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bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Dead > Roster Records > Roster K, © 2025 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 13 Jan 2025
Part 13/27 of the Pottawattamie Area World War II Dead Roster, 39 "K" records
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† Kadel, Lloyd George, served as Kadel Lloyd C, SN 17-123-128, US Army Air Corps, Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Oct 1922 rural Minden, York Twp., Pott. Co.; s/o Michael L. Kadel (b. York Twp.) & Helena M. Witt (b. Germany).
  • entered service 25 Sep 1942 from Rt. 1, Minden, Pott. Co.; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Minden Twp. Cem.
  • 604th Bomb. Sqdn., 399th Bomb. Gp., training unit based at Hamilton Army Air Field, Marin Co., CA; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #41-28874 crew member; aircraft en route from Hamilton Field via Phoenix, AZ to Midland, TX; d. 18 Mar 1944 in Santa Catalina Mts. 25 miles NE of Tucson, Pima Co., AZ; aircraft  encountered bad weather and turned to return to Phoenix, clipped peak, lost control, and crashed; all ten died.

† Kaiser, Bernard Richard, SN 603-02-37, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • b. 16 Jul 1918 rural Lewis, Bear Creek Twp., Cass Co.; s/o Andrew C. Kaiser (b. Illinois) & Carrie M. Wernick (b. Carroll Co., IA).
  • entered service 24 Sep 1941 from Rt. 1, Lewis, Cass Co.; next of kin parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Charles Kaiser, Rt. 1, Lewis, IA; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines; cenotaph Oakwood Cem., Lewis, Cass Co.
  • Heavy Cruiser USS Houston (CA-30), the US Asiatic Fleet flagship; KIA 1 Mar 1942 Battle of Sunda Strait, between Java & Sumatra, Dutch Indies; Houston sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedoes, 793 died.
  • Japan Lashes Out > The Dutch Indies Lost.​

† Kakac, Victor Otto Jr., SN 37-476-218, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 31 Aug 1924 Cresco, Howard Co.; s/o Victor O. Kakac Sr. (b. Howard Co.) & Blanche Frazier (b. Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.); family moved from Howard Co. to rural Missouri Valley, Harrison Co. early 1930s.
  • entered service 22 Mar 1943 from Rt. 3, Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; service credited to Harrison Co.; buried Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • Co. M, 137th Inf. Regt., 35th Inf. Div., V Corps; KIA 1 Aug 1945 SE of St. Lo., Normandy, France.
  • The ETO > Liberation > Normandy.

† Karns, Howard Leroy, SN 37-431-632, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 11 Jun 1920 Anita, Cass Co.; s/o Henry A. Karns (b. Iowa) & Ada Mallory (b. Anita, Cass Co.).
  • entered service 5 Sep 1942 from Rt. 1, Anita, Cass Co.; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Evergreen Cem., Anita.
  • Co. I, 32nd Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 25 Nov 1944 SE of Ormoc; Leyte, Philippines.
  • Battle of Shoestring Ridge - Philippines Liberated > Leyte.

† Keat, Harry Martin, SN 101-67-78, US Navy, Carroll Co.
  • b. 20 Dec 1892 rural Manning, Warren Twp., Carroll Co.; s/o Richard S. Keat (b. Cornwall, England) & Sarah Tate (b. Tama Co.; d. 1940).
  • served in the US Navy 1912-1919; returned to Manning and farmed during 1920s; lived in Nevada & California in 1930s.
  • entered service 13 Feb 1942 at San Francisco, CA; next of kin sister, Mrs. Mabel Keat, 416 Ann St., Manning, IA; body not recovered; memorialized Tablets of the Missing, East Coast Memorial, Battery Park, Manhattan, New York.
  • US Navy Armed Guard on tanker SS Gulfoil; KIA 17 May 1942 in Gulf of Mexico about 75 miles SW of Mississippi delta; Gulfoil sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U-506; of 40 men on board, around 19 survived.
  • WWII Germany > Battle of the Atlantic.

