KERNDT, Gustave Frederick 1919-1942

KERNDT

Posted By: Errin Wilker
Date: 11/3/2014 at 17:07:18

FIRST WAR CASUALTY COMES TO LANSING

Ensign Gustave F. Kerndt was born March 2, 1919 at Lansing, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Moritz Kerndt. He graduated from I.C. high school with the class of 1937 and received his B.A. degree from Loras College, Dubuque, with the class of 1941. In the summer of 1940, following an examination he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Reserve and after a short training enjoyed a 30-day cruise on the battleship Wyoming. The trip took them through the Panama Canal and to South America. After finishing college last year he went immediately to Northwestern University where he completed his naval training at Abbot Hall and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve Sept. 12, 1941.

He came home for a short vacation and on Sept. 21 went with his uncle, Mr. G.M. Kerndt, to California to visit relatives and friends and on Sept. 30 reported for duty at the Bremerton, Wash., naval base. He attended a torpedo school for a few months and on February 7, 1942 sailed from San Francisco aboard the Destroyer Sims, as torpedo and communications officer. His love for the work and great ability made his rapid advancement assured from the very day he started the training. His friendliness and plebeian manners made him most popular with all acquaintances, and his family and host of friends still hope some further word may come from him.

Besides his parents, the immediate family includes a brother, James, an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserves aboard ship in the Pacific, a brother Tom and a sister Miss Mary, at home.

Source: Allamakee Journal, Lansing & Waukon, IA, 17 Jun. 1942

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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