USMA (West Point)

Capt. R. L. Ferguson – World War Two Casualty

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Robert Langdon Ferguson was not from Marion but was married to a Marion resident, Mrs. Jean Andrews Ferguson. Mrs. Ferguson was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. W. Andrews of Marion, Ohio. Robert Ferguson was known by a number of people in Marion, due to his visits here.

FergusonUSMA
Class of 1942

Robert (Bob) L. Ferguson was born 21 June 1918 in West Point, Georgia. His parents were the late Anderson D. Ferguson & Carolie Clark Ferguson of West Point, Georgia. Bob was an outstanding student in high school with a dream of attending the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. Bob attended the Marion Military Institute in Alabama for one year and was ranked as a gold star cadet for his scholastic achievement.
Bob was not able to secure an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA), so he enlisted in the United States Army. He soon entered the West Point Preparatory School at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. After nine months training he not only won an Army appointment to USMA, but also secured the Senatorial appointment, in which he beat out 250 other Georgians for the spot. Bob thus entered USMA in 1938.
Cadet Ferguson continued as an excellent student while at West Point, New York. He received the honor star his first-class year and was a Cadet Officer.

With his sincerity of purpose, he possessed a fun-loving nature, and this happy combination made him many real friends. He was a member of the Choir, and played trumpet in the Cadet Orchestra, becoming leader of it during his first-class year. Although the Infantry was his first preference. Bob finally chose to try for Air Corps Wings, as a fighter pilot, after graduation.
USMA Association of Graduates Cullum Record

2nd Lieutenant Ferguson attended Air Corps training at Ocala, Florida and Oreeneville, Mississippi, and also at Craig Field in Selma, Alabama. Lt. Ferguson would earn his Silver Wings at Craig Field on 13 December 1942, but not before marrying Jean Andrews of Marion, Ohio, whom he had met while on furlough the previous summer. It would be interesting to know how these two met and where. Please share if you have the information.

Lt. Ferguson continued training at Craig Field for Fighter Transition Training. Lt. Ferguson was promoted to 1st Lt. in January 1943. Lt. Ferguson was then assigned to the 325th Fighter Squadron flying a P-47 Thunderbolt.
In August of 1943, Ferguson was promoted to Captain and assigned as the Operations Officer for the 325th Squadron. In October of 1943 Cpt. Ferguson was assigned to the 366th Fighter Group under Colonel Dyke Myer. This Group was actively preparing to go overseas. They would set sail for Europe on 17 December 1943.

FergusonUSACapt. Ferguson was the Operations Officer for the 391st Fighter Squadron while in England. He often spent time as the Acting Squadron Commander and considered “the backbone of the command” by at least one squadron member and was described as “a real leader of men and expected things be done in the ‘Army way.’ ” Capt. Ferguson participated in over 15 missions of France and Germany. On 5 April 1944, Capt. Ferguson died in a mid-air collision while trying to land after a mission had been called off due to dense fog on the airfield.

In addition to his widow and parents, Bob is survived by his sisters, Mrs. Redmond Forrester of West Point, Georgia, and Mrs. Philip C. Loofbourrow, of March Field, California. At the time of his death, his two brothers were also overseas—Captain Drew Ferguson with the Emory Hospital Unit in France, and Major Miles Ferguson with Merrill’s Marauders and later Mars Task Force In Burma.

Capt. Robert L. Ferguson was given a full military burial at Brookwood American Military Cemetery, near London. He was reinterred in Sec: 12, Site: 7888, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.
He is memorialized with a memorial headstone in his hometown, Marseilles Cemetery, West Point, Troup County, Georgia.
Capt. Robert L. Ferguson is also remembered on the Honor Roll at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio, on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse, and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery.

