Pvt. Robert Dale Seeley
December 17, 1916–December 1, 1942
Service #: 6860913
Residence: Jones, Iowa
Education: *****
Occupation: *****
Marital Status: Married, one child
Enlistment Date: June 16, 1936
Enlistment Place: Fort Des Moines
Service/Unit: 78th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
Awards: *****
Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa
ANAMOSA SOLDIER KILLED IN NEW JERSEY
Private Robert Seeley Dead In Stabbing Incident
Pvt. Robert Dale Seeley, 26 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Seeley of Anamosa, was fatally wounded early last Tuesday morning during an argument with an unidentified negro soldier at the downtown bus depot at Trenton, New Jersey
Pvt. Seeley, who was stationed at Ft. Dix, died 25 minutes later in McKinley hospital in Trenton despite an emergency operation and blood transfusion. Seeley had been transferred to Fort Dix about 15 miles from Trenton last week from Ft. Benning, Georgia. Seeley's assailant fled from the terminal and escaped although several shots were fired at him by the Trenton police.
Seeley was married and the father of a five months old daughter. Mrs. Seeley had talked with her husband Monday night by telephone when he advised her to cancel a trip she had planned to New Jersey.
Pvt. Seeley had been in the service for six years and had seen service in Hawaii. Two brothers, Harland and Max are also in the army and two older brothers, Ray and Charles served in. World War I.
Funeral arrangement had not been completed by Thursday noon. A complete obituary will appear next week.
Source: The Amnamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, December 3, 1942
Photo: Gail Seeley
Funeral Held Saturday For Pvt. Seeley
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Smykil Funeral Home for Pvt. Robert Dale Seeley who died in a Trenton, New Jersey hospital on Wednesday morning of last week. Rev. J. K. Delehooke was in charge of the services. Military services were held at the grave with members of the American Legion in charge. Members of the Firing Sqaud included Lee Sanner, Leigh Pearson, Charles Rahn, Alfred Snyder, James White, Otto Plond, Nick Joura, Lloyd Robertson and Lloyd Soper. Albert Ament was bugler.
The following obituary was read at the services by Rev. J. K. Delehooke
"Private Robert Dale Seeley, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Seeley was born at Anamosa, Iowa on December 17, 1916, and departed this life at Trenton, N. J. on Decermber 1, 1942 at the age of 25 years, 11 months and 13 days.
"The early years of his life were spent in the community of his birth, where he attended the Anamosa Public School.
"He entered the U. S. Army at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, June 16, 1936 at the age of 19 years. He served for one year at the Schofield Barracks in the Hawaiian Islands and at 7 different posts in the states. His service took him into infantry, Cavalry and Field Artillery units. He was serving at Fort Dix, near Trenton, New Jersey at the rime of his death.
"Robert Seeley was baptized in the Baptist church at the age of 15 years along with other boys his age. On May 3, 1941, he was united in marriage to Miss Helen Reeves of Forest City, Missouri, and to this union a daughter was born on July 2, 1942.
"Private Seeley leaves to mourn his untimely passing his grief stricken wife, Helen, his baby daughter, Sandra Sue, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Seeley of Anamosa; six brothers Max of Camp Hood, Texas; Harlan of Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, Don, Norman, Ray and Charles of Anamosa; six sisters, Mrs. Bessie Byers and Miss Ruth Seeley of Anamosa; Mrs. Jack Wrigley (Edith) of Cedar Rapids, Mrs. Florence Morehouse and Miss Mildred Seeley of Milwaukee, Wisc., and Mrs. Wilma Zrumbrumen (Zumbrunnen?) of Pontiac Michigan, besides several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
"Robert Seeley was by nature a lover of the out doors. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to take, himself to woods or streams for hunting or fishing. He was a sportsman at heart and a soldier by occupation serving his country as Uncle Sam gave directions.
"His untimely passing makes the first break in his family circle; therefore this is doubly sad, for his parents and for his wife and baby. Silently and without warning the Silent Reaper invades the lives of men, leaving lonely and sorrowing hearts engulfed in mystery."
Source: The Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, December 10, 1942
