WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Sgt. Eugene D. Kern

 

Sergeant Eugene David Kern

Born to John Adam and Elnora Ann (Rauth) Kern on January 2, 1914, Eugene Kern grew up in Defiance. He completed high school and worked with his friends in a factory until he was drafted on October 16, 1940,

He went to Toledo to enlist on February 10, 1941, and was assigned to Company D, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and later he was trained at Ford Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.

Camp Shelby, probably 1941, 148th Infantry
Front row, 3rd from left - Sgt. Eugene Kern

Eugene served in Fiji, Guadalcanal and New Georgia, attaining the rank of Sergeant. An article in the Defiance Crescent-News described his heroism and sacrifice before his death on July 28, 1945, on New Georgia Island (Munda).

"Posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Eugene D. Kern of Defiance for 'extraordinary heroism' which saved the lives of all the rest of his men but cost his own life, while he was in command of a mortar section near Munda in the Solomon Islands, July 28, 1943, was announced by the War Department today.

Sergeant Kern was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Kern, 208 East Second Street.  He was 29 years old and had served with the 37th Division after entering service on Feb. 10, 1941.

Complete text of the War Department's announcement:

'U.S. Army Headquarters in the South Pacific - By direction of the President, the Distinguished Service Cross (posthumous) Dec. 20, 1943, by Lt. General Millard F. Harmon, Commanding United States Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, to:

EUGENE D. KERN, Sergeant, Infantry, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while in command of a mortar section near Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands on 28 July 1943.

When his position suddenly was overwhelmed by the converging fire of three Japanese machine guns, snipers, hidden in nearby trees, and grenade throwers. Sergeant Kern, in complete command of a situation that threatened annihilation, calmly ordered his men to their foxholes.

Then disregarding his own safety, he went from one foxhole to another, giving his men needed reassurance and confidently outlining a plan of escape. When the last of his section had successfully reached cover in a new position, Sergeant Kern ran to join them but was killed by an enemy sniper.

Only his courageous leadership under fire and his complete self-sacrifice in the interests of his men saved his comrades from being hopelessly trapped. 

Next of kin: Mrs. Elnore Kern, mother, 208 East Second Street, Defiance, Ohio'"

The parents were informed in September 1943 that Sgt. Kern had also received the Purple Heart posthumously.

     

It was the end of May 1948, before Sgt. Kern's body started traveling home, first to San Francisco, and then to a regional distribution center, and finally home to Defiance.

It was February 1949 before a funeral could be held. By that time, Eugene's father had died in 1948. His mother, Elnora, died the year after the funeral in 1950. the stress and grief must have heavy.

His survivors were his mother, five brothers Rev. Father Cletus Kern, John A. Kern, Toledo, Herman W. Kern, Los Angeles, Paul J Kern and Charles M. Kern, Defiance, and one sister, Helene Kern (Mrs. Travis Steele).

Sgt. Eugene Kern was buried with honors in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio.

Dianne Kline, Researcher