† Kelley, Oren H., SN 17-033-747, US Army Air Force, Cass Co.
  • b. 17 Jun 1916 Sedalia, Pettis Co., MO; s/o Fred E. Kelley (b. Missouri; d. 1941) & Clara A. C. Butler (b. Pettis Co., MO); family moved to Hutchinson, KS in late 1910s and to Atlantic, Cass Co. in early 1920s.
  • entered service 6 Jan 1942 from Atlantic, Cass Co.; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Cambridge American Cem., Coton, Cambridgeshire, England.
  • 43rd Troop Carrier Sqdn., 315th Troop Carrier Gp., Eighth Air Force, based at Aldermaston, Berkshire, England; Douglas C-47A Skytrain/Dakota C-47A #42-23479 radio operator; DNB 17 Sep 1943; accident during joint training exercise with Royal Air Force near Great Bircham, Norfolk, England.
  • The ETO > ETO Air War > Eighth Air Force.
  • Note: The 315th Troop Carrier Gp. was transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943.

† Kelley, Parle Pratt, SN 37-724-123, US Army, Mills Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 6 Jan 1913 Pacific Jct., Mills Co.; s/o Frederick W. Kelley Sr. (b. Glenwood, Mills Co.) & Nellie E. Wilkins (b. Millersburg, Iowa Co.); family lived in various Mills Co. locations until moving to Los Angeles Co., CA late 1920s.
  • married Esther V. Warren who moved from Colorado to California as a child, one child.
  • enlisted 18 Jan 1944 in Los Angeles Co., CA; service credited to Los Angeles Co., CA; buried Arlington Natl. Cem., Arlington, Virginia.
  • 33rd Armored Regt., 3rd Armored Div., VII Corps, First Army; KIA 26 Dec 1944 near Manhay, Ardennes, Belgium.
  • The ETO > Ardennes/The Bulge > The Bulge Contained.

† Keltner, David Reinhart, SN 37-126-193, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Jan 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Harry E. Keltner (b. Jefferson Co.; d. 1943) & Agnes C. Reinhart (b. West Virginia; d. 1931); father married Helen V. Pearson of Co. Bluffs after mother's death.
  • entered service May 1942 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Trumbull Co., OH, reason unknown; buried Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • Hq. Co., 1st Bn., 322nd Inf. Reg., 81st Inf. Div.; KIA 13 Oct 1944, Anguar Is., near Peleliu Is., Palau Is., east of the Philippines.
  • Battle of Anguar - Central Pacific > Palau Islands.

† Kemplin, Alvin Gerald, SN 37-699-280, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 12 Oct 1919 Co. Bluffs; s/o William W. Kemplin (b. Lancaster Co., NE) & Minnie Steinmeier (b. Knox Co., NE).
  • married Elsie Irene Belt of Co. Bluffs about 1939.
  • entered service 28 Jun 1944 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to unknown county; buried Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • Co. G, 32nd Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 23 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; wounds from an artillery shell.
  • Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
  • Note: Not found on 1946 War Dept. list of WWII dead from Pottawattamie County.

† Kendle, Ross LaVar, SN 17-193-984, US Army, Audubon Co. & Morris Co., KS
  • b. 24 Nov 1910 near Council Grove, Morris Co., KS; s/o LeRoy R. Kendle & Mary Elnora McPeek, both b. Morris Co., KS.
  • came to Gray, Audubon Co. about 1940 as a farmhand.
  • entered service 2 May 1942 from Gray, Audubon Co.; service credited to Morris Co., KS; buried Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
  • Sherman tank crew member in Co. B, 743rd Tank Bn., one of five tank battalions that landed on Normandy on D-Day; this battalion landed entirely on LCTs during D-Day's rough seas although 2/3 of their tanks had been modified to paddle to shore in calm seas; KIA 6 Jun 1944, Omaha Beach, Normandy, France.
  • The ETO > Normandy Campaign > D-Day.

