Kenneth Bernard Oakman

Kenneth Bernard Oakman served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Oakman was married to Irene Margarite (Renzaglia) Oakman. They had a daughter, Sally Jean Oakman, born only three months before he enlisted in the Navy. Irene and Baby Sally followed Ken's ship, the U.S.S. Siboney, to all the mainland ports.

It was a beautiful love story. Ken and Irene grew up in in the same neighborhood. The Oakman family was the only Swede/Norweigen family in this mainly Italian neighborhood. The Oakman family had four tall, handsome boys. Irene fell deeply in love with the oldest son, Ken. He was a hard worker and a self-taught mechanic. He could fix any automobile or truck, or anything with a motor.

Before the war broke out, Ken bought a large dump truck to contract hauling ore out of the area mines. During the war, Irene and her brother drove the truck down into the dangerous open pit ore mines, to keep Ken's business going. But, hard times hit. Ken's mother sold his truck to have money to feed her family.

Source: Veteran's family member

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