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Baustian, Robert F. (16126186): Difference between revisions

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|middle=F.
|middle=F.
|class_section=5C
|class_section=5C
|class_rank=Pfc
|class_rank=Private First Class
|birth_year=1921
|birth_year=1921
|nativity=US
|nativity=United States
|religion=P
|religion=Protestant
|enlistment_place=CHICAGO ILLINOIS
|enlistment_place=CHICAGO ILLINOIS
|state=IOWA
|state=IOWA
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|birth_date=4 June 1921
|birth_date=4 June 1921
|photo=6010447512310453.jpg
|photo=6010447512310453.jpg
|death_year=2016
|death_date=February 2016
|birth_place=Storm Lake, Iowa
|rank_final=Major
|awards=Bronze Star
|awards_grid=Bronze Star
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Baustian, Robert F. (16126186)|Robert F. Baustian]]''' (born 4 June 1921) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 19 and served with IPW Team 153.
'''Robert Frederick Baustian''' (4 June 1921 &ndash; February 2016) was a United States Army interrogator who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 19]] and later became an opera conductor.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
[[Baustian, Robert F. (16126186)|Robert Baustian]] was a Ritchie Boy. Robert was born June 4, 1921 at Storm Lake, Iowa. He graduated from East High School in Sioux City in 1938 and received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in 1942. During World War II, Robert was with U. Army Intelligence as an interrogator of German prisoners of war. He enlisted in the U. Army Signal Gyps in September of 1942, training in the enlisted reserve (radar) in Chicago and vicinity. He was inducted into active service at Fort Custer, Michigan, in September 1943, received his basic training at Miami Beach, Florida, trained for German prisoner of war interrogation at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, and was in combat with the 4th Infantry Division and the 11th Armored Division in Germany from November 1944 to May 1945. With a Tech/5 rating, received his discharge March 1946 at Camp Grant, Illinois. He was awarded the Bronze Star. In 1946, he returned to the Eastman School of Music and received his Master of Music degree in 1948. There followed advanced study at the Conservatory of Music in Zurich, Switzerland, and five seasons as a coach and conductor at the Stadttheater (opera) there. A pianist and conductor of opera and symphony, he has conducted in Germany, Switzerland, France and Spain as well as being the assistant conductor for Gian-Carlo Menotti's opera, "The Consul," which toured the United States in 1950 and 1951. From 1953 to 1957, he was the second conductor at Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, Germany, returning to the United States in 1957. [[Baustian, Robert F. (16126186)|Robert Baustian]]'s association with The Santa Fe Opera began in 1957, when he was invited by Founder John Crosby to join the company in its very first season. He was a pillar of the conducting staff until 1977, and his influence helped establish the company's strong artistic standards. Maestro Baustian's exceptional musicianship was much admired; one colleague remembers him sitting down and playing a full orchestral score from sight. During his 20-year tenure in Santa Fe, he conducted 51 productions of 25 different operas, in repertory ranging from Marvin Levy's The Tower (1957) to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, which he conducted in 8 different seasons. Baustian was known for his special interest in young singers, and many who had the opportunity to work with him credit those experiences as fundamentally shaping their careers. Beginning in 1966, and concurrent with his Santa Fe responsibilities, Mr. Baustian was head of the conducting department at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, where he mentored young conductors. He continued at Oberlin until 1983. His generosity to the Opera extended beyond his teaching and conducting duties; he served on the Board of Directors from 1985-1990 and was a generous supporter of his beloved Apprentice Program for more than 25 years. Robert passed away February 2016 at the age of 94.
Robert Frederick Baustian was born on 4 June 1921 at Storm Lake, Iowa, the son of Alfred and Grace E. Martin Baustian. He graduated from East High School in Sioux City in 1938 and earned a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in 1942.
 
Baustian enlisted in the Army Signal Corps enlisted reserve (radar) in Chicago in September 1942 and entered active service at Fort Custer, Michigan, in September 1943. After basic training at Miami Beach, Florida, he trained for German prisoner-of-war interrogation at Camp Ritchie (Class 19) and served in combat with the 4th Infantry Division and the 11th Armored Division in Germany from November 1944 to May 1945. Discharged as a technician fifth grade at Camp Grant, Illinois, in March 1946, he received the Bronze Star.
 