† Kennedy, Clair Eugene, SN 37-447-783, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 8 Jul 1922 Cumberland, Cass Co.; s/o Louis F. Kennedy (b. Wyandotte Co., KS) & Emma F. Behnken (b. Cass Co.); family moved to Atlantic area late 1920s.
  • married Jeane M. Dorsey of Cass Co.
  • entered service 14 Dec 1942 from Atlantic, Cass Co.; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Epinal American Cem., SE of Epinal, Lorraine, France.
  • Co. A, 142nd Inf. Regt., 36th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; WIA 30 Sep 1944 by shrapnel near Tendon, SE of Epinal, Vosges Dept., Lorraine, France; DOW 1 Oct 1944.
  • The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine/Seventh Army.

† Kennedy, Hugh, SN 37-198-140, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 6 Jun 1916 north of Red Oak, Sherman Twp., Montgomery Co.; s/o Harvey D. Kennedy (b. Chariton, Lucas Co.) & Claudia G. Archer (b. Red Oak, Montgomery Co.).
  • entered service 5 Jun 1942 from Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; service credited to Montgomery Co.; buried Evergreen Cem., Red Oak.
  • Co. H, 321st Inf. Regt., 81st Inf. Div.; d. 3 Mar 1943 at Camp Rucker, Dale Co., AL; cause unknown.

† Kersten, Lloyd Wesley, SN 0-819-918, US Army Air Force, Harrison Co.
  • b. 23 Jul 1921 near Logan, Calhoun Twp., Harrison Co.; s/o Edward F. Kersten (b. Osage Co., KS; d. 1942) & Martha M. Schuelsky (b. Hastings, Adams Co., NE); family lived in Calhoun and Boyer Twps.
  • married Helen M. John of Harrison Co. Mar 1944, one child.
  • entered service 26 Dec 1942 from Rt. 1, Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; service credited to Harrison Co.; buried Magnolia Cem., Harrison Co.
  • 836th Bomb. Sqdn., 487th Bomb. Gp., Eighth Air Force, based at Lavenham, Suffolk, England; Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress #43-37877 pilot; KIA 30 Nov 1944, Theissen, Burgenlandkreis, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, SW of Leipzig; shot down by flak over secondary target; seven died, two POW.
  • The ETO > ETO Air War > Eighth Air Force.

† Keuter, Ambrose Jeremiah, SN 37-699-242, US Army, Crawford Co.
  • b. 17 Sep 1918 rural Dunlap, Crawford Co.; s/o Herman J. Keuter (b. Germany) & Mary E. Book (b. Westphalia, Shelby Co.; d. 1929).
  • married Esther M. Laubscher of Crawford Co. 1939, two children.
  • entered service 28 Jun 1944 from Dow City, Crawford Co.; service credited to Crawford Co.; buried Pleasant Hill Cem., Dunlap, Harrison Co..
  • Co. I, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 5 May 1945 NW of Kochi, southern Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Japanese counterattack;
  • Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.

† Kidwell, Harold Eldin, SN 20-706-194, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 19 Mar 2020 rural Glenwood, Mills Co., IA; s/o David Rollin Kidwell & Lena A. Finley (d. 1943); both b. Benton Co., MO; family moved to rural Hastings, Mills Co. in 1926.
  • farmed with father before entering service.
  • entered service with National Guard 10 Feb 1941 from Mills Co.; service credited to Mills Co.; buried Hastings Cem., Mills Co.
  • Co. I (Glenwood), 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 4 Apr 1943 near Fondouk, northern Tunisia;
  • The MTO > North Africa  > Tunisia.

