Private First Class Krause was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on September 8, 1950. Private First Class Krause was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.
A special thanks goes to Dr. Judy Krause Mobley who provided the picture of Veer Krause, who was her cousin.∼By MIKE MARSHALL
The Huntsville Times
Posted May 03, 2010 @ 05:24 PM
GURLEY, Ala. — The ceremony appears so ordinary, just seven people huddled in the den of a two-bedroom house with a tin roof.
Judy Krause-Mobley calls this 1870s house her "memorabilia house," a place where her children and other relatives can come to learn about family history. Around noon this last Friday, Krause-Mobley, her brother Larry and sister-in-law Lucy are about to receive more family history than any of them can fathom.
They already know about the Purple Heart, awarded to Veer M. Krause, a cousin, after his death in the Battle of the Naktong Bulge in South Korea on Sept. 8, 1950.
They know they'll be receiving Veer's Purple Heart because a man in Jacksonville, Ill., bought it for a dollar at a garage sale.
"That man knew what it was and knew it was not where it should be," said Ken Shepard, the chapter commander of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart. "He could not leave it there and let some kid wear it. He knew someone had to track this down."
The man contacted a reporter at The Jacksonville Journal-Courier. The newspaper asked the office of U.S. Rep. Aaron Shock, R-Ill., to help, and the search led to Krause-Mobley in Gurley.
Krause-Mobley's family, though, is unaware that they are also about to receive a box of family photos and some rolled-up proclamations, including a memorial signed by President Truman.
They have never seen a photo of Veer, better known to them as "Worth," except for a recent newspaper clipping of his second-grade class photograph.
But when the day is over, long after the ceremony that lasts about 15 minutes or so, Krause-Mobley sifts through the box of photos and finds what she believes is her first glimpse of a grown-up Veer.
"This is like heaven," she said.
The ceremony becomes anything but ordinary as soon as Shepard arrives at the house just after 11:30 on Friday. He's holding the shoe boxes that contain the Purple Heart, Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the photos and the proclamations.
The medals and proclamations were for Veer M. Krause, a 20-year-old who liked to fire his M-1 rifle "almost as much as I like to eat," as he wrote Krause-Mobley's father, Elmouth.
By most accounts, Veer Krause, a member of the 38th Infantry, had been in Korea for less than three weeks when he died.
"Freedom lives, and through it he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men," read the end of the proclamation from Truman.
A short newspaper story appeared in Veer's hometown paper in Norfolk County, Va., after his death.
"Pvt. Veer M. Krause, grandson of Mrs. Emma Krause, of 727 North Elm Avenue, was killed in action in Korea on September 8," it began.
The Purple Heart was awarded on Jan. 2, 1951. Seven other medals and honors were awarded. For the next 20 years or so, Emma Krause kept the Purple Heart, in all likelihood. She was the grandmother who had raised Krause until he joined the Army in 1949.
But the story of Veer Krause's Purple Heart became a mystery after Emma's death around 1970. Many in his family, in fact, were unaware that he'd been a decorated soldier.
After visiting Belhaven, N.C., Veer's hometown, Judy Krause-Mobley posted a message on the Korean War Veterans' Association website, requesting more information. From there, she went to the military records section of ancestry.com and discovered the medals he'd received, including the Purple Heart.
"I knew nothing before that, other than he was killed in the Korean War," she said. "Beyond that, I had no idea what had happened to his Purple Heart."
Then the call came in late April from Jake Russell, a reporter for The Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
"I often wondered what happened to it," Krause-Mobley said. "No one cares about it like we do."
The ceremony begins just after noon on Friday with Grayson Tate, a retired major general, blowing into a pitch pipe and singing the national anthem. Tate, Shepard and Don Powers, a past state commander, are representing the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Shepard has asked Tate to present Veer's Purple Heart because Tate received his medal during the Korean War. Krause-Mobley, her brother and sister-in-law are also in the den, along with Krause-Mobley's son Will.
