Harold V. Schoeppner
World War II
Harold Schoeppner was born on December 4, 1921, near Templeton to Albert and Elizabeth (known as Lizzie) (Roth) Schoeppner. He attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton. In 1940, he moved to Buffalo, NY to work at the Curtiss-Wright aircraft factory. Harold was living in Buffalo when he registered for the military draft on February 16, 1942.
Harold was inducted into the US Navy on July 9, 1942, at Buffalo, NY. He was assigned serial number 608 27 99. He was sent to Newport, RI for boot training where he was a part of Company 626. On August 28, 1942, he was transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard as an apprentice seaman. On September 4, he was assigned to the crew of the USS Wilkes (DD-441).
The USS Wilkes was a destroyer that had been launched in 1941 and was involved in escorting convoys across the Atlantic. Harold’s first cruise left New York on September 30 arriving in Hampton Roads, VA two days later. At this time, Harold was promoted to S2c (seaman second class). The USS Wilkes became part of Task Force 34 that sailed on October 24 for Casablanca, Morocco. Once there, the USS Wilkes conducted patrols that included several depth charge attacks on German U-boats. In mid-November, the ship sailed for the United States arriving at Norfolk, VA on November 30. Harold was now promoted to S1c (seaman first class).
During December, the USS Wilkes conducted escort and patrol missions from New York to Maine. On January 14, 1943, the ship sailed on another convoy mission to Casablanca. While there, they assisted in security patrols related to a meeting in Casablanca between President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. The ship once again returned to the US. On March 6, 1943, the USS Wilkes departed for the third convoy mission to Casablanca during Harold’s service. The ship arrived back in New York on April 5, 1943.
On May 1, 1943, Harold was promoted to SK3c (storekeeper third class). The is some evidence that Harold had been injured on his third voyage to Africa. On May 13, the USS Wilkes was preparing to sail to the Pacific to join the fighting there. Harold, however, was transferred to the USS Briareus (AR-12). This was a transport ship that had been acquired by the US Navy and was being refitted in Brooklyn Navy Yard for repair duty.
By the end of 1943, the USS Briareus was ready for her shakedown cruise. When the USS Briareus left for duty in the Pacific on January 3, 1944, Harold remained in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. His duty in 1944 is unclear but it is known he was in the Brooklyn Navy Yard hospital during this time. During 1944, he was promoted to SK2c (storekeeper second class) and, on November 30, 1944, was promoted to SK1c (storekeeper first class) (staff sergeant equivalent).
Harold continued in this role and by June, 1945, he had married Delores Cox in New Jersey. At this time, he was transferred from Brooklyn to Lido Beach, Long Island. This was short-lived as he was assigned to the USS Cuttyhunk Island (AG-75), a stores ship, on July 1, 1945. However, he did have additional stays at the Brooklyn Navy Hospital. He was discharged on November 19, 1945 at Brooklyn.
Harold lived in New York for a time after his discharge but ultimately returned to Templeton where he was employed as a painter by Ocken Construction. He died in Clarinda, IA on April 29, 1957 at age 35. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.