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Metalsmith Petty Officer Second Class George Marvin Kamper

Kamper is sitting on a part of the ship with his arms crossed looking off to the side. He is in uniform. Permission:
  • Date of Birth: November 19, 1928
  • Entered the Military: August 22, 1950
  • Date of Death: August 8, 1995
  • Hometown: Palmer and Grand Island, Nebraska
  • Place of Death: Grand Island, Nebraska
  • Award(s): Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, China Service Medal (Extended), Good Conduct Medal
  • Cemetery: Section 24, Site 40. Nebraska Veterans Home & Cemetery, Grand Island, Nebraska
Contributed by Jaymeson Gappa, Brogan Setlik, and Paige Stanczyk
Mentored by Mrs. Kimberly Henry and Mrs. Janet Kuszak
Loup City High School
2024/2025

Early Life

George Kamper was born on November 19, 1928, in Palmer, Nebraska, to George and Alma Kamper. He was the only boy of seven children. He lived the early years of his life in Merrick County, where his family ran a farm.

In the 1940s, his family moved to Hall County, Grand Island, Nebraska, where he attended Grand Island Senior High School and worked at the Fairmont Creamery as a part-time mechanic. He graduated in 1947 and continued to work full-time for the Creamery as a mechanic and welder.

George and his younger sister are sitting in a goat drawn carriage. Two older sisters stand beside the carriage and all are looking toward the camera.
George Kamper with sisters, c.1930. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.
George looks to the camera with a slight smile. He is dressed in a suit and tie.
George Kamper Graduation, 1947. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.
A view of several industrial buildings from up high. There is a smokestack in the far right corner.
A view of the Fairmont Creamery, where George Kamper was employed, c.1950. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.

Homefront

George Kamper’s hometowns, Palmer and Grand Island, are located in rural central Nebraska. Mainly an agricultural area that produced grain and livestock, the region faced nature’s dry seasons, the Great Depression, and hail damage to crops. These combined issues caused many farmers to lose their farms to the banks and relocate to larger cities for employment. 

Entertainment activities included traveling to visit family and friends, camping, and fishing along the local rivers and streams. Relaxation and enjoyment were family-centered; travel was usually family visits to nearby cities.

Hall County provided more employment opportunities as the railroad was located near businesses. Grand Island’s Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant produced ammunition for wartime efforts during World War II, as well as the wars in Korea and Vietnam. During the Korean and Vietnam wars, 500-pound and 750-pound bombs were assembled there for the Army Air Corps and the Air Force. The Silas Mason Company also produced rockets at the plant.  

News about the Korean War, those drafted, and Veteran opportunities, especially agricultural training, were reported in the local newspaper. For instance, Veterans who became disabled after the start of the Korean War were entitled to Public Law 16 vocational rehabilitation training. This program was crucial in helping disabled Veterans reintegrate into the workforce and live independently. Other newspaper articles announced a congressional amendment to the Legion Chapter that permitted honorably discharged veterans of Korea to join the American Legion. 

Four people are sitting in the front row. In the center are George’s parents. On either side of them are two of George’s sisters. The back row is standing with George in the middle and two sisters on each side. Everyone is dressed up nicely and looking at the camera.
Kamper family photograph, c. 1950. George Kamper is in the center of the back row. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.
An aerial black and white photograph of several industrial building spread apart in a rural landscape. It is a very flat area.
The Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, near Grand Island, Nebraska, c.1940s. History Nebraska (RG2608-1265).

Military Experience

George Kamper enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1950, in Hastings, Nebraska. He was stationed at a Naval Operating Base on the Mariana Islands for six months before being transferred to Guam for a year. From there, he was sent to San Francisco, California, to attend a 14-week metalsmith course with the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the USS Kaskaskia (AO-27) as a Metalsmith Third Class, responsible for ship repair and maintenance. He underwent more training and moved quickly to metalsmith second class with more responsibilities. 

The Kaskaskia was commissioned in 1940 as an oiler and saw action in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It was named after a river in Illinois and received eight battle stars for Korean Service. When Communist troops invaded South Korea and the United States committed forces to aid South Korea’s defense, the Kaskaskia provided critical fueling support to ships engaged in operations, including the blockade and bombardment of Wonsan. 

In December 1950, the ship arrived off Hungnam to service ships engaged in evacuation operations in that area. Throughout the harsh winter months, Kaskaskia continued vital fueling missions between Japan and Korea. During the U.N. counteroffensive in the spring of 1951, she also stood by for fueling operations. Kaskaskia sailed for a second Korean tour in January 1952, arriving at Sasebo on January 22 to refuel the ships engaged in the Korean conflict. Kamper was aboard for the third Korean tour in 1953. In addition to services in Korea, Kaskaskia also supplied units in Formosa (Taiwan), Okinawa, and Japan. 

For his service aboard the Kaskaskia, Kamper earned the China Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal (2 stars), United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged on July 1, 1954.

