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WORLD WAR II
| During World War Two, Schuylkill Haven, just like every small town in America, sent it's sons to war. This page honors those veterans with several sections dedicated to those who served and especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. |
PEARL HARBOR
| The attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7,1941 marked the beginning of American involvement in the Second World War. Listed here are Schuylkill Haven residents known to be on duty there when hostilities began. |
William J. Cleary David Fessler
Staff Sgt. Marlin T. Goas PFC Guy E. Hand
Donald Heiser PVT Robert W. Heisler
George McGovern Oscar Welde
Staff Sgt. Marlin T. Goas PFC Guy E. Hand
Donald Heiser PVT Robert W. Heisler
George McGovern Oscar Welde
|
CHARLES R. KANTNER
Charles R. Kantner was a Seaman Second Class serving aboard the USS Warrington, a Somers class
destroyer. On September 10, 1944, the Warrington left the Norfolk Naval Yard with the ship Hyades setting
course for Trinidad. Two days out of Norfolk, along the Florida coast, the ships encountered heavy weather.
In the afternoon the ship received word they were heading into a hurricane. The Warrington was forced to
heave to while the Hyades continued on. While riding through the storm during the night, wind and seas
worsened on the morning of the thirteenth and the ship began to take water through the vents in the
engineering spaces. The water caused a loss of electrical power which set off a chain reaction. Her main
engines lost power and her steering engine and mechanism went out. Wallowing in the swells she regained
headway briefly while the radioman tried to reach the Hyades for assistance. By noon of the thirteenth, it was
apparent that the crew could not win the struggle to save the ship and the order was given to prepare to
abandon ship. By 12:50 the crew had left the Warrington which then sank. A prolonged search by other
vessels resulted in the recovery of only five officers and sixty eight men out of a total crew of 321 men. Charles
Kantner of Schuylkill Haven was one of the 248 men who died that day. His body was never recovered and his
name is listed on the Tablet of the Missing in New York City.
Note: Charles was the brother of Georgine Kantner, whom I and hundreds of other Schuylkill Haven children
had as a teacher.
destroyer. On September 10, 1944, the Warrington left the Norfolk Naval Yard with the ship Hyades setting
course for Trinidad. Two days out of Norfolk, along the Florida coast, the ships encountered heavy weather.
In the afternoon the ship received word they were heading into a hurricane. The Warrington was forced to
heave to while the Hyades continued on. While riding through the storm during the night, wind and seas
worsened on the morning of the thirteenth and the ship began to take water through the vents in the
engineering spaces. The water caused a loss of electrical power which set off a chain reaction. Her main
engines lost power and her steering engine and mechanism went out. Wallowing in the swells she regained
headway briefly while the radioman tried to reach the Hyades for assistance. By noon of the thirteenth, it was
apparent that the crew could not win the struggle to save the ship and the order was given to prepare to
abandon ship. By 12:50 the crew had left the Warrington which then sank. A prolonged search by other
vessels resulted in the recovery of only five officers and sixty eight men out of a total crew of 321 men. Charles
Kantner of Schuylkill Haven was one of the 248 men who died that day. His body was never recovered and his
name is listed on the Tablet of the Missing in New York City.
Note: Charles was the brother of Georgine Kantner, whom I and hundreds of other Schuylkill Haven children
had as a teacher.
| Above are two panels on the Veteran's Memorial at Bubeck Park. Clicking on each will give you a view of the thirty six men of Schuylkill Haven and nearby who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War Two. Listed below are sixteen of those men whose remains are buried on foreign soil in American cemeteries. |
SERVICEMAN
DATE OF DEATH
BURIAL LOCATION
...information on this page will be updated continually.....
| If you have any information on any of the deceased, wish to tell your story of wartime service or have any related information email me at: worldwartwo@schuylkillhavenhistory.com |
| LAST UPDATED: AUGUST 8 |
| Click on either the HOME FRONT link at left or the WAR FRONT link at right to see news of the war as it relates to Schuylkill Haven. |
|
| DIED IN SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY |
| Below is a detailed listing of those men from Schuylkill Haven who died while in the service in World War Two. Continuing research will provide more information when possible. |
DECEASED
FAMILY
FATE
DIED
Compiled from records of the Pottsville Republican
ROBERT E. IMBODEN
Robert E. Imboden was a PFC in the United States Marine Corps. He entered the Marines on September 10,
1943 and received his basic training at Parris Island, SC. He was shipped to the South Pacific in July of 1944.
