Galen Kellenberger
Galen Kellenberger registered for the draft in 1944.
Sabetha Herald
13 Sep 1944
page 1
From Pvt. Galen Kellenberger
Pvt. Galen Kellenberger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kellenberger, writes from Fort Bliss, Tex., where he is stationed with an anti-aircraft artillery outfit.
I received the Herald today and it was really interesting. I appreciated reaidng the home town news and all the letters form service men.
It’s been plenty hot down here until the last few days when it cooled off a little. Since I’ve been here we’ve had only one decent rain and a few sprinkles.
I’m in a school battery. We got eight weeks basic, seven weeks schooling and thentwo weeks in the desert. We have jut one more week of basic left. I’ll be glad to get in school because they really work us hard and long.
The food is good, especially the Sunday dinner. We had chicken, potatoes, dressing and ice dream among other things this noon.
We have very good cardemen in this battery. All of them have been in foreign service at least two years. They work us half the night about two times a week.
I’ve been going to El Paso about every week end. Sunday Deryl Geer (son of Mrs. Murrell Geer who is also stationed ad Fort Bliss) and I were together all afternoon. He lives about three miles form me. I’m gong over to see him in about an hour.
Those football games are really going to be of gib interest to me. I’d like to see the m but guess I’ll have to be satisfied just reading about them. I hope to be home on furlough to see a couple of them thought.
The Sabetha Herald
6 Dec 1944
page 5
Galen Kellenberger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kellenberger, has been home on furlough for the past week. He has been stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he received his basic training. Since his return he has been transferred to Camp Maxey, Texas.
The Sabetha Herald
23 May 1945
page 1
Men in the Service
Galen Kellenberger Dies
Last week The Herald reported that Mr. and Mrs. Art Kellenberger had received official notice their son, Pfc. Galen A. Kellenberger, had been seriously wounded in action in Germany. Thursday morning they received a War Department telegram that he had died two days later. He was the first of Sabetha’s young service men to give his life to help cure the ills of the world. Glen was 19 years old March 22. He was with an infantry mortar platoon, with which he was a runner and radio man. He was wounded April 21, a little more than two weeks before the unconditional surrender of Germany. He died two days later, on April 23.
Galen Kellenberger was born March 22, 1936, on a farm near Sabetha. He was graduated from Sabetha High School just a year ago, with the class of 1944. In high school he was an outstanding agriculture student, a member of the Future Farmers of America. He sang in the a capella choir, was a member of the Hi-Y and the S-club, winning his letter in football. He received the State Farmer award, a meritorious achievement.
Immediately after completing his high school work he entered the army, going first to Fort Bliss, Tex. He received further training at Camp Maxey, Tex., and went overseas with his infantry outfit. In February, 1945, having been in combat only a brief time.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Kellenberger, one sister, Verda, and five brothers, Gene, who was graduated form Sabetha High School this spring, Leo, Lynn, Dennis and Jerry, all of the home. His grandparents re Mr. and Mrs. Ed Steiner of Sabetha and S. G. Kellenberger of Leroy, Las.
Galen was a quiet lad, universally liked by his schoolmates and friends. His outlook on life was sound, his ambition and industry were those of a young man with good background and a purposeful future. His loss is one of those things that leaves a deeper responsibility to be borne by those he leaves behind. His place must be filled, his going must be justified.
Sabetha Herald
23 May 1945
page 5
Car and Truck Collide
A car driven by Ed Steiner was struck by a gasoline transport truck at the A. O. Kellenberger home three and a half miles north of Sabetha on Highway 75 Thursday morning. Mr. Steiner was turning into the Kellenberger farm when the accident occurred. Behind him was the transport truck which in turn was followed by the Reinhart ambulance.