Tate presents the letter from President Truman.
"This is very suitable for framing," he said. "I think I recall President Truman saying he'd decided to sign a letter (for) troops who were killed. That's what this is, apparently. It's not just a copy. It's real ink."
Then he presents the Purple Heart. Shepard tells the family that Veer's name is on the back. "So this is authentic," Tate said.
Other items are given to the family — Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the box of family photographs, and a coin and certificate from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Larry Krause, Judy's brother, holds the Purple Heart. His middle name is Worth, in honor of Veer. His only grandson is also named Worth.
"This is amazing for Veer, for Worth," Krause-Mobley said. "He's here."
Long after the ceremony is over, she rummages through the photographs, most of them fading images in black and white. There, near the bottom of the pile, she finds a 5-by-7-inch photo of a teenage boy with black hair, and he's with her.
"My heart almost stopped," she said. "I said, 'That's Worth.' He looks just like my dad would as a teenager. I guarantee you that's his senior picture. I'm holding that dear to my heart."
A special thanks goes to Dr. Judy Krause Mobley who provided the picture of Veer Krause, who was her cousin.∼By MIKE MARSHALL
The Huntsville Times
Posted May 03, 2010 @ 05:24 PM
GURLEY, Ala. — The ceremony appears so ordinary, just seven people huddled in the den of a two-bedroom house with a tin roof.
Judy Krause-Mobley calls this 1870s house her "memorabilia house," a place where her children and other relatives can come to learn about family history. Around noon this last Friday, Krause-Mobley, her brother Larry and sister-in-law Lucy are about to receive more family history than any of them can fathom.
They already know about the Purple Heart, awarded to Veer M. Krause, a cousin, after his death in the Battle of the Naktong Bulge in South Korea on Sept. 8, 1950.
They know they'll be receiving Veer's Purple Heart because a man in Jacksonville, Ill., bought it for a dollar at a garage sale.
"That man knew what it was and knew it was not where it should be," said Ken Shepard, the chapter commander of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart. "He could not leave it there and let some kid wear it. He knew someone had to track this down."
The man contacted a reporter at The Jacksonville Journal-Courier. The newspaper asked the office of U.S. Rep. Aaron Shock, R-Ill., to help, and the search led to Krause-Mobley in Gurley.
Krause-Mobley's family, though, is unaware that they are also about to receive a box of family photos and some rolled-up proclamations, including a memorial signed by President Truman.
They have never seen a photo of Veer, better known to them as "Worth," except for a recent newspaper clipping of his second-grade class photograph.
But when the day is over, long after the ceremony that lasts about 15 minutes or so, Krause-Mobley sifts through the box of photos and finds what she believes is her first glimpse of a grown-up Veer.
"This is like heaven," she said.
The ceremony becomes anything but ordinary as soon as Shepard arrives at the house just after 11:30 on Friday. He's holding the shoe boxes that contain the Purple Heart, Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the photos and the proclamations.
The medals and proclamations were for Veer M. Krause, a 20-year-old who liked to fire his M-1 rifle "almost as much as I like to eat," as he wrote Krause-Mobley's father, Elmouth.
By most accounts, Veer Krause, a member of the 38th Infantry, had been in Korea for less than three weeks when he died.
"Freedom lives, and through it he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men," read the end of the proclamation from Truman.
A short newspaper story appeared in Veer's hometown paper in Norfolk County, Va., after his death.
"Pvt. Veer M. Krause, grandson of Mrs. Emma Krause, of 727 North Elm Avenue, was killed in action in Korea on September 8," it began.
The Purple Heart was awarded on Jan. 2, 1951. Seven other medals and honors were awarded. For the next 20 years or so, Emma Krause kept the Purple Heart, in all likelihood. She was the grandmother who had raised Krause until he joined the Army in 1949.
But the story of Veer Krause's Purple Heart became a mystery after Emma's death around 1970. Many in his family, in fact, were unaware that he'd been a decorated soldier.
