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Kay, John Lewis (01584444): Difference between revisions

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A Bronze Star citation identifies him as a first lieutenant of the Quartermaster Corps and credits his work organizing the evacuation of Italian civilians during combat operations.
A Bronze Star citation identifies him as a first lieutenant of the Quartermaster Corps and credits his work organizing the evacuation of Italian civilians during combat operations.
<!-- Dan Gross timeline enrichment -->
The timeline research also records 1939-1941 Attended San Francisco Trade School, earning AA degree in Hotel. 6/12/1943 Graduated. Worked as hotel clerk (Mark Hopkins Hotel). 6/5/1942 Naturalized in San Bernardino, CA (Certificate # 5417534).


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
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== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 9/13/1919 Born in Munich (as Hans Ludwig Kaumheimer) to Jewish parents.
* 4/15/1943 Start of Class 7 / Section 15 (Italian) at Camp Ritchie.
* 10/31/1944 Awarded Bronze Star for saving more than one thousand persons in.
* Also attached at various times to the 10th Mountain Division, the 45th Infantry Division and the IV Corps (which played the major role in the 5th Army’s attack on the ‘Gothic Line’). Was given assignment of working with local civilian populations in Italy to set up non-fascist governments in liberated towns.
* Completed course at QM school. Received rank of 2nd Lt.
* final grade (88 vs 94 for Ernest H. Bloch). Promoted to 1st Lt.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
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* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-07-18 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-07-18 (1 post)
* [[:File:3332775190077712.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 3332775190077712.jpg]]
* [[:File:3332775190077712.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 3332775190077712.jpg]]
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of John Lewis Kay for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Kay, John Lewis for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: JOHN LEWIS KAY.doc)

Revision as of 03:46, 31 August 2026

John Lewis Kay
John Lewis Kay
Personal details
Born1919
Germany
Died2015
NativityGermany
ReligionJewish
AwardsBronze Star Medal
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Arm / serviceQuartermaster Corps
ASN01584444
RankFirst Lieutenant
Rank at RitchieSecond Lieutenant
Camp RitchieClass 7 (15 April – 12 June 1943)
Section15
Awards and honors
Bronze Star Medal
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


John Lewis Kay (1919–2015) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 7. The record lists a final rank of First Lieutenant.

Biography

John Kay (birth name Hans Kaumheimer), was born in Germany, and went to high school in Italy. He served in the US Army during WWII and later worked as a Civil Affairs Officer (CAO). He fought in the campaigns to liberate Italy where he served as CAO with the following Divisions since the initial landing at Salerno: 56 Div (Brit), 7th Armored Div (Brit), 5 Div (Brit), 45th Div (US), all Divs in X Corps except 45th. Officer also served as CAO for the Communes of Mondragone, Carolina-Falciano, and Francolise. Lt John Kay was awarded the Bronze Star medal by Gen. Mark Clark for "heroic achievement in action" on October 31, 1944, in recognition for his actions that resulted in saving the lives of more than 1,000 civilians during the Italian campaign.

A Bronze Star citation identifies him as a first lieutenant of the Quartermaster Corps and credits his work organizing the evacuation of Italian civilians during combat operations.

Research notes

  • IV Corps (to Major)
  • OCR (97%) of `3332775190077712.jpg` (Bronze Star) — dated 2 March 1944 — rank mentioned: First Lieutenant.
  • OCR mentioned officer rank First Lieutenant (not auto-filled — verify).

Gallery

Technical record

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 96
Class_ASN 584444
Class_Name KAY, John L.
match_method asn_partial_name_exact
row_source both

Sources

  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-07-18 (1 post)
  • OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 3332775190077712.jpg
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