Donald C. Kausrud was born at Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin on June 5, 1921. His parents were Helmer A. Kausrud (16 May 1893 – 23 Jun 1984) and Emma P. (Johnson) Kausrud (6 Oct 1895 – 19 Aug 1976), who were born in Wisconsin. His parents married about 1915, and had at least one child by June 1917. The family home was on Tainter Street in Menomonie, Wisconsin. His father was a barber and later an operator at the Menomonie power station. His father's parents were born in Norway, and immigrated to America about 1885.
He completed four years of high school and was married when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 10, 1942. His wife was Peggie Kausrud. His home of record was 803 Tainter Street, Menomonie, Wisconsin, his wife's address in 1944.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training, and was assigned as a waist gunner on the heavy bomber crew of 2/Lt Kenneth W. Lang. The Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. The Lang crew arrived at Station 137 by October 31, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines, to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force on this mission. Lt Lang's crew flew B-17G 44-8192 in the number eleven position of the 487th Bomb Group's Low Squadron. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked south of Liege, Belgium, before the Allied fighter cover arrived. German fighters shot down six of thirteen aircraft in the Low Squadron, including B-17G 44-8192. Sgt Kausrud and three of his crewmates were killed in action. Lt Lang and copilot Lt Miller were probably killed by enemy gunfire on the flight deck. Sgt Kausrud and radio operator Sgt Huck were probably killed by enemy gunfire at their positions in the waist. Sgt Yowan was wounded by enemy gunfire in the ball turret, but he was able to exit the turret and bail out of the burning aircraft along with four others. The survivors landed in friendly territory and were recovered by American forces. The aircraft crashed near Louveigne, Belgium.
After the war, Sgt Kausrud's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
B-17G 44-8192 crew:
• Lang, Kenneth W – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Miller, Howard R – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Alvine Jr, Samuel – F/O – Navigator – Safe
• Lang, George F – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Weber, James A – S/Sgt – Engineer – Safe
• Huck, Donald R – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Yowan, Robert G – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Kausrud, Donald C – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Haskett, Charles W – Sgt – Tail Gunner – Safe
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com