Wilbert Edwin Kangas

Lilah Crowe2019-12-20T15:42:14-06:00

Name: Wilbert Edwin Kangas
Location of Birth: Itasca County, Minnesota
Date of Birth: March 16, 1926
Date of Death: January 19, 1981
Parents: John E. Kangas and Lydia (Isokangas) Kangas
High School and Class:
College:
Highest Rank: CPL (Corporal)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: February 1, 1945
Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of Discharge: December 9, 1946
Place of Discharge:
Units and Locations:

Start Date End Date Unit(s) and Location(s) Served

February 1945 Camp Wolters. Texas
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: Wilbert Edwin Kangas
Race: White
Age: 18
Birth Date: March 16, 1926
Birth Place: Bovey, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: March 16, 1944
Employer: William Kangas, Route 1, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota
Weight: 140
Height: 5-5
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Other characteristic: Scar on right wrist
Next of Kin: Lydia Kangas, Route 1, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota

WW II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Wilbert E. Kangas
Birth Year: 1926
Race: White
Nativity State or Country: Minnesota
State of Residence: Minnesota
County or City: Itasca
Enlistment Date: February 1, 1945
Enlistment State: Minnesota
Enlistment City: Fort Snelling
Branch: No branch assignment
Branch Code: No branch assignment
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted men)
Source: Civil life
Education: 1 year of high school
Civil Occupation: General farmer
Marital status: Single without dependents
Height: 08 [no original available to verify]
Weight: 000 [no original available to verify]

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - March 30, 1945 - "Camp Walters, March 11, 1945. Mrs. Dargan: I received the birthday card this noon when we had mail call. It came a little early because my birthday is on the 16th, but it's better early than late. Thank you and the Service Club also. I sure appreciate it a lot. Well, today we have the day off and here I am writing my letters to the ones back home. So far I've written seven letters and I have three more to go. I am not very good at letter writing, but I'll do my best. Out here we don't have much time during the week. Even if the lights go out at 10:00 we don't have much time. We clean our equipment, shoes and rifles, and also every Tuesday and Friday night we get the job of cleaning the barracks. We G. I. the floors and all of that kind of work, carry the beds out, and then when the floor is dry, we carry them back. The chow isn't bad at all. Today we had a chicken dinner and it sure tasted good. Well, I haven't any more news to write about and I'm not much good at writing, so will close. Again, I want to thank you and the Bovey Service Club for the fine work you are doing to help us. Sincerely, Wilbert Kangas."

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Wilbert Kangas married Margaret Coatsworth in Coleraine, Minnesota in 1949. He was a welder for the U.S. Steel Mining Company, retiring in 1976. He was a member of the Itasca Finnish Club and was treasurer for Grand Rapids Township for many years. He was also a Boy Scout leader and participated in Scouting activities for many years.

Wilbert died at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife Margaret; two daughters, Marilyn (Thomas) Newman and Kristine (Stanley) Watson; a son, Calvin Kangas; three brothers, Wayne, Wilho, and Walter; and five sisters, Hattie (Robert) Coatsworth, Hanna Mallum, Hilda (John) Norgard, Helmie (Ainar) Salo, and Helen (Irvin) Cyrus.

Tribal Affiliation(s):