Richard C. Oshlo, Sr. - Class of 1938, Thomas Jefferson High School:
Richard C. Oshlo Sr. was born in Council Bluffs, the son of Charles W. and Catherine Oshlo, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 1938. He was a star athlete at the school, and was captain of the basketball team, playing end on the football team, and running track. He was a participant in the Drake Relays in 1938, and boxed with the Council Bluffs Junior Chamber Golden Gloves. He married in 1941 Thomas Jefferson graduate Doris Durick; they were the parents of two sons and a daughter.
Oshlo served as mayor of Council Bluffs, was a prominent residential contractor, and was active in the Council Bluffs community. He made his mark in the military. He enlisted in the National Guard in Council Bluffs in 1940, and was called to active duty the next year when the United States entered World War II.
Oshlo was sent to Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga., graduating at the top of his class, and at age 21 was commissioned a second lieutenant. Overseas, two years later, he became the United States Army's youngest lieutenant colonel at age 23 when he assumed command of an infantry battalion during the Italian campaign of World War II. His outfit, the 3rd Battalion, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, received the Presidential Unit Citation for its participation in the battle for Livengnano and the breaking of the Gothic Line in the Northern Appennines, and received Battle Stars for the North Appennines, Rome-Arno and Po Valley campaigns in Italy.
Oshlo's numerous military decorations and citations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, with "V" for valor and an oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge and the "Croce al Valor Militare" (Military Cross of Valor) presented by the Italian government.
Oshlo continued his dedication to country, attending the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., graduating first in his class. He served as Battalion Commander in the Iowa National Guard before joining the U.S. Army Reserves.
In 1974, he received a Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service as commandant for the 5049th U.S. Army Reserve School in Omaha. He served as president and secretary of the 361st Infantry Association of World War II, and was a member of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Grenville M. Dodge Post 737 and the American Legion Rainbow Post No. 2.
As a civilian, Oshlo was a residential contractor, owner of the Oshlo Construction Company. He built hundreds of homes in the Council Bluffs area, including the Cogleywood addition.
Oshlo was elected to the City Council in 1961, and was elected Mayor by the Council in 1964. He held several other city and county government positions, and was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from southwest Iowa's 7th district in 1968. He was a director of the Western Federal (Council Bluffs) Savings and Loan Association and was a board member of the Pottawattamie County Red Cross.
Except for his military service, Oshlo was a lifelong resident of Council Bluffs. He died May 30, 1975, at age 54, after a two-year battle with cancer. A day of mourning was declared in Council Bluffs, with all city flags flying at half-staff. His widow passed away in 1984. They are survived by their three children and five grandchildren.
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Text above copied and modified from the Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame, Council Bluffs, Iowa
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Richard C. Oshlo Sr. was born in Council Bluffs, the son of Charles W. and Catherine Oshlo, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 1938. He was a star athlete at the school, and was captain of the basketball team, playing end on the football team, and running track. He was a participant in the Drake Relays in 1938, and boxed with the Council Bluffs Junior Chamber Golden Gloves. He married in 1941 Thomas Jefferson graduate Doris Durick; they were the parents of two sons and a daughter.
Oshlo served as mayor of Council Bluffs, was a prominent residential contractor, and was active in the Council Bluffs community. He made his mark in the military. He enlisted in the National Guard in Council Bluffs in 1940, and was called to active duty the next year when the United States entered World War II.
Oshlo was sent to Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga., graduating at the top of his class, and at age 21 was commissioned a second lieutenant. Overseas, two years later, he became the United States Army's youngest lieutenant colonel at age 23 when he assumed command of an infantry battalion during the Italian campaign of World War II. His outfit, the 3rd Battalion, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, received the Presidential Unit Citation for its participation in the battle for Livengnano and the breaking of the Gothic Line in the Northern Appennines, and received Battle Stars for the North Appennines, Rome-Arno and Po Valley campaigns in Italy.
Oshlo's numerous military decorations and citations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, with "V" for valor and an oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge and the "Croce al Valor Militare" (Military Cross of Valor) presented by the Italian government.
Oshlo continued his dedication to country, attending the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., graduating first in his class. He served as Battalion Commander in the Iowa National Guard before joining the U.S. Army Reserves.
In 1974, he received a Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service as commandant for the 5049th U.S. Army Reserve School in Omaha. He served as president and secretary of the 361st Infantry Association of World War II, and was a member of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Grenville M. Dodge Post 737 and the American Legion Rainbow Post No. 2.
As a civilian, Oshlo was a residential contractor, owner of the Oshlo Construction Company. He built hundreds of homes in the Council Bluffs area, including the Cogleywood addition.
Oshlo was elected to the City Council in 1961, and was elected Mayor by the Council in 1964. He held several other city and county government positions, and was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from southwest Iowa's 7th district in 1968. He was a director of the Western Federal (Council Bluffs) Savings and Loan Association and was a board member of the Pottawattamie County Red Cross.
Except for his military service, Oshlo was a lifelong resident of Council Bluffs. He died May 30, 1975, at age 54, after a two-year battle with cancer. A day of mourning was declared in Council Bluffs, with all city flags flying at half-staff. His widow passed away in 1984. They are survived by their three children and five grandchildren.
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Text above copied and modified from the Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame, Council Bluffs, Iowa
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Richard C. Oshlo, Sr. - Class of 1938, Thomas Jefferson High School:
Richard C. Oshlo Sr. was born in Council Bluffs, the son of Charles W. and Catherine Oshlo, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 1938. He was a star athlete at the school, and was captain of the basketball team, playing end on the football team, and running track. He was a participant in the Drake Relays in 1938, and boxed with the Council Bluffs Junior Chamber Golden Gloves. He married in 1941 Thomas Jefferson graduate Doris Durick; they were the parents of two sons and a daughter.
Oshlo served as mayor of Council Bluffs, was a prominent residential contractor, and was active in the Council Bluffs community. He made his mark in the military. He enlisted in the National Guard in Council Bluffs in 1940, and was called to active duty the next year when the United States entered World War II.
Oshlo was sent to Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga., graduating at the top of his class, and at age 21 was commissioned a second lieutenant. Overseas, two years later, he became the United States Army's youngest lieutenant colonel at age 23 when he assumed command of an infantry battalion during the Italian campaign of World War II. His outfit, the 3rd Battalion, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, received the Presidential Unit Citation for its participation in the battle for Livengnano and the breaking of the Gothic Line in the Northern Appennines, and received Battle Stars for the North Appennines, Rome-Arno and Po Valley campaigns in Italy.
Oshlo's numerous military decorations and citations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, with "V" for valor and an oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge and the "Croce al Valor Militare" (Military Cross of Valor) presented by the Italian government.
Oshlo continued his dedication to country, attending the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., graduating first in his class. He served as Battalion Commander in the Iowa National Guard before joining the U.S. Army Reserves.
In 1974, he received a Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service as commandant for the 5049th U.S. Army Reserve School in Omaha. He served as president and secretary of the 361st Infantry Association of World War II, and was a member of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Grenville M. Dodge Post 737 and the American Legion Rainbow Post No. 2.
As a civilian, Oshlo was a residential contractor, owner of the Oshlo Construction Company. He built hundreds of homes in the Council Bluffs area, including the Cogleywood addition.
Oshlo was elected to the City Council in 1961, and was elected Mayor by the Council in 1964. He held several other city and county government positions, and was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from southwest Iowa's 7th district in 1968. He was a director of the Western Federal (Council Bluffs) Savings and Loan Association and was a board member of the Pottawattamie County Red Cross.
Except for his military service, Oshlo was a lifelong resident of Council Bluffs. He died May 30, 1975, at age 54, after a two-year battle with cancer. A day of mourning was declared in Council Bluffs, with all city flags flying at half-staff. His widow passed away in 1984. They are survived by their three children and five grandchildren.
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Text above copied and modified from the Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame, Council Bluffs, Iowa
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Richard C. Oshlo Sr. was born in Council Bluffs, the son of Charles W. and Catherine Oshlo, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 1938. He was a star athlete at the school, and was captain of the basketball team, playing end on the football team, and running track. He was a participant in the Drake Relays in 1938, and boxed with the Council Bluffs Junior Chamber Golden Gloves. He married in 1941 Thomas Jefferson graduate Doris Durick; they were the parents of two sons and a daughter.
Oshlo served as mayor of Council Bluffs, was a prominent residential contractor, and was active in the Council Bluffs community. He made his mark in the military. He enlisted in the National Guard in Council Bluffs in 1940, and was called to active duty the next year when the United States entered World War II.
Oshlo was sent to Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga., graduating at the top of his class, and at age 21 was commissioned a second lieutenant. Overseas, two years later, he became the United States Army's youngest lieutenant colonel at age 23 when he assumed command of an infantry battalion during the Italian campaign of World War II. His outfit, the 3rd Battalion, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, received the Presidential Unit Citation for its participation in the battle for Livengnano and the breaking of the Gothic Line in the Northern Appennines, and received Battle Stars for the North Appennines, Rome-Arno and Po Valley campaigns in Italy.
Oshlo's numerous military decorations and citations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, with "V" for valor and an oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge and the "Croce al Valor Militare" (Military Cross of Valor) presented by the Italian government.
Oshlo continued his dedication to country, attending the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., graduating first in his class. He served as Battalion Commander in the Iowa National Guard before joining the U.S. Army Reserves.
In 1974, he received a Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service as commandant for the 5049th U.S. Army Reserve School in Omaha. He served as president and secretary of the 361st Infantry Association of World War II, and was a member of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Grenville M. Dodge Post 737 and the American Legion Rainbow Post No. 2.
As a civilian, Oshlo was a residential contractor, owner of the Oshlo Construction Company. He built hundreds of homes in the Council Bluffs area, including the Cogleywood addition.
Oshlo was elected to the City Council in 1961, and was elected Mayor by the Council in 1964. He held several other city and county government positions, and was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from southwest Iowa's 7th district in 1968. He was a director of the Western Federal (Council Bluffs) Savings and Loan Association and was a board member of the Pottawattamie County Red Cross.
Except for his military service, Oshlo was a lifelong resident of Council Bluffs. He died May 30, 1975, at age 54, after a two-year battle with cancer. A day of mourning was declared in Council Bluffs, with all city flags flying at half-staff. His widow passed away in 1984. They are survived by their three children and five grandchildren.
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Text above copied and modified from the Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame, Council Bluffs, Iowa
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