Floyd Kerr (1908 - 1979)

Born 30 Apr 1908 in Goff, Nemaha, Kansas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Betty Ruth (Linscott) Kerr — married 9 Dec 1933 in Vernon County, Missouri, United States

Descendants

Died 29 May 1979 at age 71 in La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Darlene Kerr [send private message]

Biography

Floyd Kerr served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II
Service started: July 1944
Unit(s): Co. A, 6th Pioneer Battalion, 6th Marine Division
Service ended: 1946

Birth and Early Life

Floyd Kerr (never had a middle name) was born in Goff, Nemaha, Kansas, United States on 30 April 1908 to Thomas Alexander Kerr, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Munsel. He was the sixth of seven children. ^[1] His father was the editor of a newspaper in Goff. Floyd's mother was hit by a car and killed in Topeka, Kansas when he was about 19 in 1927.

Siblings

1. Mabel Hester Kerr was born on 5 December 1895 in Goff, Nemaha, Kansas, United States. ^[2]Mabel married Jacob Heer, Jr. (1895-1966) in 1922. Mabel died on 21 October 1974 in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, United States.^[3]
2. Richard Andrew Kerr was born on 9 April 1898 in Texas, United States. ^[4] He married Vera M. Troth (1899-1985) in 1919. Richard died in February 1969 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas, United States.^[5]
3. Mary Theresa Kerr was born on 27 August 1901 in Goff, Nemaha, Kansas, United States. She married Raymond Jackson Gabler (1901-1990) in about 1925. Mary died on 3 August 1983 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, United States.^[6]
4. Norma Marguerite Kerr was born on 27 February 1904 in Goff, Nemaha, Kansas, United States. She married Frederick Lewis Brous (1901-1969) on 9 July 1927 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas. Norma died on 11 November 1972 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas, United States.^[7]
5. Thomas Alexander Kerr, Jr. was born on 21 April 1906 in Goff, Nemaha, Kansas, United States.^[8]He married Florence Marie Zimmerman (1906-1990) in about 1928. Thomas died on 22 February 1989 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas, United States.^[9]
6. Robert Samuel Kerr was born on 15 July 1910 in Goff, Nemaha, Kansas, United States. ^[10][11]He married Anna Louise Clapier, known as Louise, (1911-1989) before 1933. Robert died on 26 December 1994 in Vinita, Craig, Oklahoma, United States. ^[12]

Marriage and Children

He married Betty Ruth Linscott, daughter of Melville Roy Linscott and Besse Pearl Scott on 9 December 1933 in Vernon County, Missouri. Their daughter, Terry says that her dad told her they were secretly married and kept it from her parents until May 1934. They lived in Kansas until some time in 1935 when they moved to 11734 Kiowa Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Ruth and Floyd were the first in the family to move from Kansas to California. Her parents and 2 siblings followed later.

Children of the Kerr-Linscott Marriage

1. Lt. Col. Michael Scott Kerr Living. Married 1) Dagmar Marjorie Krause and 2) J. Darlene Scott
2. Terry Ruth Kerr Living. Married Richard Nelson Hobson.

Floyd was a banker or an accountant all of his life except when he joined the United States Marine Corps during WWII.

Military Service

After the attack of Pearl Harbor happened, he was determined to fight for his country. He went down to enlist and they told him he wasn't required to go because of age and marital status. He eventually joined the United States Marine Corps as a Private in the 6th Recruit Battalion, Regimental Training Regiment and went to United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California in July 1944. In October 1944 he was sent to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in Oceanside, San Diego, California as part of the 10th Training Battalion, 4th Infantry Training Regiment, Tc, Fleet Marine Force, Sda, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton.

On 1 April 1945 Floyd was in Company A, 6th Pioneer Battalion, 6th Marine Division and on 1 April 1945 they disembarked from USS McIntyre (APA219) at Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands. He was part of the initial landing in Okinawa and participated in the assault on Okinawa and action threat against enemy Japanese forces from 1 April thru 30 April 1945. This was one of the bloodiest battles of the time. See footnotes for more information. Floyd was trained as one of a select group of Marines called Rangers.

The few who were left after the Okinawa assault sailed on the USS LST 1085 from Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands and arrived and disembarked from the same ship on 16 July 1945 at Guam, Marianas Islands.

He was later part of the occupying forces for Japan. Floyd was given 2 purple hearts for injuries received, but the worst injury was an unseen one. He suffered from severe post traumatic stress for the remainder of his life. He came home from the war a very different man. After WWII PTS wasn't recognized let alone treated. The men had nothing to help them cope with this illness. He went back to banking and accounting. The family lived in El Segundo, Los Angeles, California.

Later Life

On top of all he suffered, he lost his wife Ruth suddenly to a brain aneurysm on 22 April 1954 leaving him with his 16 year old son and 13 year old daughter. He did not cope well and Michael and Terry had to do a lot of holding things together. Michael joined the United States Marine Corps in August 1956 right after he graduated from El Segundo High School and Terry moved to Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, California to live with her Aunt Midge (Betty Ruth's sister, Mary Grace Linscott Duncan) and Uncle Wallace Duncan and their boys.

Death and Burial

Floyd died in the Veterans Administration Hospital in La Jolla, San Diego, California on 29 May 1979. He was cremated and placed in Niche 120 with his wife, Betty Ruth Linscott Kerr, father-in-law, Melville Roy Linscott and mother-in-law, Besse Pearl Scott Linscott at Inglewood Cemetery in the Mausoleum of the Golden West, Alcove of Dreams, Sanctuary of Dreams on 5 June 1979.^[13]

Sources

• Kansas, Births and Christenings Index, 1885-1911.
• 1910 United States Federal Census. 18 April in Harrison, Nemaha, Kansas. Page 2B, Lines 79-86 for family, 86 for Floyd.^[14]
• 1915 Kansas State Census. Page 4, Line 1. ^[15]
• 1920 United States Federal Census. 12 January 1920 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas. Page 9A, Lines 7-13.^[16]
• 1926 U.S. City Directories for Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas. Residence is 824 Lincoln, student. He resides at the home of his parents and some siblings.
• 1927 U.S. City Directories for Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas.
• 1929 U.S. City Directories for Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas.
• 1930 United States Federal Census. 2 April 1930 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas. Page 1B, lines 67-72. ^[17]
• 1931 U.S. City Directories for Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas.
• Marriage Certificate, held by daughter Terry.
• 1933 U.S. City Directories for Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas.
• 1935 U.S. City Directories for Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas.
• 1940 United States Federal Census on 10 April in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Page 18A, lines 26-28. Family 956. ^[18]
• Testimony of son Michael as to part of the Okinawa 4th Marines.^[19]
• 1944 United States Marine Corps Muster Rolls.
• January 1945 United States Marine Corps Muster Rolls.
• April 1945 United States Marine Corps Muster Rolls.^[20]
• October 1945 United States Marine Corps Muster Rolls.
• California Death Index.
• U.S. Social Security Death Index.
• See this for further information on Battle of Sugar Loaf and 6th Marine Division on Okinawa in WWII: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/okinawa-invasion-sugar-loaf-hill

Footnotes

1. ↑ Birth Certificate for Floyd Kerr #001126, Goff, Nemaha, Kansas with parents and father's occupation as Newspaper Editor and owner.
2. ↑ Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007 for birth and parents of Mabel Kerr.
3. ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
4. ↑ United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, birth date and place for Richard Kerr.
5. ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration, birth and death for Richard Kerr.
6. ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration for death of Mary Gabler.
7. ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration, for birth and death dates of Norma Brous.
8. ↑ Kansas Births and Christenings, 1818-1936 for birth date and place of T.A. Kerr, son of T.A. Kerr and Mary Munsel.
9. ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration, for birth and death dates of T.A. Kerr.
10. ↑ The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 206, WWII Draft Card with birth date and place for Robert Samuel Kerr.
11. ↑ Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for Robert Kerr with birth and death date and enlistment record.
12. ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration, for death of Robert S. Kerr.
13. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #119480291, created by Darlene Scott Kerr on 29 October 2013.
14. ↑ Kerr, Thomas A. 47, head, born New York, married 16 years, publisher of a new paper; Elizabeth 37, wife, born Kansas, 6 children born and all living; Mable 14, daughter, born Kansas; Richard 12, son, born Texas; Mary 8, daughter, born Kansas; Norma 6, daughter, born Kansas; Thomas 3, son, born Kansas; Floyd 1 year 4 months, born Kansas.
15. ↑ 1915: Floyd and his brother Robert are on this page. The remainder of the family is on page 3. T.A. Kerr 52, head, publisher; Mary E. 43, wife; Mabel 19, daughter; Richard 16, son; Mary 13, daughter; Norma 10, daughter; Thomas 8, son; Floyd 6, son; Robert 4, son.
16. ↑ 1920: Residence is 506 Taylor Street. Thomas A. Kerr 59, head, solicitor for publishing house; Mary E. 59, wife; Mable 24, daughter, graduate nurse; Mary 18, daughter, stenographer for the railroad; Norma 16, daughter; Floyd 12, son; Robert 9, son.
17. ↑ 1930: Residence is 824 Lincoln Street. Thomas Alexander Kerr, Jr. 23, head employed as bookkeeper at the Utilities Company; Florence M. 23, both married at 22 for Thomas and 21 for Florence.; Gerald S. 2 months old, son; Thomas Alexander Kerr, Sr. 67, widowed father working as a solicitor for the newspaper; Floyd 21, brother working as a bank bookkeeper; Robert S. 18, brother working as a bank bookkeeper.
18. ↑ 1940: Kerr, Floyd 31, b. Kansas, 4 years high school, bank teller, head; Ruth 31, b. Kansas, 4 years college, wife; Michael 2, b. California, son.
19. ↑ The records of these men were destroyed in a fire which destroyed the facility holding thousands of military records.
20. ↑ This shows his Co. A, 6th Pioneer Battalion, 6th Marine Division which disembarked from USS McIntyre at Okinawa Shima, R.I.

Acknowledgments

1. Darlene Scott Kerr, daughter-in-law, created Kerr-2335, added bio, sources and photos on 5 December 2013 with help from Floyd's son and daughter.