Captured, but his parents get news months later

Certified Copy. Fieldpostnumber, 42 687 e

In the West, the 22.2.1945.
Dear Mr.Oncken ! I have the sad duty to inform you, that your son, the Senior-Gunner Jurgen Oncken, is since 23.1.45. missing.

He was at last in St.Vith, District Malmedy. About this town were already in December hard fights. So also again from 21. to 23.1.45. During the 23.1.45 the Americans succeeded in capturing this town. There the battery was commissioned into anti-tank combat. Since then, there is not any news from your son. Because nobody returned from those parts of the battery commissioned there, I cannot give you any accurate information of your sons whereabouts.

It is a probability, that your son was taken prisoner. Should this be so, you will be informed via the American Red Cross within the next months. The Battery loses in your son a keen and responsible soldier and deeply regrets this loss. We shall always have him in good memory.

I cannot return any private items, since he had these all with him.

I salute you with Heil Hitler

signed Minz(?) Staff Sergeant (Stamps)

Conformity of preceding copy with the original is hereby certified. Neuenbrok, the 5.3.1945. The Mayor of the Municipality Moorriem by order: (signature)

---------------------------- NOTE:
We were captured by the Americans and became POWs in the late afternoon of the 23.1.1945. From St.Vith transported via a few holding and questioning camps to Liege in Belgium. The American Red Cross, to my knowledge, never informed my parents. It took many months before my parents had any news of my whereabouts! The first mail came via private people in Cologne. This explains why I received mail before I could write myself.