George J. Porter, WWII, Korea War Veteran, United States Military Academy Class of 1946

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PorterUSMAGeorge Jewel Porter was the son of George V. Porter & Wyona Porter of Marion, Ohio. George J. Porter was born 27 January 1924 in Marion, Ohio. George attended Marion schools and Ohio State University. George J. Porter was a veteran of World War Two. George went by the nickname, “Jude.” George graduated from West Point on 4 Jun 1946, and was commissioned in the Coast Artillery Corps. On 7 July 1946.
George J. Porter served during the Korean War as battery commander in the 76th Anti-Aircraft Battalion of the 10th Anti-Aircraft Group.
George would return from Korea and attend the Artillery Advanced Course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He would return to Ohio, and from 1953 to 1955 he would serve duty with the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. After completing his assignment in Ohio, George would go to Germany and serve with the 3rd Armored Division “Spearhead,” 3rd Battalion, 16th Artillery Regiment.
George would later earn his Law degree and work as a Patent Attorney with National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) in Huntsville, Alabama. After moving to Chicago, Illinois, George would work as a senior patent attorney with Brunswick Corporation. Eventually he returned to Huntsville, Alabama to open his own law firm.
After ten years of running his own law firm, George would retire and earn his pilots license and travel the country with his wife Joan. After the loss of Joan he would later be reunited with an old friend, Lucy, from his West Point days and eventually marry her.
George passed away unexpectedly on 20 July 2005, in Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina. He was buried Calvary Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. George left behind six children from his union with Joan, his 103-year-old mother and his wife, brother Thomas and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

George J. Porter is remembered on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery.

Colonel Auguste Rhu Taylor former Marion Resident USMA Class of 1920

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Auguste Rhu Taylor was the son of Joel Brundge Taylor, MD & Emma Lucinda Wolford Taylor. From the Judge Advocate General, Taylor later requested a name change, from Auguste R. Taylor of Field Artillery to A. Rhu Taylor on 21 Oct 1938.

RhuTaylorA. Rhu Taylor was a 1914 graduate from Marion High School. Taylor then attended Ohio Wesleyan University from 1914 to 1917 and was a member of Ohio Delta Chapter, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. With a family history of serving in the military, Rhu enlisted in the Army in 1917, following the United States entry into The Great War. This was at the end of Taylor’s junior year at Ohio Wesleyan University. Rhu Taylor continued a family tradition of military service, as his paternal grandfather, three uncles and his father had been volunteers in Ohio’s forces in the Civil War. One uncle was wounded; another died in Andersonville Prison. His father, Dr. J.B. Taylor served as a bugler with G company, Eighty-Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

The unit that Taylor had enlisted in was an Ohio National Guard unit that was being called to federal service, the 147th Field Hospital Company, 112th Sanitary (Medical) Team. Governor James Cox visited the unit to give a patriotic speech. At the end Taylor stepped forward to shake the governor’s hand. Cox then surprised Taylor by inviting him to apply for a nomination to West Point.

At the time the course of study was shortened due to the war, but with the war ending on November 11, he would have to stay to finish his studies. Taylor would graduate from West Point with the Class of 1920. He was ranked 41 in a class of 271. He would also get a Bachelor of Science degree in absentia from Ohio Wesleyan.

Taylor would receive his commission and be sent to the Field Artillery. He would meet his wife, Estelle Nunnally Taylor while at Camp Knox, Kentucky. On 5 August 1923, they would have a daughter, Nancy Jane Taylor. He would then serve in various Field Artillery units until 1928, when he would be appointed as a mathematics instructor at the United States Military Academy. Taylor was the next year assigned to teach physics and would remain at West Point until 1934. He would then attend Yale Law School. In 1935, he received his captaincy; and in 1937, he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Law. In 1942 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel while Staff Judge Advocate, VIII Corps. Taylor retired as a Colonel in 1947.

In addition to theater and service medals, Rhu was awarded the Legion of Merit for his claims work, received the Ouissam Alaorite Cherifien Order in the rank of Commander from the then Sultan of Morocco, and was made an honorary private first class in the French Foreign Legion, Sidibel-Abbes, Algeria.

A. Rhu Taylor met his second wife, Cecile Berton. Cecile at the time was employed by the Office of Strategic Services, Algiers, Nice. They married in 1953 and remained so until her death in September of 1981. Cecile Taylor’s ashes are interred in the Marion Cemetery.

Taylor would eventually live in New York and later San Francisco where he would live the rest of his days. A. Rhu Taylor died in San Francisco, California, on 27 Oct 1981. His ashes have been interred in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.

