During World War II, the 10th Armored Division of the U.S. Army fought in the European Theater of Operations. They were at first part of General George S. Patton’s Third Army but later became part of the Seventh Army under General Alexander Patch.

The division arrived in Cherbourg, France on Sept. 23, 1944. They fought in France and Belgium from November 1944 through January 1945 and received a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions in the Battle of the Bulge. They fought in the Saar-Moselle Triangle in February, crossed the Rhine River in March, and the Danube River in April. They helped to liberate the Dachau concentration camp. They were in Bavaria when Victory in Europe was announced on May 8, 1945. They served as occupation forces in Germany until September of 1945. They inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry in Virginia in October 1945. They are credited with capturing 650 towns and 56,000 German prisoners.

Green and Lafayette County soldier Ervin H. Kubly served with the 10th Armored Division.

Ervin H. Kubly was born Feb. 11, 1922 in Jordan, Green County to Henry and Wilma Kubly.

From the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census, Wilma Kubly and sons Ervin and Ralph lived in the household of Martin Suter in York Township in Green County. Martin was a cheesemaker in a cheese factory and Wilma was a cook for a private family in 1930 and a maid in 1940.

Father Henry Kubly was listed in the 1930 U.S. Census as a patient of the Wisconsin Memorial Hospital and in 1940 as a patient at the U.S. Veterans Administration in Mendota in Dane County.

On the 1940 U.S. Census, Ervin Kubly lived with the Alfred Aebersold family in York Township in Green County. The head of household, Alfred, was a cheesemaker in a cheese factory. Ervin was a hired hand in a cheese factory. 

On Aug. 7, 1940, Ervin H. Kubly enlisted for service for three years with the Infantry of the regular army. He had three years of high school, and was single without dependents.

From the April 9, 1945 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Ervin Kubly Killed in Reich,” the article stated “Sgt. Ervin H. Kubly, 23, son of Mrs. Wilma Kubly, Blanchardville, was killed in action in Germany Mar. 21. Serving with Gen. George Patton’s Third army, Sgt. Kubly had been overseas since September 1944. He was a member of the 10th armored division infantry battalion.

Born in Jordan township, he was a former Monroe resident where he attended high school. He was a pupil at Blanchardville high school when he enlisted Aug. 6, 1940.

Survivors include his mother, and a brother, Technical Sgt. Ralph Kubly, a prisoner of war in Germany.”

From the Aug. 3, 1945 Monroe Evening Times article titled “Kubly Memorial Services Sunday at Blanchardville,” the notice stated “His brother Ralph, former German prisoner of war, is now visiting his mother, Mrs. Wilma Kubly, Blanchardville.”

An Aug. 10, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Services Thursday for Sgt. Kubly,” stated “The body of Sgt. Ervin H. Kubly, 23, son of Mrs. Wilma Kubly, Blanchardville, will arrive at Monroe … and be taken to Graceland cemetery, Blanchardville, for burial...”

Kubly was repatriated and reburied in Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville in Lafayette County.

Kubly is listed on the National Archives WWII Honor Roll list for Lafayette County.

Thank you, Staff Sergeant Ervin H. Kubly, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.