USS Oklahoma Unknown Returns Home to Iowa: John Mark Mulick, Jr.

Same source as previous post.

When Elma, Iowa,  native John Mark Mulick, Jr.  enlisted in the Navy in 1940, he had to get his father, John Mulick, Sr.  to sign up for him because he was only 20 at the time.  (Not sure this is correct.)

He badly wanted to serve his country in some way.  He got his chance in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the USS Oklahoma as a hospital apprentice , first class.  But his service was brief as he died on that ship.  He was one of the ship's 429 crew members who died on December 7, 1941.

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In June of this year, U.S. Navy Fireman  1st Class Leo Keninger, a native of Ackley, Iowa,  was given a burial in his hometown after his remains from the USS Oklahoma were also identified.

--GreGen

Leo T. Keninger-- Part 5: The Telegram and a Purple Heart and Letter from Pres. Roosevelt

The telegram from the War Department saying that Leo had been declared  to have lost his life.

"After exhaustive search it has been found impossible to locate your son, Leo Thomas Keninger, fireman first class,  U.S. Navy, and he has therefore  ben officially declared to have lost his life in the service of his country, as of Dec. 7th, 1941.

"The department expresses to you its sincerest sympathy."

Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs

Chief of Bureau of Navigation

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From the September14, 1944, Ackley (Iowa) World Journal.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Keninger are in receipt of the Purple Heart Certificate and Purple Heart in recognition  of their son Leo's  services to his country.  Leo Thomas Keninger was a first class fireman on the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, at which time Leo lost his life.

He had served a year and seven months at the time of his death.  His parents are also in receipt of a Memorial to him signed by President Roosevelt.

--GreGen

Leo Thomas Keninger-- Part 4: Telegrams Tell the Sad Story

From the December 12, 1941, Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette.

ACKLEY YOUTH IS AMONG THE MISSING

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Keninger received a telegram early Sunday morning informing them their son, Leo Keninger,  who was with the Pacific  fleet on Dec. 7 is among the missing.  Leo Keninger enlisted in the United States navy, one and one-half years ago.

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From the February 19, 1942, Ackley (Iowa) World Journal.

LEO T. KENINGER FIRST ACKLEY MAN TO GIVE HIS LIFE IN PRESENT WAR

Leo T. Keninger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Keninger, north-west of Ackley, 

 was the first Ackley man to give his life in service to his country in the present war, according to a telegram received by his parents.

Leo was the victim  of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Memorial services will be held Saturday at 10o'clock a.m., at St. Mary's  church, conducted by  the rev. J.J. Murtagh.

--GreGen

Leo Thomas Keninger of USS Oklahoma-- Part 3: About That Storm

In the last post, I wrote about the storm that seriously damaged the battleship USS Oklahoma on August 21, 1941.

This is what the Wikipedia article on the USS Oklahoma had to say about it:

The Oklahoma had been based at Pearl Harbor from December 1937 and had patrols and exercises during that time.  She returned to the States twice, once to have anti-aircraft guns and armor added to her superstructure and once to have armor replaced.

"En route on 22 August (1941), a severe storm hit the Oklahoma.  One man was swept overboard and three others were injured.  The next morning, a broken  starboard propeller shaft forced the ship to halt, assess the damage, and sail to San Francisco, the closes Navy Yard with an adequate drydock.

"She remained in drydock, undergoing repairs, until mid-October.  The ship then returned to Hawaii.

"The Washington Naval Treaty had precluded the Navy  from replacing the Oklahoma (which had been commissioned in 1916) , leading to a series of refits to extend her lifespan.    The ship was planned to be retired on  2 May 1942.

--GreGen

Leo Thomas Keninger of the USS Oklahoma-- Part 2

From Find-A-Grave.

LEO THOMAS KENINGER

BIRTH:  9 March 1921

DEATH:  7 December 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

BURIAL:  Saint Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery, Ackley, Iowa.

For eight decades, Leo's marker in St. Mary's Cemetery was a cenotaph, but on June 26, 2021,  his remains were buried there with full military honors.

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He had had an adventure in a big storm in the Pacific when the USS Oklahoma was returning to the United States earlier in August 1941.  From the September 13, 1941,  Mason City (Iowa) Globe-Gazette.

"The ship was caught in a severe storm similar to a typhoon.  One man was washed overboard, six seamen were injured, one motor was incapacitated, and they returned to shore with one motor in operation.

The crew are now in San Francisco awaiting completion of repairs."

--GreGen