Auguste Rhu Taylor is also remembered on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.

Thank You to West Point Association of Graduates for research assistance.

 

Major George T. Geran

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George T. Geran came to Marion, Ohio, in early 1903, having been raised in Warren County, Ohio. He attended a three-year course of study at the National University of Lebanon. He then attended the University of Michigan before coming to Marion, Ohio and entering law practice with former classmate, James H. Eymon. He continued to practice law in Marion until 1919, when he was first elected City Solicitor. He later was appointed City Solicitor in 1927 and then was re-elected. He was considered to be one of the city’s best authorities in municipal law, due to his experience as City Solicitor.

The Bar Association also held George T. Geran in high regard. They stated that no member of this bar performed his professional duties with greater sincerity and candor. It went on to say that Geran stated his position openly and frankly and that neither client nor adversary could induce him to advocate a cause or to seek an end that he did not believe to be fair and honorable. He is said to not have deceived himself as to the proper course nor knowingly do or say anything to deceive another. The courthouse was closed during his funeral so that all in the legal profession in the county may attend his services.

GeranGeorge T. Geran began his military service in 1908, when he enlisted in D Company Marion, Ohio. He enlisted in the recruiting office, then located in the basement of the courthouse. Geran was found to be diligent in mastering the manual of arms. A year after joining D Company, Captain E. O. Richardson, Commanding Officer, selected Geran as one of the Corporals. After a year as corporal he was promoted to sergeant. In 1910 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. In 1916, after twos as a Lieutenant, he was promoted to Captain and Commanding Officer of D Company.

George T. Geran served as a Captain of D Company (Marion, Ohio), 166th Ohio Infantry. He organized and led them on the Border Campaign with Mexico. While on the border the company was chosen as the “Star Company” of the Fourth regiment, but it was also picked as one of the best companies on the border both as to tactics and conduct. This was now doubt due to the leadership of Captain Geran and his professionalism. Shortly after returning to Marion, D Company was again called to organize for Federal Service and serve in Europe for the Great War (WWI). The accolades of his command are too numerous to list here. He was promoted to Major while serving in Europe.

George T. Geran was highly regarded by his subordinates in the military. On 4 July 1919, after returning to Marion, Major George T. Geran was unanimously elected the first President of the newly formed Marion County Association of World War Veterans. He was not only elected unanimously but was unopposed and received a “loud applause” from those in attendance at the Marion County Fairgrounds. It was here that this organization was formed.

GeragGTmarker (1)Colonel Hubert L. Taylor who served under Geran as a private in the Border Campaign and during the Great War said, “In my 24 1/2 years of service I can say of all the commanding officers I have had, he was the finest.” He recalled that Geran continued his friendships with the boys after the war. Colonel Taylor, who also served in World War Two presented the Colors to Mrs. Geran at the funeral after they were removed from the casket and folded.

GT03George T. Geran was a member of the Dyer J. Bird Marion Chapter, Rainbow Division, he was a past president of the Ohio Rainbow Veterans Association, past commander of the Bird-McGinnis Post no. 162, American Legion, Geran – Thomas Post 3313 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which is now co-named in his honor, and the Marion Voiture No. 48, 40 et Eight.  He was one of the founders of the American Legion, as he was in Paris during the organization and was a signer of its charter.

George T. Geran was born on October 29, 1882 in Warren County, Ohio to Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F. Geran. He had a sister, Mrs. C.W. Johnson of Petaluma, California. George Geran was married to Esther Mack on October 16, 1922. To them was born Daniel Boone Geran. He also had a son, Robert S. Geran, from a former marriage. His son, Daniel Boone Geran, also of Marion, Ohio, went on to attend the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, and later retired a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.
Daniel Boone Geran’s son, George Geran, followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, George T. Geran, becoming an attorney.

Books:
Mentioned in Suddenly Soldiers by Robert Thompson
pages 6, 124-125, 158
D Company is mention on several pages.

Two Marion Men Graduate Early from the United States Military Academy. (1918)

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From the Marion Daily Star 11-4-1918

DISTINGUISHED HONOR
FOR THESE YOUNG MEN

Christian and Jacoby, West
Point Graduates,

AFTER HAVING BEEN THERE
LESS THAN TWO YEARS

Will go back to West Point for
Post Graduate Course If
War’s Over.

