2nd Lt Kraus was the youngest son of Rev. and Mrs. Edward Kraus, received his early schooling in St. John's Lutheran Christian Day school, and is a graduate of William Penn Senior High School. He received his pre-flight training at Maxwell Field, Ala., and finished the succeeding courses at Cape Girardeau, Mo. Walnut Ridge, Ark., and Seymour, Ind., where he received his wings and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. After spending a short furlough with his parents, Lt Kraus reported at Alexandria Air base for training in the handling of Flying Fortresses and combat duty. He was sent overseas from Scott Fields, Bellsville, Ill., and on November 15, 1943, wrote of his safe arrival in England.

A member of the DeJean crew, he was killed when their plane crashed on February 4, 1944. The plane received a direct hit of flak on the right wing just before bombs away causing the right aileron and stabilizer to be blown off. The plane flipped on its back and went down with right wing in flame and disappeared in the clouds at 16,000 feet. Eugene is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com