Kruse Body to Arrive This Week
The body of Marine Pfc. Davis Vernon Kruse, who was killed in action in the Pacific, has arrived in San Francisco and is expected to arrive in Waterloo some time this week, members of the family reported yesterday.
His wife, Hazel, resides at 334 Dearborn avenue. He enlisted in the marines in November, 1943, and received his boot training at San Diego, Cal., later being transferred to Seattle, Wash. He took part in the Marshall Islands campaign.
On July 5, 1944, Private Kruse volunteered for a patrol to rescue civilians from a cave between the lines on Saipan. The patrol was ambushed, and Pvt. Kruse was shot through the head and killed, either by a Japanese sniper or machine gunner.
Davis Vernon Kruse, son of Kreen and Dorothy Kruse, was born Jan. 29, 1919, at Little Rock, Ia. He resided there only a short time before moving to Worthington, Minn., where he attended grade school until 15 years ago when he moved to Waterloo with his parents and attended East high school. He was married Feb. 3, 1940, to Hazel Cutler of Waterloo. He was employed by the Illinois Central system before enlisting.
His father preceded him in death in January, 1940.
Surviving are his mother, San Bernardino, Cal.; five sisters, Mrs. Louise Fisher, Sherwood Park; Mrs. Archie Gillespie, 220 Beech street; Mrs. William Uphoff, Worthington, Minn.; Mrs. Lavina Tilley, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Willard Thompson, San Bernardino, Cal.
Two brothers, Clarence, of Waterloo, and Harvey of Minneapolis, Minn., also survive.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, December 05, 1948, Section Two, Page 46
Plan Rites for Marine War Victim
The body of Marine Pfc. Davis Vernon Kruse, killed in action on Saipan island in the Pacific on July 5, 1944, will arrive here for reburial Monday on the Chicago Great Western railroad at 10:15 a. m. it was learned yesterday. The body is to be taken to O’Keefe & Towne funeral home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Twenty-five years old at the time of his death, Private Kruse enlisted in the marines in November, 1943. His family lived only a short time at his birthplace, Little Rock, Ia., young Kruse attending the public schools of Adrian, Minn., before coming her with his parents when he was 10 years old.
Private Kruse’s mother, Mrs. Dorothy Kruse of San Bernardino, Cal., is now in Waterloo to attend the funeral. She is staying here at the home of another son, Clarence, 636 Walnut street, apartment 3.
His wife, Hazel, has remarried and is now Mrs. Merl Myers, Highway 63 north.
Among survivors is a sister, Mrs. Lavina Tilley of Santa Barbara, Cal.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, December 26, 1948, Section Two, Page 18 (photo included)
Davis Vernon Kruse was born Jan. 29, 1919 to Kreen H. and Dorothea M. F. Stroh Kruse. He died July 5, 1944 and is Fairview Cemetery, Waterloo, IA. He was initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery and returned to Iowa after the war.
Pvt. Kruse served in World War II with the U.S. Marine Corps as a rifleman with the 24th Marines and was KIA as part of a volunteer patrol to rescue civilians from a cave between the lines on Saipan.
Source: ancestry.com