After visiting Belhaven, N.C., Veer's hometown, Judy Krause-Mobley posted a message on the Korean War Veterans' Association website, requesting more information. From there, she went to the military records section of ancestry.com and discovered the medals he'd received, including the Purple Heart.
"I knew nothing before that, other than he was killed in the Korean War," she said. "Beyond that, I had no idea what had happened to his Purple Heart."
Then the call came in late April from Jake Russell, a reporter for The Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
"I often wondered what happened to it," Krause-Mobley said. "No one cares about it like we do."
The ceremony begins just after noon on Friday with Grayson Tate, a retired major general, blowing into a pitch pipe and singing the national anthem. Tate, Shepard and Don Powers, a past state commander, are representing the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Shepard has asked Tate to present Veer's Purple Heart because Tate received his medal during the Korean War. Krause-Mobley, her brother and sister-in-law are also in the den, along with Krause-Mobley's son Will.
Tate presents the letter from President Truman.
"This is very suitable for framing," he said. "I think I recall President Truman saying he'd decided to sign a letter (for) troops who were killed. That's what this is, apparently. It's not just a copy. It's real ink."
Then he presents the Purple Heart. Shepard tells the family that Veer's name is on the back. "So this is authentic," Tate said.
Other items are given to the family — Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the box of family photographs, and a coin and certificate from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Larry Krause, Judy's brother, holds the Purple Heart. His middle name is Worth, in honor of Veer. His only grandson is also named Worth.
"This is amazing for Veer, for Worth," Krause-Mobley said. "He's here."
Long after the ceremony is over, she rummages through the photographs, most of them fading images in black and white. There, near the bottom of the pile, she finds a 5-by-7-inch photo of a teenage boy with black hair, and he's with her.
"My heart almost stopped," she said. "I said, 'That's Worth.' He looks just like my dad would as a teenager. I guarantee you that's his senior picture. I'm holding that dear to my heart."
Private First Class Krause was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was killed in action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on September 8, 1950. Private First Class Krause was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.
A special thanks goes to Dr. Judy Krause Mobley who provided the picture of Veer Krause, who was her cousin.∼By MIKE MARSHALL
The Huntsville Times
Posted May 03, 2010 @ 05:24 PM
GURLEY, Ala. — The ceremony appears so ordinary, just seven people huddled in the den of a two-bedroom house with a tin roof.
Judy Krause-Mobley calls this 1870s house her "memorabilia house," a place where her children and other relatives can come to learn about family history. Around noon this last Friday, Krause-Mobley, her brother Larry and sister-in-law Lucy are about to receive more family history than any of them can fathom.
They already know about the Purple Heart, awarded to Veer M. Krause, a cousin, after his death in the Battle of the Naktong Bulge in South Korea on Sept. 8, 1950.
They know they'll be receiving Veer's Purple Heart because a man in Jacksonville, Ill., bought it for a dollar at a garage sale.
"That man knew what it was and knew it was not where it should be," said Ken Shepard, the chapter commander of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart. "He could not leave it there and let some kid wear it. He knew someone had to track this down."
The man contacted a reporter at The Jacksonville Journal-Courier. The newspaper asked the office of U.S. Rep. Aaron Shock, R-Ill., to help, and the search led to Krause-Mobley in Gurley.
Krause-Mobley's family, though, is unaware that they are also about to receive a box of family photos and some rolled-up proclamations, including a memorial signed by President Truman.
They have never seen a photo of Veer, better known to them as "Worth," except for a recent newspaper clipping of his second-grade class photograph.
But when the day is over, long after the ceremony that lasts about 15 minutes or so, Krause-Mobley sifts through the box of photos and finds what she believes is her first glimpse of a grown-up Veer.
"This is like heaven," she said.
The ceremony becomes anything but ordinary as soon as Shepard arrives at the house just after 11:30 on Friday. He's holding the shoe boxes that contain the Purple Heart, Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the photos and the proclamations.
