When G Company, 4th O. V. I. arrived back in Marion, it was still not mustered out of service. They were granted a furlough to return home and begin returning their lives back to normal and to partake in the celebrations that Marion’s citizens had planned for them. The citizens had hung the American flag and bunting throughout the town. Bands had turned out to greet them at the depot and parade them to the courthouse for speeches and cheers.
With calls for Captain Peters to address the crowds being denied as was his modest character, Lt. Titus would step forward to address the crowd. After his few comments G Company was moved to the steps and three cheers raised to their honor. Cpt. Peters would then propose the company to raise three cheers for the citizens of Marion. The company was then marched to the armory, at that time situated somewhere on State St. Cpt. Peters would give his remarks to the men of G Company and then he released them.
The men of G Company would bring home relics from their campaign. Some brought back guns, swords and canes. one man even brought back a Puerto Rican Parrot. They also returned with a small white poodle that had been their mascot throughout.
G Company was not without it’s casualties. The company would leave three members behind in Puerto Rican graves, and one member would later die from illness after his return. They even left a couple members behind, locked up in the brig. Some members of G company would be transferred to other companies and to staff positions.
Many members of G company would stay in Marion to form a Spanish American Veterans association in Marion. They would be active in supporting the future members of the reorganized company when they served as D Company in the Border Campaign and World War One.
They would also hold a reunion here in Marion for 4th Regiment. It was the 38th such reunion for the group in this state. It was held in Marion, Ohio, on 5 August 1936. 5 August was the chosen date for the annual reunion, due to the fact that the Regiment was involved in a five hour skirmish on 5 August 1898. It was in this skirmish that the regiment captured the city of Guayama, Puerto Rico.
General
Marion, Ohio Bombed – May 16, 1931
28 HUGE SHIPS
From The Marion Star dated May 16, 1931
FLY OVER CITY
Planes Pass Here Enroute to
Air Maneuvers at Dayton
Field.
MARION IS “BOMBARDED”
Business Section Is Target
for Cotton Missiles Dropped
by Pilots.
Thoughts of Marionites this morning were directed to the aerial sham battle centering around Fairfield Air Depot at Dayton this morning when 28 large army bombers flew over the city on their way to the Dayton field.
Drop Two “Bombs”
The bombers demonstrated their skill, and a the same time left Marionites a souvenir of the event by dropping two large cotton “bombs” in the yard of the St. Paul’s Episcopal church at Center and High streets and in front of the H. Schaffner Furniture Co. The “bombs” were a yard long, four inches in diameter, and carried the brief message, “”Second bombardment group, United States Army, Langley Field, Va.” One of the souvenirs is now in possession of Rev. S.. S. Hardy, pastor of the St. Paul’s church.
One of the huge bombers, weighing two tons without a load, was landed on Marion airport by Lt. J. M. Armond and his crew of three men from Columbus this morning. They had flown north to meet the other 27 bound for the Dayton port from Cleveland where they had sent the night. Met by strong headwinds, the planes moved slowly over the city. All were Keystone bombers. B-3-A, similar to the plane which landed here.
Get Battle Details
Meantime, exacting training flights to accustom pilots and squadron commanders with maneuver they will execute in their “defense” of Chicago and the east were on the schedule for the army air corps massed at Fairfield Air Depot at Dayton today, according to Associated Press dispatches. Marion, on the northeastern fringe of the “battle area” may see a part of the maneuvers.
Four hundred combat planes were ordered in the air over various parts of Ohio during the afternoon. Columbus was designated as the eastern boundary line for the training flights, Cincinnati as the southern, and Indianapolis as the western boundary.
During the morning two pursuit squadrons of the 36th Air Squadron, Selfridge Field, Mich., and the 95th Squadron of the 20th Pursuit Group were designated to go through maneuvers with bombers and attack groups to determine which squadron should be given an unnamed mission. Both squadrons are commanded by World War Aces, the former by Capt. Victor Strahn and the latter by Capt. Frank Hunter.
Several ships of the second bombardment group which were forced to put up at distant cities last night were expected today.
Ninety-nine national guard planes arrived from eastern states last night.
Governor George White will leave Port Columbus late today by airplane for Dayton, where he will observe the army air maneuvers. The governor will be accompanied by Adjutant General Frank D. Henderson, Federal Judge Benson W. Hough and Major Thomas J. Herbert, O. N. G.
G Company, Fourth O. V. I. in Puerto Rico (1898)
After arriving in Puerto Rico and making their landing, G Company would move with the 4th O. V. I. and capture the town of Guayama. G Company would take up guard duties and have some time to write home about their experiences.
We get an idea of what G Company and the 4th O. V. I. was experiencing through the letters that G Company members sent back to Marion, Ohio. We see what town life, social structure and what some of the army life was like in Puerto Rico in 1898.
After the peace was signed on 12 August 1898, the company was assigned to patrol parts of the eastern sector of the island of Puerto Rico.
LITTLE HARRY LOVE
Studies the Anatomy of the Infantile
Porto Ricans.Marion Daily Star dated 8-3-1898
Harry Love write home to his parents as follows:
Guayama, Porto Rico, August 7, – We landed from the St. Paul Tuesday morning. The troops captured a number of lighters* and our battalion got out on them first and a steamer took us in tow. Our company was in the last lighter, and there was a lifeboat astern. When we stopped the lifeboat was pulled alongside, eight of us got into it and pulled for the shore. I was the fourth to land.
Well, we stayed in the town for two days and then packed up and marched on to Guayama to capture it. We had fighting for two miles. I remember the first bullet. It went “wiz-buzz” right over our company. We had a fight to get the town, and, when we did get in, G company captured the northwest corner of it and had hardest fight after all. The bullets came up the streets in hundreds. We are now guarded in the town by outposts.
This letter may not reach you very soon as the mail has to wait for a steamer.
I have a machete. We can talk with the natives and make them understand us. Did you get the letter with the chevron and ribbon I sent you from the St. Paul?
There are cocoanuts and everything here. It is not very hot down here; the climate is very nice. Has papa got out with his company yet? Have any more troops been sent anywhere? What is the news? We don’t hear anything down here. What is going on at San Juan – at Havana?
Well, we have been under fire. Lieutenant Andrews, Private Shaffer and I captured two Spanish flags in a store.
The people are nearly starved down here. The babies have awful stomachs on them. They run naked – not a stitch on them.
The Cincinnati and St. Louis Bombarded the his the other day. It was a pretty sight.
Tell me all the news you can. We don’t hear a thing. How is everything in Marion. Are you all well?
The houses down here are not as good as barns. It is bad to not be able to get an American sandwich or lemonade. We eat hardtack, corned beef, tomatoes, beans and coffee. We have not had any ripe bananas yet.
Some of the men in the regiment found some Spanish bullets that had been shot in the fight. When we went into the fight we threw away everything on a pile but our guns and canteens.
The mountains here are like the eastern mountains in the United Sates.
Well, I must close now. I am well. Good bye. Write as soon as possible.
HARRY T. LOVE
Trumpeter Co G, 4th O. V. I.
- Lighters are a type of barge
June 6, 1944, D-Day Casualties and News from the Front
Marion did not begin to get news of casualties from the D-Day Invasion until almost three weeks after the invasion. Families must have been very anxious as they followed the results of the invasion and the move into France. They would be able to follow the units as they moved, but not know of the condition of friends and family until letters were received or articles with reports arrived.
From The Marion Star dated June 26, 1944
First Marion County Casualty
in D-Day Invasion ReportedFirst report of a Marion county casualty in the Allied D-Day invasion was received Saturday afternoon when a telegram from the War department notified Mrs. John W. Daye of 373 Nunin court that her brother, Sgt. Ralph A. “Jay” Porter was seriously wounded in action in France on June 6. A letter will follow, the telegram stated. Reports of other Marion men taking part in the invasion have been received here either officially or in letters.
Sgt. Porter, who was 32, was inducted into service March 24, 1942 and is a glider infantryman. He trained at Fort Bragg, N.C. and in Louisiana, and has been in the European battle area for the last nine months. Before going into service he was employed in the foundry at the Marion Steam Shovel Co. plant. He is the son of William F. Porter of 238 Leader street and has a daughter Virginia Lee Porter, who lives on North Main street. Sgt. Porter’s family heard from him last in April and at that time he was “somewhere in England.” He has two brothers, Clyde Porter of Cass avenue, and Arthur Porter of Portland, Ore., both whom served in World War I, and also is a brother of Mrs. John Smith of Congress street, August Porter of Elgin court, Mrs. Margaret Runkle of Nunin court and Mrs. Bertha Gompf of Lansing, Mich. A sister Mrs. Della Thrush, died last March. Sgt. Porter made his home with his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. DeyoOthers Heard From
V-mail letters to The Star from Glenn R. Brunson, 19, seaman first class, USN, and Paul E. Bowman, 19, coxswain, USNR, dated June 12, told of their having taken part in the D-day invasion, and stated it was their first action with the enemy. Coxswain Bowman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bowman of 782 Gill avenue has been overseas since last July. He has a brother, Charles Bowman who is taking his boot training at Great Lakes, Ill. Before going into service Coxswain Bowman was employed at Old Fort Mills. He attended Edison Junior High school. The family heard from him last on June 3.
