Charles William "Chuck" Kafka

T/5 in 3132nd Signal Service Co : 4th Platoon

ASN#17165089

Born 1921 in NE, Died 2009

County of residence at enlistment: Douglas County, NE

Other residence(s): Omaha, NE; Council Bluffs, IA; Lincoln, NE

United States Army, European Theatre of Operations

Occupation before the war: semiskilled engineers, stationary

Notes: His gravestone lists his rank as SGT.

Source: W. Anderson Notes; Sonic 4th Platoon, 1944; Post War Sonic List from Bill Anderson; photo courtesy Omaha World-Herald, December 24, 1961.

Charles "Chuck" Kafka was born on December 29, 1921 in Omaha, NE, the middle of three children. His father, and all four of his grandparents, had been born in what was then Czechoslovakia; his father worked as a shipping clerk in a flour mill.

Chuck graduated from South High School in Omaha in 1939 where he was active in band and orchestra throughout his high school career, including participating in a four-man trombone quartet. He also played in the Bobby Ruser orchestra and the St. Wenceslaus Band while in high school. A job as a paper carrier with the Omaha World-Herald provided some spending money. After graduation he went to work—first as a soda fountain delivery boy, later at the Omaha News Company. He also continued his musical career—playing trombone with the Eddy Haddad Orchestra, an up-and-coming Omaha big band.

Chuck registered for the draft on February 16, 1942. His enlistment date is listed differently in two sources—one gives the date of November 23, 1942 and the other the date of April 20, 1943. He married Margaret Povondra on December 6, 1943 and the couple went to live in Cincinnati where he had just been transferred from Bloomington, IN. His new assignment was to take college courses at the University of Cincinnati through the Army Specialized Training Program. (The ASTP was a program designed to meet the wartime demand for junior officers and soldiers with technical skills.)

He was eventually transferred to the 3132 Signal Service Company, and saw service in Europe with the unit during the war. Chuck's older brother, Robert, also served in World War II as a pilot.

Chuck was discharged from the Army on November 17, 1945 with the rank of T/5. He then returned to Omaha and appears to have put his specialized training and sonic deception experience to good use. By 1950, he was selling and repairing dictating machines in Omaha with the Ediphone Company, and he and Margaret soon became the parents of three children: Joseph, Ronald, and Margene. By 1955, Chuck had moved to the Midwest Equipment Company—first as a sales engineer and later as VP. In 1961, he was named manager of the new Omaha commercial apparatus office for ITE Circuit Breaker Co. There he worked his way up to the position of district manager by 1971.

During this period, he also served as a director of the Nebraska Inter-Industry Electrical Council and later as President of the Nebraska Iowa Electrical Council.

In 1971, Chuck and his wife moved to Council Bluffs, IA, building a lakeside home on Lake Manawa. In 1976, he went out on his own, opening up the Lincoln Lighting Center and Lincoln Electrical Supply. He eventually brought his son Joe into the business.

During the years right after the war, Chuck was heavily involved in local bowling leagues. He served as secretary of both the 20th Century Business Men's League and the 20th Century Office Equipment League. He was also active at St. Adalbert's Catholic Church in Omaha, as a member of the Altar Society, the Athletic Club, and the Men's Club. In 1964, he co-chaired his high school reunion.

Chuck died on February 22, 2009 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha. Full military honors at his funeral/burial were provided by the American Legion and the VFW.