HAROLD FAHRENKRUG WAS KILLED
Kingsley Veteran of Navy Never Talked About Experiences
Kingsley News Times: Harold Fahrenkrug, aged 25, son of Richard Fahrenkrug, was killed in action recently, in the Pacific area, according to a message received by the father, from the War Department last Thursday morning. Details of his death were not given, but it is presumed he lost his life in one of the many sea battles, in progress of late, to drive the Japs back to their homeland. Reports carried in the papers indicate several engagements have been fought by our naval fighting ships, and the one to which he was attached probably was in on many of the kills. (The Navy recently acknowledged the loss of 5 ships.)
A pre-Pearl Harbor enlistee, Harold has been in the Navy for nearly five years. He has been home on two furloughs during that time.
He wore the Asiatic theater ribbon, pre-Pearl Harbor ribbon, and other decorations, and last December, his final trip home, also had a number of the Bronze battle stars on his ribbons. Reticent about his experiences, even his family and close friends were unable to find out anything about his travels or experiences.
Harold Fahrenkrug was born at Kingsley, April 20, 1920. He grew to young manhood here and got his schooling in the Kingsley school.
On September 23, 1940, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, and saw considerable of the sealanes before Pearl Harbor was attacked. His ship was at Bremerton, Wash., on that fateful December 7th. Since that time he has been constantly on the moved, his frequent letters coming from widely scattered areas.
He is survived by his father and two sisters, Mrs. Pauline Stortz and Hallie Fahrenkrug, his grandfather, and other relatives. A host of friends mourn with the family his untimely death.
Source: The LeMars Globe-Post, April 23, 1945
KINGSLEY SAILOR IS KILLED IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC FIGHTING
Harold Fahrenkrug, 25, son of Richard Fahrenkrug of Kingsley, was killed in action recently in the Pacific area, according to a message received by the father from the War Department last week. Details of his death were not given but it is presumed he lost his life in one of the many sea battles in progress of late.
A pre-Pearl Harbor enlistee, Harold has been in the Navy for nearly five years. He had been home on two furloughs during that time. He wore the Asiatic theatre ribbon, pre-Pearl Harbor ribbon, and other decorations, and last December, his final trip home, also had a number of Bronze battle stars on his ribbons.
Harold Fahrenkrug was born at Kingsley, April 20, 1920. He grew to young manhood there and got his schooling in the Kingsley school.
On September 23, 1940, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and saw considerable of the sea lanes before Pearl Harbor was attacked. His ship was a Bremerton, Wash., on that fateful December 7. Since that time he has been constantly on the moved, his frequent letters coming from widely scattered areas.
He is survived by his father and two sisters, Mrs. Pauline Stortz and Hallie Fahrenkrug, his grandfather and other relatives.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, April 24, 1945
93 Iowans on Army-Navy Casualty List
The names of 93 more Iowans were included in an army and navy casualty report made public Monday by the Office of War Information. Twenty are listed as dead, 62 wounded and 11 missing. The list follows:
Navy Dead
AMOS, Joseph B., Corp., USMCR, DesMoines.
ANDERSON, Charles L. Jr., Corp., USMC, DesMoines.
ELGIN, George L., Pvt., USMCR, Indianola.
FAHRENKRUG, Harold Royal, Watertender 1/c, USN., Kingsley.
VAN ETTEN, Ralph Dan, Seaman 1/c, USNR, Burlington.
WALSH, Philip Michael, Seaman 1/c, USNR, Morning Sun.
Source: Quad City Times, (Davenport, Iowa), Monday, May 14, 1945
***Further Research:
Harold Royal Fahrenkrug was born Apr. 20, 1920 to Richard and Clarice Martha Kindig Fahrenkrug. He died Apr. 6, 1945 and is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA.
Petty Officer Fahrenkrug was serving aboard the USS Witter (DE-636) and was killed when that ship was hit by a Kamikaze while off the southeastern coast of Okinawa.
Source: ancestry.com
