Louis Fortro

Louis Fortro was a member of the Fall Class of 1941, the first class to graduate at Abraham Lincoln High School.

        Louis was born on December 5, 1923, in Santa Cruz County, California, to Louis J. and Lillie G. Fortro. His family and close friends called him "Louie." He was an only child.

        His father was born on July 19, 1870, in California and died in Alameda County, California, on June 28, 1956. His mother, Lillie, was born on November 26, 1901, in California, and died on November 28, 1984, in San Francisco.

        After entering Abraham Lincoln, he became active in school activities and was elected as the second Student Body President. In addition to his student government activities, he was a member of Abraham Lincoln's first basketball team as well as a member of the varsity soccer team. He graduated with the First Commencement Class of Abraham Lincoln High School on January 29, 1942.

        He entered the U. S. Army Air Force Aviation Cadet Program after graduation. When he finished basic military training. He was assigned to the Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, 302nd Group, for pilot training. On March 30, 1944, he was killed in a training accident when his plane "spun in" and crashed.

        He is first listed in the 1942-1943 Abraham Lincoln Roundup in a section denoting alumni who were in the armed forces as being a private in the Army. It was noted in the 1943-1944 Roundup that he was an aviation cadet. Then in the 1944-1945 Roundup, he was listed as deceased.

        He is listed in the World War II Honor List of Dead & Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from California, as being an Aviation Cadet and killed as the result of a non-battle cause.

        His remains were returned to California and interred on April 3, 1944, at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California , in Section H-7, Grave #3321.