Robert Kronberger passed away on October 5,
2006
Robert Kronberger is a Pearl Harbor Survivor from the USS West Virginia.
He served with his father
Samuel and brother
Edward. He also served aboard the USS
Salt Lake City (CA-25) along with his father and brother. You can
find information about the USS Salt Lake City at
http://ussslcca25.com
A photo of Robert Kronberger with the President of the United States.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY Commander Robert S. Kronberger, U. S. Navy Retired
BORN: December 17, 1917, Boston, Mass. RAISED: Annapolis, Maryland. FAMILY: Married; Marion Alberta McLaughlin, November 1948 CHILDREN: David W. Kronberger, Son, Chief Journalist, U.S. Navy Retired Jessie Marie Kronberger, Daughter GRANDCHILDREN: 4 FATHER: Samuel (Deceased) Chief Warrant Officer (Gunner) U.S. Navy, Retired MOTHER: Barbara Bock, (Deceased) BROTHERS: William, Chief Boilerman, U.S. Navy Retired Richard, Lieutenant Commander, (Supply Corps) U.S. Navy Retired Edward, Boatswain's Mate 1/c, U.S. Navy Retired Walter, Douglas Aircraft Co. Retired
EDUCATION: Annapolis High School, Annapolis, MD. San Pedro High School, San Pedro, CA Frank Wiggins Trade School, Los Angeles, CA Armed Forces Institute, Madison, Wl
MILITARY SERVICE: Enlisted U.S. Navy, 5 March 1935 Retired December 1, 1970 Held All Enlisted Pay Grades From Apprentice Seaman Through Master Chief Petty Officer Held All Officer Ranks Lieutenant Junior Grade Through Commander
GENERAL SERVICE: Served
in Various Ships and at Various Stations (Was on the Yangtze River in
China During the Rape of Nanking and the Sinking of USS Panay
WW II Service: Aboard U.S.S. West Virginia During the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7th 1941. (Ship Sunk) February 2nd 1942 Participated in the Raid on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Aboard USS Enterprise. February 24th, 1942 Participated in the Attack on Japanese Occupation Forces, Wake Island, Aboard USS Enterprise March
4th, 1942, Participated in the Raid of Japanese Base on Marcus Island,
900 Miles off the Coast of Japan. Aboard USS Enterprise April 18th, 1942 Participated in the Haisey-DoolttIe Raid on Tokyo, Aboard USS Enterprise June 2nd-6th, 1942 Participated in the Battle of Midway, Aboard USS Enterprise August 7,1942, Participated in the Landings at Guadalcanal, Aboard USS Enterprise August 8th & 9th, 1942 Battle of Save Island, Aboard USS Enterprise August 23rd -25th 1942. Battle of Eastern Solomons, Aboard USS Enterprise October 26th-27th, 1942 Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, Aboard USS Enterprise 1943 Salvage and Restoration of the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor November 20th-25th Amphibious Landings at Tarawa, USS Leonis, AK128 January 31st-February 23rd 1944. Amphibious actions at Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls, Aboard USS Leonis, AK128 June 15th-20th 1944, Amphibious actions at Saipan. Aboard USS Leonis AK 128 September 15th-20th , 1944 Amphibious Actions at Peleiu and Angaur Aboard USS Leonis, AK 128 December
1st, 1944 - March 10th 1945 Amphibious Actions during the Recapture of
the Philippine Islands, Aboard USS Leonis, AK 128 June 1945 to Wars
End In Staging Area as Nucleus of the Invasion Force preparing to Land
Troops on the Japanese Mainland. USS Leonis AK P8
POST WWII ACTIVITIES: May
1946 to November 1948 Occupation Forces of Europe aboard the Cruisers
USS Wilkes-Barre, USS Dayton and Destroyer USS Glennon. 1949 - To Start of Korean War Served in the Attack Transport Thomas Jefferson, APA 30
KOREAN WAR: Served aboard the Aircraft Carrier Bon Homme Richard CV20 and the Heavy Cruisers USS Helena CA 75 and USS Los Angeles CA 135
POST KOREAN WAR: 1954-1958 Served with the forces Defending the Island of Formosa and she Off Shore Islands of Matsu and Quemoy. 1958-1960,
On the Staff of Commander, Cruisers-Destroyers, Pacific Fleet,
Instructor of Marine Engineering at Destroyer Engineering Officers
School 1960-1961, Support Forces Operating in Support of LAOS, Aircraft Carrier USS Bennington CV31 1961-1964 Chief Engineer, Amphibious Forces Flagship, USS Estes \GC 17 1964-1966 Ships' Superintendent, Long Beach, California
VIET NAM WAR: 1966-1969 In Destroyer Tender USS Bryce Canyon, AD 36 Maintaining and Servicing Destroyers in Viet Namese Waters. 1969-December 1970 Assistant Repair Superintendent, Long Beach Naval Shipyard. December 1, 1970 Retired from U.S. Navy.
