Ray Berkenpas Is Participating In Rodeos In Italy
The Fifth Army’s “Iowa Cowboy,” Private Ray Berkenpas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Berkenpas, Route 5, LeMars, Iowa, recently rode a fighting ox in a Fifth Army rodeo in Italy, says a Fifth Army bulletin.
Berkenpas was wildly cheered in the exhibition, which as held in an Italian corral several miles behind the Fifth Army frontlines. Entering the arena atop an enraged ox, “Cowboy” Berkenpas was thrown in the air. He landed harmlessly on the ground amid shouts and cheers from the soldiers and native Italian families making up the late afternoon audience.
Exactly a year ago, the “Iowa Cowboy” participated in a rodeo at Bizerta, Tunisia. A veteran of the Italian, Sicilian and Tunisian campaigns, he served overseas since November 18, 1942. His duties include driving an engineer company of the Fifth Army.
He formerly was employed by the Hartog Elevator Company, Sioux City, Iowa.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel,
July 18, 1944
DISCHARGES FILED.
The following men have registered at the courthouse as having received their discharges from the Armed Services:
Raymond J. Berkenpas.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, Thursday, November 15, 1945
***Further Research:
Raymond Jacob Berkenpas was born Aug. 13, 1921 to Jacob and Albertha “Bertha” Hendricks Dambrink Berkenpas. He died Sept. 11, 2000 and is buried in Davis Memorial Park, Las Vegas, NV.
Source: ancestry.com
