Kenneth Lind
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Kenneth Lind served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from December 15, 1943, until April 22, 1946.
His rank was Coxswain. He served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Steamer Bay(CVE 87) and was part of the 1st Division.
Mr. Lind enlisted with three friends, served with them, and was discharged with them.
He was born on April 26, 192_, in Cook, Minnesota, the son of Ole and Carrie (Havdal) Lind.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veteran’s account (below)
This is my story. In 1943, when I enlisted in the Navy in Hibbing, Minnesota, there were four of us that enlisted together: Henry Magyna from Kittsville, Don Hurlburt from Calumet, Lawrence Muller from Bemidji and myself from Cook. We went to Farragut, Idaho, to Boot Camp, and then we went to Bremerton, Washington, where we were assigned to a new escort carrier, the U.S.S. Steamer Bay, CVE 87. We went to Gunnery school and then loaded up the new ship at Astoria, Oregon, and then sailed to the South Pacific. Our first trip was transporting planes to the South Pacific Area. During this time, three of us were in the 1st Division, and Hurlburt was in the 2nd Division. We went through South Pacific campaigns together and all four of us were discharged together in April 1946, at Minneapolis. We went our separate ways except Lawrence Muller and I who remained friends and in touch until his death several years ago.
