My dad, Elmer J. Kresse, served aboard the USS Orvetta as a S2C between 2-9-45 and 3-13-46 while serving in the Navy.
Elmer J. Kresse was born June 23, 1916 in Lafayette county, Missouri He was the youngest of seven children, and his brother closest in age to him was 14 at the time. His dad, my grandpa, lost their farm in 1925. (Grandpa was a hog farmer.) In 1926 after moving to Warrensburg, Missouri my grandfather passed away. Dad was 10 years old at the time. This had an effect on him that dad carried with him all his life. His oldest brother (19 years older) promised grandpa to take care of Grandma and dad.
My uncle worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which for those times was a good, steady job. One of dads brothers who worked for Piggly Wiggley (and later Safeway) got him a job in Kansas City at a grocery warehouse. This was after dad graduated high school and went to college 1 year. In 1938, dad was working in Sedalia, Missouri when he married my mom and set up housekeeping in Sedalia. Mom was born in Mayview, in Lafayette county and lived in Warrensburg also. Dad worked carrying papers for the Standard Herald while growing up, so he had spending money during the depression. Plus, my oldest uncle had his railroad job so the family got along all right.
I was born in 1941 and mom was pregnant with my sister when dad was drafted in 2-9-1945. He was discharged 3-14-1946. He served aboard the USS Indian Island and the USS Orvetta. Dad said he painted the ship when he was on the Orvetta.
My mom, sister, and I went through some rough times while dad was away serving his country. At that point in time anyone with a husband in service was supposed to be guaranteed housing, but my mom was booted out of our place by some unscrupulous landlord. The manager where dad worked helped mom and she bought the place where I finished growing up.
I am sorry to report that dad passed away on Thanksgiving day in 2000.
Written in loving memory by his son, Jim Kresse.
Photo Courtesy of: Jim Kresse, his son (the little boy in the picture).
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