W. F. Pankratz, Serving With U. S. Navy, Dies
William Frederick Pankratz, 26, fireman third class, United States naval reserve, died in the line of duty and in the service of his country on May 2, 1943, his mother, Mrs. Alvina Gross, 711 Roscoe avenue, has been informed by the U. S. Navy department. His death was caused by pneumonia.
The body was buried in the soil of an Allied country pending cessation of hostilities, the Navy revealed.
No further information was available. The message came from Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, chief of naval personnel, at Arlington, Va.
William Frederick Pankratz was born April 25, 1917, in Muscatine, the son of Rudolph and Alvina Pankratz. He graduated from the Zion Lutheran school and was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church. He was employed at the Carver Pump Co. at the time of his enlistment.
Entering the service Sept. 8, 1942, he completed training at the naval training station at Great Lakes, Ill., and was assigned to duty on the USS Columbia, out of Goat Island, San Francisco on Dec. 1, 1942. He had since been on duty in the South Pacific.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Esther Pankratz, a daughter, Judith Ann, a son, Joseph Michael, of Jamesport, Mo.; his mother, Mrs. Alvina Gross; three brothers, Theodore, of Los Angeles, Calif., Rudolph and Arthur S., of Muscatine; and two sisters, Mrs. Lydia Hurley, of Las Vegas, Nev., and Mrs. Emma Schnoor of Muscatine. He was preceded in death by his father, Rudolph Pankratz, his step-father, Christian Gross and two brothers and one sister.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, May 13, 1943 (photo included)
MEMORIAL EVENT PLANNED FOR WILLIAM PANKRATZ AT LUTHERAN CHURCH
Special memorial services for William Frederick Pankratz, who died in the line of duty and in service of his country May 2, of this year, will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church Sunday at 2:30 p.m. under the direction of the Rev. Julius Holm, pastor of the church.
Singers will be Mrs. Mary Dittmann and Mrs. Marie Sabbath at the memorial services.
Pankratz, who was 26 years of age, entered the armed services of the United States on Sept. 8, 1942, and was a fireman, third class, in the U. S. Navy. Trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training station, he had been assigned to the USS Columbia on duty in the South Pacific.
His body was buried in New Zealand.
Fireman Pankratz’ mother, Mrs. Alvina Gross, lives at 711 Roscoe avenue. She was advised of her son’s death on May 13.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 3, 1943
Members of the Edward H. Bitzer Post, American Legion, will attend memorial services Sunday for William Pankratz, who died in the service of his country and was buried in New Zealand in May, at the Zion Lutheran Church.
All members are asked to meet at Sixth and Sycamore streets at 2:15 p.m.
ZION LUTHERAN.
Corner of Sixth and Sycamore streets. Rev. Julius F. Holm, pastor.
A memorial service for William Pankratz, who died of pneumonia while serving in line of duty in the U. S. Navy in the South Pacific, will be held in the church at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 4, 1943
Memorial Rites Are Conducted For War Victim
Friends and relatives and representatives of various patriotic organizations assembled at the Zion Lutheran Church Sunday afternoon to participate in a memorial service for William Frederick Pankratz, 26, son of Mrs. Alvina Gross, 711 Roscoe avenue.
The Muscatine youth, serving as a fireman, third class, in the United States Navy, died of an illness of pneumonia while serving on the USS Columbia on duty in the South Pacific. His mother, advised of his death on May 13, has learned his body was buried in New Zealand.
The Rev. Julius Holm, pastor, in his memorial message, spoke on the Scripture verse, “Set thine house in order for thou shall die and not live.” Several musical selections, “One Sweetly Solemn Thought,” “Abide With Me,” and “Jesus Lead the Way” were sung with the vocalists, Mrs. Mary Dittmann, Mrs. Marie Sabbath, Mrs. Anna Marten and Mrs. Walter Jensen.
