Purple Heart Walk – Joseph Enneking – Nemaha County Historical Society

Early Life in Kelly, Kansas

Joseph A. Enneking, Jr. was born on February 6, 1920, in the rural community of Kelly, Kansas. He was the seventh of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Enneking, a large Catholic family rooted in faith, farming, and patriotism. Joe attended Kelly Grade School and remained in the area after his schooling, working on the family farm and for other local farmers in Nemaha County. Known for his quiet strength and willingness to help others, Joe also dealt with significant back issues that required surgery before his military service.

Answering the Call to Serve

In November 1942, Joseph was inducted into the U.S. Army during the height of World War II. He completed his basic training in Louisiana and spent nearly two years training and preparing stateside. In mid-1944, he was assigned to the 313th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division, a unit with a distinguished combat record that had fought across France following the D-Day invasion.

By the summer of 1944, Joe had been deployed to France, where he joined his unit in the later phases of the Normandy campaign. His service coincided with the push to liberate eastern France and confront German forces entrenched in the Lorraine region.

Combat in the Lorraine Campaign

Joe’s final days were spent in one of the war’s most grueling operations—the battle for the Forêt de Parroy in northeastern France. Beginning on September 28, 1944, the 79th Division launched an assault to clear this thick, wooded forest, which was fortified by entrenched German positions. The 313th Infantry Regiment faced fierce resistance as it advanced toward Emberménil, contending with mines, hidden bunkers, and constant shellfire.

On October 13, 1944, during an offensive operation east of the Parroy Forest, Joseph was reported missing in action. His family received the dreaded telegram days later. By early December, a follow-up notice confirmed that he had been killed in action on that same date, just 24 years old.

A Community in Mourning

News of Joe’s death sent shockwaves through the close-knit Kelly community. His family, already concerned after he was declared missing, was devastated. Joe’s younger brother, Pvt. Rochus Enneking, was then serving at Camp Fannin, Texas. The loss weighed heavily on the family, who had clung to hope for word of Joe’s safety.

A memorial Mass was held on December 5, 1944, at St. Bede’s Catholic Church. Father Placidus Kieffer, O.S.B., celebrated a High Requiem Mass, while Father Matthew Hall of Seneca gave a stirring, patriotic sermon. Local American Legion members attended, along with two hometown soldiers on furlough—Callistus Kramer and Clarence Kongs—who came to pay their respects. The entire town came together in grief and pride, honoring Joe’s courage and sacrifice.

Burial and Lasting Remembrance

Joseph Enneking is buried at the United States Military Cemetery in Épinal, France, a resting place for American soldiers who gave their lives in the liberation of Europe. His headstone bears the following inscription:

Joseph Enneking, Jr.
PFC 313 Inf 79 Div
Kansas Oct 13 1944

After his burial, his parents received the American flag that had draped his casket. That flag is now preserved in a specially built display cabinet in the vestibule of St. Bede’s Church. It is kept alongside the flags of other local men who died in service and is flown each Memorial Day as part of the Avenue of Flags at the Kelly Cemetery—a tradition that began in 1982 and continues to honor the memory of fallen sons like Joseph.

Final Honors

For his ultimate sacrifice, Joseph A. Enneking was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, a solemn recognition of his bravery and service. Though he never returned home, his legacy lives on—in the soil of a liberated France, in the hearts of his family, and in the traditions of his Kansas hometown that still remember and honor him to this day.

SOURCES

Joseph A. Enneking, born to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Enneking in Kelly, Kansas, was a brave young man who joined the U.S. military during World War II. By October 1944, he had been serving overseas in France for three months as part of an infantry division. At just 24 years old, Joseph was reported missing on October 13, 1944, and later confirmed to have been killed in action on that same day. His parents, family, and community mourned his loss, holding a memorial service at St. Bede’s Church. He was remembered for his service and ultimate sacrifice in the war. His brother, Rochus Enneking, also served in the military at Camp Fannin, Texas. Joseph’s death brought profound grief to his family, but the community united in honoring his memory, with local American Legion members and soldiers on furlough attending the services in his honor

Courier Tribune
2 Nov 1944

A Kelly Soldier
Reported Missing

Pfc. Joseph A. Enneking
In France Three Months

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Enneking, Kelly, received word Monday, that their son, Pfc. Joseph A. Enneking, has been missing since October 13 in the European theater of war.