The medals and proclamations were for Veer M. Krause, a 20-year-old who liked to fire his M-1 rifle "almost as much as I like to eat," as he wrote Krause-Mobley's father, Elmouth.
By most accounts, Veer Krause, a member of the 38th Infantry, had been in Korea for less than three weeks when he died.
"Freedom lives, and through it he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men," read the end of the proclamation from Truman.
A short newspaper story appeared in Veer's hometown paper in Norfolk County, Va., after his death.
"Pvt. Veer M. Krause, grandson of Mrs. Emma Krause, of 727 North Elm Avenue, was killed in action in Korea on September 8," it began.
The Purple Heart was awarded on Jan. 2, 1951. Seven other medals and honors were awarded. For the next 20 years or so, Emma Krause kept the Purple Heart, in all likelihood. She was the grandmother who had raised Krause until he joined the Army in 1949.
But the story of Veer Krause's Purple Heart became a mystery after Emma's death around 1970. Many in his family, in fact, were unaware that he'd been a decorated soldier.
After visiting Belhaven, N.C., Veer's hometown, Judy Krause-Mobley posted a message on the Korean War Veterans' Association website, requesting more information. From there, she went to the military records section of ancestry.com and discovered the medals he'd received, including the Purple Heart.
"I knew nothing before that, other than he was killed in the Korean War," she said. "Beyond that, I had no idea what had happened to his Purple Heart."
Then the call came in late April from Jake Russell, a reporter for The Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
"I often wondered what happened to it," Krause-Mobley said. "No one cares about it like we do."
The ceremony begins just after noon on Friday with Grayson Tate, a retired major general, blowing into a pitch pipe and singing the national anthem. Tate, Shepard and Don Powers, a past state commander, are representing the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Shepard has asked Tate to present Veer's Purple Heart because Tate received his medal during the Korean War. Krause-Mobley, her brother and sister-in-law are also in the den, along with Krause-Mobley's son Will.
Tate presents the letter from President Truman.
"This is very suitable for framing," he said. "I think I recall President Truman saying he'd decided to sign a letter (for) troops who were killed. That's what this is, apparently. It's not just a copy. It's real ink."
Then he presents the Purple Heart. Shepard tells the family that Veer's name is on the back. "So this is authentic," Tate said.
Other items are given to the family — Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the box of family photographs, and a coin and certificate from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Larry Krause, Judy's brother, holds the Purple Heart. His middle name is Worth, in honor of Veer. His only grandson is also named Worth.
"This is amazing for Veer, for Worth," Krause-Mobley said. "He's here."
Long after the ceremony is over, she rummages through the photographs, most of them fading images in black and white. There, near the bottom of the pile, she finds a 5-by-7-inch photo of a teenage boy with black hair, and he's with her.
"My heart almost stopped," she said. "I said, 'That's Worth.' He looks just like my dad would as a teenager. I guarantee you that's his senior picture. I'm holding that dear to my heart."
A special thanks goes to Dr. Judy Krause Mobley who provided the picture of Veer Krause, who was her cousin.∼By MIKE MARSHALL
The Huntsville Times
Posted May 03, 2010 @ 05:24 PM
GURLEY, Ala. — The ceremony appears so ordinary, just seven people huddled in the den of a two-bedroom house with a tin roof.
Judy Krause-Mobley calls this 1870s house her "memorabilia house," a place where her children and other relatives can come to learn about family history. Around noon this last Friday, Krause-Mobley, her brother Larry and sister-in-law Lucy are about to receive more family history than any of them can fathom.
They already know about the Purple Heart, awarded to Veer M. Krause, a cousin, after his death in the Battle of the Naktong Bulge in South Korea on Sept. 8, 1950.
They know they'll be receiving Veer's Purple Heart because a man in Jacksonville, Ill., bought it for a dollar at a garage sale.