Returning to Eastman for a Master of Music in 1948, Baustian studied further in Zurich and conducted opera and symphony in Europe and the United States, including assistant conducting on Gian Carlo Menotti’s ''The Consul'' tour (1950–1951) and service as second conductor at the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden (1953–1957). From 1957 he was associated with the Santa Fe Opera and later with the University of Kansas and Oberlin Conservatory. He died in February 2016.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* ASTP
* ASTP
* 6/4/1921-a
* Birth place: packet/obituary materials support Storm Lake, Iowa (replacing earlier Malcom, Iowa). Live |rank_final=Major is not supported by the wartime packet (T/5 at discharge); left unchanged pending stronger evidence of a later commission.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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Baustian_Robert_F_16126186_bio_sketch.jpg|Robert F. Baustian biographical sketch page (RB Archive)
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== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 4 June 1921 — Born in Storm Lake, Iowa.
* 1938 — Graduated East High School, Sioux City, Iowa.
* 1942 — Bachelor of Music, Eastman School of Music.
* September 1942 — Enlisted in Army Signal Corps reserve (radar training, Chicago).
* September 1943 — Inducted at Fort Custer, Michigan; basic training at Miami Beach.
* 1943–1944 — Trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 19) for German POW interrogation; IPW Team 153.
* November 1944–May 1945 — Combat interrogation service with 4th Infantry Division and 11th Armored Division in Germany.
* March 1946 — Discharged as T/5 at Camp Grant, Illinois; Bronze Star.
* 1948 — Master of Music, Eastman School of Music.
* 1957 — Began long association with the Santa Fe Opera.
* February 2016 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [[:File:Baustian_Robert_F_16126186_bio_sketch.jpg|Robert F. Baustian biographical sketch page (RB Archive)]]
* [https://slippedisc.com/2016/02/santa-fe-mourns-formative-opera-maestro/ Slipped Disc, “Santa Fe mourns formative opera maestro”]
* [https://apnews.com/article/260755bd4ea24c89af0328d252024267 AP News remembrances of Robert Baustian]
* [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/santafenewmexican/name/robert-baustian-obituary?id=17345054 Robert Baustian obituary (Santa Fe New Mexican / Legacy)]
* RB Archive biographical sketch (University of Kansas / Santa Fe Opera era), Robert F. Baustian packet
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-01-01 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-01-01 (1 post)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Robert F. Baustian for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Baustian, Robert F. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: ROBERT F. BAUSTIAN.doc)

Latest revision as of 01:27, 17 September 2026

Robert F. Baustian
Robert F. Baustian
Personal details
Born4 June 1921
Storm Lake, Iowa
DiedFebruary 2016
NativityUnited States
ReligionProtestant
AwardsBronze Star
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN16126186
RankMajor
Rank at RitchiePrivate First Class
Camp RitchieClass 19 (16 May – 13 July 1944)
Section5C
EnlistedChicago, Illinois
TeamIPW 153
Awards and honors
Bronze Star
Teammates
Team — IPW 153
These are other soldiers listed on the same team roster. People moved between teams; overlapping service dates are not always documented.
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Robert Frederick Baustian (4 June 1921 – February 2016) was a United States Army interrogator who trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 19 and later became an opera conductor.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Robert Frederick Baustian was born on 4 June 1921 at Storm Lake, Iowa, the son of Alfred and Grace E. Martin Baustian. He graduated from East High School in Sioux City in 1938 and earned a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in 1942.

Baustian enlisted in the Army Signal Corps enlisted reserve (radar) in Chicago in September 1942 and entered active service at Fort Custer, Michigan, in September 1943. After basic training at Miami Beach, Florida, he trained for German prisoner-of-war interrogation at Camp Ritchie (Class 19) and served in combat with the 4th Infantry Division and the 11th Armored Division in Germany from November 1944 to May 1945. Discharged as a technician fifth grade at Camp Grant, Illinois, in March 1946, he received the Bronze Star.

Returning to Eastman for a Master of Music in 1948, Baustian studied further in Zurich and conducted opera and symphony in Europe and the United States, including assistant conducting on Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Consul tour (1950–1951) and service as second conductor at the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden (1953–1957). From 1957 he was associated with the Santa Fe Opera and later with the University of Kansas and Oberlin Conservatory. He died in February 2016.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • ASTP
  • Birth place: packet/obituary materials support Storm Lake, Iowa (replacing earlier Malcom, Iowa). Live |rank_final=Major is not supported by the wartime packet (T/5 at discharge); left unchanged pending stronger evidence of a later commission.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Robert F. Baustian biographical sketch page (RB Archive)
    Robert F. Baustian biographical sketch page (RB Archive)

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Nara ASN 16126186
Nara Name BAUSTIAN ROBERT F
Nara State 72
Nara County 169
Nara POE 6120
Nara DOE 180942
Nara Grade Alpha PVT
Nara Grade Code 8
Nara Branch Alpha SC
Nara Branch Code 90
Branch Signal Corps
Nara Term or Enlistment 0
Term of enlistment Unknown
Defer. Date 3
Nara Source 0
Nara Nativity 72
Nativity.1 IOWA
Nara Year of Birth 21
Nara Race 1
Nara Race Description White citizen
Nara Education 8
Nara Civilian Occupation 992
Nara Marital Status 6
Nara Height (inches) 71
Nara Weight (lbs) 145
Class_ASN 16126186
Class_Name BAUSTIAN, Robert F.
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 4 June 1921 — Born in Storm Lake, Iowa.
  • 1938 — Graduated East High School, Sioux City, Iowa.
  • 1942 — Bachelor of Music, Eastman School of Music.
  • September 1942 — Enlisted in Army Signal Corps reserve (radar training, Chicago).
  • September 1943 — Inducted at Fort Custer, Michigan; basic training at Miami Beach.
  • 1943–1944 — Trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 19) for German POW interrogation; IPW Team 153.
  • November 1944–May 1945 — Combat interrogation service with 4th Infantry Division and 11th Armored Division in Germany.
  • March 1946 — Discharged as T/5 at Camp Grant, Illinois; Bronze Star.
  • 1948 — Master of Music, Eastman School of Music.
  • 1957 — Began long association with the Santa Fe Opera.
  • February 2016 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]

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