On January 31, 1947, Lanny Ray Krage was born to Emil and
Irene Krage. He had one brother, Wayne Krage. Born in
Aberdeen but raised in Columbia, Lanny enjoyed playing
football, riding horses, and participating in all rodeo
events. Lanny attended Columbia High School, and after he
graduated in 1965, he went on to college at South Dakota
State University for one semester.
In December of 1965, Lanny enlisted in the Marine Corps
and entered active service on March 6, 1966. After his basic
training at Camp Pendleton, California, and being stationed
briefly at Parris Island, South Carolina, Krage was sent
overseas on October 21, 1966, to Da Nang, Vietnam as part of
Company F, 1 Marines, 1 Marine Division.
Marine Lance Corporal Lanny Krage was killed in action in
Vietnam on April 21, 1967, when, according to Lanny’s
brother, “Many fine Marines lost their lives that day.” The
body of Lanny Krage was returned to the United States and
after a service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Columbia,
he was buried with military honors at Sunset Memorial
Gardens in Aberdeen.
LCPL Lanny Krage is currently survived by his mother,
Irene Krage, and his brother, Wayne. Lanny’s father, Emil, a
decorated veteran of WW II, passed away in 1996. One of
Wayne’s sons, Lanny’s nephew, bears his name: Lanny Ray
Krage.
To this day Lanny is remembered and loved by his friends
and family, some of whom have posted remembrances at Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund. One of which was posted by Vietnam
Vets of Second Battalion, First Marines:
Your brothers of Second Battalion,
First Marines honor your service and your supreme
sacrifice. You are one of our heroes. Your comrades of
2/1 hold you in their hearts and minds forever. Take
your warrior’s rest for a duty well done.
Semper Fi, Marine!
Another was posted by Ronnie Duran: “You made the supreme
sacrifice for your fellow Marines, Corps, and country. You
will always be respected and remembered. I will not let your
memory die. We served together in the same squad.”
The last remembrance was posted by Paul Lyndgaard:
Lanny was seven years older than I
was. We both lived in Columbia, South Dakota (pop.250).
I remember that he was a big guy who could hustle down
the basketball court. He is the only individual that I
have ever known who lost his life in service to his
country. Thank God for people like Lanny. I to this day
remember how his loss affected our small community. I
can still see his parents walking around the community,
like they were lost in a fog. How sad.
This entry was respectfully submitted by Carly Schmidt,
8th grade student, Spearfish School District, October 4,
2005. Information for this entry was provided by Irene and
Wayne Krage of Columbia, South Dakota, Vietnam Veterans
Bonus Application, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
http://www.vvmf.org//index.cfm?SectionID=110&Wall_Id_No=28768.0
, and Aberdeen American News issues April 25, 1967, May 2,
1967, and May 5, 1967. Profile approval by Wayne Krage.
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