80th anniversary of D-Day Retracing the steps of a soldier killed in action

 By Caroline Rosacker

LuAnn Urlaub and her husband, Rev. Mark Urlaub, recently journeyed across the ocean to France and England for an 80th anniversary World War II history tour with the hope of retracing the steps of LuAnn's uncle, Marvin Kraus, who was a soldier and gave his life for his country during WWII. 

The Vinton couple reside part-time in Guttenberg. They have been organizing overseas tours with historical value for the past several years. For this more personal trip they hired Romain Breget, a private French Battlefields guide prior to their expedition. "We wanted to get very close to where Marvin fought and lost his life," LuAnn explained. "We forwarded quite a bit of information to Romain, and also did our own research." 

It was apparent the Urlaubs were in good hands as Romain was leading a group from the United States later in the week whose organizer was David Eisenhower, none-other than the grandson of President Eisenhower. 

Pfc. Marvin Kraus

Pfc. Marvin Kraus grew up on a farm in rural Garnavillo, and entered military sevice at age 30 on June 9, 1942. He was sent to Camp Pickett in Virginia and assigned to the 79th Infantry Division. 

Marvin trained in five camps for 22 months, as a soldier with the 315th Regiment, in preparation for conditions and circumstances the soldiers would encounter in Europe.

"Marvin had leave time at home before shipping out for England," LuAnn commented. "It was then that he was photographed in his uniform and a family photo was taken with his parents and brothers. Before he left, he told his brother, Eugene (my father) that he felt that he would not be coming back."  

Landing in Liverpool

Marvin sailed from Camp Miles Standish, Mass., onboard the RMS Queen Mary, a requisitioned luxury-liner-turned-troopship, to Liverpool, England, landing on April 17, 1944. Here, he received rigorous training in amphibious landings and assaulting fortified position, to soon be used in the Normandy Invasion. His point of departure for France was the Port of Southampton. The 79th Infantry made a nighttime 7-hour trip across the English Channel. "The overnight trip was cold, and when they arrived the soldiers jumped out into 3.5 feet of water. They started cold and wet as did the men on D-Day," said LuAnn. 

Utah Beach

The mission of the 79th was to land on Utah Beach on June 14, and prepare to capture the port of Cherbourg, which had been occupied and controlled by the Germans since June 17, 1940. 

During their trip the Urlaubs spent nearly 10  hours with their guide who described the life-threatening circumstances and challenging terrain the soldiers encountered, which included hedgerows thick with vegetation and a marsh intentionally flooded by the Germans. "We were told the soldiers and the tanks were unable to push through the hedgerows, so they modified the tanks on the spot to equip them with a bulldozer type attachment," she noted. "The American soldiers didn't know if Germans were on the other side of the steep embankments. Stepping out from a hedgerow was terrifying – as they were sitting ducks."

Following the capture of Cherbourg, the regiments moved southward in the Carentan Peninsula. They faced German troops who were now battle-hardened and committed, not just conscripted soldiers from Nazi occupied countries. 

"Bloody Hill"

At the end of June and into early July, the 79th was moving toward Montgardon and La Haye du Puits. It was essential to capture both villages with the 79th mission to create a line across the peninsula to prevent Germans from retaking the Cherbourg port. With the ultimate goal of liberating La Haye du Puits, it was necessary to take a series of hills, which were fought over with constant shelling and gunfire. The battle lasted five days. 

On July 4, General Eisenhower ordered that a barrage of guns all across France be fired at noon in commemoration of Independence Day. 

A courageous battle

On July 5, about two miles outside of the village of Montgardon, in heavy battle, Marvin sustained bodily injury to the abdomen and was killed in action. "Our guide asked me if we had any information regarding his cause of death. I responded that the information from the war department stated with bullet/missile/mortar. The guide said that fit the description of the incredible fire fight that was going on, and death by that means was likely," she noted. 

Temporary grave Marvin's body was taken to one of the first temporary cemeteries started in Blosville, France. It was intended for casualties of the 82nd Airborne, but quickly began to meet the needs of other units. The Urlaubs visited the area where 6000 men, including Marvin were temporarily laid to rest, more than likely wrapped in blankets, and parachutes, with their dog tags placed between their teeth, as the mandible is one of the hardest bones and slower to decompose. 

The cemetery was mapped out, and each soldier had a row, plot and grave assignment carefully recorded. Older French men from the villages came to dig graves, as well as captured German soldiers. Each grave was marked with a wooden cross and the solider's name and service number stenciled on with paint. Women from nearby villages came regularly to tend to the graves and bought flowers. 

Western Union telegram

The Kraus family was notified of Marvin’s death in a Western Union telegram from the Adjutant General (Ulio) on August 4, 1944. “The telegram was received by the Western Union agent in Elkader, who personally delivered it,” she shared. “When my father saw him drive into the farmyard, he knew it meant bad news.”

  Marvin was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart with his name engraved on it. The only personal effects the family received was his dog tag and a Cross of Lorraine shoulder patch from his uniform, which the family surmises may have been torn off by someone before he was buried. 

Final resting place

In May of 1948, Marvin’s body — in a casket, accompanied by a uniformed soldier — was returned to his parents. His funeral was held at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, and he was permanently laid to rest at Ceres Cemetery. 

The Kraus cousins recently gathered this year at Marvin’s grave on July, 5th  – the 80th anniversary of his death. The Urlaubs presented them with packets that contained photos, and important documents and information pertaining to Marvin’s service career and passing, including sand samples from Utah Beach, that were placed in bottles and labeled. The packet also included a sermon preached by Pastor Mark Urlaub on the 70th Anniversary year of D-Day at, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Vinton. 

In remembrance

Visiting all the places where Marvin once stood, and his temporary place of rest was an emotionally charged experience for LuAnn and her husband. “I was saddened once again in Marvin’s loss and our family’s loss, but also had a sense of pride that my uncle fought in the battle against evil to help liberate France and the World,” she said with heartfelt gratitude. “It was a profound feeling to stand on the ground where my family’s blood was shed for the cause of freedom. I am also grateful and proud of my father’s service to our country, and to all who have served our great nation in any capacity. We must continue to tell these stories of American heroes to every generation and take nothing for granted. This type of heroism defines us as a nation. We must never forget.”