Sergt. Warren Roach Missing in Normandy
Sergt. Warren R. Roach. 22-year-old
paratrooper who dropped into France with the invasion forces, has been
missing in action since June 8. his father, Roy S. Roach of 56 East
Ritrenhouse avenue, has been informed by the war department.
Sergeant Roach volunteered for paratroop training after
completing his basic training at Camp Wolters. Tex. and trained at Fort
Benning, Ga.. and Camp McCall. N. C. He went to North Ireland in
December and a few weeks later was transferred to England, where he
remained until the French invasion.
Before his induction in September. 1942. he was employed by the
Homer Furnace & Foundry Corp. in Coldwater, where he was born and grew
up. His mother, the late Ardella Roach, died in 1926. His brother.
Floyd, has been in the navy for a year, and is stationed at the navy
repair base in San Diego. Another brother, James, is employed by the
Turpin Manufacturing Co. The father moved to Battle Creek from Coldwater
two years ago.
[Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, MI,·31 July
1944, Mon, Page 2]
Battle Creek. Missing Local Paratrooper Is Prisoner
Sergt. Warren R. Roach, 22-year-old paratrooper who was reported missing
since June 8, after dropping into France with the invasion troops, is
now known to be a prisoner of the Germans. The war department telegram
received Monday by his father, Roy S. Roach of 56 Rittenhouse avenue.
arrived two days after a postcard from the prison camp, written by the
son.
The telegram said: "A report received through the International Red
Cross states that your son, Technician Fourth Grade Warren R. Roach is a
prisoner of war of the German government."
The son's card read: "It's been a long time but you know why now. I hope
it has been no harder on you than it has me. I'm in as good health as
ever and couldn't be safer. Don't worry and tell all I'm okay. Be seeing
you soon." It was dated August 9.
Sergeant Roach became a paratrooper after completing his basic training
at Camp Wolters, Tex., and trained at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp
McCall, N. C. He went to north Ireland in December and a few weeks later
was transferred to England, where he remained until the French invasion.
Before his induction in September, 1942, he was employed by the Homer
Furnace & Foundry Corp In Coldwater. His father moved to Battle Creek
from Coldwater two years ago. A brother, James, is employed by the
Turpin Manufacturing Co. Another brother, Floyd, has been in the navy
for a year.
[Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, MI,·31 October 1944,
Tue, Page 3] |
 Hears
from Prisoner
Roy S. Roach of 56 Rittenhouse avenue, has received a card from
his son, Sergt. Warren R. Roach, who is a prisoner of war of the
Germans.
He writes: "Dear Dad, Just finished supper after returning from the
show. It was really a swell show. We have good church services also. I
now weigh 144 pounds. All I do is sleep, eat, and play tennis and ball.
Don't worry, I'm okay."
Sergeant Roach parachuted into France, and was reported missing
June 8. He has been in the army since September. 1942. and was formerly
employed in Coldwater. [Battle Creek Enquirer
(Battle Creek, MI,·2 December 1944, Sat, Page 3]
 3
Freed from Nazis Are Due Home Today
Three Battle Creek soldiers who recently were liberated from
prisoner of war camps in Germany are expected home late today from Fort
Sheridan. Ill., where they arrived yesterday afternoon with 173 other
liberated Americans.
The local men are First Sergt. Ray Holman, husband of Mrs. Marion
Holman of 87 Harvard: Sergt. Warren R. Roach, a son of Roy S. Roach of
56 East Rittenlvou.se avenue, and Corp. Chester Wilk, a son of John Wilk
of 83 Hoag. All three were captured by the Nazis in France.
Only last week, the family of Corporal Wilk received the official
notice from the war department that he had been liberated by the
advancing Allied Forces, but not until they received a telephone call
from the Enquirer and News this morning were they aware that he was back
in the United States. Corporal Wilk was reported missing in October and
the war department announced he was a prisoner February 10.
Sergeant Holman. a former member of the 5th Division at Fort Custer
and a veteran of 15 years service in the army, was reported missing in
action last August, and on January 6, his wife was notified that he was
a war prisoner.
Sergeant Roach also was reported missing in action in August, but the
war department announced in October that he was a war prisoner.
[Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, MI,·17 April
1945, Sat, Page 1] |
