SEITZINGER, Bernard Karl “Ben” 1914-1951

SEITZINGER, RICE

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 10/26/2003 at 21:23:52

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, November 28, 1951
Page 1, Column 7

MAJOR BEN K. SEITZINGER (Photo) MISSING ON JET COMBAT MISSION....

Arrived in Korea on Nov. 1... Many will remember MAJOR SEITZINGER as the Air Force Pilot who staged a “one-man” air show over the high school athletic stadium during the Iowa Centennial celebration staged here in 1946. He had been sent to Fairfield to fulfill a speaking engagement at a public meeting and was authorized to stage the demonstration as part of the Centennial program.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Thursday, November 29, 1951
Page 1, Column 3

SEITZINGER IS COMBAT VICTIM.

....Attended Parsons College for 2½ years after completing high school, then spent two years teaching at Walnut No. 4..... Major SEITZINGER had a long record of combat duty in World War II, was shot down and interned in German prison camp for nine months.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Thursday, December 27, 1951
Page 1, Column 4

MEMORIAL RITES NEXT SUNDAY FOR MAJOR BERNARD K. SEITZINGER, former Fairfield and Jefferson County resident killed when his plane crashed in North Korea Nov. 27, 1951.... Married Evelyn RICE in 1949; his wife resides in Bangor, Maine. Born Nov. 5, 1914, in Belgrade, Minn., son of John and Helen SEITZINGER... Member Hope Lutheran Church, Germanville.... Major SEITZINGER had many hours of flying to his credit, much of it actual combat flying against the enemy. He held the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the French Croix de Guerre; the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster; the World War II Medal and the EAME ribbon (European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign) with four battle stars.... Squadron commander of the “Forty-Niners”.... Age 37.

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I am not related to surname.

Admin. note: According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Major SEITZINGER was strafing enemy rail facilities while on a combat mission and crashed into a boxcar. His body was not recovered, and his name is noted on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu, Hawaii, memorial. Medals and Citations issued to him include:

Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal.