Other community groups that VFW Post
914 has supported over the years include
Scouts, the West Mifflin Area High School
Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training
Corps, and the Greater Pittsburgh Soapbox
Derby. In addition to the VFW Voice of
Democracy and Patriot’s Pen programs, the
post has also funded and awarded its own
Walt Kuczma Scholarship Program.
With its visibility in the community and
focus on service, finding new members
hasn’t been a problem for VFW Post 914
Intrepid. The unit welcomed three new
members at its May 30 meeting, and won
a recruiting award this past year from the
national VFW.
From its initial chartered membership
of 37 veterans in 1991, the post’s roster has
grown to more than three and-a-half times
that amount. The West Mifflin post has
active members ranging from those who
served more than 70 years ago in World
War II, to those who have recently returned
from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The unit is unique among many local
veterans service organizations as it does
not own a bar, or have auxiliary or social
members. All of the men and women on the
roster have been decorated with a campaign
or occupational medal, and meet the
requirements of membership into the VFW.
LOCAL D-DAY VETERANS
HONORED AT SOLDIERS
AND SAILORS
MEMORIAL HALL AND
MUSEUM
Glenn E. Kempf, a life member of
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid
West Mifflin, was recognized as part of a
program partly organized by the Pittsburgh
Chapter of Pets for Vets at Animal Friends.
The event featured a presentation by
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and
Museum curator Michael Kraus.
Kraus talked about the heroic
contributions made by Kempf and
Burgettstown native and Medal of Honor
winner John J. Pinder, Jr., who was killed
during the Battle of Normandy June 6,
1944. Also recognized at the event was
Henry Parham, a Pittsburgh native who
Life member of West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid and World War II veteran
Glenn E. Kempf, seated, with family members Theresa Urasek, Joanne Majernik and John Majernik
at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh. Kempf was honored along with
two other local D-Day veterans at a 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion commemoration
ceremony June 6.
served with the 320th Anti-Aircraft
Barrage Balloon Battalion – the only
African-American combat unit to land on
Omaha Beach on D-Day.
Parham’s unit helped protect their
fellow soldiers from low-flying enemy
aircraft trying to bomb and strafe them.
Each of the dozens of barrage balloons
they flew on D-Day carried wire cables
designed to shear off airplane wings and
foul propellers. The 320th Anti-Aircraft
Barrage Balloon Battalion stayed on
station for more than two months after the
invasion began.
Kempf served in Normandy, as well
as in the Ardennes during World War II
while assigned to the 45th Field Hospital
as a medical technician. He landed in
Normandy June 7, 1944, on Omaha
Beach. He also participated in the Battle of
the Bulge.
Despite being a medical unit, the 45th
Field Hospital often came under fire as it
traveled along with Allied troops through
France and Belgium. Kempf ’s unit lost
several enlisted soldiers, as well as a few
commissioned officers. Included with
those casualties was 2nd Lt. Frances Y.
Slanger – the only United States Army
nurse to be killed in enemy action during
World War II in Europe.
Kempf stayed with his unit throughout
the war until his discharge Dec. 12, 1945.
Among the awards and decorations Kempf
earned for his military service are the
Legion of Honor by the French Republic,
the European African Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal with five battle stars, the
World War II Victory Medal and the Good
Conduct Medal.
Like his fellow soldier Kempf, Parham
was also awarded the Legion of Honor.
Continued on next page >
WEST MIFFLIN
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FALL 2019
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