Soft launch: Soldier biographies and research notes vary in completeness. Prefer class-roster, NARA, newspapers, and other cited sources for contested facts — treat Research notes as leads, not settled history. Anyone can correct a page; contact us with questions.

Mosbacher, Stephen S. (35554027): Difference between revisions

From Ritchie Boys Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Revert mistaken By The Numbers/Awards match
Publish Facebook post enrichment (lead/bio/fields/gallery)
Line 29: Line 29:


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''Stephen S. Mosbacher''' (1923&ndash;1945) was a United States Army Private First Class who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 19]]. Stephen enlisted at Toledo, Ohio.
'''Stephen S. Mosbacher''' (1923–1945) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 19 and served with IPW Team 149.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
''Add a biography, family details, and sources. Click Edit to change this page; no account is required.''
In honor of Veterans Day, we post today about Ritchie Boy Stephen Sigmund Mosbacher. October 14 1923 - April 2 1945. He was attached to IPW Team #149, 8th Armored Division. Stephen, who usually signed as "Sigmund", was born October 14 1923 into a Jewish family in Nuremberg. He was the oldest child and only son of Emil Mosbacher and Rose Wurman. They also had a daughter named Marianne. His parents left Germany in 1938 to escape persecution and pursue happiness. They chose America as their new home. Life in Germany had become unbearable when threats to the Jewish population progressed to a point where his father Dr Mosbacher was forced to discontinue his practice of medicine. Stephen enlisted in the US Army in his adopted hometown of Toledo, Ohio on June 12, 1943. During the attack on the Elbe River, S/Sgt Mosbacher advanced to within ten yards of enemy infantry elements in an effort to rescue a comrade who was pinned down by enemy fire. The rescue was accomplished in the face of direct fire of artillery, mortars and small arms fire Mosbacher was fatally wounded a few minutes later while attempting the rescue of another wounded soldier who was directly in the path of an enemy tank. He and the rescued soldier were found dead. Stephen was grimly smiling and still had a firm grip on his machine gun. He had received the nickname "Moose", in part because of his size. He was also reputed to have the biggest appetite in the headquarters company and to be always the first man in the mess line. Stephen Sigmund Mosbacher is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Plot I, Row 11, Grave 19. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. S/Sgt Mosbacher was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for his actions on the day of his death. In addition, he has a Purple Heart among his other awards and commendations.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
Line 40: Line 40:


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
''After you are autoconfirmed, [[Special:Upload|upload a photo]] and add <code><nowiki>[[File:Example.jpg|thumb|caption]]</nowiki></code> here, or set <code>|photo=Example.jpg</code> in the infobox.''
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
5852771538078052.jpg
5852771548078051.jpg
5852774008077805.jpg
</gallery>
</div>


== Technical record ==
== Technical record ==
Line 110: Line 116:
* 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 2022-11-11 (1 post)
* Facebook-linked source: [https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-m/51712-mosbacher-stephen-s fieldsofhonor-database.com]

Revision as of 03:50, 26 August 2026

Stephen S. Mosbacher
Personal details
Born1923
Died1945
NativityGermany
ReligionJewish
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN35554027
RankPrivate First Class
Camp RitchieClass 19 (16 May – 13 July 1944)
Section5A
EnlistedToledo, Ohio
TeamIPW 149
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.


Stephen S. Mosbacher (1923–1945) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 19 and served with IPW Team 149.

Biography

In honor of Veterans Day, we post today about Ritchie Boy Stephen Sigmund Mosbacher. October 14 1923 - April 2 1945. He was attached to IPW Team #149, 8th Armored Division. Stephen, who usually signed as "Sigmund", was born October 14 1923 into a Jewish family in Nuremberg. He was the oldest child and only son of Emil Mosbacher and Rose Wurman. They also had a daughter named Marianne. His parents left Germany in 1938 to escape persecution and pursue happiness. They chose America as their new home. Life in Germany had become unbearable when threats to the Jewish population progressed to a point where his father Dr Mosbacher was forced to discontinue his practice of medicine. Stephen enlisted in the US Army in his adopted hometown of Toledo, Ohio on June 12, 1943. During the attack on the Elbe River, S/Sgt Mosbacher advanced to within ten yards of enemy infantry elements in an effort to rescue a comrade who was pinned down by enemy fire. The rescue was accomplished in the face of direct fire of artillery, mortars and small arms fire Mosbacher was fatally wounded a few minutes later while attempting the rescue of another wounded soldier who was directly in the path of an enemy tank. He and the rescued soldier were found dead. Stephen was grimly smiling and still had a firm grip on his machine gun. He had received the nickname "Moose", in part because of his size. He was also reputed to have the biggest appetite in the headquarters company and to be always the first man in the mess line. Stephen Sigmund Mosbacher is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Plot I, Row 11, Grave 19. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. S/Sgt Mosbacher was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for his actions on the day of his death. In addition, he has a Purple Heart among his other awards and commendations.

Research notes

  • Silver Star
  • Enlisted Reserve or Medical Administrative Corps (MAC) Officer

Gallery

Technical record

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 22
Nara ASN 35554027
Nara Name MOSBACHER STEPHEN S
Nara State 53
Nara County 95
Nara POE 5384
Nara DOE 120643
Nara Grade Alpha PVT
Nara Grade Code 8
Nara Branch Alpha NO
Nara Branch Code 2
Branch No branch assignment
Nara Term or Enlistment 0
Term of enlistment Unknown
Defer. Date 0
Nara Source 5
Nara Nativity N1
Nara Year of Birth 23
Nara Race 1
Nara Race Description White citizen
Nara Education 7
Nara Civilian Occupation 992
Nara Marital Status 6
Nara Height (inches) 8
Nara Weight (lbs) 128
Class_ASN 35554027
Class_Name MOSBACHER, Stephen S.
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Sources

  • Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-11-11 (1 post)
  • Facebook-linked source: fieldsofhonor-database.com