Harold "Hip" Kienapfel


Harold was drafted into the Army on March 26, 1941, at Omaha, Nebraska, and was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Next he was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, to the 14th Horse Cavalry Regiment. On June 1, 1941, he was sent to Midland Radio and Television School in Kansas City, Missouri, to become a radio operator and graduated on August 22nd. After returning to Fort Riley, Harold went on maneuvers to Louisiana with the 14th Cavalry. He was promoted to Private 1st Class and assigned to the Chief Radio Operator for the 14th Cavalry Regimental Commander. On December 9th they were sent to Tucson, Arizona, where they were assigned to border patrol and Harold was put in charge of a detachment and moved to the Papago Indian Reservation at Sells, Arizona, along the Mexican border. On January 7, 1942, Harold was sent back to Fort Riley to attend Officers Candidate School and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on March 26, 1942.

Then he was sent to the 85th Reconnaissance Troop in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, which was part of the 85th Infantry Division. In 1943, the 85th went on maneuvers in the California Desert to train for desert warfare in preparations for North Africa. After arriving in Africa, they fought through the Morocco and Algerian Desert. Next came the invasion of Sicily and Italy, fighting through Salerno, Naples, and Anzio. In the Naples area, Harold flew several artillery observations in a Piper Cub airplane. While with the 85th Reconnaissance Troop, they had the honor to have an audience with Pope Pius XII. Next they crossed the Poe Valley to the foot of the Alps Mountains where they spent twenty-eight days in foxholes. The Germans fought from concrete emplacements (Pill Boxes) that housed machine guns and large, long-range artillery weapons (called railroad guns) that could fire a projectile up to twelve miles. After they invaded southern France, Harold was ordered to the 5th Army Headquarters to interrogate German prisoners in Italy (Harold spoke both Low and High German).

Harold arrived in Carroll, Iowa, on November 11, 1945, and went on inactive status. He stayed in the Reserve Officers Corps and joined an Infantry unit in Carroll. After twenty-four years of service he retired January 30, 1965, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Harold received the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon with three bronze stars: American Defense Service Ribbon: American Theatre Campaign Ribbon and a Bronze Star.

Harold J. Kienapfel
November 3, 2005
Manning Monitor

Funeral Services for Harold J. "Hip" Kienapfel were held Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll, Iowa. Reverend David Anthony officiated. Interment was in the Arcadia Cemetery with Military Honors by the Carroll American Legion. Casket bearers were Robert Grundmeier, Louis Ferguson, Verle Massman, Wallace Jensen, Vernus Grimsman and Merlin Nulle.

Harold, son of Frederick and Caroline (Ploen) Kienapfel, was born on September 10, 1917 on a farm five miles southeast of Manning, Iowa. He grew up in the Manning area and graduated from Manning High School in 1935. He played trumpet with the Harmony Boys Orchestra and sat in with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra when it toured in the Dakota. He played professionally for 13 years.

He was united in marriage to Eileen Peters on August 23, 1941 at Arcadia. They moved to Carroll in 1945 two children, Dr. Bruce Kienapfel and Dr. Lana Vander-Linden. Mr. Kienapfel was drafted in 1941 and served with the 14th Horse Cavalry in Ft. Riley, Kansas. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, "Hip" was on Mexican border patrol and was immediately sent back to Ft. Riley for Officer's Candidate School. March 1942, "Hip" graduated from Officers' Candidate School at Ft. Riley, Kansas and was the first Carroll County selectee to become a commissioned officer. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and trained to serve with the 85th Infantry Reconnaissance Troop in Shelby, Mississippi. During WWII, he was awarded a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars, one with a valor cluster designating combat heroism, and various campaign ribbons for the five campaigns in which he served: the African Campaign, the Invasion of Sicily, the Italian invasion at Salarno, the Invasion of Southern France, and the Italian Campaign through Naples to Rome. Mr. Kienapfel received a medal from Pope Pius XII during a private audience for being one of the first Allied officers to liberate Rome. He served overseas for two years and had 278 days of combat. He continued to serve in the Army Reserves and retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was a lifetime member of the Retired Officers Association. He was a member of the Maurice Dunn American Legion Post in Carroll since 1945 and served as Legion Commander in 1977. "Hip" was Sergeant-at-Arms for 24 years and the bugler for 34 years.

After the war, "Hip" worked in Montgomery Ward and in 1948 became co-owner of Carroll Motor Company. In 1968, he was hired as Associate Urban Renewal Director and later became the Executive Director of Region XII Council of Governments. "Hip" spear-headed many improvements in the City of Carroll including the Car-roll County Waste Management Commission, and the construction of the Carroll Recreation Center. Together, he and wife Eileen started the Congregate Meals Pro-gram, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, the Region XII Housing Authority, the Regional Transit Authority, and the Elder-bridge Area Agency on Aging, for seven years he was the Executive Director of New Hope Village and he served as Mayor of Carroll from 1986 to 1994.

