Robert S. Kronberger
W.T.1c
B Division
USN
USS West Virginia
1941-1943

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


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