Raymond S. Wittbrodt (1920 - 1944)

Born 1920 in Michigan

Ancestors

Died 29 May 1944 at about age 24 in Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy

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Biography

Birth

Sergeant Raymond Wittbrodt served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: 1942
Unit(s): First Special Service Force
Service ended: 1944

Summary When Raymond S. Wittbrodt was born in 1920 in Michigan, his father, Anthony, was 30 and his mother, Nellie, was 24. He had five brothers and one sister. SGT. Raymond Wittbrodt was a member of the First Special Service Force, an American/Canadian special forces unit. He died in Italy at the age of 23, in World War II and was buried in Nettuno, Roma, Italy.^[1]

Residence
(1930) Flint, Genesee, Michigan, USA ^[2]
(1935) Flint, Genesee, Michigan
(1940) Flint, Genesee, Michigan, USA ^[3]
(1941) Flint, Michigan, USA

Military
SGT. Raymond Wittbrodt, 23
A graduate of St. Michael High School in 1939, Wittbrodt was employed by the JOURNAL and at Buick Motor Division before his induction.

He was a member of the 1st Special Service Force (also called The Devil's Brigade, The Black Devils, The Black Devils' Brigade, and Freddie's Freighters). It was an elite American-Canadian commando unit in World War II, under command of the United States Fifth Army. The unit was organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana in the United States. The Force served in the Aleutian Islands, and fought in Italy, and southern France before being disbanded in December 1944. ^[4]

Raymond died in Italy as a part of the FSSF. SGT. Wittbrodt was killed near Rome, May 29. A second letter, dated June 15 and written by a wounded friend of their son, confirmed the report. Besides his parents SGT. Wittbrodt was survived by his fiancée Miss Mary West of Flint; three brothers Andrew Wittbrodt, apprentice-seaman, Great Lakes, Ill.; 2nd Lt. Anthony Wittbrodt, Stationed in North Carolina; and Leonard at home; Two nieces Karen Lee and Christine Louise, of Flint. ^[5]

Story:[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOiFknBHdBc ] The First Special Service Force and Helena: A Love Story: Learn how an elite force of American and Canadian soldiers came to Helena in 1942 to train for special operations in World War II and formed a bond with the community that lasted a lifetime. While these men are known collectively as the Devil’s Brigade, to many in Helena they are simply called “Dad” or “Granddad.”

Death
29 May 1944 (aged 23–24), Italy ^{[6] [7]}

Burial Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/106554882/person/140180103672/facts?_phtarg=3d5-1508203 : accessed 2 December 2019), profile for Raymond S. Wittbrodt.
2. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census
3. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census
4. ↑ [1]
5. ↑ Source: Flint Journal, June 29, 1944. Bio by: L Beacon
6. ↑ Source, attached: U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
7. ↑ U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949
8. ↑ U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945, Raymond S Wittbrodt; Religion: Protestant; Cemetery Name: Nettuno (Permanent Cemetery), Nettuno, Italy; Grave Number: h 2 25; Disposition: According to next of kin; Service Branch: Army; Rank: Technician Fourth Grade; Service Number: 36514146; Ancestry.com

• Italy, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current
• U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995