Memorial

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Ward L. Barlow was employed by Charles Volgamore in Beaver City, Nebraska.

On 8 June 1945, Chaplain Richard A. Risser wrote a letter to his family: "In addition to the official notification which you have received from the War Departement concering the death of your husband, Pfc Ward L. Barlow, kindly permit me, as the Chaplain of his unit to offer a word of sympathy and condolence, and give you all available information relating to his death. As you know, your husband was first reported as missing in action on 18 February 1945. It was later determited that he had been killed on that date. He, together with other members of a special patrol, had been detailed to cross the Roer river by boat, under cover of darkness. Their mission was to obtain needed Engineer information from the vicinity of Erberich, Germany. The village is located near the east bank of the Roer, which was then held by the enemy. The patrol was succesful in securing the information, but while returning, their boat struck a submerged object, presumably a log, and was overturned. The men were swept down stream by the fast current. All but two of them, one of whom was your husband, reached our shore safely. The survivors began an immediate search for those missing and a platoon from the company came down and joined in the search also, but without succes. As indicated in your notification from the War Departement, the body of your husband was later recovered in the vicinity of Pier, Germany, which is located near the west bank of the Roer river, and not far from the patrol's original objective. Your husband was buried at ten minutes before noon on 9 May 1945, in the United States Military Cemetery, Margraten, Holland."