Edward H Ahrens
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 17 September 1942, page 1
Six Northern Kentucky youths have been reported causalities by
the War Department Thursday. Edward H Ahrens, private first class in the Marine
Corps, son of Mrs. Marie Ahrens, 224 Second avenue, Dayton, was listed as
wounded.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 16 October 1942, page 1
With the announcement that Private First Class Edward H Ahrens,
22, of Dayton, a member of the US Marine Corps, had been fatally wounded in
action in the Solomon Islands last month, it also was revealed that the young
hero was married in Batavia O. last Dec 29 to Miss LaVerne McDaniel, 3224 Mabel
avenue, Covington.
Pvt. Ahrens was the first Dayton man to sacrifice his life in the present war: it also was disclosed when Dayton Council Thursday night authorized Charles E Graham, city attorney to prepare a resolution of condolence to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ahrens, 224 Second avenue, Dayton, parents of the young man. Mayor Alfred Reekers ordered the flag on the City Building lowered to half mast.
A communication from Lieut. Gen. Holcomb, Marine Corps commandant, Washington, notified the parents last Thursday that their son had died of wounds received in the Solomon Islands fighting. The fatal wounding of Pvt. Ahrens is presumed to have occurred in the engagement when the Marines first occupied the islands. Pvt. Ahrens enlisted in the Marine Corps nine months ago. Prior to his enlistment he was a polisher at the Wadsworth Watch Case Co. plant in Dayton. He was a graduate of Dayton High School.
He is survived, besides his parents and widow, by two brothers, James, 20, now in the US Navy and George, a senior at Dayton High School and two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Messick, Cincinnati and Mrs. Lillian Hoctor, Dayton.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 13 August 1943, page 4
Of special interest and pride to the members of the Ladies Auxiliary of Kersten O'Day Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, at their recent meeting, were the treasurers possessed by Mrs. Marie Ahrens, mother of Pfc. Edward H Ahrens, who was killed in action in the Solomons one year ago.
Mrs. Ahrens has been awarded the Purple Heart decoration for military merit and wounds received in action which resulted in the death of her son. She also received a certificate of appreciation and recognition from His Majesty, the King of England.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 1 December 1943, page 1
"Everybody liked him, and he had lots of friends!" Bundled up in those few words of Frank Stegeman Sr. president is a graphic explanation of why employees of the Wadsworth Watch Co. Dayton, look forward with a genuine interest and sincere grief to the christening of the USS Ahrens (DC 575) this month in honor of a former fellow workman, Pfc. Edward H Ahrens, Dayton's first casualty of the war.
"Eddie" as they all knew him, came to work at Wadsworth's when but a youngster. He was an errand boy then and his cheerful smile and polite manner soon endeared him to all who worked with him. Then the young fellow advanced to be a polisher. When Eddie left to enlist in the US Marine Corps Jan 31, 1942, he had the well wishes of everyone. Months of training went by and in August the Marines made their initial landing on Guadalcanal to gain that island outpost for American forces, Eddie was among the first to arrive there. And in the first hours of batter, he was wounded and died the following day.
But before Eddie died, he wrote in American history a page of worthiness in his honor. While wounded he encountered a Jap officer and eight Jap soldiers. The young bleeding Dayton warrior fought with all his strength and initiative. The result was death for the nine Japs who fought him.
In recognition of his brave feat President Roosevelt and Lord Halifax issued citations in his honor. Eddie was awarded the Purple Heart and his name is forever inscribed on the roll of those who fought valiantly and bravely in defense of American freedom. Some time this month the USS Ahrens, a destroyer escort will be launched at the Bethlehem Hingham Shipyards, Hingham Mass.
The young hero's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert H Ahrens, 224 Second avenue, will be present for the affair. The mother will christen the ship bearing her son's name. Wadsworth employees, headed by Mr. Stegeman, have a desire to do even more in making the christening an event in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens. 1200 contributions from among them will sponsor the trip to Hingham. An invitation for Mrs. Ahrens to christen the ship came from James Forestal, assistant secretary of the Navy.
Eddie, 23 years old, was a former Dayton High School student. He has two brothers in the Navy, James, a gunner's mate third class, has seen action in three theaters of war, including North African and Mediterranean areas and George, a member of the Seabees is stationed in this country.