DOB/DOD: January 7, 1920 (New Haven, CT) – May 16, 1971 (Norwalk, CT); 51 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Mildred Cushman Rowland (1921-2012) on December 19, 1943, in Norwalk, CT
CHILDREN: Three sons, Allan W. (1946-2022), Scott R. (1950-), and Wayne D. (1957-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 61 Cove Ave and 2 Fourth Street
ENLISTMENT: November 17, 1942
SERVICE NUMBER: 31250560
UNIT: Company F, 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division
FAMILY: Born to George A. (1893-1982) and Harriet Smith Trowbridge (1889-1942). One brother, John H. (1918-1975).
West Haven High School, Class of 1938, yearbook photo and caption
From The Norwalk Hour November 29, 1944
Mrs. Allan W. Trowbridge (the former Miss Mildred C. Rowland) of 61 Cove Avenue has received word from her husband, Private First Class Allan W. Trowbridge, who is in Germany. PFC Trowbridge is in the 102nd Infantry, which has been identified as one of the outfits taking part in the Ninth Army drive into Germany northeast of Aachen. PFC Trowbridge is a son of George W. Trowbridge of West Haven, a leader in New England
Bible Class activities. He trained in Texas, then his outfit went overseas, landing at Bordeaux; then followed the Ninth Army’s historic drive across France and Holland into Germany.
From The Norwalk Hour January 6, 1945
Mrs. Allan W, Trowbridge of 61 Cove Avenue, has received word from Germany showing that her husband, an infantry sergeant in the Ninth Army, has recovered nicely from a wound suffered recently. He is again in action. According to the word received here,
he was wounded in the neck. He has since received the Purple Heart, also a Combat Infantryman Badge, and his first star. He recently was promoted to sergeant. He had been a corporal since his training days in Texas. Sgt Trowbridge was in the Ninth Army’s dash across France, through Holland into Germany, and received his wound in the early stage of the attack on Germany. The sergeant is a son of George W. Trowbridge of West Haven, president of the New England Federation of Men’s Bible Classes. Mrs. Trowbridge is the former Miss Mildred Cushman Rowland. They were married shortly before he went overseas.
From The Norwalk Hour February 20, 1945
SGT TROWBRIDGE CITED FOR BRAVERY
Husband Of Norwalk Teacher Awarded Bronze Star Medal; Disregarded Own Wound
For heroic achievement on German soil at the western front, Sergeant Allan W. Trowbridge of West Haven, husband of Mrs. Mildred Rowland Trowbridge, school teacher residing at 60 Cove Avenue, East Norwalk, has been presented with the Bronze Star Medal, together with a presidential citation. Sgt Trowbridge is with the Ninth Army’s 407th Infantry, which has been in action on the western front for several months. In the early days of the invasion there, he was wounded in the neck and subsequently was presented with the Purple Heart. The 102nd Infantry Division headquarters citation accompanying the award of the Bronze Star Medal is as follows:
“By direction of the President, the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to Sgt. Allan W. Trowbridge of the 407th Infantry for heroic achievement in Germany on December 2, 1944, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the vicinity of a strongly defended enemy town. Sgt. Trowbridge, although wounded in the early stages of the attack, continued in action against the enemy with his organization in the accomplishment of its objective. After reaching the objective, he assumed responsibility for caring for and administering aid to his wounded companions until they could be safely evacuated. He further exposed himself to intense personal danger in the midst of bursting enemy artillery and mortar shells in locating and assisting in bringing in wounded men from the battlefield. Only after assuring himself that he had done all he could for other wounded did he permit his own wound to be treated. The courage, fortitude, and skill displayed by Sgt. Trowbridge with utter disregard for his own welfare and safety reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.
From The Norwalk Hour March 13, 1945
SGT A.W. TROWBRIDGE WOUNDED SECOND TIME
Mrs. Mildred Rowland Trowbridge of 60 Cove Avenue received a telegram yesterday, informing her that her husband, Sgt Allan W. Trowbridge, of Simpson’s Ninth Army, was seriously wounded on February 24 in Germany and is now confined to a hospital in Eng-
land. The day after being wounded, Sgt. Trowbridge wrote to his wife, telling her he had suffered a broken arm. Since then further word has come explaining that the left forearm was broken by a sniper’s bullet. Earlier this year, Sgt Trowbridge suffered a neck wound in the fighting at the German frontier, and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, with a citation for bravery. He had remained under fire, helping other wounded, and had refused attention for his own wound until his men had received treatment.
From The Bridgeport Post May 18, 1971
NORWALK — Allan W. Trowbridge, 51, of Fourth Street, died Sunday afternoon in Norwalk Hospital. Military services will take place tomorrow at 1:30 pm in the East Avenue United Methodist Church, with the Rev Donald W. Sneller, pastor, officiating,
assisted by the Rev. Richard R. Thomas, Jr., former pastor. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien. Born in New Haven, Mr. Trowbridge was associated with the Consolidated Diesel Electric Company, Old Greenwich, for 18 years and, at the time of his death, was the office manager. He was a veteran of World War II, U.S. Army, and received the Purple Heart Medal on two occasions for wounds and had been awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 16. He served as stewardship and finance chairman of the East Avenue United Methodist Church and was a trustee of the church. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Mildred Rowland Trowbridge; three sons, Allan W. Trowbridge, Jr., Scott R. Trowbridge, and Wayne D. Trowbridge, all of Norwalk; his father, George Trowbridge of Norwalk; and a brother, John H. Trowbridge of Newtown.
Buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, 41 Hecker Avenue, Darien, Connecticut; Section F, Lot 37, Grave 2. Photo from FindAGrave.com.
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