† Kimball, William George, SN 0-516-449, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co. & Los Angeles Co., CA
  • b. 4 Nov 1919, Waterford, Racine Co., WI; s/o George H. Kimball (b. Co. Bluffs) & Lulu Carpenter (b. Waterford, Racine Co., WI); family lived in several locations in southeastern Wisconsin; parents separated at unknown date.
  • came to the Omaha area where he was a flying instructor at the municipal airport; married Vida Doris Broderick of Carter Lake, Pott. Co. Dec 1941 in Dubuque, two children.
  • entered service 1 Apr 1943 from Carter Lake, Pott. Co.; service credited to Los Angeles Co., CA; buried Wood Natl. Cem., Milwaukee, WI.
  • Air Transport Command.; d. 3 Nov 1943 near Enterprise, Washington Co., UT, ferrying Douglas A-20G Havoc #43-9241 from Long Beach, CA to Great Falls Army Air Field (now Malmstrom Air Force Base), MT.

† King, Clarence Rudolph, SN 37-112-581, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 26 Apr 1920 Carson, Pott. Co.; s/o Claude R. King & Bertha E. Watkins (d. 1920), both b. Laclede Co., MO; father married Mary A. Hering of Pott. Co. Feb 1923; family lived in Oakland, Pott. Co. area.
  • entered service 3 Feb 1942 from Rt. 4, Oakland, Pott. Co.; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Carson Cem., Pott. Co.
  • Co. E, 161st Inf. Regt., 25th Inf. Div., KIA 2 Aug 1943 New Georgia, Solomon Is.
  • Operation Cartwheel - South & SW Pacific > New Georgia Is.

† Kirkland, Morris Alvin, SN 37-420-864, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • b. 13 Sep 1911 rural Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.; s/o John A. Kirkland (b. St John Twp., Harrison Co.; d. 1915) & Mary Ann Kelly (b. Grove Twp., Adair Co.; d. 1920).
  • lived in Missouri Valley area before entering service.
  • unknown service entry data; service credited to Harrison Co.; body not recovered; memorialized Tablets of the Missing, Luxembourg American Cem., Hamm, Luxembourg; cenotaph Oak Grove Cem., Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.
  • Co. C, 377th Inf. Regt., 95th Inf. Div., XX Corps, Third Army; KIA 9 Nov 1944 Maizières-lès-Metz, north of Metz, Moselle Dept., Lorraine, France.
  • Battle of Metz - The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine/Third Army.

† Kish, Lyman Herbert, SN 12-141-097, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 8 Oct 1922 rural Craig, Holt Co., MO; s/o Herbert A. Kish (b. Atchison Co., MO) & Margaret V. Colhour (b. Kansas); parents divorced 1925; raised by father; in Norwalk Twp., Pott. Co. 1930 & 1940.
  • entered service 1 Oct 1942 at Chicago, IL from Rock Island Co., IL; service credited to Rock Island Co., IL; buried Steele Cem., Falls City, Richardson Co., NE.
  • Battery D, 403rd AAA Bn.; WIA 20 Feb 1944 near Cassino, Lazio, Italy; DOW 21 Feb 1944 11th Field Hospital, San Pietro, Italy, shrapnel wound.
  • The MTO > Italy > Cassino/The Gustav Line.

† Kitson, Donald Edgar, SN 37-750-237, US Army, Audubon Co.
  • b. 30 Apr 1923 rural Gray, Viola Twp., Audubon Co.; s/o Herbert W. Kitson & Bertha O. Young, both b. Audubon Co.
  • married Dorothy A. Adamson of Warren Co. Jan 1945 in Audubon Co.
  • entered service 17 Aug 1944 from Rt. 2, Audubon, Audubon Co.; service credited to Audubon Co.; buried Lorraine American Cem., St. Avold, Lorraine, France.
  • Co. A, 61st Armored Inf. Bn., 10th Armored Div., Third Army (10th Armored Div. attached to Seventh Army 8 Apr 1945); KIA 8 Apr 1945 near Wolpertshausen, east of Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany;
  • Battle of Heilbronn - The ETO > Central Europe > Central Germany.

