CITY NEWS
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street, have received word that their son, Karl Kolmerer, Victorville, Calif., has been promoted to the rank of corporal.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, January 11, 1943
AT NEW LOCATION
Cpl. Karl Kolmerer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street, has the following new address:
Cpl. Karl Kolmerer, Casual Detachment, KAAF, Kingman, Ariz.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, October 13, 1943
RECEIVES SILVER WINGS
Cpl. Karl Kolmerer, who was graduated from the Flexible Gunnery school at Kingman, Ariz., last Saturday and received his silver wings, is home spending a 10-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Kolmerer, Sr., 913 East Sixth street.
He will report to the 18th Replacement Camp at Salt Lake City, on Jan. 6.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, December 27, 1943
NEW ADVANCEMENT
Karl Kolmerer, serving as a radio man in the Army Air Corps, has been advanced in rank to staff sergeant, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Kolmerer, Sr., 913 East Sixth street. He has been stationed at Pyote, Tex.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, April 21, 1944
ARRIVES IN ENGLAND
Staff Sgt. Karl Kolmerer, serving as a radio man on a United States Army bomber has arrived safely in England, according to a message to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street.
Sgt. Kolmerer has been in service more than two years.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 12, 1944
Promotion For Karl Kolmerer Is Announced
An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England—The promotion of Karl E. Kolmerer, 28-year-old B-17 Flying Fortress radio operator and gunner, of Muscatine, from staff to technical sergeant, has been announced at this Eighth Air Force bomber base.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl A. Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street, Sgt. Kolmerer has seen action with the Eighth Air Force in attacks on vital nazi objectives in central Europe, and on enemy installations and troop concentrations in France, in support of Allied ground operations.
Sgt. Kolmerer’s veteran bomber group holds a presidential citation for its assault on key nazi ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany, last October, and is a unit of the Third Bombardment division, citied for its now historic England-to-Africa shuttle attack on Messerschmitt factories at Regensburg, Germany.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, September 14, 1944
LIST OF MISSING IN ACTION GREW IN 1944
Among those from this area who have been listed as missing in action in official dispatches to next of kin, and upon casualty lists of the armed services, are:
TECH. SGT. KARLE A. KOLMERER—Tech. Sgt. Karle A. Kolmerer was listed as missing in action over Germany since Sept. 10, 1944, his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Karle Kolmerer, Sr., 913 East Sixth street, were advised. He was a radioman and gunner and had completed 20 missions, being overseas since May of this year.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Friday, December 29, 1944
Nazis Report T/S Kolmerer Slain In War
Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karle Kolmerer, Sr., 913 East Sixth street, reported as having been missing in action since Sept. 10, 1944, is now reported as having been killed in action, according to a telegram from the War Department received by his parents.
The messaged disclosed word of Sgt. Kolmerer’s death came from the German government through the International Red Cross. A letter from the War Department following the message telling of Sgt. Kolmerer being missing in action, held out some hope for his survival as it was revealed two parachutes were seen to have opened up from the B-17 Flying Fortress on which Sgt. Kolmerer was a radio man and gunner.
Sgt. Kolmerer was born in Muscatine on Oct. 11, 1915, and had spent all his life here. He was graduated from Muscatine high school in 1935, and he later attended Muscatine junior college. Before entering the service, he was employed at the M. Kautz bakery for four years.
Sgt. Kolmerer enlisted in the Army Air Corps in April of 1942, and left for Des Moines on April 15 of that year. He was first sent to Victorville, Calif., where he took up radio. Later he went to Sioux Falls, S.D., and then to Kingman, Ariz., for gunnery instruction and he received his wings there.
From Arizona he went to Salt Lake City, Utah, Kearney, Neb., to Texas and then to Lanty Field, Va. He left the United States for overseas on May 22 of last year.
Sgt. Kolmerer attended the Methodist church here and was a member of the Elks Lodge.
Surviving are his parents; one sister, Miss Phyllis Kolmerer; and one brother, Robert Kolmerer, both at home.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, January 29, 1945 (photo included)
Tribute to Memory Of 7 Servicemen Planned
Seven Muscatine county servicemen whose deaths have been reported between Jan. 20 and Feb. 17 will be honored at the February community memorial rites at the high school auditorium at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon, officials in charge have announced.
The program followed for the services will again include the memorial ritual of the American Legion with other patriotic organizations in the county participating. Leonard Plessy will be soloist and Miss Catherine Flannery, organist.
Dr. Henry C. Schneider, Legion post chaplain, will offer the eulogy.
The servicemen to be honored include:
Pvt. Fred Hintermeister, killed in action in Luxembourg, Dec. 23, 1944.
Lt. Phillip Fagan, killed in action in Belgium, Jan. 14.
Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, killed in action over Germany, Sept. 10, 1944.
Pvt. Roy E. Bond, killed in action in Belgium, Jan. 3.
Staff Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, killed in action over Germany May 27, 1944.
Pfc. Wesley Samuel Hagens killed in action in France, Dec. 23, 1944.
Pvt. Marvin G. Daufeldt killed in action in France, Jan. 25.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, February 21, 1945
Six Servicemen Who Made Supreme Sacrifice Are Honored At Rites Here
The fourth community memorial rites in honor of Muscatine county soldiers and sailors killed in the service of their country were conducted by patriotic organizations at the high school auditorium Sunday afternoon with Dr. Henry C. Schneider, American Legion post chaplain, offering the eulogy.
Six servicemen whose deaths have been reported since the January memorial were honored: Pfc. Fred Hintermeister, Lt. Phillip Fagan, Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, Pvt. Roy E. Bond, Pfc. Wesley Samuel Hagens and Pvt. Marvin G. Daufeldt.
L. C. Flannery, Legion commander, was in charge of the rites, with music provided by Leonard Plessy, soloist, and Catherine Flannery organist.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, February 26, 1945
140 Have Made Supreme Sacrifice In Muscatine Area In War Against Axis Powers; Many Reported Wounded
Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karle Kolmerer, Sr., 913 East Sixth street, killed in action Sept. 10, 1944, over Germany.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Victory In Europe Edition, May 7, 1945
World War II Claims Lives of 174 From Muscatine Territory
TECH. SGT. KARLE E. KOLMERER, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karle Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street, missing in action over Germany Sept. 10,1944, was reported killed in action on that date. Sgt. Kolmerer was a radioman and gunner on a Flying Fortress shot down over Germany. He entered service in April of 1942, and had been overseas since May of 1944.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, December 28, 1945
BODIES OF FOUR MUSCATINE COUNTY VETERANS BEING SENT BACK FOR BURIAL
Bodies of four Muscatine county war dead are being returned to the United States aboard the U. S. Army Transport Barney Kirschbaum coming from Europe with war dead originally interred in France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg.
According to an announcement by the Army today, the 76 bodies being returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in Iowa include:
Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, air force, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl A. Kolmerer, 913 East Sixth street, Muscatine.
Pvt. Clarence A. Plank, Army, son of Jessie L. Freise, 1232 Dale street, Muscatine.
Plans for burial in Muscatine of the bodies of Tec. Sgt. Kolmerer and Pvt. Plank have already been announced by their families.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, December 28, 1948
Sgt. Karle Edward Kolmerer is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Muscatine, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
