Brookline War Memorial
Roy T. Arensberg

United States Army (1775-present)

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.

37th Infantry Division in Baguio    37th Infantry Division in Baguio
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.

Roy T. Arensberg

* 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
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

The Brookline Veteran's 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
 

United States Army (1775-present)  United States Army Air Services (1917-1947)  United States Navy (1775-present)  United States Marine Corps (1775-present)
United States Coast Guards (1790-present)  United States Air Force (1947-present)  United States Merchant Marine (1775-present)

World War I (1917-1919)

Percy Digby

Digby, David P.
Mayville Avenue
Army

Details

Raymond P. Cronin

Cronin, Raymond P.
Berkshire Avenue
USMC

Details

Charles Luppe

Luppe, Charles
Ferncliffe Avenue
Army

Details

WW1 Memorial - Washington D.C.
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


WW2 Memorial - Washington D.C.
The World War II Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Korean War (1950-1953)

Patrick Gallagher

Gallagher, Patrick J.
Bodkin Street
Army

Details

James Gormley

Gormley, James W.
Brookline Boulevard
Army

Details

Gerald Hilliard

Hilliard, Gerald G.
Edgebrook Avenue
Army

Details

James McKenna

McKenna, James E.
Bellaire Place
Army

Details

Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.
Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Vietnam War (1965-1973)

James Robert Bodish

Bodish, James R.
Plainview Avenue
Army

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

James Gilbert Collins

Collins, James G.
Dunster Street
Army

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

James Charles Wonn

Wonn, James C.
Mayville Avenue
Navy

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.
Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.




The Brookline Monument - The Cannon

Brookline Veteran's Park - April 26, 2014.

<Brookline War Memorial> <> <Brookline History>