Robert Kronberger


Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, CA
Published in the "Big Bear Grizzly" Wednesday, October 11, 2006 7:17 PM PDT
File uploaded 20 Nov 2006

This file is part of the California Tombstone Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/california/californ.html

Valley mourns death of Rob Kronberger 
By ARRISSIA OWEN TURNER 

 
Robert Samuel Kronberger's presence commanded respect. At this year's Memorial Day service 
in Big Bear City, Commander Kronberger was honored for his 35 years of service to the U.S. 
Navy. He was a resident of the Valley during the last years of his life.

Kronberger died on Oct. 5. He left behind a legacy that in 2001 compelled the makers of the 
movie “Pearl Harbor” to interview him for the documentary about the making of the movie.

Kronberger starred as himself in “Journey to the Screen: The Making of ‘Pearl Harbor.'” He 
served on the U.S.S. West Virginia, which sank Dec. 7, 1941, when approximately 190 Japanese 
warplanes bombed Pearl Harbor, bringing the U.S. military into World War II.

On the morning of the attack, Kronberger arrived at the Merry's Point Fleet Landing after a 
night of shore patrol. He served on the fleet with his father, Samuel, a chief petty officer, 
and his brother, Edward, a seaman assigned to the gunnery department. Kronberger was a first 
class water tender and was the petty officer in charge of the boiler room.

In 1993, during a presentation given to San Bernardino Elks Lodge No. 836 members, Kronberger 
described his tropical surroundings as “the least probable place on Earth for a war to start.”

 
He was awakened that morning after a short sleep when, as he explained it, “all hell broke loose.” 
The ship began exploding, shaking and rocking, he said. Kronberger's battle station was as 
water tender in charge of the watch in a fire room on the port side of the ship, just aft to the
 point of impact of the incoming torpedos.

Three fire rooms directly forward of his battle station took the full impact of the torpedos 
and were completely demolished, killing the soldiers on impact.

Kronberger followed the order to evacuate, leaping into the flaming waters and swimming to
 safety on Ford Island. He and his fellow soldiers later returned to the U.S.S. West Virginia, 
where Kronberger was reunited with his father and brother who barely escaped certain death when 
a projectile turned out to be a dud.

Later, Admiral Walter Anderson instructed Kronberger to acquire a boat, pick some men, and board 
the devastated U.S.S. Arizona and replace the burning American flag. “This was probably the most 
lasting and proudest moment of the days of World War II for me,” he said.

Kronberger went on to serve his country in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He received numerous 
honors during his career before retiring from service Dec. 1, 1970.

For funeral service information, see Page A-12.