The third part of my Remembrance Day project dedicated to the men and women of Gillespie County who perished during their WW2 service.
As many men, as many stories.
Lt. Junior Grade Karl Kappus
Born on 2 October 1917 in Fredericksburg to the family of Adolph Chas Cappus and Hedwig Eberle (1).
A few months later, on 11 November, Harry T Klein enlisted in the Army. He received his training in Camp Wallace, Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Finally, in February 1945, the soldier and his Coast Artillery Coast were deployed overseas.
T 5/G H Klein saw the battlefields in many European countries including England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, and Germany. He served as a cook of the coast artillery anti-craft unit.
Harry died of wounds received in combat action which took place in Germany on 18 April 1945. He was 30 years 9 months and 13 days (13).
Technician 5th Grade Harry T Klein was awarded Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and Navy Expeditionary Medal.
Private First Class Will G Bird
Will's parents owned a hotel. William Gip, the father, died two months before the boy's 13th birthday. After his passing, the mother was registered during the census as the hotel proprietor. Maude may Sullivan lived with her four children in Precinct #3 of Gillespie County then.
Will Bird graduated from Fredericksburg High School. The young man was a talented musician, he was a member of various dance bands including The Gillespie County dance band in which he played the piano and bass violin.
Will G Bird joined the US Marine Corps on 5 December 1942 in Dallas. After the initial training at the camp at San Diego, CA, he was sent to the US Naval Station situated at Whidbey Island, Washington. Next, PFC Bird was transferred to Guadalcanal where he fought in the Pacific battles.
During the service, the man's musical talent was appreciated as well. Will played in the 1st Marine Division "Swing Band".
Private First Class Will G Bird perished in action on 2 May 1945, while performing his military duties on Okinawa (15). He was 22 years old.
Will came back to Texas - he found his resting place at the Fort Sam Houston National cemetery.
Private Alvin W Moldenhauer
was born in Blanco County to William Moldenhauer and Alma Herbort on 8 February 1910 (16).
Alvin joined the Army in 1936, he served with the 59th Coast Artillery. In February 1940 he spent a furlough at the family home (17).
On the 28th day of the month, the soldier came back to his base. A few months later, on 9 April, he was recorded during the 1940 census. Alvin was stationed at Sausalito Judicial Township, Marin California (18).
Not long after that, he was sent to the Philippines. Private Moldenhauer was taken prisoner after the fall of Corregidor. In September 1943, his parents, who lived in Cain City, received a card written by Alvin from the Philippine Military Prison No.4 (19).
Alvin Moldenhauer lost his life in camp Bilibid, the Phillippines on 19 January 1945 (20).
He was buried in Fredericksburg on 3 November 1948 (21).
PVT Moldenhauer was awarded World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Army Good Conduct Medal.
Private First Class Willie Johanson
Private First Class Eugene Louis Klein
was born on 9 April 1912 in Gillespie, Texas. His parents were Mr. Christian Klein and Miss Emma Mosel (24) of Tivydale community.
Eugene enlisted in the Army in Fort El Bliss, El Paso on 3 March 1942. Before that, the man had worked in farming, and taking care of livestock (25). The soldier completed the training in California and in January 1945 was sent to Europe.
Pfc Eugene L Klein served with Company E, 397 Infantry, 100 Division. He was a member of the Military Police. The man was killed in Germany while performing his duties on 10 June 1945, after the war in Europe had officially ended.
Memorial services dedicated to Eugene Louis Klein took place at the Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg at 11 am on Saturday, 11 August 1945 (26, 27, 28).
He was awarded Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Army Good Conduct Medal.
Private First Class Elgin A Scharnhorst
Elgin J Luckenbach joined the Air Force and was enlisted to the Army on 9 June 1942 (34). He did his training at Fort Sam Houston, Sheppard Field, Santa Monica, CA; Las Vegas, Nevada and Greenville, SC.
Next, he left Hamilton field, CA on 22 July 1943 for the overseas service. After a few-day stop in Hawaii, he sailed to Australia and then the Nedzab in New Guinea.
Staff Sergeant Elgin J. Luckenbach was an engineer and a gunner. He had completed at least 35 successful missions before his last flight came on B-24J Liberator (35).
After the bombing mission at Hollandia (New Guinea), the crew of the plane flew toward the base at Nadzab Airport. Soon, due to bad weather, their Liberator crashed. Lucky and other crew members were reported missing on 16 April 1944.
Their names are listed on tablets at Manila American Cemetery. Elgin's name is also memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery.
Here you can see Elgin's honorable death certificate.
Sergeant Luckenbach was awarded Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.
Flight Officer James Matthew Pyka
Private First Class Schandua was awarded World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Army Good Conduct Medal.
To Be Continued
Resources:
1. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2JY-ZWL : 4 April 2020), Carl William Kappus, 02 Oct 1917; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 46254, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,502,190.