Mr. Kienapfel was honored for his work many times.
In 1977 he was named the Small Business Administration Advocate of the year and in 1993 he was inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame. In 1997, Governor Terry Branstad presented "Hip" with the Governor's Volunteer Award and on August 15, 2001, he was named "Iowan of the Day" at the State Fair.

He was a 67-year member and usher at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll and served one term as president, two terms as vice-president, four terms as treasurer.

He and his wife were avid dancers and gave dancing lessons in the Carroll area for 32 years. He also enjoyed sports, playing cards, and reminiscing with friends.

Mr. Kienapfel passed away Saturday, October 22, 2005 at the Carroll Manor at the age of 88.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother; a sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Tom Sharp; his parents-in-law, Herman and Emma Peters; a sister and brother-in-law, Yvonne Lesher and her husband, Howard; and a nephew Donald Sharp.

Survivors include his wife Eileen of Carroll; a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Bruce and Nancy Kienapfel of Ouray, Colorado; a daughter, Dr. Lana J. VanderLinden, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; two granddaughters; Linda Kienapfel of Ouray and Kai (Mrs. Christopher) Gruber of Manhattan, Kansas; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Margie Kienapfel, of Manning; and several nieces and nephews.


Harold Kienapfel Summary ---
85th Reconniassance troop.
March 1942 first Carroll County selectee to become a commissioned officer.
Attended Engineer Training School February 14, 1944 and completed course in Mine warfare and demolitions.
First Lieutenant Calvary Separation Center, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri January 20, 1946.

Battles: North Apennines, Po Valley, Rome-Arno
Active duty: March 26, 1942
Mechanized Calvary Unit Commander 1620
Decorations: European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon with three bronze stars; American Defense Service Ribbon: American Theatre Campaign Ribbon; Bronze Star Medal.
Departure: October 17, 1945

Harold J. Kienapfel Major Artillery --- Retired from Reserves January 31, 1965

Harold and Eileen (Peters) Kienapfel have two children:
Bruce J. Kienapfel born December 23, 1943 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Carroll, Iowa. He married Nancy DeStigter on June 15, 1968 in Sioux Center, Iowa.
They have two adopted daughters:
Linda Marie born October 29, 1971 in Wisconsin
Kai Li born August 3, 1977 in Korea.
Bruce and his family live in Ouray, Colorado.

Lana J. Kienapfel Vander Linden born July 30, 1948 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Carroll, Iowa. She married Guy M. Vander Linden on September 11, 1971 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Carroll, Iowa by Rev. Koenig. Guy was born April 6 1948 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Lana and Guy are divorced. Lana lives in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Harold graduated with the Manning High School class of 1935.



Hip on Mexican border patrol
1941 Sells, Arizona on Christmas Day
Hip on right

Detailed account of Hip's WWII military service


Maneuvers at Katchitoches, Louisiana in 1941

Harold Kienapfel First Selectee To Get Commission
March 1942

Harold J. Kienapfel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kienapfel of Manning is the first Carroll County selectee to become a commissioned officer. After a year in the service he has the rank of second lieutenant.

Harold, who is in the cavalry, was graduated from a three month's course at the officer's candidate's school at Ft. Riley, Kan., last Friday.

With the exception of three months at radio school in Kansas City and a month at Tucson, Ariz., Harold has been stationed at Ft. Riley since he was inducted. He is now on a ten-day leave.

On his return, Mrs. Kienapfel, who has been employed as stenographer in the law office of Saul & Sweany, at Carroll, will accompany him.


Genova, Spain Church SS Annunziation

After 43 Days in Line, They Rested


Casino, Italy 1944

Manning Monitor article------ 1944

Lt. Harold Kienapfel Decorated For Bravery
A number of Iowans in the armed forces were recently decorated for bravery by the War Department, including Lt. Harold J. Kienapfel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kienapfel of Manning, who received the Bronze Star.


Manning Monitor article------ 1945

Harold Keinapfel Gets Captain Bars
Harold J. Kienapfel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kienapfel of Manning, now on terminal leave, has been notified by the war department that he was promoted from the rank of first lieutenant to captain Dec. 29.

Capt. Kienapfel will revert to an inactive status of duty Jan. 20 when his terminal leave ends. At that time he will have completed almost five years of active duty in the army, two of which were spent overseas.

He wears the European theatre ribbon with three major battlestars; pre-Pearl Harbor ribbon; post-Pearl Harbor ribbon; Victory ribbon and European occupation ribbon.
He has a bronze star with one oak leaf cluster awarded far heroic achievement in action in Italy while serving with the 85th Reconnaissance since troop of the 85th infantry division.


1945 -- Hip's Equitation class in Pisa, Italy
Hip is on Visa (4th from left)

Dealing with the painful memories


A time of Innocence