MILITARY · HISTORICAL MARKER
Friedrich (Fred) Zeh, Jr.
Military
3
Friedrich (Fred) Zeh, Jr. was born September 7, 1904, in Darmstadt, Germany. His father Fiedrich and his mother Marie Kirchbaum Zeh came to the United States in 1906. They purchased land at 1854 Indian Valley Road and operated a chicken ranch. Fred went to work as a civilian rated as a roller operator for “Contractors – Pacific Naval Air Base.” World War II began for the United States, December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Fred was captured on Wake Island by the enemy December 23, 1941. He died from pneumonia February 28, 1944, at the Fukuoka Prisoner of War Camp at Sasebo on the Island of Kyushu, Japan. After the war a headboard at a grave and a buried canteen containing papers identified Fred’s burial site. His remains were brought back to the States and his ashes were placed here July 20, 1949, with Presbyterian Pastor Seth A. Parker officiating. Fred was given veteran status November 23, 1977, by the United States Government.
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