2. The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, April 20, 1945, newspaper, April 20, 1945; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth842252/: accessed November 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting St. Mary's University Louis J. Blume Library.
The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 5, Ed. 1 Friday, February 16, 1945, newspaper, February 16, 1945; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth842229/: accessed November 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting St. Mary's University Louis J. Blume Library.
4. Clipping and info: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, January 12, 1945, newspaper, January 12, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1145677/: accessed November 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
5. Naval History6. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2LQ-8YK : 4 April 2020), Bruno Walter Wunderlich, 23 Apr 1918; citing Morris Ranch, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 18957, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,508,809.
7. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8P5-MDR : 5 December 2014), Bruno W Wunderlich, enlisted 22 Jun 1942, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
8. Clipping and info: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 15, Ed. 1 Friday, April 13, 1945, newspaper, April 13, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135343/: accessed November 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38S-5VY : 13 March 2018), Harry T Klein, 18 Apr 1945; citing certificate number 3843, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,242,622.
10. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9C-HD4 : accessed 1 December 2020), Emma Klein in household of Christian Klein, Justice Precinct 8, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing ED 109, sheet 3B, line 63, family 37, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1804; FHL microfilm 1,821,804.
11. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-DD5Q : 10 December 2017), Harry Klein and Rita Clara Roeder, 07 Feb 1942; citing Marriage, citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,764,046.
12. findagrave.com
13. Clipping and info: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, May 4, 1945, newspaper, May 4, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135312/: accessed November 28, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
14. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLM7-VZ4 : 4 April 2020), Will G Bird, 12 Mar 1913; citing Eckert, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 8192, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,139,388.
15. Clipping and info: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, May 18, 1945, newspaper, May 18, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135662/: accessed November 28, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
16. "Texas Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6TD-H6X : 13 February 2020), Alvin W. Moldenhauer, 1948.
17. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, February 19, 1943, newspaper, February 19, 1943; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth896820/: accessed December 3, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
18. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9WB-H7L : 12 February 2020), Alvin W Moldenhauer, Sausalito Judicial Township, Marin, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 21-43, sheet 18B, line 44, family , Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 262.
19. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, June 12, 1942, newspaper, June 12, 1942; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth896796/: accessed December 3, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
20. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38S-27J : 13 March 2018), Alvin W Moldenhauer, 19 Jan 1945; citing certificate number 2945, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,242,622.
21. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 37, Ed. 1 Friday, September 10, 1943, newspaper, September 10, 1943; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth896833/: accessed December 3, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
22. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LKV-K1T2 : 14 February 2020), Willie Johanson, 1920.
23. Clipping and info: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, July 6, 1945, newspaper, July 6, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135818/: accessed November 27, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
24. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6P9-JCM : 13 February 2020), Eugene Louis Klein, 1912.
25. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMFB-JBH : 5 December 2014), Eugene L Klein, enlisted 03 Mar 1942, Ft Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
26. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, August 10, 1945, newspaper, August 10, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135813/: accessed November 28, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
27. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, July 6, 1945, newspaper, July 6, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135818/: accessed November 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
28. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, July 6, 1945, newspaper, July 6, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135818/: accessed November 27, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
29. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K383-MXW : 13 March 2018), Elgin A Scharnhorst, 11 May 1945; citing certificate number 4278, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,242,622.
30, "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8BS-DJW : 5 December 2014), Elgin A Scharnhorst, enlisted 27 Jun 1944, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
31. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, June 29, 1945, newspaper, June 29, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135453/: accessed December 3, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
32. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXM7-SW4 : 4 April 2020), Elgin Julius Luckenbach, 14 Jan 1921; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 2954, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,520,133.
33. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HY9N-FW2 : accessed 4 December 2020), Elgin Luckenbach in household of Buno Luckenbach, Precinct 3, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 5A, line 35, family 100, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2335; FHL microfilm 2,342,069.
34. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8LH-RZX : 5 December 2014), Elgin J Luckenbach, enlisted 09 Jun 1942, San Antonio, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
35. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, March 22, 1946,
newspaper,
March 22, 1946;
Harper, Texas.
(https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135243/:
accessed July 30, 2020),
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu;
crediting Harper Library.
36. Clipping and info: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, May 5, 1944, newspaper, May 5, 1944; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135446/: accessed July 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
37. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LC4-W7MM : 14 February 2020), James Matthew Pyka.
38. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HT1V-T2M : accessed 27 November 2020), James Pyka in household of Valentine B Pyka, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1, sheet 6A, line 48, family 156, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2335; FHL microfilm 2,342,069.39. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8PY-XFM : 5 December 2014), James M Pyka, enlisted 17 Sep 1942, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
40. Clipping and info: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, July 6, 1945, newspaper, July 6, 1945; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135818/: accessed November 27, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.
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