The Ultimate Sacrifice – Pfc. Ole E. Rosproy – St. John’s Cemetery, Ford County, Kansas

Pfc. Rosproy was an ambulance driver in a medical battalion of the 3rd Armored Division. He had been in France since June of 1944. On Dec 30, 1944, his parents received a telegram stating that their son, who had been missing in action since Sept 1st, had been killed in action on that date.

Ole Rosproy, the first son of Peter and Anne Rosproy, was born on August 19, 1915. He attended St. John’s Catholic school graduating in 1931. Ole was mechanically inclined and was known for taking apart most anything and putting it back together. For a time, he was a mechanic for Herman Sanko in the Offerle Garage.

In 1941, he purchased two combines and a threshing machine to assist farmers to harvest their crops.

The military came calling on November 5th and Ole was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for training. He was chosen for the Third Armored Division and was a member of the 45th medical battalion as an ambulance driver. He headed overseas in August of 1943.

On the 27th of December 1944, Peter and Anne received a telegram notifying them that Ole had been missing since September and had been killed in Belgium. Pfc. Rosproy was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic actions taken on September 1, 1944.

“As an ambulance driver, Pfc. Rosproy started for a treatment station with two seriously wounded men, knowing that the enemy was between his position and that of the treatment station on the route of evacuation. With total disregard for his own personal safety, he volunteered to carry the wounded men for the vitally needed medical treatment, thus exposing himself for the enemy nearby.”1

Note: Ole’s fiancée was Miss Violette Swenson of Seneca Falls, New York. She was born in Kansas about 1919.

1 Spearville News October 11, 1945