Burial on the ‘Arizona’ - Jefferson City sailor Charles Kieselbach Jr. killed during Pearl Harbor attack

Charles E. Kieselbach of Jefferson City enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Great Depression. He later served as a carpenter's mate first class aboard the battleship USS Arizona and became the first known Cole County casualty of World War II when he was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Courtesy of the Kieselbach family.

World War II was a historical period when citizens of this country overwhelmingly rallied in support of the war effort, often sending their offspring to fight the tyranny spreading overseas. In Jefferson City, the war exacted a toll in the loss of the lives of many local residents, including Charles Ermin Kieselbach, who earned the tragic distinction of becoming the first Cole County casualty of World War II when he was killed at Pearl Harbor.

Born in Jefferson City on January 14, 1916, Kieselbach was the namesake of his father, a local bricklayer. When graduating from Jefferson City Senior High School in May 1934, he discovered that good jobs were elusive since it was the height of the Great Depression.

Later that summer, after spending several weeks searching for gainful employment, he signed up for work relief with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a federal program providing single men between ages 18 and 25 with jobs improving public lands, forests and parks.

“He worked in the CCC program from July 1934 to August 1935,” remarked his nephew, Wayne Kieselbach. “Still with no work to be had, so he made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy in September 1935,” he added.

Beginning his four-year enlistment period, Kieselbach traveled to Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois, where he spent the next three months becoming a sailor. His training soon resulted in his rate of carpenter’s mate and assignment to the battleship USS Arizona in January 1936.

The website of the Naval History and Heritage Command explained, “USS Arizona, a 31,400-ton Pennsylvania-class battleship built at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, was commissioned in October 1916.” The site further noted, “In 1929-31, Arizona was modernized at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, emerging with a radically altered appearance and major improvements to her armament and protection.”

Throughout the late 1930s, Kieselbach remained with the USS Arizona while it continued operations with the battle fleet. A milestone year arrived in 1939 when the sailor reenlisted, earned the rate of carpenter’s mate first class, and married his sweetheart from Jefferson City, the former June Summers. 

As a carpenter’s mate, the young sailor’s duties found him working with issues related to the ship’s ventilation, painting, repairing lifeboats and, in times of combat, assisting in fighting fires and sealing any holes in the hull of the vessel.

“The Arizona had teak decking and sometime in the late 1930s, the ship was re-decked,” explained Wayne Kieselbach. “Of course, as a carpenter’s mate first class, he would have been involved in this project.” He continued, “Apparently after the re-decking was completed, the carpenter’s mates were allowed to use some of the old decking on personal projects done in their spare time. My uncle made a pair of teak lamps which he gave to my grandmother, and which my cousin now has.” 

While stationed in Hawaii, Kieselbach also purchased a painting of the USS Arizona and shipped it home to his parents in Jefferson City. More than eight decades later, the artwork remains a treasured family heirloom.

In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Pacific Fleet, including the USS Arizona, to remain based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as a demonstration of American resolve amid growing tensions with Japan. Diplomatic efforts continued, but relations between the two nations deteriorated rapidly during the following year.

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor became ground zero for a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces—the signature event that drew the United States into World War II. The assault resulted in more than 2,400 American deaths, nearly 1,200 wounded personnel, the destruction or damage of numerous naval vessels, and the loss of more than 300 aircraft. 

At approximately 8:06 a.m., a Japanese armor-piercing bomb struck the USS Arizona near one of its forward ammunition magazines. Moments later, a catastrophic explosion ripped through the battleship, destroying much of the vessel’s forward section and killing more than 1,100 officers and enlisted men almost instantly. Among those lost was 25-year-old Charles Kieselbach.

The explosion was so violent that it lifted portions of the battleship from the water before the vessel settled to the bottom of the harbor. Although some sections remained visible above the surface, naval officials later determined that the wreck would remain where it sank.

Today, the USS Arizona continues to serve as the final resting place for many of the men who perished aboard.

“The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941,” explained the website of Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. “This loss of life represents over half of the Americans killed during the worst naval disaster in American history.”

Kieselbach was among the first Missourians to lose his life during World War II and is generally recognized as the first Cole County resident killed in the conflict. Devastated by the loss of their son, Kieselbach’s parents quickly committed themselves to supporting the war effort. With two other sons still serving in the military, they encouraged fellow citizens to purchase war bonds and support American troops overseas.

Throughout the years, communication was eventually lost with the young sailor’s widow, June. Nevertheless, his memory remained alive within the family and community he left behind.

In 1959, Jefferson City participated in the observance of “USS Arizona Memorial Day,” presenting a check to a representative of Gov. James T. Blair for construction of “a suitable memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor,” according to the Sunday News and Tribune on August 9, 1959. Contributions were made in honor of the sacrifice rendered by Kieselbach and his fellow sailors.

Designed by architect Alfred Preis, the USS Arizona Memorial opened on May 30, 1962. Spanning the sunken battleship without touching it, the memorial has since welcomed millions of visitors seeking to honor the men who died during the attack.

Nancy Snakenberg, a niece of Kieselbach’s, never had the opportunity to meet her uncle. However, she maintains that his legacy has been passed down through her family, providing an enduring appreciation for the sacrifices made on behalf of future generations.

“The Kieselbach family were a hardworking, loving and patriotic family who taught respect and integrity,” said Snakenberg. “Their values are directly responsible for my quality of life and those my children have enjoyed.” She added, “I am thankful for the examples they set and that their memory is being honored, including that of our Uncle Charles Ermin Kieselbach.”

More than eighty years after his death, Charles Kieselbach remains a symbol of the sacrifice made by ordinary Americans during one of the nation's darkest days. Like the hundreds of sailors who still rest aboard the USS Arizona, his story serves as a reminder that freedom often comes at a tremendous cost.
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Jeremy P. Ämick is a regional author and owner of Moreau Valley Press.

While stationed at Pearl Harbor, Charles Kieselbach purchased this painting of the battleship USS Arizona and shipped it home to his parents in Jefferson City. More than eighty years later, the artwork remains a treasured family heirloom and a reminder of the young sailor who perished aboard the vessel during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Courtesy of the Kieselbach family.