He was a member of an amphibian tractor unit and had been injured during the Pelelieu operation and was
hospitalized at Guadalcanal for two months. Having received the Purple Heart, he returned to duty. He was in
action on Okinawa on May 12, 1945 when he was killed. In news sent to his family by a buddy, they were
informed that he was hit by fragmentations of a bomb that struck the hut in which PFC Imboden was during a
raid and that he died a few minutes after being hit. He was buried in the Marine Corps graveyard with special
combined services on Mother's Day. Robert has attended Schuylkill Haven High School and was employed by
a Schuylkill Haven grocery store before entering the service.
1943 and received his basic training at Parris Island, SC. He was shipped to the South Pacific in July of 1944.
He was a member of an amphibian tractor unit and had been injured during the Pelelieu operation and was
hospitalized at Guadalcanal for two months. Having received the Purple Heart, he returned to duty. He was in
action on Okinawa on May 12, 1945 when he was killed. In news sent to his family by a buddy, they were
informed that he was hit by fragmentations of a bomb that struck the hut in which PFC Imboden was during a
raid and that he died a few minutes after being hit. He was buried in the Marine Corps graveyard with special
combined services on Mother's Day. Robert has attended Schuylkill Haven High School and was employed by
a Schuylkill Haven grocery store before entering the service.
William T. Sterner was the only child of Theodore and Mary (Luckenbill)
Sterner of 511 Columbia Street in Schuylkill Haven. Born January 13, 1924
he was a 1942 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School. He enlisted in the
Army in March of 1943 and was eventually promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Assigned to an armored division he went overseas in June of 1944. The
story of his service record is well worth noting.
He was first wounded on October 16, 1944 when his back was wounded by
enemy shell fragments near Luneville France. He was again wounded on
November 15, 1944 near Ancerville France and returned to duty on Decem-
ber 20, 1944. His parents later received the following telegram:
The Secretary of War desires me to express his due regret that your son
Staff Sergeant William Sterner has been reported missing in action since
January 20 in France. Further report states he returned to duty December
20 from grievously reported wound. If further detail or other information is re-
ceived you will be promptly notified. J. A. Ulio Adjutant General
William Sterner's fate was later learned by his parents. On January 20, 1945 his unit was defending the
Moder River bridgehead in the vicinity of Drusenheim bas-Rhine France. A German counterattack formed a
pincer movement and cut off his unit. It was later reported that he was taken prisoner with a serious head
wound and interned in a POW camp in Lazarett, Baden-Baden, Germany where he later died of wounds
received in action.
The story did not end there as in 1947 his parents received a letter. The letter was posted on October 22,
1947 from Hans Neunohner of Freiburg Germany. He was a German who had treated William while he was a
POW. Parts of his letter written in German and translated follow:
I guess you are surprised from somebody you don't know from Germany. But I would like to tell you about
your son William. I think it is worth remembering. Your son came to us in the beginning of January when hurt
in Vogesen. He was brought to the hospital in Baden-Baden, the Black Forest. He was hurt very bad. He was
wounded in the head and had brain damage. He was operated on by a specialist but was hurt too bad. He
died on February 1, 1945. Whatever he had on that belonged to him I sent to the Red Cross. I worked with
your son. He was mostly unconscious. I am sure he did not feel any pain. We buried your son with all the
military honors. I made some pictures that I send to you today. We did not know if your son was Catholic or
Protestant so we had two priests. Also the American wounded soldiers came to the grave and the Germans
put a wreath down. He also got a gun salute. You can see it in the pictures. Maybe some of the Americans
which were with him in the hospital told you about your son. Maybe you know some in the pictures. I am sorry
this is two years late I write this letter but I was in prison too and I got home to my family not too long ago. I
was reading in the paper that the remains from the dead soldiers were sent back to the states. I hope your
son is in the USA. I took your address from your sons papers. Hans Neunohner
Sterner's remains were originally buried in a civilian cemetery near the camp. They were later disinterred and
reinterred at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold France. His parents were notified that his remains
could be shipped home but they opted to let him rest in peace in France. The final irony is that the German
roots of this Sterner family were in fact based in Baden-Baden where William died.
