SOURCE:
Article written by Sandy Oppenheimer in the April, 2000, Vol. 1, #2 USS SALT LAKE CITY CA25 Association Newsletter

It was the Japanese and a mistake that made Ed Kronberger a crew member of the USS SALT LAKE CITY. When the bugle sounded for general quarters, Ed headed for his turret. The sailors found the magazine locked. Ed climbed up through the escape hatch to the well deck and escaped. His father, Sam Kronberger and brother, Robert S. Kronberger who were also stationed on the WEST VIRGINIA, also escaped....
Read A Family's Brush with Infamy

Additional Information has been added to the WEST VIRGINIA website for Robert S. Kronberger. There's also a picture of him shaking hands with President Clinton... http://www.usswestvirginia.org/veterans/k/kronbergerr.htm

On the USS WEST VIRGINIA Website
Pearl Harbor talk presented to San Bernardino Elks Lodge #836 by
Commander Robert S. Kronberger, US Navy Retired, Americanism Chairman
California - Hawaii Elks Association, December 5th, 1993... Click Here

On Dec. 7th, Ed was sleeping on deck of the WEST VIRGINIA because he pulled a night watch and was tired. The first torpedo woke him up, however, nobody knew at first that it was a torpedo. Some guys yelled that they had run aground.

Later that week Ed was sent to the USS SAN FRANCISCO, but the seaman handling the boat made a mistake and delivered Ed to the SALT LAKE CITY where he stayed the remainder of the war.

Ed knew the USS SALT LAKE CITY because his father Sam Kronberger and brother, Robert J. Kronberger had served aboard her in earlier years. He was aboard for four and a half years until the ship went to Japan immediately after the war.

Ed was regular Navy and served until retiring in 1960.