Fightin’ K. Co. Mourns Two More Dead.
JACK KEMPKER AND BOB VANDERWAL ARE KILLED.
Kempker Was One of Five Boys From One Family in Armed Services.
[Microfilm crimped in the far left column, only partially readable]
The Kempkers had five sons in the service and though sadly with heart aching, Mrs. Kempker said calmly:
“My hopes are shattered now, it would be hard to expect all five of our boys to come back. They all wanted to enlist and fight for their country. Jack was only 17 years of age when he signed up with K. Co. He had to have our consent to join but he wanted to get his year training over with. No words were ever spoken truer than in that last letter when he said: “There isn’t much I can say, but you’ll probably read in the paper more than I’ll ever be able to write.”
From the words in the last letter where the young man said: “I had a boat ride and I have never been here before. Quite the place of attraction now” –the family gathers that he was somewhere in Italy. His death may have occurred at or near Naples, the family believes.
Mrs. Kempker revealed Saturday morning that it was her son, who gave his life, who wrote the famous “round-robin” letter to The Globe-Post, telling of the heroic fighting done by K company in North Africa. At the time the letter was printed, the family figured that Jack had something to do about it, but didn’t learn that it was he who had such praise for fighting K, until they received a letter from him later, acknowledging that the was the author.
(Jack Kempker’s letter was used as a text by Morse Hoorneman in his decoration day address at the city cemetery.)
The Kempkers have four other sons, three of whom are risking their lives every day in the service of their country.
Staff Sgt. Paul Kempker is a member of the Rainbow division at Camp Gruber, Okla.
Lieut. Robert Kempker is a bombardier on a B-17, Flying Fortress, somewhere in England. In a letter from him he said: “Have been on many raids over enemy territory, but can’t say how many.”
Lieut. Edward Kempker is a bombardier on a B-24, Liberator, and is also stationed somewhere in England.
Gerald “Gerry” Kempker has received his wings as a tail-gunner on a Liberator and is located in the Hawaiian Islands.
Jack Kempker was born at Carroll, Iowa, on August 14, 1922. The family moved to LeMars seven years ago where he was graduated from St. Joseph’s high school in 1939. He enlisted in K company when he was 17 years of age. Before entering the service he was employed at the Council Oak store.
He received his basic training with K company at Camp Claiborne, La. and when war broke out, was shipped to Camp Dix, N.J. Later the company was sent to Ireland and then took part in the invasion of Africa and Tunisian campaign.
Besides his parents, other four fighting brothers, he is survived by another brother, Jimmie and a sister, Mary living at home.
Jimmie, the youngest brother, is now 17 years of age and said that as soon as school was over he was going to enlist in the Service.
Source: The LeMars Globe-Post, October 25, 1943
NEWS of the BOYS in the SERVICE
Sergeant Gerald T. Kempker, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kempker of 715 1st Street, SE, LeMars, Iowa, has been awarded the Air Medal and first Oak Leaf Cluster by Brigadier General Truman H. Landon, commanding general of the VII Bomber Command, for his participation in Seventh Air Force aerial strikes against the Japs in the Marshall Islands. Sergeant Kempker, who attended St. Joseph high school, has two brothers in the service: First Lt. R. M. Kempker, AAF, and Staff Sergeant P. J. Kempker with the Infantry. He went overseas May 12, 1943.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, May 5, 1944
ONE OF KEMPKER BOYS BACK HOME FROM ITALY SOON TO BE DISCHARGED
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kempker, residing at 715 First Street SE, are enjoying a visit with their son, Cpl. Jim Kempker, who arrived home on furlough Monday evening from Camp Fannin, Texas. He will return to Texas after a 10-day visit.
On Tuesday, Mr. and Mrs. Kempker received a wire from another son, Pfc. Paul Kempker, who has just returned to the United States from overseas duty in Italy where he has been stationed since last August. He is now at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, and expects to arrive home soon. He will be discharged from the service via the point system, having 115 points to his credit. He has been in the service of his country five and one-half years.
Mr. and Mrs. Kempker have had six sons in military service, one of whom was reported killed and another has been reported missing for several months.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, June 22, 1945
Father Paul Jerome Kempker died Sept. 16, 2005 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Milwaukee, WI.
Source: ancestry.com
