Kraus-Hartig VFW Post #6587
Spring Lake Park Minnesota
Call the Post: 763.780.1900
Eligibility: The fundamental difference between our organization and other veterans organizations, and one in which we take great pride, is our eligibility qualifications. There are three primary requisites for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States: (1) Citizenship (2) Honorable service in the armed forces of the United States (3) Service entitling the applicant to the award of a recognized campaign medal or as set forth in the Congressional Charter and By-Laws and Manual of Procedure and Ritual.
Biography of Lieutenant Fred Hartig
Fred Max Hartig Jr. was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on June 6, 1920. He was the son of Fred Max Hartig Sr. and Elizabeth (Betty) Hartig. Fred Hartig Sr. served in the Regular Army in WWI from 1917-1918 as a First Lieutenant. Fred Hartig Sr. joined Post 6587 in 1946...after it was chartered. In 1946, initiation fees were $2.00 and membership dues were $3.00. His membership number was #30. Later, Fred Hartig Sr. recruited his brother, John Hartig, into Post 6587.
Fred Hartig Sr. was a Vice-President of Suburban Properties, a real estate company in this area. Fred Hartig Jr. met his wife while she worked with his father in the real estate office. Fred Hartig Jr. was married in 1942. His wife, Thelma McMillan, was a graduate of Columbia Heights High School in 1941. Fred Hartig Jr. graduated from St. Paul Murray (Mechanical Arts) High School in 1940.
Fred Hartig Jr. enlisted in the regular Army Air Corps on October 10, 1940. He served as an aviation cadet with the 317th Tactical Escort Flying School at Williams' Field in Chandler, AZ.
He was honorably discharged from the enlisted ranks on July 27, 1943 and was commissioned after cadet training as a 2nd Lieutenant. He joined the 79th Fighter Squadron/20th Fighter Group in December, 1943, based in Kings Cliff, England. Fred Hartig Jr. flew a P-38 J-”Lightning”. Fred Hartig Jr. flew five combat missions for a total of 15 hours, 45 minutes of engaged aerial combat.
Fred's P-38 was emblazoned on the nose with the names of his wife, Thelma, and his daughter, Sharon. Fred Hartig Jr. and his five combat missions were as follows:
Mission #1 was on December 31, 1943. Bombing targets were the ball bearing and industrial plants in the Paris area. Alternate targets were the German airfields in the Bordeaux and La Rochelle areas of France. The three hour mission was a success as all fighters and bombers returned to Kings Cliffe safely.
Mission #2 was on January 5, 1944. Primary targets were the port and shipbuilding center of Kiel and the Luftwaffe bases at Bordeaux and south Ruhr in France. The 79th/20thFG suffered three losses. Fred Hartig Jr. returned early from combat with a re-occurring propeller problem with his P-38.
Mission #3 was on January 7, 1944, two days later. Nine combat wings dropped over 1,000 tons of bongs on the island port and chemical center of Ludwigshafen before noon. The mission was considered a success with the downing of three Messerschmitt’s and the safe return of all of the 79th /20th.
Mission #4 was on January 14, 1944. Twenty-one German targets were selected in the Pas de Calais area,. 1,500 tons of bombs completed the mission. Second Lieutenant Fred Hartig and his group were met with 6 Focke-Wolfe 190s, three were destroyed and three got away. Fred returned safely, but only one American pilot was shot down.
Missions #5 was on January 24, 1944. His last one. The primary target was Frankfurt, Germany. Poor bombing results and heavy aerial combat forced allied fighters to be recalled. Major damage to allied planes was made for a hectic return. Re-occurring propeller problems forced Fred Hartig Jr. to an early return to base. Fred was the third casualty of the day. He was following heavy bombers home when the Folke-Wolfe 190s appeared over the North Sea. 2nd Lieutenant Hartig went into the overcast and was not seen again at that time. Later in the day, Air-Sea-Rescue reported that he was picked up in the English Channel area and either died shortly thereafter or was dead when he was found. On this date, his daughter was 1 year and 3 days old.
Fred's wife and daughter were awarded the Meritorious Air Metal and the Purple Heart.
Fred Max Hartig Jr. was interred at Brookwood Cemetery outside of London. In 1948, Fred was laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Fred was survived by his wife, now living in Arizona, and his daughter, now living in California, and both are doing well.
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Biography of PFC Richard E. Kraus
Sworn into the Marine Corps on December 22, 1943, Richard Kraus left Minnesota for “boot camp” at San Diego, CA, January 8, 1944 and received further training in amphibious tractor operations at Camp Pendelton, Oceanside, CA. Made a First Class Private in June, 1944, and participated in the invasion of the Peleliu Islands on September, 15, 1944.
