Food production became a critical component to the United States' success during World War II. Yet there were many farm families that not only struggled to produce the staples necessary on the home front and in overseas combat zones, but frequently did so without the assistance of children who had been drafted to serve in the Armed Forces.
Lorenz Strobel fell into such circumstances during his youth.
Born in 1924 and growing up on his family's farm northwest of Lohman, he was the fourth-oldest in a family of three boys and three girls. In addition to the hard days engaged in farm work, he attended the nearby St. Paul's Lutheran Church with his family, becoming a confirmed member in 1939.
"He attended the old Lohman School, which is now being used as the Community Center," said his wife, Ellen Strobel. "Since it didn't have high-school classes, he and several others from the area traveled to the high school in Jefferson City."
She continued, "But after two years, he quit school so that he could stay home to help his parents on the farm."
While involved in his agricultural work, Strobel, like many others, was reading the newspapers and listening to conversations in the community regarding the U.S. entering World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Soon, his older brother, Oscar, left home after he was drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1942.
"Lorenz and I had met in the community, mostly through church, and then began dating," Ellen Strobel said. "But then he received his draft notice and left for the Army in February 1945."
This left only one brother, 7-year-old Hugo, along with three sisters, to help their parents keep the farm afloat. Fortunately, in December 1945, his older brother Oscar was released from the Army after serving in the Marshall Islands with a signal company, and returned to the Lohman area.
Following his induction at Jefferson Barracks, Lorenz Strobel was sent to Fort Hood, Texas, for several weeks of basic combat training. This was followed by six weeks of engineer school during which he was instructed on the operation of different tractors and bulldozers.
Assigned to Company A, 47th Engineers Construction Battalion, Strobel was first deployed to the Philippines, departing the U.S. aboard a troop ship on Sept. 9, 1945, seven days after the surrender of Japan.
"There wasn't a lot that he said about his service, but he did talk about building roads in the Philippines," his wife recalled. "He mentioned about being in a hurricane while he was there and having to seek cover in some buildings that ended up being damaged."
Discharge records indicate Strobel served as a construction foreman with the engineer company and later transferred to Okinawa. It was here that the 47th Engineers were engaged in a number of projects to include the construction of Quonset huts that were used as housing.
In October 1946, he left Okinawa and sailed back to the United States. He was eventually sent to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where he received his discharge as a staff sergeant on Dec. 9, 1946.
"Whenever he came home from the service, he worked a couple of years with his brother-in-law building houses," Ellen Strobel said. "And in 1948, we were married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lohman."
The couple went on to raise two sons and a daughter, but sadly lost one child at only 5 years of age.
Strobel quickly returned to his pre-service focus by assisting his father on their farm. When his father died in 1951, Strobel took over the farm and later operated it in partnership with his brother, Hugo, who was the youngest son of the family. Hugo was drafted into the Army in 1958 and served two years in Germany with an ordnance company.
Lorenz Strobel's military service became but a footnote in his greater legacy as he continued to embrace public service that included 50 years on the board of Farmer's Bank of Lohman, many of which were spent as board president. Additionally, he was a member of the board of his local MFA.
He volunteered as a leader of the 4-H board, the Cole County Extension Council and actively participated in a number of offices within St. Paul's Lutheran Church, such as several decades as the Sunday school superintendent. For many years, he and his wife placed flags on the graves of veterans buried in their church cemetery.
"One thing that he really enjoyed was being able to go fishing," said his wife, Ellen, in mirthful reflection. "He would come home from church on Sunday and want to have lunch as quickly as possible so that he could get back outdoors."
She continued, "He also enjoyed cooking molasses with several of the Heidbreder brothers."
On March 11, 2014, the 89-year-old veteran died. He was laid to rest with full military honors in the cemetery of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
He was a longtime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Ellen Strobel noted that prior to his passing, her husband truly enjoyed his visit to the nation's military memorials as part of the Central Missouri Honor Flight.
She said, "He didn't say much about his service, but was very patriotic and enjoyed being around other veterans. I know that he thought a lot of his country and would always take things as they came while letting God take care of the rest."
Jeremy P. Ämick writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families of America.
Lorenz Strobel completed his basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, and was later assigned to Company A, 47th Engineers. (Courtesy of Ellen Strobel)