Joseph was a member of an infantry division, was about 24 years of age and had been overseas about three months. His sister, Mrs. Ben C. Holthaus, said Tuesday, he is believed to have gone directly to France from the United States. He has been in service two years next month. The last letter Joseph’s parents had from him was written October 4th.

Mr. and Mrs. Enneking have another son in service, Pvt. Rochus Enneking, stationed at Camp Fannin, Texas.

Relatives and friends of the Enneking family are hoping they will soon receive word of Joseph’s safety.

Courier Tribune
Dec 7, 1944
page 8

Centralia
Joe Enneking Jr. Now
Reported Killed in Action

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Enneking received another message last week changing the one they had received earlier about their son, Joe Enneking Jr., missing in action. The latter message stated Joe Enneking Jr., was killed in action. Deepest sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Enneking and their family in their sorrow. Memorial services were held at the church in Kelly at 10:00 o’clock Tuesday morning.

Courier Tribune
Dec 7 1944
page 8

Kelly …
Memorial services were held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock in St. Bede’s church for Pfc. Joseph A. Enneking, who made the supreme sacrifice in France, Oct. 13. Father Placidus Kieffer, O.S.B. offered the High Mass of Requiem; Father Matthew Hall, Seneca, gave a patriotic and consoling sermon. The American Legion was represented, also two parish boys home on furlough were there, Callistus Kramer, Clarence Kongs. Deepest sympathy is extended to the family.

_____

FAMILY RECORD OF JOSEPH ENNEKING, JR.
BORN FEBRUARY 6, 1920
KILLED OCTOBER 13, 1944 IN FRANCE

Joseph Enneking, Jr. was born February 6, 1920, at Kelly, Kansas. He was the seventh of ten children. Joe attended Kelly grade school. After that, he worked at home and for other area farmers. Joe had back problems and had back surgery.

In November, 1942, he was inducted into the armed forces. He received his basic training at Louisiana, and spent two years state-side before he was sent to France. He was overseas only about three months when the family received word he was missing in action. Later, word was received stating he was killed in action on October 13, 1944. He is buried in the United States Military Cemetery at Epinal, France. Inscription on the headstone reads:

Joseph Enneking, Jr.
PFC 313 Inf 79 Div
Kansas Oct 13 1944

Joe’s parents received the flag which was used during the burial service. It is now kept in a specially built cabinet in the vestibule of St. Bede’s Church with other flags of those from Kelly who were killed in the war and of veterans that died. They have been flown every Memorial Day in the Avenue of Flags at the Kelly Cemetery since 1982.

_______________

On October 13, 1944, the 313th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division was fighting in the Forêt de Parroy (Parroy Forest) in the Lorraine region of eastern France. As part of the U.S. XV Corps, the 79th Division was engaged in intense combat to clear German forces from this heavily wooded and defended area. Their objective at this time was to seize Emberménil and the ridgeline east of Parroy Forest, confronting strong German resistance as part of the Lorraine Campaign.wikipedia.org+2

The assault to clear the Forêt de Parroy began on September 28 and continued until October 24, involving daily attacks and bitter fighting in difficult terrain. On October 13, the division resumed its offensive operations east of the forest. The 313th Infantry, as a key regiment within the division, was directly involved in these battles, working to drive German forces out of fortified forest positions and advance toward the next defensive lines.dtic.mil+1

In summary, the 313th Infantry, 79th Division was near Emberménil, France, fighting in and east of the Forêt de Parroy on October 13, 1944.normandyamericanheroes.com+2