Louis C. Gerken

Colonel Louis Charles Gerken was a U.S. Army officer who served in the 286th Combat Engineers Battalion during World War II, participating in the final advance into Germany in 1944-45, and continued service through the Cold War until his retirement in 1985.[1][2] Born and raised in Waretown, New Jersey, he attended a local elementary school and high school in Barnegat, with his father being a German immigrant and investment banker in New York City.[2] Post-military, he worked as an entrepreneur, consultant, and author in electronics systems for the Air Force and Navy.[2]