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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/502362533416923581/ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149841062/roy-r-krenke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Infantry_Division_(United_States) |
Roy Richard Krenke never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
Roy was born August 24, 1920 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. His parents Richard Edward Krenke and Ida C. (Horn) Krenke were born in Nebraska and Wisconsin, respectively. His father worked as a cabinet maker. Roy had a younger sister, Carol, eight years his junior. Roy graduated from Washington High School in Two Rivers, and attended the University of Wisconsin for three years, majoring in economics.
He was inducted into the US Army on 24 Oct 1942 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin and completed basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. He served as a private in the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (“The Big Red One”). The 1st ID departed the States in April 1942 to join a large contingent of US troops slated for participation in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. Private Krenke likely joined the 16th IR in North Africa as a replacement some time in 1943.
After the North African campaign, the 1st ID next took part in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, with an amphibious landing on 10 July 1943. After Sicily was captured in August 1943, the division returned to England, where it endured seven months of grueling training in preparation for the Allied invasion of Europe.
On 6 June 1944 the 16th IR was part of the first wave that went ashore at Omaha Beach in Normandy. As their landing craft approached the beach and dropped their ramps, the soldiers were targeted by German machine gunners atop the bluff that commanded the beach. Many soldiers were killed or wounded while they attempted to get out of the boats, others were hit as they struggled through the surf or tried to run across the sand weighted down with water-logged equipment. Those that made it to the base of the bluff found the area mined and criss-crossed with concertina wire. Colonel George A. Taylor, the commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment, urged his troops to get off the beach, yelling "The only men who remain on this beach are the dead and those who are about to die! Let's get moving!". Sadly, Private Krenke was one of those left behind on the beach as he was killed in action at some point coming ashore.
Private Krenke was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for "heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Gela, Sicily, July 10, 1943".
Roy Richard Krenke was initially buried in France and in 1947 was reinterred in Forest View Cemetery in his hometown of Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
Thank you Private Krenke for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Roy.
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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."
This is one of the final 50 stories (10) to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero Charles Murphy of the 7th Infantry Division. You can read about Charles 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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