Representatives of the American Legion and auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations, attending as groups, were a part of the large audience attending the memorial rites.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 7, 1943
MEDALS, CITATIONS AWARDED TO MEN FROM THIS LOCALITY
Ribbons, crosses and emblems earned for heroism while serving a nation at war will adorn the uniform of many a warrior from Muscatine and community when he returns from battle in World War No. 2.
For this area’s fighting sons have already earned a distinguished collection of awards. News stories from war centers have told of the acts of these men who have won distinction in battles—on the land, on the sea, and in the air.
From the most remote battle areas and from the most active theaters of war have come news stories of citations bestowed for heroism, for acts “beyond the call of duty,” and other commendable performances of young men who have gone forth from this community.
Many will be wearers of the “Purple Heart,” an award made for injuries suffered while on duty.
For some, the actions which merited official recognition, brought physical injuries—injuries so serious they meant the end of the war insofar as the individual hero was concerned.
Others, who suffered wounds of a lesser degree, recovered sufficiently at hospitals abroad to permit their re-entry into actual combat duty. For sulfa drugs, blood plasma and penicillin have spelled the difference between life and death, between slow and rapid recovery to many who were injured.
Some of the wounded from this area have returned to hospitals in this country to undergo further treatment and the possibility of return to war theaters or final discharge from the service.
The list of those who have suffered injuries or incurred ailments while in training in this country has added to the numbers of Muscatine service men who have already received honorable discharges or are scheduled for release from military service.
A partial list of those who suffered injuries while in active service abroad or while on duty in camps of this country, gathered from information supplied to the Journal are listed here:
William F. Pankratz, 26, fireman third class, U. S. Naval Reserve, died in the line of duty and in the service of his country on May 2, 1943, his mother, Mrs. Alvina Gross, 711 Roscoe avenue, was informed by the U. S. Navy department. His death was caused by pneumonia. Burial was in the soil of an allied country pending cessation of hostilities.
Entering the service Sept. 8, 1942, he completed his training at the naval training station at Great Lakes and was assigned to duty on the USS Columbia out of San Francisco on Dec. 1, 1942. He had since been on duty in the South Pacific. His wife and two children survive.
[another headline, same newspaper]
MET DEATH ON DUTY – William Pankratz (photo included)
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Annual Edition, December 30, 1943
WILLIAM F. PANKRATZ, Fireman 3-c – Fireman William F. Pankratz was the son of Mrs. Alvina Gross, 711 Roscoe avenue, and entered service Sept. 8, 1942. He died in the line of duty and in the service of his country on May 2, 1943, in an allied country. He had been on duty in the South Pacific after finishing a course of training at Great Lakes.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Dec. 29, 1944
140 Have Made Supreme Sacrifice in Muscatine Area In War Against Axis Powers; Many Reported Wounded
The names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice in World War No. 2, compiled from records maintained by The Journal, follow:
William F. Pankratz, 26, son of Mrs. Alvina Gross, 711 Roscoe avenue, died in the line of duty May 2, 1943, in an Allied country.
Source: Muscatine Journal, Victory in Europe Edition, May 7, 1945
Solemn Procession Continues Through 1948 as War Dead Are Returned Home
Flag-draped caskets, coming from the European and Pacific war theaters, were brought to Muscatine county and other neighboring communities at intervals throughout the year of 1948 as the solemn procession of the country’s war dead continued to move home.
As each casket carrying a soldier, sailor, marine or flier who died during World War II was returned, last honors were accorded to the servicemen at funeral and burial rites. Final interment was in the cemetery chosen by his next-of-kin.
This year was the second for the government’s program of returning the bodies of war dead to the United States for burial in keeping with the wishes of their family. Inaugurated in the fall of 1947, the program has to date seen the return from overseas cemeteries of more than 50 bodies of men from this vicinity who died in the service of their country during the war.
The list of war dead returned to Muscatine and surrounding counties includes the following:
William Frederick Pankratz fireman, second class, son of Mrs. Alvina Gross, 711 Roscoe avenue, who died in the line of duty in the Pacific area May 2, 1943. Burial at Princeton, Mo.
Source: The Muscatine Journal, December 30, 1948
