United States. A Purple Heart to Seaman Krenek, Wounded During Roi Island Attack, February 12, 1944

Instituted in 1782. Two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with purple, red, white and green enamels, engraved "JOSEPH R. KRENEK S1c USNR" on the reverse, measuring 34.5 mm (w) x 43 mm (h), intact enamels, original ribbon with brooch pinback, extremely fine. Accompanied by the original forwarding letter for the Purple Heart, along with two pages of copies of his Service Records.

Footnote: The Purple Heart was instituted on August 7, 1782 and is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism. Joseph Russell Krenek was born on December 1, 1920 and enlisted (853 67 65) at the Navy Recruiting Station in Chicago, Illinois on July 26, 1943. He was transferred to the Naval Training Station at Farragut, Idaho, where he trained from August 5 to October 18, 1943, achieving the rank of Acting Stoker 2nd Class. He was then posted to Shoemaker, California from October 25 to November 3, 1943, where he achieved the rank of Seaman 2nd Class. While in the Pacific theater, he served with Carrier Air Support Unit - 20 for eighteen months, from November 3, 1942 to May 6, 1944, first as a Seaman 2nd Class, followed by his promotion to Seaman 1st Class. Joseph Russell Krenek, United States Naval Reserve was wounded in a devastating Japanese air raid on Roi Island (Kwajalein Atoll) on February 12, 1944. The ammunition dump and about 85% of the supplies stored on the island were destroyed by Japanese bombers. The Purple Heart forwarding letter from the Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), dated April 16, 1944, states: "In the name of the President and by direction of the Secretary of the Navy the Purple Heart is awarded by the Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet to: KRENEK, Joseph Russell, S1c 853 67 65, USNR V6." He was then transferred to Carrier Air Support Unit - 30, serving for six months, from May 15 to November 15, 1944, in the rank of Seaman 1st Class. This was followed by a transfer to Carrier Air Support Unit (F)-17 on November 15, 1944, where he would served as an Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class for three and a half months, until March 1, 1945. He was posted to United States Naval Amphibious Base (USNAB) #907 for three months, from March 1 to June 1, 1945, again serving as an Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class. Krenek arrived at the Naval Air Technical Training Command in Memphis, Tennessee on July 17, 1945 and it was from here that he was discharged from service on November 7, 1945. In addition to the Purple Heart, for his Second World War service, he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. Joseph Russell Krenek died on July 23, 1972, at the age of 51. He is buried in Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, his grave marker inscribed "JOSEPH R KRENEK / ILLINOIS / AOM3 US NAVY / WORLD WAR II / DEC 1 1920 JULY 23 1972".