Camp Commander

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Lt. Col. Arthur T. Lobdell commanded the camp at Algona from June of 1944 to its closing in February of 1946. He also was the first commander of the prisoner of war camp at Clarinda, Iowa from late 1943 until his transfer to Algona.

 

Lobdell was an engineer by profession, serving the Nebraska State Highway Commission before the war. He also served in France as a junior officer during World War I. He remained in the reserves between the wars and was recalled to duty to instruct ROTC at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln when World War II began.

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He was described as 'firm but fair' by his men and was also remembered by some of the prisoners held at Camp Algona. After the war, several former prisoners visited Lobdell, including Chaplain Alex Funke and Eduard Kaib, architect of the nativity scene.