Four rows of soldiers stand on a set of stairs with the front row being the commanding officers. At the bottom of the image are the words, "Service School Command Metal Smiths Class 3-53 Graduated 14 November, 1952 U.S. Nav. Tra. Cen. San Diego, California"
George Kamper and his graduating Navy class, 1952. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.
Kamper is kneeling in his white sailor uniform, smiling and looking off to the side.
George Kamper aboard the USS Kaskaskia, c.1953. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.
An aerial black and white photograph of the ship in the ocean.
The USS Kaskaskia, c.1952. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.

Veteran Experience

After his discharge, Kamper returned to Grand Island, Nebraska. On February 19, 1955, he married JoAnn Borre, and they had six daughters together. He worked as a welder at the Army Ammunition Plant, Geer Mobile Home, and Jim Haile Construction. Even though the family was not well-off, Kamper ensured they had two complete sets of the Encyclopedia Britannica and World Book Encyclopedias to help his daughters with their homework. He loved history and wanted his daughters to realize the significance behind world events, such as the moon landing. He also supported his girls’ involvement with the Girl Scouts.

Kamper was a lifelong learner and enjoyed the great outdoors. He shared outdoor activities with his family on camping trips, such as canoeing, horseback riding, and hiking. He had a knack for working with his hands, building wooden toys or working on Chevy cars, but his tools had a place, and everything was in its place. 

In 1988, Kamper’s health issues sent him to live at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Grand Island, Nebraska. There, he continued to use his talents as a volunteer in the craft center. He helped other Veterans with their ceramic projects. He spent time woodworking and created projects that were available to the public for purchase. He also enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren at the Veterans Lake. He taught them the importance of the simple things in life, as well as a love of nature. Kamper also volunteered at the American Legion, where he assisted with membership enrollment. 

ALT: George is on the right in a suit with a flower in his lapel. He is looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. JoAnn is next to him in a button-up dress top with a flower corsage. She is wearing a simple pillbox hat and is smiling directly at the camera.
George and JoAnn Kamper on their wedding day, February 19, 1955. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.
George is an older man in a button-up shirt and jeans. He is wearing a hat and glasses and is sitting in the middle of a couch in a living room. On each side of him on the couch are two of his daughters. Two more are sitting in front of the couch. All of the daughters are dressed casually in sweaters, t-shirts, and jeans. They are all smiling and looking at the camera.
George Kamper and his daughters, 1977. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.
George is sitting in a wheelchair on the grass outside of a house. He has lost a leg. He is wearing a button-up shirt, hat, and glasses. To the left is his grandson, who is helping him hold up a large fish. To the right is the granddaughter, who has her hands on her hips and is looking towards the ground.
George Kamper and his grandchildren after a successful day fishing, 1992. Courtesy of the Kamper Family.

Commemoration

George M. Kamper passed away on August 5, 1995, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, at age 66. He was buried at the Nebraska Veterans Home Memorial Cemetery in Grand Island, Nebraska. 

Thank you for your service to our country.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Black and White Photographic Print of an Elevated View of the Ordnance Plant in Grand Island, Nebraska. Photograph. KOLN/KGIN-TV (RG0809.PH). https://nebraska.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_b79a793a-348b-4a55-bfd4-062fc55cfd4d/.

DeLeon, Colleen. Email correspondence. December 15, 2024.

DeLeon, Colleen. In-Person interview.  November 23, 2024.

“George Kamper Obituary.” Grand Island Independent [Grand Island, NE], August 7, 1995.

George M. Kamper. Nebraska, U.S. Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908. Digital images. https://ancestryclassroom.com.

George Marvin Kamper. Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Navy. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

George Marvin Kamper. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com. 

Grand Island Senior High Yearbook. Grand Island, Nebraska: Grand Island Senior High, 1947.

“Hastings Navy Office Busy.” The Hastings Daily Tribune [Hastings, NE], September 4, 1950. Newspapers.com (700867583).

Kamper Family Photographs. 1930-1955. Courtesy of Colleen DeLeon.

“Navy Office Listes Eight Enlistments.” The Hastings Daily Tribune [Hastings, NE], August 28, 1950. Newspapers.com (700867491).

Nebraska. Hall County. 1950 U.S. Census. Digital images. http://ancestryclasroom.com.

Nebraska. Merrick County. 1920 U.S. Census. Digital images. http://ancestryclasroom.com.

Nebraska. Merrick County. 1930 U.S. Census. Digital images. http://ancestryclasroom.com.

Nebraska. Merrick County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital images. http://ancestryclasroom.com.

Secondary Sources

Arens, Curt. “HHD Show Site Has Storied Wartime History.” Nebraska Farmer, September 14, 2021. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.farmprogress.com/husker-harvest-days/hhd-show-site-has-storied-wartime-history. 

Cornhusker Ordnance Plant (Grand Island, Neb.). Photograph. Nebraska State Historical Society (RG0825.AM). Accessed November 29, 2024. https://history.nebraska.gov/collection_section/cornhusker-ordnance-plant-grand-island-neb-rg0825-am/. 

“George M. Kamper.” Find a Grave. Updated July 27, 2009. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39964376/george_m_kamper. 

“George M. Kamper.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/GEORGEMKAMPER/3027EA. 

USS Kaskaskia History. USS Kaskakia (AO27) Reunion Association. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://www.kaskaskia27reunion.com/hist1.html. 

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.