"That man knew what it was and knew it was not where it should be," said Ken Shepard, the chapter commander of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart. "He could not leave it there and let some kid wear it. He knew someone had to track this down."
The man contacted a reporter at The Jacksonville Journal-Courier. The newspaper asked the office of U.S. Rep. Aaron Shock, R-Ill., to help, and the search led to Krause-Mobley in Gurley.
Krause-Mobley's family, though, is unaware that they are also about to receive a box of family photos and some rolled-up proclamations, including a memorial signed by President Truman.
They have never seen a photo of Veer, better known to them as "Worth," except for a recent newspaper clipping of his second-grade class photograph.
But when the day is over, long after the ceremony that lasts about 15 minutes or so, Krause-Mobley sifts through the box of photos and finds what she believes is her first glimpse of a grown-up Veer.
"This is like heaven," she said.
The ceremony becomes anything but ordinary as soon as Shepard arrives at the house just after 11:30 on Friday. He's holding the shoe boxes that contain the Purple Heart, Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the photos and the proclamations.
The medals and proclamations were for Veer M. Krause, a 20-year-old who liked to fire his M-1 rifle "almost as much as I like to eat," as he wrote Krause-Mobley's father, Elmouth.
By most accounts, Veer Krause, a member of the 38th Infantry, had been in Korea for less than three weeks when he died.
"Freedom lives, and through it he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men," read the end of the proclamation from Truman.
A short newspaper story appeared in Veer's hometown paper in Norfolk County, Va., after his death.
"Pvt. Veer M. Krause, grandson of Mrs. Emma Krause, of 727 North Elm Avenue, was killed in action in Korea on September 8," it began.
The Purple Heart was awarded on Jan. 2, 1951. Seven other medals and honors were awarded. For the next 20 years or so, Emma Krause kept the Purple Heart, in all likelihood. She was the grandmother who had raised Krause until he joined the Army in 1949.
But the story of Veer Krause's Purple Heart became a mystery after Emma's death around 1970. Many in his family, in fact, were unaware that he'd been a decorated soldier.
After visiting Belhaven, N.C., Veer's hometown, Judy Krause-Mobley posted a message on the Korean War Veterans' Association website, requesting more information. From there, she went to the military records section of ancestry.com and discovered the medals he'd received, including the Purple Heart.
"I knew nothing before that, other than he was killed in the Korean War," she said. "Beyond that, I had no idea what had happened to his Purple Heart."
Then the call came in late April from Jake Russell, a reporter for The Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
"I often wondered what happened to it," Krause-Mobley said. "No one cares about it like we do."
The ceremony begins just after noon on Friday with Grayson Tate, a retired major general, blowing into a pitch pipe and singing the national anthem. Tate, Shepard and Don Powers, a past state commander, are representing the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Shepard has asked Tate to present Veer's Purple Heart because Tate received his medal during the Korean War. Krause-Mobley, her brother and sister-in-law are also in the den, along with Krause-Mobley's son Will.
Tate presents the letter from President Truman.
"This is very suitable for framing," he said. "I think I recall President Truman saying he'd decided to sign a letter (for) troops who were killed. That's what this is, apparently. It's not just a copy. It's real ink."
Then he presents the Purple Heart. Shepard tells the family that Veer's name is on the back. "So this is authentic," Tate said.
Other items are given to the family — Veer's Good Conduct Medal, the box of family photographs, and a coin and certificate from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Larry Krause, Judy's brother, holds the Purple Heart. His middle name is Worth, in honor of Veer. His only grandson is also named Worth.
"This is amazing for Veer, for Worth," Krause-Mobley said. "He's here."
Long after the ceremony is over, she rummages through the photographs, most of them fading images in black and white. There, near the bottom of the pile, she finds a 5-by-7-inch photo of a teenage boy with black hair, and he's with her.
"My heart almost stopped," she said. "I said, 'That's Worth.' He looks just like my dad would as a teenager. I guarantee you that's his senior picture. I'm holding that dear to my heart."
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