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Page 36 July 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com

Our Neighborhood Veterans

by Jim Houck, Jr. Army of the United States
A Co, 3rd, 22nd Infantry, 25th INF Div,
USARV

Combat Infantry Badge, National
Defense Medal, Vietnam Service
Sergeant Kenneth LioneL Krom Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and
Purple Heart

D.O.B.: August 2, 1947
Author’s Note: I originally wrote this article about Kenny Krom in D.O.D.: August 18, 1968
July of 2012. I interviewed his mother, Betty; his brother, Ronnie; and
high school friends, Gary Valentine and Gerry Orndorff. I am sorry to Place of death: Tay Province, South
report that Kenny’s mother, and brother, Ronnie (they were the last of Vietnam
the immediate family), and Gary and Gerry have all passed on in these The only graduate of Emmitsburg
past seven years. I think the folks that missed the article when it was High School to lose his life in the
first published should have a chance to read about the first local casualty Vietnam War.
of the Vietnam War, who graduated from Emmitsburg High School.
Courtesy Photo

The following are “Precious best at whatever endeavor he chose— blue 1966 Chevelle convertible that days as punishment. Kenny loved
Memories” from Kenneth’s family whether it be scholastic, shop class, was his pride and joy. He really driving tractors. Any job having to
about his life before the Vietnam War. or sports. Mrs. Krom said Ken had took care of that car. He worked at do with a tractor, he would always
one brother, Ronnie, who was two Moore’s until he was drafted. He want to drive the tractor. He would
Mrs. Betty Krom — Ken’s Mother years older than him, and aside from was engaged to Marie Devilbiss, but haul sawdust from Smith’s Sawmill
Mrs. Krom is eighty-eight years the usual sibling rivalry, Ken looked never made it back to marry her. in an old cart that was ready to fall
of age and totally independent. She up to Ronnie. Ronnie had a bread During our interview, Mrs. Krom apart. Ron can remember himself,
still drives to church on Sunday, does route while he was in high school, was getting tired and having a hard Ken, and the neighbors playing
her own grocery shopping, and goes and when Ronnie had to give it up, time talking about what happened baseball in his Uncle Jim’s field and
to the pharmacy for her medicine. Ken took it over. to Ken in Vietnam. I knew recalling using cow patties as bases. Ron said
She also mows her lawn—and she Ken’s first vehicle was a black a tragedy that happened almost that they both also played baseball
has a very large lawn. Mrs. Krom Corvair van that he used to deliver forty years ago may take a toll on for the Rocky Ridge Progressive
recently had back surgery and still bread after school. She said he her, so I thanked her for talking with 4-H team. They played their games
uses a walker to get around. She would pick up the bread at Smith’s me and promised I would return the mostly at Thurmont Middle School
said as long as she can get on the Bakery in Ladiesburg, Maryland, pictures she loaned me. and West Frederick Junior High
tractor seat, she can mow. She resides and deliver it house-to-house to his School.
in Walkersville, but said she misses customers. She said he also worked Ronald Krom — Kenny’s Brother Ron said Kenny never did any
living in Emmitsburg. for Lawrence Basler, doing farm Ron was in the U.S. Army, homework for school, but always
Mrs. Krom said that when work while in high school. stationed in Japan, where he was managed to pass his school tests and
Ken was born on August 8, 1947, Ken graduated from Emmitsburg part of a military police unit. His pass from grade to grade without
at Annie M. Warner Hospital in High School with the class of 1965. tour of duty was almost over when difficulty. He had plenty of energy
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Mrs. Krom said that he then went to Kenny was drafted. and loved to play school sports, and
hospital was the size of a large two- work for a construction company, Ron remembers Kenny as an also liked weightlifting. Ron said
story house. She said Ken was a very helping to build the brick plant at almost-always positive, fun-loving that after his grandfather passed
good baby, and she had no problems Rocky Ridge. After wrecking his boy. They grew up in a loving, away, he and Kenny would take
raising him. He had a normal black Corvair van, he bought an close-knit family. He and Kenny their grandfather’s car down in the
childhood, playing with his friends old brown panel truck to drive to fished a lot and played along the meadow and pop wheelies.
and going to school. He was a person work. His next job was with Moore Monocacy River, which ran very Ron and Kenny had lots of fun
who would do anything for you. He Business Forms in Thurmont, where close to where they lived. A lot of together, but the time was far too
did well in school and tried to be the he saved enough money to buy a their childhood was spent swimming short. He said that the last time
and fishing. They would dip for he talked to Kenny was in South
suckers at Stony Branch. The nearest Carolina in April of 1968. He was
neighbor lived about a mile away, at home in Walkersville when the
and they would go to their farm call came from the U.S. Army about
to play. The kids would find eggs Kenny being a casualty. He said
in the hay loft, where the bantam that his whole family was in shock.
chickens laid them. They would Kenny’s body was sent to a funeral
have egg fights, and Ron said they home in Thurmont. There was to
would really sting when they were be no viewing of the body, but their
hit in the face. He recalled that father, Guy Krom, insisted on the
being boys and being brothers, Ron viewing since he wanted to see for
and Kenny would get into scraps, himself that it was, indeed, Kenny.
and Kenny—even though he was The funeral director tried to talk
younger and smaller—was a tough Guy out of it to no avail, and Ron
kid to handle. He said that Kenny accompanied Guy when he went to
would win some, but even if Ron view Kenny. Ron said his father was
won, he lost, because he would be never the same after the viewing. He
in trouble for picking the fight and lost his father in 1983 to cancer.
have to cut weeds for two or three … Story continued on page 37