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October 15, 1942 - March 1970
Cause of death: military aircraft casualty
On the website Midway Phantom, of the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum : Lt. Paul Kruke - VF-21 1966-1968. Killed in the Performance of Duty, 1970.
https://connect.fisk.edu/dearly-departed
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Nancy Felson
Paul's was such a tragic death at a very young age. My parents were such close friends with Paul's uncle, Marcus (Mutt) Kruke, who died heroically in WWII, that they named my brother Marcus Kruke Felson. Paul's aunt, Rae Kruke Engel, was practically part of the Felson clan.
I don't think Paul's burial place was ever found (does anyone have details?). There was an article in the Israelite about his uncle's heroism, which probably inspired him to enlist, and a record of his burial at Normandy from another friend of Mutt who visited his grave. It read:
Marcus Kruke
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Service # O1325403
117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division
Entered the Service from: Ohio
Died: 9-Jul-44
Buried at: Plot G Row 6 Grave 29
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart