Edward John Kerling (June 12, 1909 – August 8, 1942) was a spy and saboteur for Nazi Germany and the leader of Operation Pastorius during World War II.

Upon returning, Kerling was given a position with the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda managing German theatres.

He remained with the Propaganda Ministry for the next two years until Walter Kappe offered him the chance to return to the U.S. on a military mission.

After a short time Kerling accepted the offer and spent the next several weeks training and becoming acquainted with other members of the mission.

Upon graduation they were sent to the U.S. via U-boat in an attempt to damage infrastructure and industries vital to the American war effort.

It was revealed that two members of the other group, George Dasch and Ernst Burger, betrayed the entire operation and alerted federal authorities of their intentions.

[4] Dasch and Burger received long prison sentences which were eventually commuted to deportation after the war.

[3] Kerling and the remaining five, Herbert Hans Haupt, Henry Harm Heinck, Hermann Otto Neubauer, Richard Quirin, and Werner Thiel were all executed on August 8, 1942, in the District of Columbia's electric chair.

The graves were originally marked by boards with numbers until a German-American organization placed a small monument commemorating their lives.

Prior to his execution, Kerling wrote a final letter to his wife:"Marie, my wife—I am with you to the last minute!