World War II
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Fallen
New Salem, ND
Circumstances:
Killed in Action at the Battle of Hedgerows in Normandy, France on June 15, 1944 at the age of 22. His only child Russel "Rusty" was born 7 months later.
Buried in a temporary military cemetery at St. Mereglise on June 23, 1944. March 17, 1948 he was disinterred and returned home arriving in Mandan, Morton County, North Dakota on June 4, 1949. He was buried in Lot A Graves 9 and 10, south side addition at Mandan Union Cemetery on June 12, 1949.
Name included on All Veterans Memorial located on the State Capitol Grounds, Bismarck, North Dakota under Morton County section.
Name included on page 815 of the Register of North Dakota Veterans World War II.
Biography:
Born January 21, 1922 in New Salem, Morton County, North Dakota to Erwin and Ella (Mann) Kruger. Graduated from New Salem High School in 1939. Graduated University of North Dakota with a bachelor's degree in philosophy in May of 1943. Resident of Morton County. Entered US Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on 30 June 1943. attended training at Camp Polk, Louisiana and Camp Livingston, Louisiana. Commissioned as a second lieutenant at Fort Benning, Georgia in November 1943. December 14, 1943 he married Clara Kautzmann at his parents home in Bismarck. On May 5, 1944, he was shipped overseas to England with the 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. He landed with the second wave on Utah Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944)