In Memory of Navy Seaman First Class
Harold W. Roesch
Wentworth, South Dakota
Lake County
December 27, 1915 – December 7, 1941
Killed in Action at Pearl Harbor
Harold (Lars) W. Roesch was born in Rockford, Illinois, on Dec. 27, 1915. He attended grade school. He worked as a farm worker in the Wentworth, South Dakota area.
Harold entered the military in December of 1939 due to lack of options during the Great Depression. Harold was stationed in several places including Illinois, California, and Hawaii. He was a Seaman First Class in the Navy. The only battle in which he was engaged was Pearl Harbor.
Harold was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was killed in action. Since he was the first person from Lake County to be killed in the war, the Legion Post in Wentworth was named for him.
His second cousins, Mrs. Marilyn Chapman of Watertown, South Dakota; Leslie Erks of Hayward, California; Gale Gruenhagen of Oldham, South Dakota; Sandra Thompson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Richard Matthews of Baraboo, Wisconsin; and Beverly Longhorne of Pearl Tree City, Georgia, survived Harold.
Harold W. Roesch was a great seaman. He gave his life for his country. We will always remember him as a great seaman who sacrificed his life for the United States.
Amanda Warne, 12th grade, West Central High School, Hartford, South Dakota, February 20, 2002, respectfully submitted this entry. Mrs. Marilyn Chapman, Watertown, South Dakota, 2nd cousin of Navy Seaman First Class Harold W. Roesch provided information for this entry.
