While researching the name Fred Koester, which is listed on the Original Wall Unit at Hackensack High School of those men who served during World War II, George Toriello found this information on both Fred Koester serving in
World War II and also his father Fred Senior serving in the Navy during World War I.
Frederick E. Koester, Jr. was born on August 7, 1922 and according to the 1940 census was living at 335 Hamilton Place Hackensack, New Jersey. He enlisted in the United States Army on August 25, 1942 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was oddly released on June 16, 1943. The Wall Unit confirms that the students of the day recognized his service, but I do not know at the present time why he was released. We could guess at why he was released because maybe his father may have been near death since he passed away on July 20, 1943 and his family needed him home for financial support.
Click here to view his father Frederick E. Koester, Sr. web page.
I will see if I can locate their grave markers at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Hackensack, but there is not always someone there to help as in years passed.
Written by:
Bob Meli
July 1, 2019