The pictures, eight in all, sent by the German to his family are also presented here.
Sterner of 511 Columbia Street in Schuylkill Haven. Born January 13, 1924
he was a 1942 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School. He enlisted in the
Army in March of 1943 and was eventually promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Assigned to an armored division he went overseas in June of 1944. The
story of his service record is well worth noting.
He was first wounded on October 16, 1944 when his back was wounded by
enemy shell fragments near Luneville France. He was again wounded on
November 15, 1944 near Ancerville France and returned to duty on Decem-
ber 20, 1944. His parents later received the following telegram:
The Secretary of War desires me to express his due regret that your son
Staff Sergeant William Sterner has been reported missing in action since
January 20 in France. Further report states he returned to duty December
20 from grievously reported wound. If further detail or other information is re-
ceived you will be promptly notified. J. A. Ulio Adjutant General
William Sterner's fate was later learned by his parents. On January 20, 1945 his unit was defending the
Moder River bridgehead in the vicinity of Drusenheim bas-Rhine France. A German counterattack formed a
pincer movement and cut off his unit. It was later reported that he was taken prisoner with a serious head
wound and interned in a POW camp in Lazarett, Baden-Baden, Germany where he later died of wounds
received in action.
The story did not end there as in 1947 his parents received a letter. The letter was posted on October 22,
1947 from Hans Neunohner of Freiburg Germany. He was a German who had treated William while he was a
POW. Parts of his letter written in German and translated follow:
I guess you are surprised from somebody you don't know from Germany. But I would like to tell you about
your son William. I think it is worth remembering. Your son came to us in the beginning of January when hurt
in Vogesen. He was brought to the hospital in Baden-Baden, the Black Forest. He was hurt very bad. He was
wounded in the head and had brain damage. He was operated on by a specialist but was hurt too bad. He
died on February 1, 1945. Whatever he had on that belonged to him I sent to the Red Cross. I worked with
your son. He was mostly unconscious. I am sure he did not feel any pain. We buried your son with all the
military honors. I made some pictures that I send to you today. We did not know if your son was Catholic or
Protestant so we had two priests. Also the American wounded soldiers came to the grave and the Germans
put a wreath down. He also got a gun salute. You can see it in the pictures. Maybe some of the Americans
which were with him in the hospital told you about your son. Maybe you know some in the pictures. I am sorry
this is two years late I write this letter but I was in prison too and I got home to my family not too long ago. I
was reading in the paper that the remains from the dead soldiers were sent back to the states. I hope your
son is in the USA. I took your address from your sons papers. Hans Neunohner
Sterner's remains were originally buried in a civilian cemetery near the camp. They were later disinterred and
reinterred at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold France. His parents were notified that his remains
could be shipped home but they opted to let him rest in peace in France. The final irony is that the German
roots of this Sterner family were in fact based in Baden-Baden where William died.
The pictures, eight in all, sent by the German to his family are also presented here.
WILLIAM T. STERNER
| This set of rare and unique pictures can be seen in great detail by clicking on them to zoom in. In the set at upper left, note the German officer giving the Nazi salute over William's grave. Also note the Hitler like mustache on the man next to him. In the upper right set, fellow wounded American soldiers pay their final respects. Many of the men are bandaged. In the lower left set, another vantage point of the ceremony is shown. In the lower right pair, the German honor guard can be seen firing their rifles in the rear and at the bottom, the wreath is placed on the grave. |
| Note: Thank you to Carol Campbell, a neighbor, for sharing this remarkable story and pictures. She was a cousin of William Sterner. |
| Remarkable story of William Sterner just added. Scroll down to view. |
| This Roll of Honor board stood next to the old Borough Hall on Dock Street during the war to recognize those in the service of their country. |
| FRONT NEWS UPDATED ON AUGUST 8 |
| PORTRAITS OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN'S WORLD WAR TWO DEAD |
Photos from "Welcome Home Celebration" booklet from September 1946.
| Portraits of all those killed in the war added at the bottom of this page. |
| All rights reserved. |
| There have been many additions to the Home Front/War Front page. Click on the links to go to that page. You may know some of the soldiers listed in the various news articles from World war Two. |
| At left is one of the Tablet of the Missing monuments in Battery Park, New York City. This is the panel that contains the name of Charles Kantner. At right the name is more visible when zoomed in. |