Kenneth Harvey Lau

2020-09-19T09:15:18-05:00
Army Badge
  • Name: Kenneth Harvey Lau
  • Location of Birth: Rosemount, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: October 21, 1921
  • Date of Death: October 6, 1944 (22 years old)
  • Parents: Hugh Lau and Olga (Rahn) Lau
  • High School and Class:
  • College:
  • Highest Rank: PFC (Private First Class)
  • Branch: Army
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: February 16, 1942 (Registration Date)
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge:
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:
    Purple Heart
    Oak Leaf Cluster

  • Military Highlights:
    Killed in Action

    Kenneth served with the 505th Parachute Infantry 82nd Airborne Division and died at Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands.

    Information from Registration Card:
    Name: Kenneth Harvey Lau
    Place of Residence: R 1 - Box 118, Grand Rapids, Itasca, Minnesota
    Age in Years: 20
    Place of Birth: Dakota County
    Date of Birth: October 21, 1921
    State: Minnesota
    Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Hugh Lau, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
    Employer's Name and Address: Oscar Mood, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
    Place of Employment or Business: Max, Itasca County, Minnesota

    World War II Draft Card:
    Name: Kenneth Harvey Lau
    Gender: Male
    Race: White
    Age: 20
    Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
    Birth Date: 21 Oct 1921
    Birth Place: Dakota, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
    Registration Place: Grand Rapids, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Employer: Oscar Mood
    Weight: 155
    Complexion: Light
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Blonde
    Height: 5 8
    Next of Kin: Hugh Lau
    Household Members: Kenneth Harvey Lau
    Relationship: Self (Head)

    News article from Itasca County Independent, dated November 2, 1944:
    "County Paratrooper Dies of War Wounds"
    "Pvt. Kenneth Lau, son of Mrs. Hugh Lau of Rte. 1, Grand Rapids, died of wounds in a hospital in France, his mother was advised by the war department on Monday of this week.

    The soldier, a paratrooper, was a veteran in combat service. The airborne division of which he was a member participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-day, and his mother received a message from the war department in early July, advising her that Kenneth had been "slightly wounded," on June 7.

    It is believed he had recovered from the June 7 wounds, and had returned to combat service, and that he was wounded again.

    Pvt. Lau participated in the campaigns in Africa and in Italy. His division had been transferred from Italy to England a short time before the invasion of Normandy.

    A brother, Pfc. Harry Lau, is an artillery gunner, and he is in England. The two brothers had an opportunity to meet in England before the invasion."

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Picture is PVT Kenneth Lau (left) and PFC Harry Lau (right). The two brothers met in England and had an opportunity to visit for three hours. Harry had been in England three months. Kenneth, before going to England, had been in the Africa and Italian campaigns.

    Kenneth's siblings were Harry Raymond Lau, Evelyn Helen (Lau) Vober, and Walter Julius Lau.

    Kenneth is buried at Margraten - Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Limburg, Netherlands. (Block F, Row 2, Grave 24)

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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