Captain William M. Kober (0369529)

Thank you to the family of Bill Kober for providing these photographs and memories. At the foot of the page you can listen to my conversation with his son, Mike. It gives a flavour of the man behind these facts and pictures, from the perspective of someone who lost his father at the age of seven, so that France could be free.

Bill Kober was cited for the Bronze Star medal after personally risking his life to recover a casualty under extremely dangerous conditions.

The citation reads:

HEADQUARTERS XXII CORPS

Office of the Commanding General

APO 103, U.S. Army

CITATION

(Posthumous)

For Bronze Star

Captain William M. Kober, 0369529, Medical Corps, while serving with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself by meritorious service, in connection with military operations, against an enemy of the United States during the period 3 January 1944 to 29 August 1944. Captain Kober served as Squadron Surgeon and showed great resourcefulness in adapting equipment and methods to unfamiliar situations. The skill and courage he displayed during the initial phases of the fighting did much to heighten the morale of the troops during the difficult period of their baptism in battle. Captain Kober continued his skillful direction of the Medical Detachment during the battles that followed from the St. Lo breakthrough and the race across France. On 29 August 1944, he made the supreme sacrifice when he was killed by enemy action while attempting to evacuate a wounded soldier. Captain Kober’s complete devotion to duty, courage, and disregard for personal safety reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

Entered Military Service from Arkansas.

Next of Kin: Mrs. Ethel May Kober (Wife), 624 Valmer Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.

The account of Captain Kober’s death is provided in the history of the medical detachment (which will be available for download on this site in due course, along with all the squadron’s After Action reports).

It reads:

“No serious mishaps occurred however until August 29th, when, the Commanding Officer of the Medical Detachment, Captain WILLIAM M. KOBER and two members of the Detachment Tec 5 Gr TAYLOR B. KEITH and Pvt HAROLD W. GILBERT were killed near Villiers Cotterets in the performance of their duty. They had left the Aid Station with casualties and while on their way back to Squadron, their vehicle was struck by direct fire from an anti-tank weapon which infiltrating enemy had managed to bring in around Squadron rear in the night, blocking off communication with the rear. The three men were killed instantly and the vehicle destroyed, this in spite of the fact that the vehicle displayed large painted Geneva Crosses all over front, rear, sides and top and carried a Geneva Red Cross flag on a staff in the front of the vehicle.

Bill Kober led a medical detachment that was relentlessly pressured by under-manning and unsuitable vehicles. As well as this, the challenge of treating wounded and transferring them to field hospitals behind the lines while the squadron was moving forward at rapid pace, made their work even more difficult. Bill Kober not only saved many lives - he led his team from the front and that is how he ultimately lost his own.

William Melvin Kober was born on March 16 1912, in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.

He died on August 29 1944, near Villers-Cotterêts, France, aged 32.

Thank you to Kimberly Kober Sporbert for providing the materials on this page and to Mike Kober for the interview below.