Rapid City Fire Chief Was Once WWII German POW

by Duke Doering

Tech. Sgt. 5 Richard Kiefer from Rapid City was captured on May 9, 1944 and was a Prisoner of War in Germany.  There he remained for 18 months until liberated by the Russians in 1945.

A four man detail from Headquarters Company, 109th Engineer Battalion, led by Sergeant Raymond T. Martin of Rapid City, included Richard Kiefer, Kenneth Kalberg of Seneca, SD and a fourth man, Ivan Petersdorf.   The detail was on a reconnaissance to search for a likely spot for a crossing of the Rapido River [see also book]. The crossing was needed for the 34th Infantry Division to advance to Cassino, Italy.

     The intelligence available was that the enemy was not in force on the far bank, in fact it was considered a fine opportunity for a crossing.   It was foggy and the detail made its way to the east river bank.  The fog lifted and only a short distance away, and well emplaced, was a German detail with a machine gun.  The only concealment was a small, inadequate ravine leading off from the Rapido and giving a little cover.  The detail hit the ravine in a bunch.  

     By lying in the water, all were in defilade from the Germans except Kalberg, whose back was exposed.  The gunners raked him with fire and had the detail at their mercy.  Martin could talk some German and tried to do a little bargaining, but to no avail.  The Germans started tossing grenades and it was a question of but moments until one would wipe them all out.  Kalberg was badly wounded so Martin surrendered his detail.

     They were taken to an old theater near Cassino and separated.  Kalberg later recovered from his wounds and escaped.  Martin and Kiefer, however, went to Germany and remained prisoners until the end of the war in Europe, May 1945. After the war Kiefer returned to Rapid City.  In 1957 Richard Kiefer was appointed the Rapid City Fire Chief, a position he held until 1970.