SSgt. Curtis Borror Missing in Action After Crew Bails Out of B24, 1944
James Curtis Borror, Jr. was born on 17 August 1920, in Pickaway County, Ohio. His parents are James Curtis, Sr. & Hazel (Ebert) Borror of Morral, Ohio. Prior to entering service, he was employed by Curtiss Wright in Franklin County, Ohio, where he worked in the machine shop.
Curtis Borror enlisted on 24 October 1942, at Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio. He served in the Army Air Force. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant while with the 72nd Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy. He served as a gunner on a B-24 Bomber, B-24D #42-41151.
While on a bombing mission to Truk Island, the aircraft SSgt Borror was aboard was attacked by Japanese fighter planes defending the island. B-24D #42-41151 was struck in the engine. The crew eventually had to bail out and the pilot had to ditch the plane at sea. There were eleven men aboard the bomber that day when it took off from Tong Island, none of the eleven were recovered. His date of death is listed as 3 June 1944.
SSgt. Borror was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart among campaign ribbons.
SSgt. Curtis Borror and his crew mates are listed on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.
SSgt. Curtis Borror having lived in Marion County, but enlisting from another county, is not listed on any Honor Rolls in Marion County.
Airmen who perished on B-24D #42-41151:
1st Lt. Angelakos, Peter W. Pilot, South Carolina
S/Sgt. Borror, Curtis, Jr. Gunner, Ohio
1st Lt. Edwards, Robert L. Bombardier, New York
1st Lt. Furman, Irvin B. Navigator, Ohio
S/Sgt. Handley, Robert W. Gunner, Texas
1st Lt. Lewis, Walter F. Co-Pilot, Massachusetts
S/Sgt. McCallister, Emmanuel A. Gunner, West Virginia
T/Sgt. Ray, Marion Radio Operator, Missouri
T/Sgt. Rich, Carl E. Engineer, Illinois
T/Sgt. Roberts, Malcolm D, Jr. Gunner, New York
Corp. Romine, Gene G. Photographer, Oregon
Chief of the Marion Fire Department, James A. Knapp, Respected Citizen of Marion
James Andrew Knapp was born on 19 July 1853, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are John R. & Lydia (Lybarger) Knapp. James A. Knapp married Rosetta (Tavenner) in 1878. They were the parents of Mary “Mame”, James W., George B., Frank M., Rosette “Etta”, Lydia and Wallace L. All the children were raised at the Knapp home, at 355 Mt. Vernon Avenue.
James A. Knapp was very active in Marion, Ohio. James’ occupation in Marion, was as an insurance agent, whom he was one of the first. He was active in politics, the Masonic Lodge, served as secretary to the Marion Agricultural Society and served as the Chief of the Marion Fire Department. Much more has been written about Mr. Knapp in the history books of Marion County.
James A. Knapp had served on the Marion Fire Department since at least 1871. He served as Foreman of the Hand-Engine, Foreman of the Hose Company and then two years as Assistant Chief under Chief William Fies, Jr.
James A. Knapp served as Marion Fire Chief from 4 June 1900 until 6 July 1903. During this time the positions at the fire department were politically appointed and not permanent. While Chief Knapp served the department was made up of five paid men; Chief Knapp; James A. Butler, Driver of the Ladder Truck; Charles Thurston, Driver of the Hose & Chemical Wagon; H. D. Uline & J. G. Trefz, Firemen. There were also 41 minutemen. The department was supplemented by two “Call Departments,” No. 2 being at the Huber Shops and No. 3 at the Steam Shovel Company.
Following Chief James A. Knapp’s appointment as Fire Chief, a Board of Public Safety was created, and the first full-time Fire Chief and Firefighter positions were created. This meant that the Fire Chief and firefighters did not have to be reappointed with each change in political office.
James A. Knapp died suddenly at the Masonic Temple on 4 August 1930. It is noteworthy when the family of James A Knapp is studied, that he was described as “a good father and of high reputation in the community.” James A. Knapp is buried in the Marion Cemetery.
Thomas L. McWade, Former D Company Member, Gives Look at Life of Wounded Soldier Returning Home, 1918
Thomas Lawrence McWade was born 25 December 1898, in Middleburg, Ohio. McWade’s address on the D Company Roster from World War One, list him at Bellefontaine, Ohio. He was not shown on the list of those leaving with D Company when they left Marion. It is not known if he enlisted and was assigned to D Company or if he was transferred in from another company.
We do know that Private Thomas L. McWade served with the D Company boys in hard combat and was seriously injured during the Second Battle of the Marne. He gives some description of his experience in Europe in the attached article.
We also see in the article that the government was urging wounded veterans to learn a trade. McWade was making plans to learn auto mechanics. We also must note that McWade would live on to the age of 74 years old. He died on 17 August 1973, in Logan County, Ohio. He is buried in the Bellefontaine City Cemetery, Bellefontaine, Ohio.
THOMAS M’Wade, SHOT
IN BOTH LEGS, IS HOMED Company Boy Arrives in
Bellefontaine SaturdayRemembers Apple Pie He Gets
Last Thanksgiving Day Back
of Verdun.Private Thomas McWade nineteen, member of D company, 166th infantry, Rainbow division, reached his home on south Detroit street in Bellefontaine Saturday evening where a joyful welcome awaited, says Monday’s Bellefontaine Examiner.
From The Marion Daily Star dated 11-26-1918
Private McWade was wounded in both legs on July 29 when struck by portions of a Hun shell near Chateau Thierry. The flesh of the calf of the left leg is entirely gone and the right leg has a hole the size of a half dollar. He is not lame but must exercise great care of his physical condition.
The soldier lad lay from 2 o’clock on the day that he was wounded until 10:30 the following morning on that stretch of terrain known as No Man’s Land. The Germans were shelling the town to the rear so fearfully, having obtained almost perfect range, that to remove the wounded was impossible without great loss of life.
He Stays With Him.
Elmer King, son of Samuel King and wife, West Liberty, stayed by the side of Private McWade when he could, of necessity being forced to go to the fighting line at intervals, dressing his wounds and being instrumental with others in getting him to a dressing station. Many wounded men were left on the field that day and suffering was fearful.
Private McWade has been in a number of hospitals in France and came here directly from the Walter Reed hospital in Washington D. C. to which he must return on December 20, provided an extension of furlough is denied. He has signed up to take a course in auto mechanics there, the government acting at once to urge all wounded soldiers to learn a trade.
“Last Thanksgiving season I spent the time in the little town of Oel, back of Verdun, and remember that the cook was able to get some apples to make us fellows a fine pie,” said young McWade who remarked that about the only difference in the observance of holidays, when in the army, to mark them from other days, was that the men did not drill and frequently did not fight.
Uses Automatic Rifle.
Private McWade used an automatic rifle all of the time that he was at the front, the accuracy of which is good for at least half a mile. Certain squads of men in the different companies were drilled for this kind of attack and D Company was ready, at least fairly so, when the men left for France in October of 1917. They went from Camp Mills, New York.
Concerning the brutality and trickery of the Germans, Private McWade had considerable to say. He remarked that they would throw a bayonet and yell “Kamerad” at the same time, taking a chance upon the mercy of the one against whom the fight was being made. “I took no chance with any of them,” he remarked adding that the confidence of the Germans was fast falling when he left France in October. I only wish that they were driven out of the world,” he added, meaning that he has no faith in the people as a race. He said that the Chateau Thierry drive was the beginning of the end for the enemy. “They constantly put more men at the front after that drive and they were just constantly pushed back by the allies.”
Private McWade is being given a warm welcome as will be accorded all of the members of the Rainbow division and of all other divisions who return. What is there in the world so grand as the reuniting of kindred about the family hearthstone.”
William L. Clark Dies of Complications from Being Gassed, After Discharge, 1925
William Lawson Clark was born on 16 August 1899, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Thomas B. & Hattie N. (McClain) Clark. William L. Clark was a Fourth-Year Medical student at Ohio State University at the time of his death.
William L. Clark enlisted on 9 June 1918, at Columbus Barracks, into the United States Army. He trained with Company A Training Detachment, Purdue University, West Lafayette Indiana, until 28 August 1918. He then served overseas with 318th Tank Corps. While serving in Europe he was gassed. This caused him disability and health issues until his death. He served as a Private with the American Expeditionary Forces from 20 October 1918 to 3 May 1919. He was Honorably Discharged on 26 May 1919.
William L. Clark was a member of Frank Post 51, American Legion. He was living in Columbus at the time of his death. His death was a result of his injuries from being gassed during the war. His death was reported as being from tuberculosis. William L. Lawson died on 25 December 1925. He was buried in the Marion Cemetery.
