Donald E. Kalkhoff
Korean War
Don Kalkhoff was born on June 1, 1931, near Templeton to Edward and Mary (Fangmann) Kalkhoff. Don grew up on the farm and attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School with the class of 1950. He then worked on the family farm. On April 14, 1953, Don was married to Leana Klocke of Dedham at St. Joseph Church.
Don was drafted into the US Army on October 6, 1954, along with six other Carroll County men. They were bussed from the Burke Hotel in Carroll to Omaha, NE for induction. He was assigned serial number 26 791 476. He was then sent to Fort Bliss near El Paso, TX for basic training. After completion of this training, he remained at Fort Bliss for advanced training in AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) defense. Don was assigned to Battery D of the 2nd Training Battalion (AAA).
By early 1955, this training was also completed and Don was sent to Camp Kilmer, NJ to prepare for overseas transit. He spent two weeks at Camp Kilmer before departing for the Panama Canal Zone. Don was assigned to Battery B of the 764th AAA Gun Battalion. This unit was stationed at Fort William Davis near Gatun on the Atlantic (Caribbean) end of the Canal. The 764th AAA Gun Battalion was a semi-mobile unit so likely was equipped with 90mm guns although 120mm guns were also used.
On November 21, 1955, Don was promoted to PFC (private first class). One month later, Don was given a 30-day furlough to be home for Christmas. He flew from Tocumen Airfield in Panama City to Miami, FL and then on to Omaha, NE via Braniff Airways. He returned to Panama on January 17, 1956.
Don completed his 19-month tour of duty at the Panama Canal Zone and returned to the United States on October 2, 1956. His own account indicates he was not discharged from the US Army until April 30, 1962, suggesting he may have been in the reserves after his active service. His final rank was Corporal.
Don returned to farming west of Templeton where he had grown up. He died in Manning on November 26, 2020 at age 89. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.