OUR NEIGHBORS in the SERVICE
Milford, Ia.—A news release from an American infantry division in Germany reports that Pvt. Robert L. Nordli of Milford recently knocked six Germans out of the war with a single shell. It was fired from a bazooka gun during the fighting around Lindern. According to the story, the Germans had run out of a pillbox 300 yards in front of the Milford soldier, fleeing toward their own lines. Nordli aimed at the pillbox. The shot missed and traveled over the box to land squarely in the middle of the fleeing Germans. The story further relates that Nordli, a short time later, killed a German tank commander who “made the mistake of sticking his head out the turret of his tank.”
Source: The Sioux City Journal, January 3, 1945
Robert Nordli Is Seriously Wounded in Belgium
NORDLI FAMILY RECEIVES
WAR DEPT. MESSAGE THURSDAY
The Arne Nordli family had another war department message last Thursday. The message this time stated that Robert Nordli had been seriously wounded in action Jan. 24. He was known to have been in Belgium and his family presumes that by now he has been hospitalized behind the lines.
The local family’s last letter from Robert was dated Jan. 16, and was received ten days or more ago. At that time they were exceptionally glad to hear from him as he had been reported missing in action shortly before then.
The youth had gained many honors for his work on the Belgium front within the last few months, official channels have announced. His father, Arne Nordli, came home from Alaska, where he works for the government, when the first war department telegram was received in January. He is still here.
Mr. and Mrs. Nordli had a letter from their son Tuesday. It was written from Paris, where he had been taken after he was hurt, and states that it was a leg injury. The Nordlis have given The Mail permission to pass the letter along, as the entire community is interested in the progress of the young man.
The telegram announcing Robert’s wounds is as follows:
“Regret to inform you that your son, Pvt. Robert L. Nordli, was seriously wounded in action 24 January in Belgium. Mail address follows direct from hospital with details. J. A. Ulio, The Adjutant General.”
The letter from Bob follows:
Feb. 1, 1945.
Dear Mom: For the past few days I’ve been in a hospital here in Paris. The hospital is very modern; quite a change from what I’ve been used to in the past. I’ll be going to England soon, and hope I get a ticket for the States also. My leg is in a plaster-of-paris cast. It feels OK so I suppose it will be healing up soon. How is everyone at home? I miss getting your letters now that I am away from my company. Hope to have an address soon. Love, Bob.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, February 15, 1945, Page 1
OUR NEIGHBORS in the SERVICE
Milford, Ia.—Two Milford families have had good word from sons in service, after messages stating injuries. Mr. and Mrs. Arne Nordli’s son, Bob, has written that he has been transferred to a hospital in England from Paris and had met and visited with other Iowa youths. Nordli was injured in the leg after he became separated from his outfit in the December break through and was reported missing.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Arends, whose son Russell was in the same outfit with Nordli on the Belgium border, has written that his injury was to the knee and he is also in a hospital in England. He was flow there from Belgium.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, February 26, 1945
Robert LeRoy Nordli was born Nov. 19, 1923 to Arne and Bergine Peterson Nordli. He died Feb. 2, 2016 and is buried in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, KY.
Robert served in World War II with the U.S. Army. He is the author of “The General’s Alter Ego”, a story of a WWII soldier.
Source: ancestry.com
