Pvt. Roy T. Arensberg
United States Army (1943-1945)
Roy Thomas Arensberg was born on March 3,
1920, to parents Amelia E. and Rutherford S. Arensberg of 431 Fernhill Avenue. He
had three sisters, Dorothy, Maymie and Florence, and six brothers, George, Henry,
Robert, Paul, Edward and Rutherford. Roy attended West Liberty Elementary School
and graduated from South Hills High School. Afterwards, Roy moved to Marin City,
California with his wife Helen and their infant son Leslie.
Roy enlisted in the Army while in California
and, after basic training, was assigned to the 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th
Infantry Division of the U.S. Sixth Army. The "Buckeye" Division was the National
Guard unit from Ohio, and fought exclusively in the South Pacific. The Division
first saw action in New Georgia, taking Munda Airfield after heavy fighting. The
next assignment was in Bougainville, engaging in extensive patrol
activity.
In March 1944, two Japanese divisions made
eight major attacks, but Division lines held. In April patrols cleared the Laruma
Valley area of major enemy units. They remained on Bougainville and trained
for the Battle of Luzon. Landing at Lingayen Gulf on January 9, 1945, the
Division raced inland against slight resistance to Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg
where fierce resistance delayed capture of those objectives until
January 31.
The Division continued to drive to Manila
against small delaying forces, and entered the city's outskirts on February 4. Upon
crossing the Pasig River, it ran into bitter Japanese opposition. In heavy street
fighting, American and Filipino troops cleared the city by March 3.
After garrison duty in Manila, March 5–26,
the Division shifted to the hills of Northwest Luzon, where heavy fighting
culminated in the capture of Baguio on April 26. It was during this battle that,
on April 25, Brookline's Private Roy T. Arensburg was badly wounded. A little over
a week later, on May 3, 1945, he died of his wounds.
Soldiers of the 37th Infantry Division in
combat near Baguio, Central Luzon, in April 1945.
The following was written
by Cheryl Ross, a relative of Private Arensberg:
"You will not read about Uncle Roy in the
pages of history books. He was born March 3, 1920 in Pittsburgh. He grew up during
the hard times of the 1920's and 1930's, a time when the world was in a state of
crisis and when liberty and freedom hung in the balance. He left his young wife,
toddler son, mom, dad and siblings to answer the call to serve his country. No, he
is not written in books, no movie has been made, no stories told, yet he and his
fellow soldiers are the true heroes of World War II."
Chaplain Duncan N. Naylor, 148th Infantry
Regiment, in a letter he wrote to Roy's wife Helen Arensberg on May 21,
1945:
"Roy died of wounds inflicted by enemy shell
fragments near Irisan on the road to Baguio, Central Luzon, Phillippines Islands on
April 25. He passed on May 3. I buried Roy in the Military Cemetery at Santa Barbara.
A few miles inland from the Lingayen Gulf. For record he lies in Grave - 4058,
Row - 77, American Plot, USAF Cemetery, Santa Barbara # 1."
A letter from President Harry
Truman with the Official United States Seal says in part:
"In grateful memory of Private First Class
Roy T. Arensberg who died in the service of his country in the Southwest Pacific
Area, May 3 1945."
On the Purple Heart Certificate
that comes with the medal it says in part:
"Private First Class Roy T. Arensberg For
Military Merit and for wounds recieved in action resulting in his death May 3, 1945.
Given under my hand in the City of Washington this 30th day of June
1945."
Cheryl Ross continues:
"While these small written acknowledgements
are certainly valued by Roy's son, who is in possession of them, they do not reflect
the pride and honor he bestowed upon his name. As one of many family members who
share the name it is my honor to acknowledge him in this small public way so that
future generations of our family will remember and feel the pride that remembering
affords us. So that future generations understand his sacrifice."
News of Private Arensberg’s fate reached
his family at 431 Fernhill Avenue in early-June. The Pittsburgh Press reported his
death on June 6, 1945. Roy was buried in Luzon for four years. His parents wanted
him brought home. The Pittsburgh Press reported on July 21, 1949 that Private Roy
Thomas Arensberg's body was returned to the United States. His final resting place
is at South Side Cemetery in Carrick.
* Written by Clint Burton:
March 28, 2018 *
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The Arensberg family was in the news on
January 2, 1925, when Roy was just five years old. Below is an article that ran
in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette detailing another sad day in the life of Mrs.
Amelia Arensberg of Fernhill Avenue in Brookline.