† Klefman, Gordon Louis, SN 0-325-561, US Army, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • b. 11 Jan 1915 Co. Bluffs; s/o Louis J. Klefman (b. Mondamin, Harrison Co.) & Nellie M. Harriman (b. Co. Bluffs); family moved to Omaha about 1940.
  • living in Kansas City, KS in 1940.
  • previous Iowa National Guard Service; enlisted in Air Corps 29 May 1941 at Fort Leavenworth, KS from Douglas Co., NE; transferred to artillery; service credited to Douglas Co., NE; buried Memorial Park Cem., Council Bluffs.
  • Co. C, 1st Ranger Bn. (one of 500 original US Army Rangers); KIA 10 Nov 1942 near Oran, Algeria, North Africa.
  • The MTO > North Africa > Operation Torch.

† Kloewer, Eugene John, SN 37-436-471, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 25 Jun 1921 Earling/Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Frank A. Kloewer & Anna M. Rau, both b. Westphalia, Shelby Co.
  • entered service 5 Oct 1942 from Rt. 3, Harlan, Shelby Co.; service credited to Shelby Co.; buried Epinal American Cem., SE of Epinal, Lorraine, France; cenotaph Sts. Peter and Paul Cem., Defiance, Shelby Co.
  • 753rd Tank Bn., Seventh Army; KIA 15 Sep 1944, Burgundy area, France.
  • The ETO > Liberation > Southern France. 

† Knapp, Clyde Alfred, SN 0-328-819, US Army Air Force, Los Angeles Co., CA & Pott. Co.
  • b. 9 Jan 1909 Omaha; s/o George W. Knapp (b. Douglas Co., NE) & Beulah B. West (b. Fremont Co., IA); family lived in at least six Midwest locations; parents divorced.
  • married Joycelyn Nadine Howard 1936, two children; moved to Los Angeles Co., CA after marrying.
  • unknown service entry date & location; service credited to Mobile Co., AL, reason unknown; body not recovered; memorialized Tablets of the Missing; North Africa American Cem., Carthage, Tunisia.
  • 154th Observation Sqdn., 68th Observation Gp., Twelfth Air Force; based at Oujda, NE Morocco, North Africa; Douglas A-20 Havoc pilot; KIA 7 Jan 1943 in North Africa; aircraft with crew of four disappeared on a mission.
  • The MTO > MTO Air War.

† Knapp, Rexford James “Rex”, SN 316-35-72, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • b. 21 Aug 1913 Manilla, Crawford Co.; s/o Edward J. Knapp (b. La Salle Co., IL) & Julia J. Luxford (b. Illinois); family moved from Jefferson Twp., Shelby Co. to Harlan, Shelby Co. before 1918 and to Co. Bluffs in early 1930s.
  • married Rose Marie Thomas of Hawaii, three children.
  • entered service 1933 from Co. Bluffs; next of kin wife, Mrs. Rose Marie Knapp, 505 6th St., Navy Housing, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii; buried Union Twp. Cem., Defiance, Shelby Co.
  • Cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36); KIA 30 Nov 1942 in Ironbottom Sound off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Minneapolis torpedoed by Japanese destroyer & heavily damaged.
  • Battle of Tassafaronga - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War.

† Knight, DeVere Hiram, SN 20-706-798, US Army, Mills Co.
  • b. 5 Aug 1915 Malvern, Mills Co.; s/o Harvey J. Knight (b. Malvern, Mills Co.) & Emily C. Clary (b. Seward Co., NE).
  • entered service with National Guard 10 Feb 1941 from Malvern, Mills Co.; service credited to Mills Co.; buried Malvern Cem.
  • Co. M (Red Oak), 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 4 Nov 1943 near Hill 400, NE of Venafro, 20 miles east of Cassino, Italy, sniper fire.
  • The MTO > Italy > The Volturno Line.

† Knudsen, Robert Dearld, SN 896,935, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co. & Jackson Co., MO
  • b. 26 Sep 1925 Co. Bluffs; s/o George Knudsen (b. Co. Bluffs; d. 1929) & Retha Jane Daugherty (b. Holt Co., MO); family living in Co. Bluffs 1940; mother married John R. Broyles  Jan 1943 and moved to Kansas City, MO.
  • entered service 25 Oct 1943 from Co. Bluffs; next of kin mother, Mrs. Retha Broyles, 612 1/2 E. 12th St., Kansas City, MO; buried Jefferson City Natl. Cem., Jefferson City, Cole Co., MO.
  • Co. H, 7th Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div.; KIA 14 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan.
  • Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.

