The National WWII Museum mourns the loss of WWII veteran, Museum volunteer, and dear friend Herman “Dutch” Prager Jr., who passed away recently at age 99.

Born in New Orleans in January 1925, Prager’s wartime story began in September 1942 when a local politician recommended him as an officer candidate at the US Naval Academy. When the doctor performing his physical found him unfit for duty, Prager was undeterred. After a brief time studying at Louisiana State University and working at his family’s machinery business, Prager enlisted in the US Navy in early 1943. He attended boot camp and machinist mate school in San Diego, California, before volunteering for submarine service. Deployed to the Pacific, Prager was initially assigned to the USS Sperry (AS-12), a submarine repair vessel; following intense submarine training, he was transferred in September 1944 to the USS Kingfish (SS-234), where he served until the end of the war.

Prager served on four war patrols aboard the Kingfish in the Pacific, working in the engine and control rooms and as a sight setter for a 5-inch deck gun. Over the course of those four patrols, the submarine sank six Japanese vessels, exploded several enemy mines, and rescued four downed British aviators. The Kingfish completed her final patrol in August 1945, arriving at Midway hours before the end of the war. Prager was discharged in early 1946 as a Machinist’s Mate Second Class and joined the Naval Reserve later that year, serving until 1951.

Prager also returned to the family business, Prager Inc., a decades-old gear and machinery manufacturing firm based in downtown New Orleans. He eventually became President and CEO, then Chairman of the Board, before retiring in 1993. After the company relocated from its longtime home on Magazine Street, the property was acquired by the Museum, much to Prager’s delight as a longtime supporter of our institution. The site is now home to The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, parking garage, and Museum administrative offices.

“Dutch often told me how pleased he was that the Magazine site of his postwar business career would become a place of learning and memories of World War II. In a way, that site has now become a living tribute to his memory and a place for our visitors to learn the history of ‘his’ war,” said Museum Founding President & CEO Emeritus Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller. “He will be greatly missed at The National WWII Museum.”

Modest but very proud of his WWII service, Prager volunteered at the Museum and often shared war stories with staff and guests; his oral history can be found here. He also donated a trove of artifacts from his time in the Navy, including his submarine qualification book and key ring that he carried aboard the Kingfish, which are on display in the Museum’s Richard C. Adkerson & Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries.

“Dutch was a tremendous supporter of our institution, who stayed in touch and remained committed to advancing our mission,” said Museum President & CEO Stephen J. Watson. "We will remember Dutch as a warm, positive force in our community.”

We are grateful for Mr. Prager’s service and support, and our thoughts are with his family.