GIRL SAVES HER BROTHER
FROM BURNING HOUSE
Mother Rescued - Boy Cut Sounding
Alarm for Brookline Fire
HOSE LINE TOO SHORT
A three-weeks old baby was rescued from his
crib by his sister, aged 13, the mother, ill, was led to safety, a brother, aged 15,
was cut turning in an alarm, and eight persons were driven from the house yesterday
afternoon, New Years Day, when fire destroyed the home of Rutherford Arensberg, 431
Fernhill Avenue, Brookline.
Mrs. Arensberg, who is ill, was in bed and the
baby was in a crib nearby when the flames were discovered. In the dining room, Mrs.
Arensberg's father, Otto Klein, aged 84, a friend, B. F. Schultz, of 321 Penn Avenue,
and five children, Harry, aged 15, Maymie, aged 13, Robert, aged 7, Roy, aged 5, and
Paul, aged 2, were eating dinner.
Mrs. Amelia Arensberg holding her
three-weeks-old son, Edward Gerald,
both of whom were rescued yesterday when fire swept their home.
Saves Brother From Flames
Mrs. Arensberg screamed when she discovered
smoke filling the bedroom. Maymie ran to the bedroom, picked up her infant brother,
Edward, from his crib, covered him with a blanket and ran from the house. Mr. Schultz,
assisted Mrs. Arensberg from the burning building. Harry, his face swathed in bandages
as a result of an accident while playing with dynamite recently, ran almost a half mile
to a fire alarm box and cut his hand severely in turning in the alarm.
The fire is believed to have been caused by on
overheated flue. The Brookline department responded to the alarm, but its hose was not
long enough to reach the burning house, which is situated in a ravine. A call for help
was sent in to the Beechview fire department and its hose was coupled with that of the
Brookline department to reach the fire.
The homeless family was taken in by
neighbors, and damage was estimated at $4500.
The Brookline
War Memorial
Listed below are
many of the sons of Brookline who gave their
lives to preserve freedom and contain aggression during
World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”
General George S. Patton
World War I
(1917-1919)
The World War I Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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World War II
(1941-1945)
Alm, William H.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Arensberg, Roy T.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Bracey, Bruce H.
Plainview Avenue
Army
Details |
Brickley, Edward G.
Woodward Avenue
Army
Details |
Capogreca, James J.
Merrick Avenue
Navy
Details |
Copeland, Clarence R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Cullison, Thomas J.
Birtley Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Howard F.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Walter F.
Milan Avenue
Navy
Details |
Diegelman, Edward R. Jr
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Dornetto, Frank P.
Jacob Street
Navy
Details |
Doyle, John F Jr.
Eben Street
Navy
Details |
Fagan, Gerald B.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Falk, Harold E.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Fehring, Robert M.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Gmuca, Joseph J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Heil, Robert F.
Bayridge Avenue
Army
Details |
Hynes, Richard E.
Waddington Avenue
Army
Details |
Kestler, Paul C.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Ketters, Robert C.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Mahoney, Michael J.
Oakridge Street
Army
Details |
Majestic, Arthur B.
Starkamp Avenue
Army
Details |
Mayberry, Alexander G.
Breining Street
Army
Details |
Mazza, John
Alwyn Street
Army
Details |
McCann, Robert F.
Edgebrook Avenue
Navy
Details |
McFarland, Hugh R.
McNeilly Road
Army
Details |
Meisner, Walter F.
Berwin Avenue
Merchant Marine
Details |
Miller, William J.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Napier, Edward J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Nicholson, John D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
O'Day, John R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Orient, Andrew D.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Pisiecki, Raymond A.
Wolford Avenue
Army
Details |
Reeves, Alfred M.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Reitmeyer, John P.
Bellaire Avenue
Navy
Details |
Rhing, Vern M.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Ruane, Roy J.
Berkshire Avenue
USMC
Details |
Shannon, Harry C.
Midland Street
Army
Details |
Shannon, Jack E.
Midland Street
USMC
Details |
Simpson, James D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Spack, Harry
Linial Avenue
Army
Details |
Tobin, Paul M.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Vierling, Howard F.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Wagner, Ralph G.
Shawhan Avenue
Army
Details |
Wentz, Walter L. Jr
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Zeiler, Harold V.
West Liberty Avenue
Army
Details |
The World War II Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Korean War
(1950-1953)
Korean War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Vietnam War
(1965-1973)
Vietnam War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
The Brookline
Monument - The Cannon
<Brookline
War Memorial> <> <Brookline
History> |