In a second telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Gerngross living at 810 E. Unruh Street, they were informed that their son was now listed as presumed dead with his body being unrecoverable. They were informed only that he died somewhere in the Philippine Sea.
Ensign Gerngross, who was serving as an engineering officer, was a graduate of Villanova College and LaSalle College High School. He had been commissioned at Annapolis three years earlier. A brother, Joseph, age 20, was in the Navy V-12 enrolled at Villanova at the time of Fredrick’s tragic death.
Frederick was survived by two siblings; Joseph Gerngross and Margaret Gerngross.
Source Credits*The National Archives at College Park, Maryland; College Park, MD, USA; Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 01/01/1939 - 01/01/1949; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798-2007; Record Group:: 24. At Ancestry.com
*History of Drexel University; When the World Changes, Drexel Changes With It by Alissa Falcone, 9 July 2025.
https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2025/July/when-the-world-changes-drexel-changes-with-it
*Villanova University, Yearbook: Belle Air 1944. p. 53; citing February 1944 Graduates.
https://digital.library.villanova.edu/Item/vudl:524293#?xywh=-2043%2C45%2C6301%2C2909
*USNR Pre-Midshipman's School, Asbury Park, NJ; Report of Changes for the month ending 29 Feb 1944; Line 8 citing Gerngross, Frederick J. #720 76 04.
*The New York Times, Feb 27, 1944; Navy V-12 At Asbury
https://www.nytimes.com/1944/02/27/archives/navy-v12-at-asbury.html
*USN, Naval History and Heritage Command, History and Archives Division. Winds of War, Winds of Change: The US Navy Academy During The WWII Era by John Darrell Sherwood, 23 Jan 2025
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/naval-academy/usna-wwii.html.
*Beautiful cenotaph erected in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham Tws, Montgomery Co., PA
Note: A photo of the headstone at FAG shows the engraved names of four family members. Frederick J., Sr., Emma F., Ensign Frederick J., Jr. and Mary H.
Mary H. is noted as the wife of Frederick, Jr. This is not true. Mary H. was the wife of Frederick, Jr's brother, Joseph John Gerngross.
*The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wed, Sep 26, 1945, p. 33; citing mass to be held.
*Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MY-WY; PA, p. 21; citing Frederick Joseph Gerngross, Jr.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155541655/frederick-joseph-gerngross.
*PA, US, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966. 3 May 1950, Batch Control # 50393; citing application of Feb 11, 1950 by parents, Emma Frances and Frederick Joseph Gerngross for Frederick Joseph Gerngross.
*Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190523637/joseph_john-gerngross: accessed 22 Aug 2026), memorial page for Joseph John Gerngross (1924-9 Jun 2018), Find a Grave Memorial ID 190523637, citing Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, PA.; brother of Frederick Joseph Gerngross, Jr.
Rank / Rating: ENS-Ensign