The truck struck the right side of the Steiner car, then straddled a fence along the road and finally truck a telephone pole and came to a stop. The pole was broken off and transmission wires that it carried were shorted, causing sparks above the truck that caused considerable uneasiness as the transport contained 14 tons of gasoline. The current was soon turned off. The truck was not badly damaged but the Steiner car suffered a ruined fender and tire and a bent door. No one was injured.
Mr. Steiner was going to the Kellenberger home to learn details of the death of his grandson, Pfc. Galen Kellenberger who succumbed to wounds received in Germany, word of which was just arrived.
The Reinhart ambulance also going to the Kellenberger home to bring A. O. Kellenberger to the hospital where he remained several days for a rest.
The Sabetha Herald
6 Jun 1945
page 1
Men in the Service
Writes of Galen Kellenberger
Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Kellenberger have received the following letter fro Lt. Col. Peter O. Ward, commander of the 47th Infantry with which their son, Galen, was serving when he was killed.
I am writing to you to express my very deepest sympathy on the death of your son, Private Galen A. Kellenberger, who died on the 23rd day of April, 1945, in Germany.
Galen was buried at the side of his comrades-in-arms in a United States Military cemetery located in Germany. A protestant Chaplain of the United States Army officiated at his burial service which was conducted with full military honors.
Your son was severely wounded when he was struck by fragments of an enemy artillery shell while he was performing his duties on the 21st day of April, 1945, in the vicinity of Vetteschloss, Germany. He was given immediate first aid and was safely evacuated to a hospital where he died a few days later despite the finest medical and surgical attention available.
Galen joined this regiment in early March of this year and was assigned to a rifle platoon of Comapny “L” for duty. He displayed high valor during our drive into deeper Germany despite the many physical hardships and frequent danger of his duties. He was a good soldier who successfully accomplished all duties assigned to him in the highest traditions of the military services of our country.
The officers and men of this regiment join me in extending to you our sincere, heartfelt sympathy. Your son’s death is felt most keenly by all those who knew and served with him. His memory remains a high inspiration to us who carry on the task for which he so gallantly gave his life.
(The letter is dated May 7, 1945 and has an army postmark of May 22, 1945.)
The Sabetha Herald
4 Jul 1945
page 1
Men in the Service
Memorial Service
Memorial services for Galen Kellenberger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kellenberger, were held Sunday afternoon, July 1, at the Apostolic Christian church on Virginia street. The service was conducted by Rev. Noah Schrock of Oakville, Ia., assisted by Rev. Clarence Yackley of Wichita. The songs used in the service were “Shall We Meet Beyond the River” and “We’ll Never Say Goodbye in Heaven.”
Honorary pallbearers were friends of a lifetime, Vernon and Melvin Wenger, Willard Barh, Arthur Strahm, Louis and Freeman Meyer.
Galen Kellenberger was born March 22, 1936 on a farm near Sabetha. He graduated from Sabetha High School in May, 1944. He was an outstanding student in vocational agriculture class, was a member of the Future Farmers of America. He sang in the a capella choir, was an active member of the Hi-Y and S club. He won a letter in football.
He entered army service immediately following his graduation. His first training was at Ft. Bliss, Tex., and further training ws received at Camp Mazey, Tex. He went overseas with his infantry unit in February of this year.
In May his parents received word that he had been seriously wounded while serving as a runner and radio man. A week later they received word that he had died two days after he was injured on April 23.
On July 2, his parents received the purple heart awarded to their son.
The parents, one sister, Verda, five brother, Gene, Leo, Lynn, Dennis, and Jerry, all of the home survive. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Steiner of Sabetha and S. G. Kellenberger of LeRoy, Kas., ar the grand parents.
Relatives form out of town here for the memorial service were MR. and Mrs. Dan Steiner and children, Mrs. John Greiner, Mrs. Charles Pfledere of Tremont, Ill,; Misses Louis and Esther Steiner of Elgin, Ill, Mr and Mrs. Emil Fritz and children and Miss Lorine Heiniger of Morton, Ill.
Galen Kellenberger was buried in the Netherlands.
