2nd Lt. Elmer Ferdinand Kern Jr. was born in Denver, Colorado, on March 22, 1923, to Elmer F. Kern Sr. and Myrtis McLamore-Kern and had an older sister. At some point, the family moved to 413 South Seventh Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. Elmer attended Proviso Township High School and graduated in 1940. He went to Purdue University. While he was a student at Purdue, on January 30, 1942, he registered with Selective Service in Indianapolis, Indiana, but gave his resident state as Illinois. He left school after two years and was inducted into the Army on February 17, 1943, but was not called to active duty until March 19, 1943. His serial number was 35 093 564.
From records, it is known he was at Ft. Benjamin Harrison from August 7, 1943, to September 6. 1943. On January 5, 1944, he received an honorable discharge and received a commission as an officer and received the serial number O 539 994. He was at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from September 6, 1943 to February 4, 1944, where, he completed Officer Artillery School. He was then sent to Pittsburg Field Kansas from May 18, 1944 to August 18, 1944, where he took eight weeks of pre-flight school and eight weeks of flight school. He received his liaison pilot wings and could fly a Cessna L4J, liaison plane. Liaison pilots did artillery observation, carried messages, flew gliders, and served in other roles. They did not have weapons. At Camp Cooke, California, he joined the Headquarters Battery, 365th Field Artillery, 97th Infantry Division.
The 97th was scheduled for service in the Pacific Theater, but after the Battle of the Bulge, Gen Dwight Eisenhower requested additional divisions in Europe. The 97th left the United States on February 19, 1945, and arrived in England. It appears that the 365th was separated from the rest of the 97th and sent to France. It was during the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket, Germany, that his plane was reported shot down by enemy fire on April 10, 1945, and crashed near Numbrecht, Germany. There is a variation on the story. According to another member of his unit. Elmer had volunteered to fly a glider and according this pilot, Elmer’s glide was hit veered off and crashed into the ground. Records show he had lacerations to his head and a fractured left leg. He was buried at Ittenbach Cemetery, Holland, in Plot F, Row 9, Grave 170. It is not known when his parents learned that he had been killed in action.
After the war, the American Graves Registration Service had the job of recovering the dead from isolated graves. Elmer’s remains and those of other men buried at the Ittenbach Cemetery were exhumed and moved to the United States Armed Forces Cemetery, Margraten, Holland. Elmer was buried in Plot WW, Dow 9, Grave 210. In correspondence with the Office of Quartermaster General, Elmer’s father made it clear, in a letter dated March 15, 1946, that he wanted his son’s body returned to the United States. He also asked where Elmer was buried. A letter, dated March 23, 1946, from the OQMG informed Elmer’s parents – who were now living in San Diego, California – telling them where Elmer was buried and the location of his grave in USAF Cemetery, Margraten, Holland. He also was informed that Congress had not authorized the AGRS to return the dead to the US.
A letter from the OQMG was sent to his father, dated February 12, 1947, indicating that the AGRS had been authorized to return the dead to the United States. It also informed him that he would receive another letter with information on the options available for Elmer’s final burial. The letter, dated December 5, 1947, was sent to his father with an enclosed form that he was asked to fill-out and return to the Office of Quartermaster General, Washington DC. The form was received by the QOMG on December 26, 1947, and indicated that Elmer’s remains should be returned to the US. The form was signed by Elmer’s mother who also included her husband’s death certificate making her the next of kin.
Elmer’s remains were exhumed from the United States Military Cemetery, Margarten, Holland, on October 20, 1948, and sent to Antwerp, Belgium, and casketed. His casket was placed on the USAT Barney Kirschbaum which sailed on December 7, 1948. The ship arrived at the New York Port of Entry on January 3, 1949, before being sent by train to the Quartermaster Corps Distribution Center #13, Oakland, California. On January 27, 1949, his casket, with a military escort, arrived in San Diego on the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad at approximately 2:30 pm. and were taken to the Benbough’s Mortuary. 2nd Lt. Elmer F. Kern Jr. was buried in the Greenwood Memorial Park, San Diego, California.
