It’s “Lieutenant Kempker”
The name of Second Lieutenant Edward J. Kempker, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Kempker, of LeMars, is included in a press release from the West Texas Bomber Triangle, of flying officers to complete their training and to be commissioned. Lt. Kempker received his training at the Midland, Tex. Field. He attended Marquette University, at Milwaukee, from 1940 to 1942.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, February 18, 1943
NEWS of the BOYS in the SERVICE
Lieutenant Ed. Kempker, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kempker, is home on a short leave. Lieutenant Kempker is a bombardier and is stationed at Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, June 25, 1943
Fightin’ K. Co. Mourns Two More Dead.
JACK KEMPKER AND BOB VANDERWAL ARE KILLED.
Kempker Was One of Five Boys From One Family in Armed Services.
[Microfilm crimped in the far left column, only partially readable]
The Kempkers had five sons in the service and though sadly with heart aching, Mrs. Kempker said calmly:
“My hopes are shattered now, it would be hard to expect all five of our boys to come back. They all wanted to enlist and fight for their country. Jack was only 17 years of age when he signed up with K. Co. He had to have our consent to join but he wanted to get his year training over with. No words were ever spoken truer than in that last letter when he said: “There isn’t much I can say, but you’ll probably read in the paper more than I’ll ever be able to write.”
From the words in the last letter where the young man said: “I had a boat ride and I have never been here before. Quite the place of attraction now” –the family gathers that he was somewhere in Italy. His death may have occurred at or near Naples, the family believes.
Mrs. Kempker revealed Saturday morning that it was her son, who gave his life, who wrote the famous “round-robin” letter to The Globe-Post, telling of the heroic fighting done by K company in North Africa. At the time the letter was printed, the family figured that Jack had something to do about it, but didn’t learn that it was he who had such praise for fighting K, until they received a letter from him later, acknowledging that the was the author.
(Jack Kempker’s letter was used as a text by Morse Hoorneman in his decoration day address at the city cemetery.)
The Kempkers have four other sons, three of whom are risking their lives every day in the service of their country.
Staff Sgt. Paul Kempker is a member of the Rainbow division at Camp Gruber, Okla.
Lieut. Robert Kempker is a bombardier on a B-17, Flying Fortress, somewhere in England. In a letter from him he said: “Have been on many raids over enemy territory, but can’t say how many.”
Lieut. Edward Kempker is a bombardier on a B-24, Liberator, and is also stationed somewhere in England.
Gerald “Gerry” Kempker has received his wings as a tail-gunner on a Liberator and is located in the Hawaiian Islands.
Jack Kempker was born at Carroll, Iowa, on August 14, 1922. The family moved to LeMars seven years ago where he was graduated from St. Joseph’s high school in 1939. He enlisted in K company when he was 17 years of age. Before entering the service he was employed at the Council Oak store.
He received his basic training with K company at Camp Claiborne, La. and when war broke out, was shipped to Camp Dix, N.J. Later the company was sent to Ireland and then took part in the invasion of Africa and Tunisian campaign.
Besides his parents, other four fighting brothers, he is survived by another brother, Jimmie and a sister, Mary living at home.
Jimmie, the youngest brother, is now 17 years of age and said that as soon as school was over he was going to enlist in the Service.
Source: The LeMars Globe-Post, October 25, 1943
WAR DEPARTMENT REPORTS EDWARD KEMPKER MISSING
Was Bombardier With Air Forces Operating Out of England
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kempker, 715 First Street SE, were notified Friday that their son, Lieut. Edward Kempker, was reported missing November 5, in action in the European war area.
Lieut. Kempker has been for several months a bombardier with the U.S. air forces in England. The message from the War Department gave no other particulars and Mr. and Mrs. Kempker are hoping to be advised later their son is a German prisoner as are about 50 per cent of the airmen reported missing.
Lieut. Edward Kempker was one of five sons of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kempker with the armed services. His younger brother, Cpl. John C. Kempker, was reported killed in action, October 2, in the North African area. Another brother, Lieut. Robert Kempker, is a bombardier with the air forces in England, Staff Sergeant Paul Kempker is located at Camp Gruber in Oklahoma, and another brother, Gerald, is a tail gunner on a bomber based in Hawaii.
The Kempker family moved to LeMars seven years ago from Carroll and have a son and a daughter at home, as well as the boys in the service.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Nov. 23, 1943
Edward Kempker Reported Dead
Was Listed Missing One Year Ago
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kempker received a letter Wednesday, November 29, from the war department, establishing a presumptive date of death for their son, Lieut. Edward Kempker, who was reported missing November 5, 1943, while on a bombing mission over Germany.
According to the letter, Lieut. Kempker was a crew bomber of a B24H (Liberator) bomber that participated in a bombardment mission to Muenster, Germany, on November 5, 1943. His plane was attacked by enemy aircraft and was last seen on fire about 5,000 feet below other elements of the formation, about twenty miles south of Rotterdam, Netherlands, while returning from their target.
The date of his death has been set as November 6, 1944, the day following the expiration of twelve months absence.
Lieut. Kempker was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Kempker to sacrifice his life for his country. Cpl. Jack Kempker was killed in action in Italy on October 2, 1943.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, December 5, 1944
2nd Lt. Edward J. Kempker served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps as a bombardier with the 578th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy and was KIA in Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.
He is buried in Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium.
Source: fieldsofhonor data base
