updated 01/13/2011


WWII Hero
Kermit Dahlen





Lt. K. Dahlen War Casualty

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar L. Dahlen of Thompson, formerly of Lake Mills, received a telegram from the war department Monday advising them of the death of their son, Kermit. The telegram reads, "Reports now received from the German government through the International Red Cross state your son, Second Lt. Kermit O. Dahlen, who was previously reported missing in action, was killed in action on nineteen July over Germany. The Secretary of War extends his deep sympathy. Confirming letter follows. J.A. Ulio, the Adjutant General."

Kermit was a fighter pilot in the army air corps and was reported missing in July after a flight over Germany. The Dahlens had received no word since July.
~newspaper clipping, undated, from the Leibrand, Whites Private Collection Library
~contributed by Ken Moen


Lt. Dahlen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Dahlen, was reported missing July 19, 1944, after his P-51 Mustang fighter plane was shot down over Germany. It was hoped that he had parachuted to safety but a later message from Germany, via the Red Cross, revealed that he was dead.
~newspaper clipping, undated
~contributed by Ken Moen

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Kermit O. Dahlen

Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service #O-695158
335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group
Entered the service from Iowa
Died 19 July 1944
Buried in Plot E, Row 6, Grave 29, Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France
Awards: Purple Heart

~American Battle Monuments Commision website

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