Seaman Brunson, 19, is the son of Mrs. Irvah Brunson of 279 South State street, and has a brother, Dale Brunson, who is with the U.S. Army in Africa. Mrs. Brunson received two letters from Seaman Brunson dated June 12 in which he told her “not to worry” but did not mention the invasion. He entered service in February 1943 and has been overseas since last July. He also has a brother-in-law, Mitchell Rach, a paratrooper in the armed forces. Seaman Brunson attended Harding High school and before joining the Navy was employed at Snyder’s Gulf station.
Sgt Lowell R. Jack, who is attached to a medical attachment in the European battle area, “came through the invasion without a scratch,” he wrote his wife, Mrs. Jack who makes her home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Jack of 361 Wilson avenue. Letters dated June 10, 12 and 13 have been received by Mrs. Jack. One received today contained some French money, German cigarets and a German corps insignia. Sgt. Jack went overseas the day after Christmas.Letter from France
James Lingo Jr., 34, son of James Lingo of 317 South Vine street, in a letter received yesterday by his family expressed the opinion that they probably knew as much about the invasion as he did when he wrote from “somewhere in France.” A military police escort guard, he entered service in March 1943 and has been in England since April this year. He entered service from Shelby where his wife is making her home during his absence. Mrs. Lingo’s son, Harold Eugene Thomas, coxswain, U.S. Navy, who has been in service for five years, has been a prisoner of the Japanese forces for more than two years. A letter, written June 28, 1943, was received by his mother last December, and was the last news the family has received. He was 23 years old on Flag Day, June 14, and has spent his last three birthday anniversaries as a prisoner of was.
He also sent Father’s day greetings to his father and asked that the family keep writing as he is always looking for letters from home.
George B. Christian, Jr.
George Busby Christian, Jr. was born 25 March 1873, in Marion, Ohio. George B. Christian, Jr.’s father spent much time with Warren G. Harding and some photos show George Jr. as a child playing at the Harding’s residence. Christian would graduate from Marion High School in three years as he was a gifted student. He then would attend the Pennsylvania Military College. Here he would graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering. It does not appear that George Jr. served in the armed forces. He worked for a time with George Sr. at his father’s company, Norris & Christian Stone and Lime Company.
George B. Christian, Jr. would marry Stella Farrar in 1898 and they would have two sons, Warren Wilson Christian (b. 1898) and John Farrar Christian (b. 1900).
In 1913, when Warren G. Harding ran for U.S. Senate, Harding made George B. Christian Jr. is personal secretary. When Harding became president he kept Christian on as his Secretary to the President.
George B. Christian, Jr. died 9 February 1951. And is buried in the Marion Cemetery.
The following article is from Pennsylvania Military College Hall of Legends:
George B. Christian, Jr., 1896 (White House Insider)
After completing high school in three years, George B. Christian, Jr., left Marion Ohio and enrolled at Pennsylvania Military College. He was a gifted student, earning the title of distinguished Cadet for earning a spot on the Merit List. Colonel Frank Hyatt wrote that “Mr. Christian is a cadet of high character and excellent intellectual attainments.” In 1896, he graduated with a Civil Engineering degree. He then returned to Marion and worked for his father at the Norris & Christian Stone and Lime Company.
Christian was also the next-door neighbor of Warren and Florence Harding. At an early age he delivered the Star newspaper, owned and operated by Harding. When Harding ran for the U.S. Senate in 1913, Christian was very involved in the campaign. One of the first decisions Harding made as senator-elect was to hire Christian as his personal secretary. As Harding’s alter ego this association continued throughout Harding’s presidency.
As Secretary to the President, Christian was the precursor of today’s White House Chief of Staff. He would act as the buffer between the President and public, keeping the President’s schedules and appointments, managing his correspondence, communicating to the press and managing the White House staff, which consisted of 31 people during the Harding Presidency.
President Harding February, 1920, PMC (Pennsylvania Military College) held its annual recognition of Washington’s birthday. Then Senator Harding, accompanied by Christian, was the featured speaker and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws. Harding’s address was described as a “tribute to PMC.” Although Harding declined an invitation to attend the Centennial Commencement Ceremony, Christian sent a photo of the President inscribed with the comment “… from one who holds Chester’s famous college in high esteem.”
Christian was devastated after the unexpected death of Harding in 1923. In an interview with the New York Times he commented: “For nearly nine years I worked beside him and my present sorrow is somewhat assuaged by the feeling of satisfaction of having been permitted to serve a great president, a most humane and considerate chief and the finest friend as has ever been given a man to have.” Although he assisted with the transition of President Coolidge, Christian turned down the President’s offer to remain.
For the next few years, Christian devoted his time to working with the Harding Memorial Association, which was formed shortly after Harding’s death to plan and raise money for the Harding Memorial. He had also planned on writing a biography about Harding and his own experiences, but he developed glaucoma, with eventually robbed him of his sight. By 1930 he was inactive and his health began to fail. died in 1951.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 