† Knutson, Harold Norman, SN 39-092-195, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co. & Josephine Co., OR
  • b. 2 Feb 1920 Hawarden, Sioux Co.; s/o Emil M. Knutson (b. Union Co., SD) & Edna M. Caster (b. Hardin Co.); family lived in Sioux and Marshall Cos., moving to Co. Bluffs in early 1940s.
  • lived in Grants Pass, Josephine Co., OR in early 1940s.
  • entered service 7 Mar 1942 from Hawarden, Sioux Co.; service credited to Josephine Co., OR; body not recovered; memorialized Courts of the Missing, Natl. Cem. of the Pacific, Honolulu, Oahu, HI; cenotaph in Cedar Lawn Cem., Co. Bluffs.
  • 36th Bomb. Sqdn., 28th Bomb Gp., Eleventh Air Force; based at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska Territory; Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress #41-9146 crew member with pilot Albert J. Wilsey Jr.; KIA 28 Aug 1942 Aleutian Is., Alaska; aircraft disappeared returning from three-plane mission over Kiska Is. led by Col. William O. Eareckson; all nine died.
  • North Pacific > Alaska.
++++++++++
† Knutson, Noble Malvin, SN 37-190-416, US Army, Sioux & Woodbury Cos.
  • b. 1 Oct 1905 Vilas, Miner Co., SD; s/o Ole Knutson (b. Norway; d. 1940) & Bertha Nelson (b. Norway' d. 1944); family moved to Hawarden, Sioux Co. about 1913.
  • moved to Sioux City, Woodbury Co. about 1938.
  • entered service at unknown date; service credited to Woodbury Co.; buried Normandy American Cem., Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
  • 358th Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div.; KIA 10 Jul 1944  NW of St. Lo near Gonfreville, Normandy, France.
  • The ETO > Normandy Campaign > Normandy, July 1944. 
++++++++++
about Harold and Noble Knutson:
  • Harold and Noble Knutson were nephew and uncle.

† Koebel, Kenneth L., SN 0-421-117, US Army Air Force, Pima Co., AZ & Pott. Co.
  • b. 17 Nov 1919 Atlantic, Cass Co.
  • entered service from unknown location 15 Oct 1940; service credited to Pima Co., AZ; body not recovered; memorialized Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cem., Luzon, Philippines.
  • 13th or 33rd Pursuit Sqdn.; KIA 1 Mar 1942, 430 miles south of Java, Dutch East Indies; on old aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV-1); Langley sunk by Japanese air attack, 177 Army Air Force survivors transferred to destroyer USS Edsall (DD-219) which then headed towards Java; Edsall sunk by Japanese surface ships; most Edsall survivors were left in the water; of the survivors rescued by the Japanese most - maybe all - subsequently died in captivity or were executed.
  • Japan Lashes Out > The Dutch Indies Lost.
++++++++++
† Koebel, Leonard Lavern, SN 0-726-911, US Army Air Force, Pima Co., AZ & Pott. Co.
  • b. 14 Jul 1917 Creston, Union Co.
  • unknown service entry date and location; service credited to Pima Co., AZ; buried Greenwood Cem., San Diego, CA.
  • 401 Bomb. Sqdn., 91st Bomb. Gp.; Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress #41-24451 bombardier; DNB 3 Oct 1942 Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland; crash en route from US, eight died, two survived.
  • The ETO > ETO Comm. Zone.
++++++++++
about Kenneth L. and Leonard Lavern Koebel:
  • sons of Charles O. Koebel (b. Red Oak, Montgomery Co.) & Olivia B. Madison (b. Gregory Co., SD); family lived in Atlantic, Cass Co. 1920, in Denver, CO 1923 & 1930; parents divorced; mother married Harvey N. Hamilton 1933; in San Antonio, TX 1935; in Tucson, AZ 1940. 