Lieutenant Warren Wilson Christian and Lieutenant Lester E. Jacoby, two Marion county boys, were graduated Friday, from West Point, after only sixteen months of training, the term having been shortened on account of the war.
Young Christian, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs. George B. Christian, Jr. is twenty years old.
Following his graduation the young man went to Washington to spend a few days with his parents before going into training for overseas duty.
Lieutenant Jacoby is eighteen years old and is the son of Dr. and Mrs. C.W. Jacoby, of Richland township. He arrived home Saturday for a brief visit with his parents.
In case the war continues, both young men will be sent to France in about four months, but in the event of a declaration of peace, they will return to West Point for a post-graduate course.

(Note that the Star says, “Lester”. This may have been Jacoby’s nickname or a misprint)

From the Marion Daily Star dated 11-11-1918

WEST POINT GRADUATE
IS HONORED SUNDAY

Big Dinner Is Given for Leslie E. Jacoby.

Dr. and Mrs. C.W. Jacoby, at their home in Richland township, entertained a company of their relatives at dinner, Sunday, in honor of their son, Lieutenant Leslie E. Jacoby, who was graduated two weeks ago, from West Point, and who is spending a two-weeks furlough with his parents. The company included Mr. and Mrs. Justus Zieg, Mr. and Mrs. William Zieg and children, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Loyer and children, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Wilbur Jacoby and Children.

JacobyColonel Leslie Edgar Jacoby

Leslie Edgar Jacoby was born 1 February 1900. Leslie Edgar Jacoby attended the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York from 14 June 1917 to 1 November 1919. He was ranked 68 in his class. He was graduated early to be assigned war duties during World War One. With the end of the war shortly after his graduation he returned to West Point to serve as student officer from 3 December 1918 to 11 June 1919. He then graduated and was ranked 69 in his class.

Lieutenant Jacoby then was en route to France from 13 July to 20 July, 1919. He observed the battle fronts of Belgian, Jacoby2France and Italy. Then visited the Army of Occupation in Germany until 17 September 1919. lt. Jacoby then returned to Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, as a student officer of the Field Artillery School beginning 1 October 1919.

Jacoby continued a career in the United States Army. He earned the rank of Colonel and served in World War Two and Korea. He was a past commander 5th Tank Destroyer Group, 2 June 1943.

Colonel Jacoby died 29 Oct 1973 in Fulton County, Georgia, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery (Section 8 Site 6642).

Warren W. Jacoby is remembered on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery.

ChristianColonel Warren Wilson Christian

Warren Wilson Christian was born 23 May 1898 to George Busby Christian, Jr.  Warren Wilson Christian grew up with a close relationship with the family of Warren G. Harding . He was in fact named after Warren Harding. He is seen as a small child in photos at Harding events. He later secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York.

He was enrolled at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, from 14 June 1917 to 1 November 1918. He was ranked 180 in his class. He was graduated early to be assigned war duties during World War One. With the end of the war shortly after his graduation he returned to West Point to serve as student officer 3 December 1918 to 11 June 1919. He then graduated and at that time was ranked 186 in his class.
On 11 July 1919 Christian was assigned to the infantry.Christian2

Lieutenant Christian then was en route to France from 13 July to 20 July 1919. He toured the battle fronts of Belgian, France and Italy and visited the Army of Occupation in Germany until 17 September 1919. He then returned to Camp Benning , Georgia to attend Officer Infantry school on 1 October 1919.

Warren Wilson Christian went on to serve in World War Two in Europe. Colonel Christian served for a time in both Hawaii and in the Philippines. He also was assigned to the Command and Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a commanding officer at the Officers Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia. And he commanded an army camp in France prior to being assigned to the Headquarters United States Forces European Theater (HQ USFET). He was married to Edith Hanlon on 5 March 1931. His headstone shows he attained the rank of Colonel and was assigned to HQ USFET, District of Columbia and died on 9 January 1946 of a kidney ailment. He is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands, Plot H Row 11 Grave 9.

Warren W. Christian is remembered on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery.