|
Thoroughly American after growing up in Wisconsin,
Diethelm enlisted in the Army on 18 November 1943 and volunteered for
parachutist duty. After being transported to
England, Pvt Stobbe was transferred from the 82nd Airborne Division
replacement depot to HQ 1st, 508th on 23 July 1944, one of the many
replacements necessitated by the losses in Normandy.
On 17 September 1944, Pvt Stobbe was listed as
MIA in Holland and, in fact, had been captured (see next page for more).
In June 1945 he was liberated from Stalag 7A Moosburg
Bavaria. Pvt Stobbe
returned to the U.S. under Movement Orders RO Group, E 1027-7 He was discharged on 22 November 1946. However
eight years later, he enlisted in the Air Force on 19 February 1954 and remained in
service until 31 August 1965.
Diethelm married Marilyn Burch on 26 September
1969 at Lakenheath AFB although the marriage was registered in
Newmarket, Suffolk.
Diethelm was transferred to Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX
and relocated his wife and 2 daughters, Julie and Lorraine there as
well. A subsequent transfer moved the family to Chanute AFB (Rantoul,
IL). Diethelm then served a year in Ubon, Thailand and then a final
transfer put them at Castle AF Base (Atwater, CA)
|
(courtesy of "Gravely Obsessed")
Grave marker for Diethelm Stobbe in the Marlborough
Road Cemetery, Ilfracombe, North Devon, England.
His daughter Julie, who provided many of the facts
shown at he left, reported, "In 1975 suffering from a chronic heart condition my
father had no choice but to retire from the USAF. We moved back to
England and went to live in Ilfracombe, North Devon and he very sadly
passed away at the North Devon Hospital in Barnstaple - 23rd of March
1978." |
