He served in France and has been through the Belgium Campaign.

He received the Expert Rifleman's Medal, while in training at Camp Blanding, FL. 

In May 1944, he was sent to England with an Ordnance Battalion and landed in France in July with an Infantry Division. 

His wife and son reside with his parents.

On December 9, she received a telegram, saying he had returned to duty, after being wounded on November 20.

The last letter received from him by his wife was written December 12, and he was then at an area rest camp in Germany.

"The Secretary of the War desires me to express his deep regret that your husband, Private Melvin O. Osberg, has been reported missing in action on October 16 in Germany. If further details or other information is received, you will be promptly notified."

This morning, Mrs. Osberg received a letter direct from her husband, dated October 21--five days after his reported disappearance, stating:

"I was a German prisoner but have managed to get back to our own lines."

Because of censorship, the story behind this will have to wait until a later date, but, apparently, Private Osberg was taken prisoner and, in someway, made his escape.

Private Osberg is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Osberg, New Auburn. His wife and son, Ronald, reside at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, Chetek.

Private Osberg landed in France with an Infantry Division last July after two months in England, and served in France, Belgium, and Holland, before invading Germany.

On the same day she received the telegram, she received a V-mail from her husband, written November 25, saying he was at a hospital in Belgium, because of the shoulder injury he had mentioned in several previous letters, and not to get excited if she received a telegram from the War Department.

Some Up and Down
Private Osberg has had a number of ups and downs since he landed overseas. Last October, Mrs. Osberg received a telegram from the War Department that her husband had been reported missing in action in Germany since October 16. A short time afterwards, she received a letter from him, dated October 21—5 days after his reported disappearance, stating he had been a German prisoner but had managed to get back to "our own lines."

"Regret to inform you your husband, Private Melvin O. Osberg was slightly injured in action 24 December in Belgium. Report did not state the date he had returned to duty from previously reported missing in action status. You will be advised as reports of condition are received."

He has been reported missing in action twice, injured and hospitalized twice, a German prisoner once, and that time returned to his unit in some manner still undisclosed.

Among the confusing reports received the past few months concerning her husband's status are:

Injured First Time
On December 8, she received a telegraph, announcing he had been slightly injured in action on November 20 in Germany. On the same day, she received a V-mail from her husband, written November 25, saying he was at a hospital in Belgium because of a shoulder injury he had mentioned in several previous letters, and not to get excited if she received a telegram from the War Department.

Last October, Mrs. Osberg received a War Department telegram that her husband had been reported missing in action in Germany since October 16.  A short time afterwards, she received a letter from him, dated October 21, five days after his reported disappearance, saying he had been a German prisoner but had managed to get back to "our own lines."

Again Reported Missing
On New Year's Eve, Mrs. Osberg received a telegram from the War Department that her husband was again missing in action, December 19, somewhere in Belgium. He has been serving with an Infantry Division of the U.S. Ninth Army since August 1, 1944.

On Monday, January 8, she received two V-mail letters, written by her husband on December 29 and December 31, telling that he was hospitalized in England. 

Mrs. Osbsrg says that, evidently, there are letters written before these not received by her. He was flown to England by plane and enjoyed the trip across the channel, and not to worry as they were taking good care of him and he didn't expect to be there long.

Charge Siegfried Line
Also, on January 8, she received a letter, dated December 10, in which he included an article written about his outfit and released by the field censor. 

Portions of the article read as follows:

"When the 30th Infantry Division troops charged through the greatest concentration of artillery and mortar fire they had met in the Western Campaign to storm the bunkers of the German Siegfried Line and established the bridgehead in the Fatherland, they reached an objective for which, in the three months of bitter fighting, she had been paving the way since the battle of the beaches.

"The all important breakthrough south of pulverized St. Lo on July 25 was spearheaded by the Old Hickorymen. Some of the heaviest fighting remained to be accomplished in the Mortain-St. Barthelmy sector, when the 30th took over the area of the First Division, at a time when four German panzer divisions struck the most powerful blitz effort of the campaign to drive through to Avranches and separate the American First and Third Armies.

Unit Cited Twice
"More than 1500 battle decorations have been awarded officers and men of the 30th Infantry Division for gallantry in action and meritorious service in the face of the enemy. The  division has twice been decorated.

"Although  it was originally built around troops from National Guard units of Tennessee, Georgia,  and the Carolinas, and thus gets its name, Old Hickory from President Andrew Jackson, the 30th's officers and men  represent all states of the Union."