James M. Ahrens, 77, of Crocketts Bluff, retired U.S. Navy, died Oct. 7, 2005, at the VA Fort Root Facility in Little Rock of heart failure.
Ahrens enlisted in the Navy on Aug. 24, 1945, and was stationed out of San Diego, Calif. He began his career as a Diver Second Class and retired as Chief Boatswains Mate Third Class. Battleships and destroyers he served on included LST 846, USS Prairie, USS Macon, USS Columbus, USS Bremerton, USS Breckenridge and USS Southerland.
On July 14, 1952, Ahrens served as a Navy recruiter in Poplar Bluff, Mo. On March 29, 1965, he transferred to Fleet Reserve in Bainbridge, Maryland. On Feb 8, 1968, Ahrens was ordered to active duty as Chief Boatswain’s Mate in Vietnam and saw active combat at Cameron Bay. He retired in 1972 to his home in Crocketts Bluff.
Ahrens received many medals during his military career, including Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unity Citation Badge, National Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, (Korea) Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal 5th award.
He was preceded in death by mother, Minnie A. Robinson Ahrens and his father, Lester “Shorty” Ahrens.
Survivors include children, Cathy Brown, Melissa Cantrell of Indianapolis, Ind. Barbara Milligan of West Memphis, John Ahrens of Dallas, Texas, Marty Ahrens of Jacksonville, Fla., and William Ahrens of Crocketts Bluff; one sister, Betty Konecny of Stuttgart; a special niece, Vanessa Denman of Stuttgart; two nephews, two nieces, many grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and life-long friends, Billy Gunnell and James “Tenny” Hartley of Stuttgart.
The funeral is at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Turpin Funeral Home in Stuttgart with burial in Shiloh Cemetery in Crocketts Bluff.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at Turpin Funeral Home.
The Family requests memorials be made to Shiloh Cemetery, 510 W. 10th Street, Stuttgart, 72160.
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