† Koenemann, Howard Oscar, SN 20-706-799, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • b. 10 Jul 1918 Sabula, Jackson Co.; s/o Otto H. Koenemann & Caroline Friday (d. 1918), both b. Jackson Co.; father married Ada Hubbirt Mar 1922 in Johnson Co., IA; family moved to Red Oak before 1925.
  • entered service with National Guard 10 Feb 1941 at Red Oak, Montgomery Co.; service credited to Montgomery Co.; buried Sicily-Rome American Cem., Nettuno, Lazio, Italy.
  • Co. M (Red Oak), 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 3 Dec 1943 Mt. Pantano, NE of Cassino, Lazio, Italy.
  • Battle of Mt. Pantano - The MTO > Italy > The Bernhardt Line.
  • Notes: posthumous Silver Star.

† Kranz, Fred Roger, SN 905,601, US Marine Corps, Cook Co., IL & Pott. Co.
  • b. 22 Apr 1924 Oelwein, Fayette Co.; s/o Fred A. Kranz (b. Chickasaw Co.) & Irene Kaufman (b. Wisconsin); parents divorced early 1930s; father moved to Minden, Pott. Co. in early 1930s & to Co. Bluffs in early 1940s; father married Margaret E. ____; mother married James L. Wallace (b. Tennessee) and lived inCook Co., IL.
  • in Frazee, Becker Co., MN 1940 & 1942.
  • entered service 11 Nov 1943; service credited to Cook Co., IL; next of kin mother, Mrs. Irene K. Wallace, Box 83, Posen, IL; buried Fort Snelling Natl. Cem., Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.
  • Co. C, 1st Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div; KIA 17 Sep 1944 Peleliu Is., Palau Is., east of the Philippines.
  • Battle of Peleliu - Central Pacific > Palau Islands.

† Kraschel, James Norman, SN 17-152-672, US Army Air Force, Shelby Co. 
  • b. 25 Mar 1924 Harlan, Shelby Co.
  • attended University of Iowa 1942-43.
  • entered service 1 Feb 1943 from Harlan, Shelby Co.; service credited to Shelby Co.; buried Harlan Cem., Shelby Co.
  • 868th Bomb. Sqdn., attached directly to Thirteenth Air Force headquarters; based at Yontan Airfield, Okinawa Is., Japan; flying radar-equipped Consolidated SB-24 Liberator search bombers specializing in night missions; tail number and pilot unknown; DNB 24 Sep 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan, aircraft accident after Japan surrendered.
  • WWII Japan > The Pacific Base Areas.​
† Kraschel, Richard Nelson, civilian, Shelby Co. 
  • b. 25 Jan 1919 Harlan, Shelby Co.
  • buried Harlan Cem., Shelby Co.
  • test pilot for Bell Aircraft, Buffalo, NY; d. 29 May 1943 near Niagara Falls, NY; Bell P-39 Airacobra malfunction; bailed out at low altitude and parachute failed to open.
about James Norman and Richard Nelson Kraschel:
  • sons of Nelson G. Kraschel (b. Macon Co., IL) & Agnes J. Johnson (b. Co. Bluffs); Nelson Kraschel was Governor of Iowa 1937-39.

† Kreger, Lewis Elwin, SN 37-261-801, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • b. 6 Nov 1920 Co. Bluffs; s/o Melvin L. Kreger (b. Thomas Co., KS) & Hazel F. Dalton (b. Monona Co.).
  • entered service 16 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Brittany American Cem., St.-James, Manche Dept., Normandy, France.
  • 28th Inf. Regt., 8th Inf. Div., VIII Corps; KIA 31 Aug 1944, near Brest, Brittany, France.
  • Battle of Brittany - The ETO > Liberation > Brittany.

