11 May 1913 - 29 April 2000

Ernest worked as a farm hand from 1927 to 1942, during which time in 1935 he married Emma Rudolph of Napoleon, ND. Together they raised one son Vernon.

Ernest entered the US Army and received his Basic Training at Camp Walters, Texas, 14 August 1944 to 27 January 1945. He was trained in heavy weapons. After Basic Training he came home on furlough, then departed San Francisco to Manila, Philippines where he served at Company D, 161^st Battalion, 25^th Infantry Division. He was in a staging area for two weeks, after which they regrouped and were sent to Luzon, Philippines where he became a Squad Leader of a 12 man squad. His squad had 30 caliber water cooled machine guns. After ten days in combat, they were taken off the hill for R&R at which time he was promoted to Buck Sergeant by his lieutenant. He left the Philippines on a ship for Japan where he was in charge of the Officer’s Quarters for one month. He later came back to Ft Lawton, WA, where he singed up for the Army Air Corps for a short period of time.

Ernest married Anna May (Mollie) Robotham at Petaluma, California, July 6, 1947. Anna May (Mollie) was born June 10, 1905, Arklaw, Ireland. Ernest re-enlisted in the US Army in 1948 and served until 28 June 1952 when he has honorably discharged as a Corporal. He received additional military training at the Automotive Mechanic School, Lowery Field, Colorado, and the AG School as a Disciplinary Guard, Camp Lee, Virginia, December 1949. His military decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, WW11 Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal w/one Bronze Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/one Bronze Star.

After his time in the Army, Ernest served as a prison guard at the Folsom Federal Prison, Folsom, CA. He later worked at the Sacramento Army Depot, Sacramento, CA, where he retired with a medical disability. His second wife, Anna May (Mollie) died January 5, 1986 in Mesa, Arizona. She was cremated at Paradise Memorial Gardens, Scottsdale, Arizona January 7, 1986. He and Anna May (mollie) enjoyed traveling, visiting various historical sites, state and national parks, and visiting friends and relatives.

His son Vernon died while on Active Duty in Germany as a Colonel’s driver. He suffered monoxide poisoning while waiting for his Commanding Officer in winter weather. He was rushed to the military hospital outside Frankfurt, Germany and died several days later. Vernon is buried at the Golden Gate VA Cemetery, San Francisco, CA. Ernest’s only granddaughter, Athena Maria Grenz O’Brien, lives somewhere in California.

Ernest married Helen Klein May 4, 1991, Karlsrud, ND. They traveled to Mesa, Arizona during the winter months and returned to Karlsrud, ND during the summer months. Helen shared that during the many miles traveled he enjoyed listening to the old hymns he learned as a child. His favorite hymn was "Gott is de Lebie" which was also the favorite hymn of his mother and father. He enjoyed working in repair shops and he enjoyed building miniature farmyards, wagons and buggies.

In 1935, Ernest was converted in a revival meeting at the Flat Baptist Church, located between Napoleon and Streeter, ND, with the Rev. B. W. Krentz as the revival speaker. He was baptized by immersion on his confession of faith in Christ by the Rev. Knaap at the Wishek Baptist Church, Wishek, ND. And became a member of the Napoleon Baptist Church, Napoleon, ND. His favorite flower was the marigold.

Ernest is buried in the North Dakota Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mandan, ND

C:\Documents\Clint Grenz\Ernest Grenz\Military and Personal HistoryErnest Grenz11 May 1913.wpd