Seaman Henry Ennen

 

Henry Ennen, who was assigned to a Naval Hospital as Hospital Attendant, First Class, was reported in a telegram received Tuesday, to have been killed in an accident somewhere in the Pacific. More complete details will follow later.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, November 2, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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Telegram: "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you of the death of your son, Henry Marvin Ennen, hospital apprentice 1st class, USNR, as a result of accidental gun shop wound wile in the service of his country. His remains were interred in an Allied cemetery on an island in the Pacific pending cessation of hostilities. when further details are received they will be forwarded to you promptly. the Navy Department extends to you its sincerest sympathies in your great loss" Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of Naval Personell

~Buffalo Center Tribune, November 9, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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Memorial services for Seaman Henry Ennen will be held Friday afternoon, November 24th at the parental John Ennen home at one o'clock followed with services at the Reformed church with the Rev. H.F. Senne in charge assisted by members of Winnebago Post No. 21 of the American Legion. The officers of the local American Legion Post asks that all business places in Buffalo Center be closed from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, November 24th.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, November 22, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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Henry Marvin Ennen was born to John and Katie Ennen at their farm home seven miles southwest of Buffalo Center in Kossuth County on December 22, 1926, on his sister Jeanette's thrid birthday. He also had an older brother John, and a younger brother Markley joined the family in 1931. Henry spent his first school years in the German Township, Kossuth County rural school. In 1934 the Ennens bought a 160-acre farm one half mile east and 2 1/2 miles south of Buffalo Center, enabling Henry and the rest of his siblings to attend the Buffalo Center Consolidated School.

He enjoyed his school years, making a host of friends and becoming a member of the football team as well as being an active 4-H member. One year he exhibited the Grand Champion Baby Beef at the county fair. World War II was being actively fought when Henry reached his 17th birthday and he decided to enlist in the Navy. On January 3, 1944, he left home to take his boot training in Farragut, Idaho, where he also attended hospital apprentice school. Henry was serving as a hospital apprentice 1st class when he was accidentally killed on the USS Sperry as a result of gunshot wounds on October 27, 1977 [sic - should be 1944]. His remains were interred on an island in the Pacific.

Memorial services were held on Friday, November 24, 1944, at the Ennen farm home and in the 1st Reformed Church. Henry was the first son of a veteran of World War I from Buffalo Center to give his life for his country in World War II. His father, John J. Ennen, served in the U.S. Army from 1917 to 1919.

In April of 1948, at the request of his parents, the Navy sent the remains back to Buffalo Center with an escort and a Memorial Service was held at the Schutter Funeral Home with burial in the family plot in Graceland Cemetery.

~Celebrate a Century, BUFFALO CENTER, IOWA CENTENNIAL, 1892-1992, pg 141 (included the photo that appears at the top of this page)
~contributed by Ken Moen

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Memorial services for Henry Ennen, who lost his life by an accidental shooting in the Pacific area, were held at the parental John Ennen home Friday at one o'clock followed with services at the local Reformed church. The services were in charge of Rev. H.F. Senne and members of the local American Legion Post No. 21. Henry was the first son of a veteran of World War I from Buffalo Center to give his life for his country in World War II. His father, John J. Ennen, served in the U.S. Army from 1917 to 1919.

Henry Marvin Ennen, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ennen, was born on the 22nd day of December, 1926. Upon reaching his 17th birthday last December he enlisted in the Navy. On January 3, 1944, he left home and entered the service, taking his boot training in Farragut, Idaho; after which he spent a brief time home on leave. The following telegram was received by the family on November 1st, reporting his death:

"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you of the death of your son, Henry Marvin Ennen, hospital apprentice 1st class, USNR, as a result of accidental gun shop wound wile in the service of his country. His remains were interred in an Allied cemetery on an island in the Pacific pending cessation of hostilities. when further details are received they will be forwarded to you promptly. the Navy Department extends to you its sincerest sympathies in your great loss"
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of Naval Personell

No definite date of his death was given. His last letter to the family was written on October 21st, so that death must have occured between that date and that of November 1st, when the telegram was received. Thus, Henry Ennen died before he reached his 18th birthday in the service of his country.

His early passing is deeply mourned by his parents and two brothers, John, stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and Marley at home, and a sister, Jeanette, student at Central College at Pella, Iowa; also his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dohlman, and a host of other relatives and friends.

"And so beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled oar;
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.
I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I can not drift
Beyond His love and care."

Out of town relatives and friends here for the Memorial services were Heye Renkin of Parkersburg, Geo. and Otto Renkin of Aplington, Mrs. A.J. Maaxiaf of Waterloo, G.H. Eliason of Cedar Falls, Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Gerzema and daughter Mattie and Mrs. Elwold Poley from Ackley, Mr. Henry Cassman and son Harm of Vest, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs Wm. Dicke of Lucan, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs Fred Benno f Rockwell, Mr. and Mrs Vernon Winders and family, Mrs. Alec Eichmann of Clear Lake, and Mr. and Mrs. Abel Limberg of Woden.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, November 30, 1944
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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The body of Henry M. Ennen, a Hospital Apprentice 1st Class in the U.S. Navy, arrived at San Francisco, California on March 22nd, aboard the U.S. Army Transport Walter Schwenk. Henry was killed in the Central Pacific Oct. 22, 1944. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ennen.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, April 1, 1948
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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Services for Henry M. Ennen were held at the Schutter Funeral Home Saturday afternoon, April 24th, with the Rev. H.F. Senne in charge. The young man, who gave his life while in the service of his country during World War II, was given a military burial by members of Winnebago Post No. 21 of The American Legion. Pallbearers were veterans of World War I and the Color Bearers and Guards and Firing Squad, were World War II veterans, all of whom served in the Navy, with the exception of Commander Boyd Jordal, an ex-Armny man. They were all attired in their uniforms with the exception of the pallbearers. The deceased father saw service in World War I. Business places in Buffalo Center closed their doors during the services out of respect for a fallen hero.

Henry Marvin Ennen, son of John and Kate Ennen, was born on the 22nd day of December, 1926. He enlisted in the Navy upon reaching his 17th birthday. On January 3, 1944, he entered the service, taking his "boot" training at Farragut, Idaho, after which he spent a brief time home on leave. On October 27th, 1944, at Agana, Guam, Henry lost his life in the service of his country. He leaves to mourn his passing, his parents, two brothers, John and Markley; and one sister, Jeanette; besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Out of town relatives attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Gerzema and family, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Green of Ackley; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Heins of Tompton; Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Winder and familly of Rockwell; Mr. and Mrs. Alec Eichman and children of Mason City; Mr. and Mrs. Rube Wearda of Dumont; Mr. and Mrs. George Renken, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Renken and Robert Renken of Parkersburg; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Walk and Cecil, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Rademaker of Kensett; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Walk of Grafton; Mrs. George Schuultz and Ruth of Northwood; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Slieter, Mr. and Mrs. George Lieter of Steen, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. John Slieter of Pipestone, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Stavenger of LuVerne, Minnesota; Mrs. Arnold Snickhoft of Hills, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dohlman, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Dohlman of Magnolia, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Hillard Abbas and Gloria of Delavan, Minnesota; and Mr. and Mrs. Seibo Hellenga of Britt.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, April 29, 1948
~contributed by S. Ferrall

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