World War II

Into the maw of the machines of war were fed more than guns and planes.
This war, just as all those before, needed men and they went. Some drafted. Some volunteers.

Edward Blaine Kinzer

was commissioned Ensign October 20, 1941.  On November 12, 1941, he was assigned to Scouting Squadron 5 on board the aircraft carrier Yorktown. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism and extreme disregard of his own personal safety during the Battle of Coral Sea. He contributed materially to the sinking or damaging of eight enemy vessels in Tulagi Harbor 4 May and the sinking of Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho. On May 8th, while on anti-torpedo plane control, he died while engaging “the continued attack of enemy bombing and torpedo planes and their fighter support.”

The USS KINZER, a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort named for Edward Blaine Kinzer. arrived at Okinawa Gunto for her pre-invasion mission March 26, 1945 and escorted LST's to their landings on Kerama Retto. That night, the Kinzer landed marines on the various small islands surrounding Okinawa to gather data on terrain and enemy activity. The USS Kinzer was decommissioned on 18 December 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego and was later moved to San Francisco. The USS Kinzer was struck from the Navy List 1 March 1965 and sold to Nationalist China on 21 April 1965 under the Military Assistance Program.
The USS Kinzer received one battle star for her service 
in World War II and the China Service Medal.

The following link gives the history of the USS KINZER
in action in WWII
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de232.txt

Clarence L. Kinser
was a survivor of the Bataan Death March
He joined the United States Army in 1939, serving in the Air Corps and later transferred to the United States Air Force. During World War II he was held as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese for 42 months.
He survived the Bataan Death March, a forced march of about 65 miles to prison camps, which took place in the Philippines in April 1942.
Many of the prisoners on this march died of disease or mistreatment.

Mr. Kinser retired from the Air Force in 1969, with the rank of senior master sergeant.

Elbert Luther Kinser
served with the First Marine Division on a little island in the South Pacific
named Okinawa he was one of those who paid the price war demands.

His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty,while acting as leader of a rifle platoon, serving with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 4May1945.

Taken under close attack by hostile forces entrenched on the reverse slope
while moving up a strategic ridge along with his platoon was holding newly won positions,
Sgt. Kinser engaged the enemy in a fierce hand grenade battle. Quick to act
when a Japanese grenade landed in the immediate vicinity, Sgt. Kinser unhesitatingly threw himself on the deadly missile, absorbing the full charge of the shattering explosion
in his own body and thereby protecting his men from serious injury and possible death.
Stouthearted and indomitable, he had yielded his own chance for survival that
his comrades might to carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy.
His courage, cool decision, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death
sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the U. S. Naval Service.
He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Elbert Luther Kinser was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor,
one of seven awarded to Tennesseans during World War II.

Marion E. "Pete" Kinser

Marion E. "Pete" Kinser flew in "Privateers" .with Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-109 during World War II as a Radioman and an Air Gunner. The Privateer was a land based, long range, four engine patrol bomber designated by the Navy as PB4Y-2. This Squadron flew combat missions  against the Japanese from bases in the Philippines, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Okinawa

Pete and several other crewmen were seriously wounded on May 17, 1945, when their two Privateers were attacked off the coast of southern Japan, by twelve Japanese "George" fighter aircraft. During the attack both Privateers were badly damaged but returned safely to their base on Okinawa.. The Japanese lost at least one aircraft in that battle. Pete received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds he suffered from this attack He was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals for distinguished service and for the missions he flew.

Now, sixty years later Pete was honored again. Selected by the Military Order of The Purple Heart organization Pete represented the state of Missouri at the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC on Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30, 2004.