Rome, NY WWII Fallen

S/SGT. NORBERT D. KRAEGER

USAAF 32446626

U.S. Air Transport Command, 1337 Army Air Force Base Unit

Norbert Donald Kraeger was born September 6, 1913, in Constableville, Lewis County, New York, to Clayton (1891-1956) and Margaret Sims (1893-1984) Kraeger. Clayton and Margaret were both from New York, and married on November 26, 1912, in Mohawk Hill, New York. Clayton was a farmer and Margaret did housework.

Norbert was the first of six children born to Clayton and Margaret. Their family consisted of Norbert (1913-1944), Rita Marie Puchyr (1917-2008), John A. (1918-1997), Dorothy A. Larkin Griffin (1920-2007), Regina Shean (1926-1976), and Charlotte M. (1930-1934). In July 1934, Charlotte was killed when struck by a car as she ran across the road in front of the Kraeger home in Mohawk Hill.

The Kraeger family moved to Rome, Oneida County, New York, in 1936. The family were members of St. Mary’s Church. Clayton was employed by the Board of Education as the school custodian at Gansevoort School in Rome.

Norbert Kraeger enlisted in the National Guard of New York on March 8, 1937, as a private in the Medical Detachment of the 10th Infantry. On April 6, 1939, Private Kraeger was a member of a National Guard firing squad at the funeral of a Civil War veteran, Henry Fike, 12th New York Cavalry. In May 1939, he was a member of a National Guard color guard at the funeral of a Navy veteran in Rome, New York.

Norbert registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, in Rome, Oneida County, New York. He was 5’5” tall, weighed 143 pounds, and had hazel eyes and brown hair. He lived with his parents at 1032 West Dominick, Rome, New York, and worked as a machine operator for General Cable Corporation.

On August 13, 1942, he was one of 39 men sent to an Army Reception Center by Selective Service Board 432, Rome, New York. He never returned home. Pvt. Kraeger received basic training at St. Petersburg, Florida, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He graduated as a radio operator and received promotion to corporal.

Cpl. Kraeger was sent to the China-Burma-India theater in June 1943. He served as a radio operator for the 1337th Army Air Force Base Unit, Station 7, Sookerating, India. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He received promotion to Staff Sergeant. SSgt. Kraeger had more than 150 hours of operational flight over the dangerous and difficult Assam-China route – often referred to as “The Hump.”

From the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force History: https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3627010/flying-the-hump-lifeline-to-china/

“Flying the ‘Hump’ was the foremost and by far the most dangerous, difficult, and historic achievement of the entire war. ”General Albert C. Wedemeyer, Commander, US Forces—China

A primary objective in the China-Burma-India Theater (CBI) was resupplying Allied forces fighting the Japanese military in China. With materiel support, the Allies could prevent Japanese victory and keep their forces from shifting elsewhere. Until mid-May 1942, the Burma Road had been the access route for supply delivery. However, with the Japanese pushing west through China to the border of India, taking Burma along the way, the Allies looked for another way to keep the more than 50,000 American and 200,000 Chinese soldiers well-equipped in China.

Despite being the closest point for supply distribution, the Assam Valley in India was still 550 miles from China. To fly the "Hump," transport aircraft would take off from just 100 feet above sea level in India and climb at a drastic rate of 300 feet per minute until they reached 18,000 feet to navigate the Himalayan Mountains. The descent into the mountains of China at roughly 6,000 feet completed the route.

SSgt. Norbert Kraeger was killed in action in Burma, on December 8, 1944, according to word received by his parents. SSgt. Kraeger is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (The Punch Bowl) in Honolulu, Hawaii, Section B, Site 207.

He was posthumously awarded the Rome Medal of Honor. He is listed on Page 109 World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from New York, and on Page 7976 of US Rosters of WWII Fallen, Oneida County, New York.

SSgt. Kraeger is commemorated on the Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

On June 1, 1949, a memorial plaque was dedicated to the young men who attended Constableville, New York, Central School and lost their lives in World War II. Norbert Kraeger is one of the nine so honored.

Norbert’s brother, T/Sgt. John Kraeger, served in the U.S. Army during World War II. John entered the Army in April 1941, and was wounded in France in July 1944, earning the Purple Heart.

End notes: This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project, a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3 web sites. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact hillerson@beyondbb.com.

Resources:

FindAGrave:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56113424/norbert-d-kraeger

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154728399/clayton_j_kraeger

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154728490/margaret_f_kraeger

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192779134/rita_marie_puchyr

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79502115/john_a_kraeger

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20753053/dorothy_a_larkin

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154793804/regina_shean

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68867329/charlotte_m_kraeger

Fold3.com:

https://www.fold3.com/image/671915640/kraeger-norbert-donald-page-2-us-wwii-draft-registration-cards-1940