Louis Herman Breitenbach, a prisoner of war during World War II and a retired printer, died at Crossroads Hospice on October 9, 2004. He was 83. Born and raised in Price Hill, Mr. Breitenbach was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He served as a flight engineer and top-turret gunner on a B-17 in the 360th squadron of the 303rd Bomber Group.
Mr. Breitenbach flew 13 missions until his plane was shot down over Holland. He was hidden by the Dutch and Belgian underground until he was captured and held in a German prison camp for 11 months. He was liberated by the Russians in 1945. "When I was little, he told me that I would never be old enough to know all that went on in war" said his daughter, Sharon Hoffert of Mason. Mr. Breitenbach was awarded the POW medal and the Air Medal with one bronze cluster.
He returned to Cincinnati in 1945 to work for his father as a typesetter at Breitenbach Typesetting. In 1948, he married Anamae Welsh, also of Price Hill. Mr. Breitenbach was hired by the Cincinnati Post in 1960. He returned to Europe in 1977 to visit the people who had risked their lives to hide him. "One of the women that hid my father returned an old pair of boots that had belonged to him," said Hoffert.
Mr. Breitenbach retired from printing in 1986 and devoted his time to family and community. He belonged to Moeller Knights of Columbus; 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force; POW group; Air Force Escape and Evasion Group; and American Prisoners of War.
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Anamae; sons, Col. Dan (ret.), Tom, Jim, Bill and Neal; and 10 grandchildren.
Mr. Breitenbach flew 13 missions until his plane was shot down over Holland. He was hidden by the Dutch and Belgian underground until he was captured and held in a German prison camp for 11 months. He was liberated by the Russians in 1945. "When I was little, he told me that I would never be old enough to know all that went on in war" said his daughter, Sharon Hoffert of Mason. Mr. Breitenbach was awarded the POW medal and the Air Medal with one bronze cluster.
He returned to Cincinnati in 1945 to work for his father as a typesetter at Breitenbach Typesetting. In 1948, he married Anamae Welsh, also of Price Hill. Mr. Breitenbach was hired by the Cincinnati Post in 1960. He returned to Europe in 1977 to visit the people who had risked their lives to hide him. "One of the women that hid my father returned an old pair of boots that had belonged to him," said Hoffert.
Mr. Breitenbach retired from printing in 1986 and devoted his time to family and community. He belonged to Moeller Knights of Columbus; 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force; POW group; Air Force Escape and Evasion Group; and American Prisoners of War.
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Anamae; sons, Col. Dan (ret.), Tom, Jim, Bill and Neal; and 10 grandchildren.
Louis Herman Breitenbach, a prisoner of war during World War II and a retired printer, died at Crossroads Hospice on October 9, 2004. He was 83. Born and raised in Price Hill, Mr. Breitenbach was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He served as a flight engineer and top-turret gunner on a B-17 in the 360th squadron of the 303rd Bomber Group.
Mr. Breitenbach flew 13 missions until his plane was shot down over Holland. He was hidden by the Dutch and Belgian underground until he was captured and held in a German prison camp for 11 months. He was liberated by the Russians in 1945. "When I was little, he told me that I would never be old enough to know all that went on in war" said his daughter, Sharon Hoffert of Mason. Mr. Breitenbach was awarded the POW medal and the Air Medal with one bronze cluster.
He returned to Cincinnati in 1945 to work for his father as a typesetter at Breitenbach Typesetting. In 1948, he married Anamae Welsh, also of Price Hill. Mr. Breitenbach was hired by the Cincinnati Post in 1960. He returned to Europe in 1977 to visit the people who had risked their lives to hide him. "One of the women that hid my father returned an old pair of boots that had belonged to him," said Hoffert.
Mr. Breitenbach retired from printing in 1986 and devoted his time to family and community. He belonged to Moeller Knights of Columbus; 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force; POW group; Air Force Escape and Evasion Group; and American Prisoners of War.
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Anamae; sons, Col. Dan (ret.), Tom, Jim, Bill and Neal; and 10 grandchildren.
Mr. Breitenbach flew 13 missions until his plane was shot down over Holland. He was hidden by the Dutch and Belgian underground until he was captured and held in a German prison camp for 11 months. He was liberated by the Russians in 1945. "When I was little, he told me that I would never be old enough to know all that went on in war" said his daughter, Sharon Hoffert of Mason. Mr. Breitenbach was awarded the POW medal and the Air Medal with one bronze cluster.
He returned to Cincinnati in 1945 to work for his father as a typesetter at Breitenbach Typesetting. In 1948, he married Anamae Welsh, also of Price Hill. Mr. Breitenbach was hired by the Cincinnati Post in 1960. He returned to Europe in 1977 to visit the people who had risked their lives to hide him. "One of the women that hid my father returned an old pair of boots that had belonged to him," said Hoffert.
Mr. Breitenbach retired from printing in 1986 and devoted his time to family and community. He belonged to Moeller Knights of Columbus; 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force; POW group; Air Force Escape and Evasion Group; and American Prisoners of War.
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Anamae; sons, Col. Dan (ret.), Tom, Jim, Bill and Neal; and 10 grandchildren.
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