Lieutenant Kath was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on February 6, 1887. He received his education in the Milwaukee public schools, graduating from East Division High School, then taking a three-year course at Marquette Law School. He then entered the employ of the National Bank of Commerce as a bond salesman. At the time of his entrance to the First Officers' Training Camp at Fort Sheridan he was the president of the Milwaukee Chapter American Institute of Banking. He also was for five years with the Wisconsin National Guard. At the completion of the training camp course he was commissioned and assigned to the 337th Infantry of the Eighty-fifth Division, with which regiment he sailed for France on August 5, 1918. Upon arrival overseas, Lieutenant Kath was transferred to the 102nd Infantry, and remained with that outfit until he met death by machine gun fire in the advance near Ormond Wood on October 26, 1918. His current burial place is unknown.