A Marine's Story

Fall Work Week of 2025, Camp members, Don and Marty were tearing out the rotted boards on the deck-side of Cabin 2's breezeway. They discovered a signature dated May 5, 1930, written in pencil on the inside baseboard, Frank Jacob Kass, 116 Lehman St., Lebanon, Pa. 

Camp members, Millie and Elaine started searching and found him listed in the Lebanon, Pennsylvania City Directory for 1928 and 1930 at the same address, as a weaver. Using Marine Muster Rolls, they saw that Frank was a Marine private in 1930, serving as a carpenter in the First Provisional Company, Marine Detachment, Camp Rapidan, Criglersville, Virginia (1). He first arrived March 19, 1930, and served there on and off until he was transferred to the Navy Yard, League Island, Philadelphia in November of 1931. He died in the Navy Hospital there on August 14, 1932, of tuberculosis. His remains were escorted to his home in Lebanon where he was buried in St. Gertrude's Cemetery.  

Don removed the board at Camp President, JD's request for preservation and display. JD had those present sign the replacement board. Elaine and Millie are searching for Frank's living relatives to share the story. 

Citation:

Madison, Virginia, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRZC-R94?view=index : Nov 1, 2025),

image 121 of 1043; United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Image Group Number: 004955305

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRZC-R94?view=index