William L. Clark’s name is not on the Honor Rolls for World War One, due to his death being after the war had ended. He and many of his fellow veterans died from wounds as a result of their service, but their service and sacrifice are still remembered. Major George T. Geran, former commander of Marion’s D Company called on members of Bird McGinnis Post 162, American Legion, to meet at Market & Lewis Cigar Store, East Center St., to attend the funeral.
Edward Huber Fire Chief and Industrial Pioneer
Edward Huber was born on 1 September 1837, in Dearborn County, Indiana. His parents are Phillip & Mary (Hurn) Huber. Edward Huber came to Marion and became a very industrious member of the community. He was well known as an honest and noble member of the community. He is best known for his invention of the revolving hay rake. He went on the become president of several businesses in Marion. He also invented several machines that became known and used worldwide. His inventions and business ventures are already documented and well beyond the scope of this article.
One of Edward Huber’s businesses was the Huber Manufacturing Company that had shops located between the railroad tracks between today’s Main and Prospect streets. Among these shops Edward Huber had his own firefighting equipment. In the mid to late 1800s, Marion did not have very much in the way of a fire department. Edward stood to lose a lot, if he was unable to check a fire quickly. It appears he not only had the equipment but had his own fire department within the Huber shops. His firefighters responded to fire within the community to prevent a conflagration from spreading to his shops.
Also, the history of the Ohio National Guard, states that Marion’s G Company had been preceded by the Huber Guard. The Huber Guard may have been a local militia organized at the Huber shops. In that time the local militias often were called upon to man the fire equipment and were the manpower to fight the fires.
Due to a positive experience with the use of the first fire engine, a call for a hook and ladder company and a fire company was proposed. The Marion Independent newspaper, dated October 19, 1865, stated that, “militia fight very well sometimes, but well drilled volunteers or regulars are much more reliable.”
When G Company left for the Spanish American War, the Marion Daily Star ran an article, “Are Still More. Captain H. N. Love Organizing a New Company,” dated 26 April 1898, in which Capt. Love was raising another company and “Capt. Love announces that the first drill of the new company will take place at Company G’s old armory on north State street next Thursday – evening.” This may be the old Houghton Sulky building.
Of the equipment at the Huber shops, was a hand hose cart. This cart was a cart pulled by manpower and it contained fire hose and other firefighting equipment. Records at the Huber Museum, in Marion, Ohio, describes how the hose cart was used to also protect the community. It is said to have been hitched to the “Marion Electric Street Car Line” and was towed to the nearest intersection to the fire. From there, men would pull the hose cart on to the location of the fire.
Later, 1883, it is reported that part of the Marion Fire Department included the Huber Fire Company: E. D. Barlow, Foreman; James Fairbanks, Assistant; twenty-five members. Also, a hand engine, purchased many years ago. By 1891, there was a fire department at the Marion Steam Shovel Company, also a business of Edward Huber. The departments at the Huber shops and the Marion Steam Shovel were “call departments” with 10 volunteers each. T. J. McFarland was employed as a machinist with the Huber Manufacturing Company from 1886 to 1903. He left Huber to become the first fulltime Fire Chief of the Marion Fire Department.
In a history researched by Phil Reid, Chief (Retired) of the Marion Fire Department, he recorded that a some point Edward Huber was a chief of the Marion Fire Department. It may be that Huber was appointed or was filling in as interim chief in between Chiefs T. C. Bowen and William Fies. And since he had fire equipment and management experience, he would have made a sensible choice. More research is going on to secure verified information and dates on Edward Huber and his possible role as Marion Fire Chief. Either way, Edward Huber played an important role in not only the manufacturing and economic growth of Marion, both in the fire protection of both his businesses and community.
Edward Huber died on 26 August 1904, in Marion, Ohio. A grateful and sad community showed up at Saint Mary Catholic Church to pay homage to his life. Edward Huber is buried in Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Marion, Ohio
Much more can be read about Edward Huber’s impact on the manufacturing in Marion and the rest of the United States. There is also a very good museum in Marion, located at the Marion County Fairgrounds. This is the Huber Machinery Museum. It has the history of both the Huber Manufacturing and the Marion Steam Shovel (Marion Power Shovel Company), as well as displays.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 