Army Badge
  • Name: Karl Louis Mangseth
  • Location of Birth: Coleraine, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: February 28, 1916
  • Date of Death: February 20, 1971
  • Parents: Ole Mangseth & Lydia (Peterson) Mangseth
  • High School and Class: 1934 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College:
  • Highest Rank: S SGT (Staff Sergeant)
  • Branch: Army
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: August 18, 1942
  • Place Sworn In: Sacramento, California
  • Date of Discharge: March 6, 1946
  • Place of Discharge: Camp Beale, California
  • Military Awards:
    Good Conduct Medal
    Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon with a Battle Star

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Minnesota
    Name: Karl Louis Mangseth
    Race: White
    Age: 24
    Birth Date: February 28, 1916
    Birth Place: Coleraine, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: October 16, 1940
    Employer: Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., Taconite, Itasca, Minnesota
    Weight: 146
    Height: 5-10
    Complexion: Light
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Blonde
    Other Characteristics: Scar, lower right cheek
    Next of Kin: Lydia Constance Mangseth, mother, Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota

    World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
    Name: Karl L. Mangseth
    Race: White
    Marital status: Single without dependents
    Rank: Private
    Birth Year: 1916
    Nativity State or Country: Minnesota
    Citizenship: Citizen
    Residence: Placer, California
    Education: 4 years of high school
    Civil Occupation: Semiskilled painters, construction and maintenance
    Enlistment Date: August 18, 1942
    Enlistment Place: Sacramento, California
    Branch: Branch immaterial - Warrant officers, USA
    Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
    Source: Civil life
    Height: 68
    Weight: 143

    Newspaper article: April 1945 – “Sgt. Karl Mangseth has been transferred out of the service command and is going to get some sea duty. His new assignment is mess sergeant on a steam ship, now under repairs in ‘Frisco, but which he expected would sail during the week. His letter was addressed April 18. Karl thinks it will be fun to smell salt water and see a little more of the world, and writes: “I am really quite anxious to get going.”

    Newspaper article: August 1945 –“ Mr. and Mrs. Ole Mangseth received word from their son, Karl, that he has been promoted to Staff Sergeant and that he expects to leave soon for Japan. Karl has been in the service for three years and has been on a troop transport part of that time. His duties aboard ship have included the preparation of menus for the troops.”

    Newspaper article: March 1946 – “The Public Relations Office, Separation Center, Camp Beale, California sends out a release disclosing that S/Sgt. Karl Mangseth, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Mangseth, was discharged from the armed forces March 6. Entering the service in August 1942, Sgt. Mangseth was assigned to the Army Ground Forces and was sent overseas in April 1945 with the Transportation Corps. A Mess Sergeant, Sgt. Mangseth has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre ribbon with a battle star for the Ryukyus campaign. During his 42 months of service, Sgt. Mangseth has earned 45 discharge points. He plans to return home sometime in May with his folks who are now visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Mangseth in Los Angeles.”

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Karl Mangseth was a lifelong resident of Coleraine. He was employed as a billing clerk for U.S. Steel. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts of Grand Rapids.

    Karl died in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 30). He is survived by his mother Mrs. Ole Mangseth, and three brothers, Otto, Rolf and Ronald.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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