Harold Frederick Metzger is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Fred B. Metzger of 842 Holyoake Dr., Edwardsville, IL. Harold grew up in Edwardsville and attended Trinity Lutheran Elementary School and graduated from Edwardsville High School Class of 1938. Harold was employed at the Edwardsville Intelligencer newspaper for a time, then was employed at Shell Oil Company prior to his enlistment in the Navy. Harold excelled in football and track at EHS, lettering in both sports. He also enjoyed singing and was a member of local choral societies and church choir. It was during his membership at the Trinity Lutheran Young People's Association that he met his wife, Ardell Moeller of Chester, IL. Ensign Metzger was the pilot of a "Hellcat" Navy fighter aircraft and was serving in the Pacific theater. While flying cover with other Hellcats on a bombing mission of an airbase in Tokyo, Ens. Metzger and his squadron engaged Japanese fighter planes on the return trip to the aircraft carrier. He died protecting the bomber crews as did nine other Hellcat pilots. The story of his death was told to his parents by Ens. Ken Peters of Alton IL., a squadron member that flew that mission with Ens. Metzger. Ensign Harold F. Metzger is survived by his parents, his wife, a sister Isabelle M. Krejci, and a brother Wayne and is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was 24 years, 4 months and 23 days of age.
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