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Walter H. Lubran
| Walter H. Lubran | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1912 Sebnitz, Germany |
| Died | 2000 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 33668332 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Rank at Ritchie | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 16 (6 February – 5 April 1944) |
| Section | 5B |
| Enlisted | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Team | IPW 141 |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Walter H. Lubran (29 July 1912 – 2000) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 16 and served with IPW Team 141.
Biography
Walter H. Lubran was born on 29 July 1912 in Sebnitz, Germany, to a Jewish family (also recorded as Lubranitsky). He emigrated to the United States aboard the SS Georgic in the autumn of 1939. In civilian life he worked as a retail shoe-store manager.
On 17 March 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a private. Before Camp Ritchie he trained at Camp Ellis, Illinois; Fort George G. Meade, Maryland; and Camp Lee, Virginia. He graduated with Class 16 on 5 April 1944 as a German document examiner and later rose to master sergeant.
Lubran served with IPW Team 141. On Christmas Day 1944, the team was attached to the 84th Infantry Division in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge; a letter he wrote home that day included a holiday menu that survives among family papers. In March 1945, while still near the Rhine, Team 141 was ordered to a new assignment with the 16th Armored Division. The division moved south through Germany into Czechoslovakia and took part in the liberation of Plzeň (Pilsen); Team 141 interrogated German soldiers fleeing westward as Soviet forces approached Prague from the east.
IPW Team 141 included Gerard Pick, Captain Henry Wagner, T/3 Kurt Schimmerl (Curt Shelton), 2nd Lt. Victor Wolff, SSgt Joseph Wertheim, and MSgt Lubran.
Research notes
- Also PG Class 13 GerOB
- CIB
- ASTP
- 16th Armd
Gallery
-
Christmas Day 1944 menu from a letter written during the Battle of the Bulge while serving with IPW Team 141, 84th Infantry Division -
IPW Team 141 in Europe, spring 1945. Left to right: Gerard Pick; Capt. Henry Wagner; T/3 Kurt Schimmerl (Curt Shelton); 2nd Lt. Victor Wolff; SSgt Joseph Wertheim; MSgt Walter Lubran
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 88 |
| Nara ASN | 33668332 |
| Nara Name | LUBRAN WALTER H |
| Nara State | -2 |
| Nara County | 3 |
| Nara POE | 3298 |
| Nara DOE | 170343 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | NO |
| Nara Branch Code | 2 |
| Branch | No branch assignment |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 5 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | N1 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 12 |
| Nara Race | 1 |
| Nara Race Description | White citizen |
| Nara Education | 4 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 72 |
| Nara Marital Status | 2 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 22 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 120 |
| Class_ASN | 33668332 |
| Class_Name | LUBRAN, Walter H. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline
- 29 July 1912 — Born in Sebnitz, Germany (also recorded as Lubranitsky); Jewish.
- 17 March 1943 — Enlisted in the Army at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a private (ASN 33668332).
- 5 April 1944 — Graduated Class 16; classified as German document examiner.
- December 1944 — Served with IPW Team 141 attached to the 84th Infantry Division in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge).
- March 1945 — Team 141 reassigned to the 16th Armored Division; advanced into Czechoslovakia (Plzeň).
- Promoted to master sergeant.
Sources
- 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)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2014-03-21 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2017-01-16 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2017-01-22 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2018-01-15 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2018-02-05 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2018-03-16 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2018-04-16 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-02-22 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-07-23 (1 post)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Walter H. Lubran for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Lubran, Walter H. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: WALTER H. LUBRAN.doc)