Corporal Kermit Goll

Born to Peter and Ella Pullman Goll in New Braunfels, Texas, Kermit Goll was twenty-five years old when he succumbed to cerebral malaria in Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp on July 14, 1942.

Originally assigned to D Battery of the 29th Coast Artillery Training Battalion, Kermit Goll was transferred to the 200th Coast Artillery and assigned to Headquarters Battery 2nd Battalion sometime prior to July 28, 1941. The 200th, otherwise known as “the Regiment,” was then undergoing training at Fort Bliss.

In August 1941, the Regiment was named “the best anti-aircraft regiment (regular or otherwise), now available to the United States Armed Forces” and it had been selected “for an overseas assignment of great importance.” Second Battalion set sail on board the S.S. President Coolidge on September 9, 1941. It would be eight long years before Kermit Goll would return to his home state of Texas — his remains draped in the flag of his country.

Kermit was buried in New Braunfels in 1949. His mother received the Bataan Medal which was issued by the State of New Mexico on December 7, 1946 to all members of the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Anti-aircraft units, or to their next of kin.