bCountries%26gs2pl%3d1%252c%2b%26year%3d%26yearend%3d%26sbo%3d1%26sbor%3d%26ufr%3d0%26wp%3d4%253b_80000002%253b_80000003%26srchb%3dp%26prox%3d1%26ti%3d0%26ti.si%3d0%26gss%3dangs-b&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&rc=1181,1808,1258,1837;1318,1808,1456,1837
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MISSING FRESNO SOLDIERS REPORT THEY ARE SAFE -
Two young Fresnans reported missing in action have survived, one after being captured by the Germans and liberated by the Americans, the other after being shot down over Germany and escaping to Russia.
Private Irven G. Lounsbury, 21, a member of a mechanized cavalry unit, who was captured and liberated, and Sergeant John E. Eastman, 19, a Flying Fortress tail gunner who was shot down over Leipzig, Germany, and was aided by the underground in escaping to Russia, have written relatives and friends in Fresno.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs Elmore Lounsbury of 426 South Fulton Street, have received two letters from Lounsbury, one written March 31st and the other April 1st from American repairation center No. 1, whose location was not disclosed.
"GeeI'll bet you've been plenty worried about me," he said, "I've hardly had an opportunity to write to you. In fact, I can't hardly write now as it's been so long.
"I am back in American hands again, thanks be to the Lord. If all the rumors are true I may be home soon, but don't count on it too much."
He wrote, "I got myself sick from eating too much" after his release, but declared he is in good physical condition. The Germans, he said, took all of his address books. For that reason, he asked his mother to notify all his friends.
He was declared missing in action after he went out on a reconnaissance mission in Germany on December 16, 1944.
Lounsbury entered the army in February, 1942, after working in an Oakland shipyard. He went overseas in November 1944.
The Fresno Bee 19 April 1945
http://interactive.ancestry.com/51453/News-CA-FR_BE_RE.1945_04_19-0001/495602689?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dNews-CA-FR_BE_RE%26db%3d%26so%3d2%26rank%3d0%26_80000002%3dirven%26_80000003%3dlounsbury%26gskw%3d%26gs2co%3d1%252cAll%2bCountries%26gs2pl%3d1%252c%2b%26year%3d%26yearend%3d%26sbo%3d1%26sbor%3d%26ufr%3d0%26wp%3d4%253b_80000002%253b_80000003%26srchb%3dp%26prox%3d1%26ti%3d0%26ti.si%3d0%26gss%3dangs-b&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&rc=1198,3454,1270,3479;1327,3454,1471,3479
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Irven's Story :
Irven related to his older sister, Nettie, that "he was drafted in the Army even though he had a running-sore burst eardrum. He was serving in Germany in a Reconnaissaice squadron. In December 1944, just before his 21st birthday, during the famous Battle of the Bulge, he was driving a jeep on the mountainous front lines. The officers all went to look for a way to escape, deserting the foot soldiers. Suddenly they found themselves on the road surrounded by the German Army, who began to attack. The Corporal sitting next to Irven in the jeep had his head blown off by mortor shell. One mortor fragment went through Irven's thigh. They were ordered to get out of the jeep and, of course, Irven wasn't able to stand up. He was sitting on the sloping ground near the road, holding his wounded thigh. A German officer approached and pointed his pistol at Irven's head.
Irven later said the loudest sound he had ever heard was the cocking of that pistol pointed at his head. He bent his head down, as he did not want to be looking into the gun, and his helmet fell off and rolled away. He started to reach for it and then thought 'What the hell...I'll never need it again'. His buddies begged for his life, saying they would carry him. The German soldiers stood and looked then finally shrugged their shoulders and motioned with their guns for them to get on with it. Someone had found an old ladder made from the limbs of a tree. It was hard on his back, but it was better than the alternative. There is some speculation that losing his helmet helped to save his life as it uncovered his red hair.
As a POW, all the Germans had to tend Irven's wound strips of paper. Irven said the Germans did not have enough to eat so they would periodically shoot some of the captured men, including some who had saved his life, so he would beg 'take me'. The Germans had a new game and would laugh and say 'No. It is better this way because it's so much fun to watch you beg'. Irven said he had 12ths chewing on a horse bone once and it was so good over 200 men stood in line to chew on it. When he was finally rescued in late March or April 1945, his weight had gone from 179 pounds down to just 89 pounds."
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Publication: The Fresno Bee, The Republican
Location: Fresno, California
Issue Date: Wednesday, July 18, 1945
Page: Page 18
Fresno Prisoner Has Close Shave In U. S. Air Attack
The sensation of fear which streaks down your spinal column when you see your own planes heading toward you with a bomb load is something Private Irven G. Lounsbury, 21, Mechanized Cavalry, never wants again. Although home in Fresno on a furlough and many, many miles from German prison camps, Lounsbury still has memories and very vivid ones, of the horrible hours he spent in an enemy prisoner box car wondering which plane would strafe his group.
Last March, when the Germans moved the Allied prisoners, including Lounsbury, from Stalag Luft 12A, they were transported in box cars only the Nazis neglected to put the much needed POW signs on the cars.
Hit Next Car
"During one of the raids, there was one particular plane heading straight for our car and I never prayed so hard in my life," Lounsbury said, "but by some miracle it hit the car next to ours." The Fresno soldier said the Germans would hide the cars in tunnels all day and moved them at night. Strafing by Allied planes became so bad the only way the prisoners were saved was by getting out of the car and forming, a human POW signs. Finally the prisoners were taken off the train and told to start marching. Lounsbury started the march but did not finish it. While no guard was looking, Lounsbury fell out of line and rolled into a ditch, where he lay for hours in the dark.
Escapes German Notice
"There were a few German soldiers walking up and down the line but not a one of them missed me. "I got into some woods but the next day the Allies started shelling that position and I had shells falling within 50 feet of me. "The only thing left for me to do was to go into the nearest German town. You see I had no alternative, and, besides, I was thirsty and hungry. "When I got into town I saw a couple of civilians who looked friendly. They acted all right but one of them wandered off and reported me. Then it was back to a prison camp, and this time it was where they kept the French."
Freed By Russians
But Lounsbury only had one night in the French prisoner camp for the Russians came through that very night (March 29th) and released them. Lounsbury was captured at Bastogne in the breakthrough last December. Lounsbury had suffered an injury in his leg and had to be carried for eight hours on a runged ladder to the enemy internment camp. The only good word Lounsbury has for the Germans concerns his stay in a luftwaffe hospital, where he was taken after he was interned.
Doctors Are Praised
"The German doctors were wonderful," he said. "They took very good care of us even though they did not always have everything they needed." As an example of the shortages faced by the German doctors, Lounsbury said they used paper bandages.
A son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmore Lounsbury, 426 Fulton Street, he went overseas last November after having entered the army in February, 1942.
http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/25887550/
Note: Stalag Luft 12A was located at Limburg an der Lahn in Germany. http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/pow/stalag12a.html
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1923 - 1996 (72 years)
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