Missing In Action, Betio Island, 20 November 1943.
"Maj Bill Chamberlain, "Jim" Crowe's exec, was wading to the beach alone when he happened upon 2nd Lt. George Kern, the battalion communicator. Kern had been painfully wounded in the leg and was on his way back to the reef to find a ride out. There was little Chamberlain could do to help Kern, so he wished the Lt. luck and saw him on his way. No one ever saw George Kern again."
- from Hammel and Lane's Bloody Tarawa*
Troy Allison, George Kern, and Russel G. W. Johnson on Guadalcanal.
Troy is deceased and Russell was bayoneted to death on Saipan.
Les Groshung writes that at Guadalcanal, Kern was a Sgt. and he was a Corporal, "We got along, but his rank prevented friendship. At an earlier date I lost a friend because he made PFC." Les adds that George was from Texas and was an easy going, liked man. After the war one of George's friends married his widow.
Radio Section 3-HQ-8 at Guadalcanal
The lines behind the group are telephone lines.
Rear Row:
- George Kern (KIA Tarawa)
- Carl Schroeder (nicknamed "pop")
- T.C. Smith (WIA Saipan)
- Donald Pettibone
- Les Groshong (WIA Saipan)
Front Row:
- John April
- Kenneth J. Connor
- Ralph Sharkey
- James L. Bennett (KIA Saipan)
Special thanks goes to Les Groshung for providing copies of his pictures and for the idea of a tribute to a fallen comrade of his.
* - See Bibliography for a complete citation.
Email - [email protected]
copyright 2000 Wheaton, Illinois
Created April 22, 2000
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