PFC Kraus graduated from Edison High School in June 1943.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, are three sisters, Yvonne Kraus, Gail Olson and Marlys Olson.
He was home on furlough for three days over Mothers Day, 1944, and was the first from Concordia Lutheran Church to make the supreme sacrifice.
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TO AWARD CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
POSTHUMOUSLY TO PFC RICHARD E. KRAUS
PFC Richard E. Kraus, Marine, will be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously, Thursday August 2.
Presentation will be made to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Olson, 1827 Olson Street, by Marine Corps representatives at the WCCO Building at 4:15pm.
Nation's Highest Honor
He will be the second Minnesotan and the 101st in the nation to receive this United States government's highest honor since Pearl Harbor, the Argus was told.
President Harry S. Truman presented the 100th Congressional Medal of Honor to T/Sgt Jake W. Lindsey of Lucedale, MS at a joint session of Congress recently. T/Sgt Lindsey was one of General Dwight D. Eisenhower's first-line fighters in the final blows against Germany.
Describing PFC Kraus' heroic action in a letter to Mrs. Olson, Lt Norman Haweeli, the late Marine's commanding officer, said: “It is with the deepest regret that I write to offer my sympathies and condolences in your recent bereavement, the loss of your son, Richard.”
“On October 3, while participating in action against the enemy, your son was killed. He had volunteered to search out a wounded man and bring him back to safety.”
“In the act of going to the wounded man's aid, Richard's party was held up by Japanese grenades. The party decided to return and in doing so, ran into more grenades. One grenade landed in the midst of Richard's party.”
“Without a moment's hesitation, Richard fell on the grenade, sacrificing his own life to save the lives of the rest of his party.”
“Richard was given a Christian burial in the cemetery on Peleliu Island, Palue Group in grave number 87, section 4. The American flag for which he so heroically and unselfishly gave his life, flies today over that cemetery and island.”
“As Richard's commanding officer, I speak for myself and for the many friends who knew, worked and lived with him, in expressing a heartfelt sorrow over the loss of a friend, a fine Marine and a real hero. Richard's act of heroism is an inspiration to the men of his company in future endeavors, military and otherwise.”
“We are all very proud of your son. We will miss him and share with you the grief of your loss and your sacrifice.”
Memorial Service was October 29.
Memorial Service for PFC Kraus was conducted by the Rev. Walter L. Wang at Concordia Lutheran Church October 29. The Rev. Wang termed PFC Kraus' death “part of the price this country is paying for liberty.”
In a letter to his parents shortly before his death, PFC Kraus said, “It seems as though no matter where I go I'm happy. I guess I'm happy because God gave me the privilege of serving my country. I'm proud of that. I guess all the fellows are.
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REBURIAL RITES SET FOR MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER – November 5, 1948
Reburial services for PFC Richard E. Kraus, son of Mrs Ed Olson, 1827 Johnson Street, and August N. Kraus, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, November 8, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.
PFC Kraus was killed in action October 3, 1944, while serving with the Marines on Peliliu Island in the Pacific. He was 18 years old.
A graduate of Edison High School in June, 1943, he joined the Marines on December 22, 1943. Following basic training at Camp Pendleton, CA, he sailed for the Russell Islands in July, 1944.
During the landing on Peliliu Island, he and three Marines volunteered to retrieve a wounded comrade near a Japanese stronghold. While advancing, an enemy grenade was tossed at the rescue squad and PFC Kraus threw himself on the explosive.
The heroic act cost him his life, but saved his three comrades. For the sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, highest military honor of the nation.
Surviving besides his parents are three sisters, Yvonne Kraus, a WAVE at Great Lakes, IL, and Gail and Marlys Olson.
The Rev. Walter L. Wang, a former pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church, will preside at the funeral services. Kraus-Hartig VFW Post 6587 will accord military honors at the burial at Fort Snelling cemetery.
Kraus-Hartig VFW is named in memory of two local heroes. PFC Richard E. Kraus and LT Fred Hartig, both of whom served with distinction and honor in the armed services. These two heroes, among many, answered the country's call to duty and showed what serving their country really means. Below are biographies of these two gentlemen, taken from the 50th Anniversary Celebration Book, published by Kraus-Hartig VFW in 1996. Kraus-Hartig VFW Post #6587 received its Charter on April 4, 1946 and has been helping the community ever since.