MEDALS RECEIVED: Navy Achievement Medal Navy Commendation Medal Navy Good Conduct Medal (7 Awards) Presidential Unit Citation (2 Awards) Navy Unit Citation (2 Awards) Navy Commendation Medal (2 Awards) China Service Medal American Defense Service Medal Navy Expeditionary Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal (16 Battle Stars) European Campaign Medal WWII Victory Medal Navy Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal (3 Battle Stars) Vietnam Service Medal United Nations Service Medal Philippine Liberation Medal (3 Battle Stars) Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea, Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation.
CIVILIAN CAREER: Litton Ships Systems, Advanced Marine Technology Division, Project Engineer, 963 Class Destroyer and Multipurpose Amphibious Ship (LHA) Design Hughes Aircraft Co., Engineer Senior, Program Manager, Ship's Support Systems. Retired 1 February, 1980. LISTED IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS: Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans Who's Who In California Who's Who in the West Who's Who in Free Masonry Pearl Harbor Remembered -25th and 50th Anniversaries U.S. Navy Memorial Washington, DC
ORGANIZATIONS and ASSOCIATIONS: VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS Veterans of Foreign Wars American Legion Disabled American Veterans AM-VETS
MILITARY ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS: Fleet Reserve Association The Retired Officer Association Society of American Naval and Maritime Engineers U.S. Naval Institute Invited Member of the Naval Order of the United States
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS: MASONIC ORGANIZATIONS Free and Accepted Masons Hi-12 Club National Sojourners Heroes of 76 Scottish Rite Bodies Al Malaikah Shrine Temple, Past Outer Guard, Past Regional Mem. Dir. Big Bear Lake Shrine Club El Bekai Shrine Temple - Ambassador Victoria Shrine Club Nomad Shrine Club Legion of Honor Royal Order of Jesters Past Director of Court 161. Long Beach, CA ORDER OF QUETZACOATL
ELKS: Big Bear Lake Elks Lodge, Past Americanism Chairman Inland District, Past District Americanism Chairman California-Hawaii Elks Association, Past Americanism Chairman
OTHER: Pearl Harbor Survivors Association (One of the Founders) Past President Chapter 21, Yucca Valley, CA Past President Chapter 29, Victorville, CA Past Calif. Vice Chairman (South) PHSA 1st District Director for California, Nevada, Hawaii and Alaska PHSA National Vice President PHSA National President Presently PHSA Emeritus National President
Robert S. Kronberger, Cornmander, born Dec. 17, 1917, Boston, MA. He
joined the USN March 5, 1935, and served in the USS West Virginia and
many others.
Memorable Experiences: Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 and April 18 raid on Tokyo.
Retired Dec. 1, 1970. He received the Navy Commendation, Navy Achievement and all the other usual ones.
He
and his wife, Marion, live in Big Bear City, CA. They have two children
and four grandchildren. Employed as project engineer, manager and
program manager. Hobby is RVing, woodworking and fraternal
organizations.
Reprinted with permission from Turner Publishing |