Page 20 - Valley Life & Health

20 SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2019 THE MORNING CALL

honoringourheroes

Ezra F. Kreiss
Army Staff Sergeant
Slatington, PA

Army Staff Sergeant Ezra F. Kreiss was a graduate of Slatington High School. He was
the son of Joseph and Minnie Kreiss. He had a contagious smile and infectious laugh.
He wed Madeline Haas in 1943 prior to shipping off to Slapton Sands, Devon, England
in 1944. On the night of April 27th, Ezra was part of the live-fire practice run known
as “Operation Tiger”. This was 5 weeks before D-Day. He was killed by a German
S-boat in the English Channel on April 28th, 1944. Nearly 1,000 men were lost in this
training exercise. Ezra’s wife delivered his only child, a son, Ezra Jr., less than 2 weeks
after he shipped off to England. He never saw his son other than in pictures. Those
pictures of his wife, baby and family were found in his wallet that were returned to his
widow. His body resides in the American Cemetery in Cambridge, England. A few years
ago “Operation Never Forget Club,” that honors veterans from the Lehighton Middle
School, sent flowers to the gravesite.
Anonymous

Frederick N. Nabhan
U.S. Army, World War II
Allentown High School, Class of 1941

In the midst of World War II, Fred walked out of Class at Lehigh University, and
unbeknownst to his parents, found his way to the U.S. Army enlistment center at Ft. Meade,
Maryland. After periods of infantry training stateside, Fred embarked on the troopship RMS
Mauretania overseas to the European Theater. There he joined the 41st Armored Infantry
Regiment, 2nd. Armored Division of the U.S. 7th Corps. Fred fought in the infamous “Battle
of the Bulge” in the Hurtgen Forest in Belgium. During this action, Fred was awarded the
Bronze Star Medal for heroic service in action.
After the war, Fred went on to law school, and upon graduation joined the United States
Department of Justice under the Department’s Honors Program.
Upon returning to Allentown, Fred practiced law under the preceptorship of the
Honorable Theodore R. Gardner prior to opening up his own practice on Linden Street in
Allentown. During his law career, he spent a tour in the Lehigh County District Attorney’s
office under longtime District Attorney George W. Joseph.
While in the practice of law, Fred purchased and razed the old Kuhn’s and Shankweiler
building at 7th and Hamilton Streets, and in its place constructed the Hamilton Financial
Center office building, which today is occupied by the County of Lehigh.
Fred had three siblings (Mabel, Violet and Harold), three children (Robert, Carolyn and
Lori) with his loving wife, Lois, along with seven grandchildren.
We will remember…always.
Nancy Jacoby

Louis J. Rittlemann
USMC Survivor of Iwo Jima

This is three star Marine Corps General Richard P Mills giving several mementos to
Louis J.Rittelmann, USMC survivor of Iwo Jima. Lou was born on November 10, which
is also the date USMC was founded. Oddly, Lou died on his 95th birthday. General Mills
was so kind to honor Lou while he was in hospice in Phoenixville, PA. Lou often said his
time on Iwo was his hell on earth. He saw the raising of the flag on Mt. Surabachi with
field glasses he “borrowed” from the Navy. He was also at Guam and occupied Japan.

Doug and Mary Lou Oswald