President Donald Trump Honors WWII Veteran Jim Krebs on  Memorial Day Service at Fort McHenry, May 25, 2020
           
Sunbury Veteran remembered for the service he and his twin brother did for the United States in World War II

Lenny Lepola Shares
Krebs'  Account - click to open.
           
James Edward Krebs and his twin John Joseph Krebs were born to Albert J. and Katherine D. Krebs on August 21, 1925, in Columbus. Jim and Jack grew up with two brothers and two sisters on Deshler Avenue. The twins were 15 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. The two 17 year olds enlisted in the army together.

This is how Jim told the story.
We went to Basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, then to Camp McCain , Miss for maneuvers.


We were sent to Fort Jackson to join Patton’s Army, 346 Regiment, 87th Infantry, Company C.


From Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, we went to New York to sail on the Queen Elizabeth.

Six days later we landed in Glasglow, Scotland, and got a train to Congleton, England. In two weeks we sailed to Le’Havre, France. We had 1st enemy encounter was in Metz, France. We covered 400 miles in 30 days to Saar Basin which is part of Germany today.

Next we lost our bazooka team to the Siegfried Line (a wall built as a defense by Germany).  We volunteered as the new bazooka team. For 20 days we fought through the Siegfried line capturing 3 German towns and broke through 300 miles north of Belgium, on German border in Ardennes Forest.

Patton’s 3rd Army needed to stop the Germans. 4 days and nights they fought the Battle of the Bulge. We were awarded the Silver Star Metal for the encounter 4 days after the end of Bulge at Guerlange, Belgium.

Three days later – Jack was mortally wounded – died in my arms on February 1, 1945. I received a bullet through hip & shrapnel in back helping my brother.

After wounds healed – I was sent to 1135th Combat Engineers. We put the 1st bridges across Rhine River for Patton’s 3rd Army to cross (my old outfit).

“I was discharged January 12, 1946, at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania,” noted Krebs.
 

For his military service, Jim earned
3 Bronze Stars for European-African Middle East Campaign
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
2 Purple Hearts
Combat Infantry Badge
WWII Victory Medal
Distinguished Unit Citation
Good Conduct Medal
Delaware County Outstanding Veteran
Award – Nov. 11, 2015

Jim Krebs

After the Army Jim earned his Electrical Engineering Degree from Franklin University and went on to have a long career with WCOL Radio and Rockwell International.

Jim and his wife Wilma Jean had a daughter Debbie who married Daryl Diller,
After retirement Jim remained active as a school bus driver for Westerville City Schools and as a Greeter at Meijer in Westerville.

Additionally, he would often give presentations about WWII to the Big Walnut Area Historical Society and to schools and participated in many Veteran’s Day Commemorative Services.

Jim was very social and would boast he “never met a stranger.” Likewise, Jim was well respected and loved by many.

He received the Hometown Hero Award in January 2016 from Sunny 95 Radio, Hometown Newspapers, and The Federal Credit Union. He received a Flag flown over nation’s capital July 4, 2015.

Jim was honored to serve as the Grand Marshall in the Parade in Delaware in 2007, Sunbury Parade in 2014 and Westerville Parade in 2015.

In May 2016 American Legion Post 457 in Sunbury honored its three World War II Veterans. At this time Krebs and Minor gave notes on their memories of serving their country.


Bob Morris, Jim Krebs and Minor McGraw Honored by American Legion

     

Photo by Lenny Lepola
Jim died in his home in Sunbury on April 05, 2020.

Two of his grandsons, Andy and Ron attended the Memorial Day Service at Fort Mc Henry and received a public thanks from President Trump.
      Trump's Words about Krebs brothers
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(05/30/2020)