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| Lt. Harold Kinreed was a B-29 pilot. He and his childhood friend Robert Usborne were both Eagle Scouts. Both men died in the service of their country in WW2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47636989 http://mchenrycountynewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MC-5.21.15.pdf https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/b-29/462nd-en-route-home-after-bombing-rangoon-docks-on-3nov44/ |
Harold was born February 15, 1919 in Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois. His parents Clyde and Hazel were born in Wisconsin and Illinois, respectively. His father worked for an oil company, and passed away in 1937. Harold had one older sister. In 1940, Harold had completed four years of high school and was living with his widowed mother and working for a trucking company. He enlisted in the USAAF on February 11, 1942.
Here is an excerpt from an article in the May 21, 2015 edition of the McHenry County News:
On March 5, 1936, Harold Kinreed and his friend Robert Usborne, also of Marengo, made Marengo Boy Scout history. For the first time, two boys advanced to the highest rank of Eagle Scout at the same time. Kinreed knew what he wanted to do with his life by the age of 13. He wrote an article for a local paper stating, “When I grow up I want to be an aviator or transport pilot or do any kind of work that would have anything to do with airplanes.” He married Evelyn H. Bartelt of Marengo on October 24, 1942. …Lt. Kinreed was stationed in the Aleutian Islands from July, 1943 until October, 1943 as a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot in the 21st Bomb Squadron (Heavy).
He then received instruction in piloting the B-29 Super Fortress and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. November 16, 1944 saw him heading to his new posting in India with the 769th Bomb Squadron (Heavy). …On February 7, 1945, Kinreed ordered his crew to bail out of his disabled B-29 while returning from a combat mission in French-Indo China. He was killed trying to land his plane. Representatives of the US government notified Evelyn at her mother’s home. However, she already knew. The birthday card she had sent Harold had been returned by the post office. It was marked ‘Deceased’.
Sadly, Harold’s fellow Eagle Scout Robert Usborne, who served as a S/Sgt in the 88th Infantry Division in Italy, was killed in action two months after Harold. Both are buried in Marengo City Cemetery in Marengo, Illinois.
In 2015, Boy Scout Troop 163 of Marengo placed on each of their graves an Eagle Scout plaque that was designed during World War II for scouts who “Sealed their Boy Scout Oath to their Country with their Life”.
Harold’s wife Evelyn remarried at some point and passed away in May 2004.
Thank you Harold for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harold.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled Raymond Thornton of the 35th Infantry Division. You can read about Raymond here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Harold’s wife Evelyn remarried at some point and passed away in May 2004.
Thank you Harold for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Harold.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled Raymond Thornton of the 35th Infantry Division. You can read about Raymond here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by
The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation
“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”
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