Bob Dowding

I had a blog page a week or so ago on the story that Bob Dowding wrote a few years ago about his military service and life as a POW. At that time I indicated the need to write a follow-up after finishing reading the book. He was stationed at Mindanao island in the Philippines at the time of the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack. He told some gruesome tales of being a prisoner where his weight dropped below 100 pounds, and of eating soup made from dead water Buffalo. The soup had worms in it but they ate them for a source of protein. 

After Bob was discharged and came back to Seward and lived a very normal life as noted in his obituary.

Robert "Bob" L. Dowding was born on November 17, 1918 in Seward, Nebraska to Floyd L and Agnes F. (Zeleny) Dowding and passed away on July 5, 2012 in Seward at the age of 93 years, 7 months and 18 days.

Bob grew up and graduated from Seward High School in the class of 1936.Bob enlisted into the United States Army on October 30, 1940, he served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was taken prisoner of war on Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

He was a prisoner of the Japanese for 3 1/2 years. Bob was awarded the American Defense Service ribbon with One Bronze Star, American Theater of Operations Service Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Ribbon, Philippine Defense with One Bronze Star and the Distinguished Unit Badge with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Victory Medal. Bob was honorably discharged from the Army on March 9, 1946.

Bob was united in marriage to Martha Vogeltanz on September 23, 1946, at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church in Seward. Bob began working for the United States Post Office in 1946, he was promoted to Postmaster in 1965 and then retired in 1975.
Bob then began selling Real Estate for another 10 years until 1985. Bob enjoyed fishing and golfing. He was a lifelong member of St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, he was also a member of the Nebraska Branch of National League of Postmasters, Past League State President, Nebraska Branch of NAPUS, Seward American Legion and Past Legion Commander, Seward V.F.W., Past President of Seward Lumber and Fuel, Board Member of Blue River Board of Realtors.