† Kroman, Albert Harold, SN 0-1-169-605, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • b. 18 Sep 1914 Jackson Twp., rural Elk Horn, Shelby Co.; s/o Andrew Hansen Kroman (d. 1939) & Christina M. Christensen, both b. Shelby Co..
  • entered service 27 Mar 1941 from Elk Horn, Shelby Co.; service credited to Shelby Co.; buried Elk Horn Cem.
  • unit unknown (Artillery OCS graduate, Fort Sill, OK); KIA 3 Jun 1944 approaching Rome, Lazio, Italy.
  • The MTO > Italy > Cassino to Rome.

† Kuehn, Russell Dale, SN 37-693-128, US Army, Cass Co.
  • b. 15 Oct 1918 Anita, Cass Co.; s/o Frederick L. Kuehn (b. Kearney Co., NE) & Pearl A. Gissible (b. Iowa).
  • married Mildred D. Smith of Cass Co. Jun 1941 in Nodaway Co., MO.
  • entered service at unknown date from Rt. 2, Anita, Cass Co.; service credited to Cass Co.; buried Evergreen Cem., Anita.
  • Co. K, 137th Inf. Regt., 35th Inf. Div., XII Corps, Third Army; KIA 17 Dec 1944 near Bliesbruck, east of Sarreguemines, Moselle Dept., Lorraine, France.
  • The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine/Third Army.
​
† Kuhl, Robert Lawrence, SN 0-2-062-828, US Army Air Force, Adams Co.
  • b. 28 Dec 1921 Harlan, Shelby Co.; s/o Lawrence A. Kuhl (b. Earling, Shelby Co.) & Priscilla M. Meuer (b. Day Co., SD); family moved to Corning, Adams Co. in late 1920s.
  • entered service 20 Feb 1943 from Corning, Adams Co.; service credited to Adams Co.; buried Cavalry Cem., Corning.
  • 261st Base Unit, Abilene Army Air Field, Taylor Co., TX; Republic P-47D Thunderbolt #42-74757 pilot; d. 31 Oct 1944 1/2 mile SE of field; spin and stall.

​† Kussman, Edward William, SN 37-261-765, US Army Air Force, Pott. Co.
  • b. 25 Jun 1919 Cumberland, Cass Co.; s/o John F. Kussman (b. Chariton Co., MO) & Elva M. Stender (b. Adams Co.); family moved to Co. Bluffs in late 1920s.
  • entered service 2 Sep 1942 from Co. Bluffs; service credited to Pott. Co.; buried Cambridge American Cem., Coton, Cambridgeshire, England.
  • 856 Bomb. Sqdn., 492nd Bomb. Gp., Eighth Air Force; based at North Pickenham, Norfolk, England; Consolidated B-24 Liberator #42-50331 waist gunner with pilot Henry L. Polansky; KIA 31 Mar 1945, near Kirkwall, Orkney Is., Scotland; aircraft lost power and crashed returning from aborted Operation Carpetbagger mission; one survived; 13 died included six Norwegian Special Forces members.
  • The ETO > ETO Air War > Eighth Air Force.

† Kyhnn, George Russell, SN 37-698-181, US Army, Audubon & Marshall Cos.
  • ​b. 8 Aug 1914 rural Audubon, Hamlin Twp., Audubon Co.; s/o John Kyhnn (b. Audubon Co.) & Agnes Nielsen (b. Audubon Co.).
  • married Vera M. Gale of Marshall Co. Sep 1938 in Audubon, one child.
  • entered service 8 Jun 1944 from Marshalltown, Marshall Co.; service credited to Marshall Co.; buried Riverside Cem., Marshalltown.
  • Co. B, 473rd Inf. Regt., 92nd Inf. Div., IV Corps, Fifth Army; KIA 13 Apr 1945 Hill 366, near Carrara, Tuscany, Italy.
  • Operation Second Wind - The MTO > Italy > The Po Valley.
  • Notes: The 473rd Inf. Regt. was constituted in-theater in Jan 1945 from surplus anti-aircraft personnel and assigned to the 92nd Inf. Div. (colored) in the last several months of WWII.