Majeska Family History & Genealogy

My father, William Clen Nall, was a waist gunner on the same plane as Sgt. Majeska; my father was taken prisoner on this mission and spent 16 months in German prison camps. Below are 2 newspaper articles as well as a hand-written letter from Sgt. Majeska's mother sent to my father in Garland Texas:

Missing Plane Gunner Dead in Action, Report
Sergt. Kenneth F. Majeska Killed on Jan. 11 in European Theatre
Staff Sergt. Kenneth F. Majeska, 20, previously reported missing, was killed in air action in the European theatre on Jan. 11, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Majeska, 37 East Merrill avenue, were informed Thursday in a message from the war department. The telegram said a letter would follow. Waist gunner on a Flying Fortress, Staff Sergt. Majeska was on his fifth mission over enemy territory when his plane went down in combat. It is believed his ship was one of 59 American bombers lost in giant raids on Magdeburg and other German rail centers on Jan. 11. His parents had received a message on Jan. 29 reorting him missing since that date. Mr. and Mrs. Majeska recently recevied a letter from the wife of the pilot of their son's ship saying that her husband had been reported a prisoner of war. Their message from the war department said the report of his death had been received from the German government through the International Red Cross. On his next to last mission Sergt. Majeska crash-landed on the English coast but was reported unhurt, though badly shaken. THe airman is the first graduate of St. Joseph's parochial school to be killed in action. He was graduated from the Fond du Lac High school with the class of 1941, entered service in the AIr corps in 1942 and was gracuated from armorers' school at Lowrie field, Denver, and from gunnery school at Kingman, Ariz. He served at Moses Lake, Wash., and Kearney, Neb., before reporting in England Nov. 4, 1943. He was the youngest of three brothers in service. Sergt. Benjamin J. Majeska is on duty in Sardinia and Sergt. Robert J. Majeska in Brooklyn, N.Y. A requiem high mass will be sung for Sergt. Majeska at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph's church by the Rev. H.G. Riordan.

Rites are Held for Staff Sergt. K.F. Majeska, Killed in Action.
St. Joseph's church was filled to capacity at 9:15 a.m. today when a solemn requiem high mass was sung for Staff Sergt. Kenneth F. Majeska, killed Jan. 11 in action in the European war theatre. He was the first graduate of St. Joseph's school to lose his life in action. The Rev. H.G. Riordan, pastor, was celebrant of the mass and delivered the sermon, the REv. Jerome Schultels serving as deacon and the Rev. John Albinger as subdeacon. Altar boys of the parish served the mass and the children's choir provided the music. Members of the Fond de Lac Columbian Squires circle provided an escord of honorary pallbearers including Thomas Mabie, WIlliam McNeany, Albert Schwahn, John Miller, John Fischer and George Schwahn. The Squires circle attended in a body. A number of students from Senior High school, where SErgt. Majeska was graduated in 1941, also attended the services. The airman, waist gunner on a Flying Fortress, was on his fifth mission over enemy territory when his plane went down. Among those attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. George Shutz, Mrs. Milda Olm and Miss Evelyn Schenke, Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Brost, Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Rogers, Appleton; Mr. and Mrs. Morten Nelson, Clintonville; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Anderson and Miss Shirley Finan, Oshkosh, and Mrs. Ben Cole and daughter, Gail, Plymoth.

July 3, 1945
My Dear Friend,
We received your kind letter and it was grand of you to write to us you'll never know whati t means to hear of the boys who were with our Kenneth. He valued the friendship of his crew so highly. We also had letter from SSgt. John Fees yesterday and expect to see Lt. Don Sharps & wife here if they can't come they are going to call long distance and tell us the whole story. I know its going to be hard to listen too but we really want to know everything there is to know in regards to ou dear Kenneth he was such a sweet heart to all of us being the youngest in the familiy. The shock and sorrow is so hard to take. We will never be able to set aside. Our boys welfare and happiness was all that mattered to us. But we must carry our cross like good christians do. Although it is very hard to do. I am enclosing clipping which a friend printed special for us a copy of which was in the local papers at the time. Also a memorial card which you can remember Kenny by. Kenneth's brother Bob is a civilian security guard in Bonn Bermany & Ben, Jr. is on his way to Germany from Dijon France. he expects his discharge by Dec., he hopes. Thank you again for writing to us and if you ever come near hear or get a chance to travel do come and see us you'll be more than welcome at any time. And please write again.
Our love,
Sincerely yours
Mrs. B.J. Majeska
37 E. Merrill Ave.
Fond De Luc, Wis