KCCI 8 NEWS. AT 6 A SAILOR FROM ACKLEY WAS ONE OF FIVE IOWANS KILLED ON THE USS, OKLAHOMA DURING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR ALMOST 80 YEARS LATER FAMILY MEMBERS ARE FINALLY ABLE TO LAY HIM TO REST IN HIS HOMETOWN. LEO KENNEGERS REMAINS WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH DNA BACKN I 2019, BUT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMICUT P OFF PLANS FOR A FUNERAL SERVICE UNTIL NOW KCCI’S ANEWDR MULLENBECK WENT TO FRANKLIN COUNTY TO SHARE THIS EMOTIONAL STORY. HE HAD .LEO KENNEGERS REMAINS ARRIVED BACK IN THE MIDSTWE IN 2016 ALONG WITH 11 OTHER UNIDENTIFIED SERVICE MEMBERS FROMHE T USS, OKLAHOMA THROUGH DNA TESTING. HIS IDENTITY WAS CONFIRMED. THREE YEARS LATER MARTHA WALLACE KETTEGRES ELDEST NIECEOT G THE PHONE CALL FROM A NAVY GENEALOGIST. I CAN’T DESCRIBE HOW I FELT. YOU KNOW MY COUSINS AND I HAD WAITED FOR IT FOR SO LONG. WE HAD HOPED WE ALWAYS HOPED IT WOULD COME WHEN OUR PARENTS WERE STILL ALI,VE BUT THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN THE OKLAHOMAAS H CAPSIZED ANDUR TNED OVER THE NAVY FIREMAN FIRST CLASS WAS 20 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OFHE T ATTACK. HE BECAME ONE OF 429 CREWMEN ON ETH SHIP TO BE KILLED HE WAS IN THE ENGINE ROOM. AND WHEN THE SHIP WENTVE OR IT WAS TORPEDO BELOW THE WATER LINE. IN THE ATTACK AND ITOU WLD HAVE HAPPENED SO VERY QUICKLY AND THE SHIP WENT DOWN SO QUICKLY. I TRY TO THINK WHAT IT WOULD HAVE FELT LIKE TO HIM. BUT WHAT LEVEL OF FEAR WOULD HE HAVE HAD OR WAS HE JUST SO STUNNED? ATTH I WASN’T FEELING THERE ANYMORE THE FEELING NOW FOR THE FAMILY IS A SENSE OF RELIEF THAT THEY CAN HONOR KENIGAR IN HIS HOMETOWN OF ACKLEY WITH A MASS AN D FULL MILITARY HONORS. IT WILL BE FOR ME. MORE EMOTIONAL THAN I EXPECTED IT TO BE. DAN I THINK IT WILL GIVE US SOME CLOSURE. AND A FEELING THAT WE’VE DONE THE RHTIG THING AND RESPECTED HIM. NONE OF KENNEGERS ATE SIBLINGS IS STILL ALIVE, BUT DOZENS OF NIECES NEPHEWS AND EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS ARE EXPECTING TO ATTEND THE SERVICE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY. ANDREW MUL
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US Navy fireman killed at Pearl Harbor to be laid to relaxation almost 80 years later
Up to date: 12:48 PM CDT Jun 26, 2023
Virtually 80 years after he was killed through the assault on Pearl Harbor, Leo Keninger will lastly be laid to relaxation in his hometown of Ackley, Iowa, which is about 90 minutes by automobile exterior of Des Moines. The U.S. Navy fireman top quality was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked Dec. 7, 1941.His household again in Iowa obtained a telegram that he was lacking and presumed useless, however they must wait a long time for that affirmation. The breakthrough got here in 2019. Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used DNA to assist establish stays initially discovered from the battleship. “I can not describe how I felt,” mentioned Martha Wallace, Keninger’s eldest niece. “My cousins and I had waited for therefore lengthy. We at all times hoped it could come when my mother and father have been nonetheless alive, however that did not occur.”Members of the family deliberate a funeral and burial in Ackley in 2023, however these plans have been postponed as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. Now after a long time of ready, and an extra yr after the unique plans for a service, a mass and burial with full army honors will probably be held Saturday, June 26.”I believe will probably be a launch for lots of us,” Wallace mentioned. “It has been such a thriller all these a long time and now now we have our solutions. And with this service, we could have proven our respect for our uncle.”None of Keninger’s eight siblings are nonetheless dwelling, however dozens of nieces, nephews and prolonged household are anticipated to attend the service.The total obituary and preparations may be discovered right here. Leo Keninger Obituary (1921 – 2023) – Ackley , IA – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (legacy.com)
Virtually 80 years after he was killed through the assault on Pearl Harbor, Leo Keninger will lastly be laid to relaxation in his hometown of Ackley, Iowa, which is about 90 minutes by automobile exterior of Des Moines.
The U.S. Navy fireman top quality was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked Dec. 7, 1941.
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His household again in Iowa obtained a telegram that he was lacking and presumed useless, however they must wait a long time for that affirmation.
The breakthrough got here in 2019. Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used DNA to assist establish stays initially discovered from the battleship.
“I can not describe how I felt,” mentioned Martha Wallace, Keninger’s eldest niece. “My cousins and I had waited for therefore lengthy. We at all times hoped it could come when my mother and father have been nonetheless alive, however that did not occur.”
Members of the family deliberate a funeral and burial in Ackley in 2023, however these plans have been postponed as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Now after a long time of ready, and an extra yr after the unique plans for a service, a mass and burial with full army honors will probably be held Saturday, June 26.
“I believe will probably be a launch for lots of us,” Wallace mentioned. “It has been such a thriller all these a long time and now now we have our solutions. And with this service, we could have proven our respect for our uncle.”
None of Keninger’s eight siblings are nonetheless dwelling, however dozens of nieces, nephews and prolonged household are anticipated to attend the service.
The total obituary and preparations may be discovered right here.
Leo Keninger Obituary (1921 – 2023) – Ackley , IA – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (legacy.com)
