Woodbury County

Sgt. Virgil Lowell Stelck

Died 24 Mar 1944
 

 

Correctionville Gunner on Bomber Reported Missing

Correctionville, Ia.—Special: Sergeant Virgil Lowell Stelck, 21, a wing gunner in the crew of a heavy bomber has been reported missing in action following a raid in the north African area on March 24, according to a telegram received from the War Department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Stelck.

Sergeant Stelck enlisted in February, 1943, and went overseas on March 8, 1944.  Mr. and Mrs. Stelck have two other sons in the service, Gerald W. Stelck, quartermaster second class with the Navy in the south Atlantic, and Private First Class William A. Stelck, with the marines in the south Pacific.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 17, 1944

VIRGIL STELCK KILLED IN ACTION
Correctionville Boy Dies in German Plane Raid

Correctionville, Ia.—Special: Sergeant Virgil Lowell Stelck, 21, a wing gunner in a heavy bomber crew, who was reported missing in action March 24, lost his life on a combat mission in the heart of Germany the morning of March 24, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Stelck, have been notified by the War Department.

Sergeant Stelck enlisted in February, 1943, and went overseas March 8, 1944.  Mr. and Mrs. Stelck have two other sons in the service, Gerald W. Stelck, quartermaster second class in the Navy in the south Atlantic, and Private First Class William Arcell Stelck, with the marines in the south Pacific.

Memorial services will be held pending word received from relatives in California.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, July 5, 1944

Virgil Lowell Stelck is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. Sgt. Stelck served with the 721st Bomb Squadron, 450th Bomb Group, Heavy and was awarded the Air Medal.

Source: abmc.gov