WWI

Lt. Curtis E. Markel Veteran of Border Campaign and World War One

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Curtis Emery Markel was born on 27 October 1894, in Ironton, Ohio. His parents are James S. & Abigail “Gillie” (Willis) Markel. Curtis arrived in Marion, Ohio, in 1913. Shortly after arriving in Marion, on 30 May 1914, Markel joined D Company, Ohio National Guard (O. N. G.). He was listed as a member of D Company, when they returned to Marion, Ohio, from the Border Campaign.

When D Company reorganized for the deployment to the First World War, Curtis E. Markel was among the members, serving as a sergeant. He sailed to Europe aboard the U. S. S. Henry R. Mallory. The ship departed Hoboken, New Jersey, on 18 October 1917. While in Europe, Curtis Markel was serving as the First Sergeant with D Company, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division “Rainbow.” He was discharged on 3 May 1918, so he could accept the commission of a Second Lieutenant. On 8 November of 1918, Markel was promoted to First Lieutenant. On 8 June 1918, Lt. Markel was reassigned to H Company, 132nd Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division “The Prairie Division” “Golden Cross Division”. He remained with the 132nd until his return to the United States. Lt. Curtis E. Markel arrived back in the United States on 14 May 1919, aboard the Kasserin Auguste Victoria.

After returning to Marion, Curtis E. Markel married Ethel V. (Green) on 2 August 1919. In 1920, Markel was working as a machinist with the Marion Steam Shovel Company. On 16 May 1925 Markel was employed at the Marion Fire Department. In 1927, Markel was elected trustee of the Firemen’s Indemnity Fund, along with Owen A. Sifritt, Fred Reiff, Charles Thurston and James Rynn. In a 1928 article, the firemen of Central Station lauded Markel for his cooking, stating, “He could cook spaghetti that would raise a cheer from an Italian in Italy.” Markel resigned from the Marion Fire Department on 27 February 1929. An article from The Marion Star reported that Markel; would relocate to Columbus, Ohio. He worked as a machinist after leaving the fire dept.

Curtis E. Markel eventually relocated to California where he died on 26 April 1952, in Hayward, California. Curtis E. Markel is buried in The Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California.

Leroy W. Miller, Veteran of the Border Campaign, World War One and Retired Marion Fire Fighter

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May 1935

Leroy Wesley Miller was born on 22 November 1886, in Delta, Ohio. His parents are Lewis B. & Harriet “Hattie” L. (Ackerman) Miller. By the1900 Census, Leroy and his parents were living in Marion, Ohio. Leroy married Elizabeth A. (Duffey), in Marion, in 1906.

Leroy W. Miller initially enlisted into the Ohio National Guard in 1903. In July of 1913, Miller was serving as First Sergeant when D Company, Fourth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, went to Camp Perry, Ohio, for the annual encampment. In 1915, L. W. Miller was promoted to First Lieutenant.

From The Marion Daily Star 6-1-1917

Lt. L. W. Miller was serving in D Company, Fourth Ohio National Guard when it served in the Border Campaign. After serving on the southern border and returning to Marion, Lt. Miller served as the recruiting officer of D Company. He was charged with recruiting and building up the manning of D Company in preparation for D Company being inducted into federal service for the First World War. D Company was then in the 166th Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division “Rainbow.”

Lt. Miller departed the United States for Europe aboard the U. S. S. Henry R. Mallory. The Mallory departed Hoboken, New Jersey, on 18 October 1917. While in Europe, Lt. Miller was transferred from D Company to Cardington’s A Company.

From The Marion Daily Star 3-16-1918

In March of 1918, the family of Leroy Miller had a scare. The Casualty list came out with a Leroy W. Miller, but of a different rank than Leroy. The family had not received an official notice from the government, but concern was high. They later found out the casualty was from Rhode Island.

Miller was honorably discharged 7 March 1918. Lt. Leroy W. Miller departed Brest, France, and arrived back in the United States, aboard the U. S. S. Covington, on 8 March 1918. He then was employed with the Erie Railroad as a detective for a time before becoming a fire fighter with the Marion Fire Department.

Leroy W. Miller was hired on the Marion Fire Department on 19 July 1922. During his career he was assigned to Engine Company No. 1, he drove the Chief’s car for a period and was also assigned to Engine Company No. 3.

Driver-Leroy Miller, Behind Light-Unknown, Sideboard-Harold “Dutch” Monnette

Leroy W. Miller retired from the Marion Fire Department on 4 April 1947, with 25 years of service. Miller had served 13 years with D Company, ONG. He had also served as Post Commander Geran-Thomas, VFW 3313, and was a member of the Bird-McGinnis Post 162, American Legion.

Leroy W. Miller died on 8 August 1962, and is buried in the Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.

Sanford H. Whitlatch D Company Veteran, Border Campaign and World War One

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Sanford Hobart Whitlatch was born 30 November 1897, in Coal Township, Jackson, Ohio. His parents are Will & Maggie (Culp) Whitlatch. It is not known when Sanford relocated to Marion, Ohio.

Sanford H. Whitlatch enlisted with D Company, Fourth Ohio Infantry, Ohio National Guard on 23 June 1916. Pvt. Whitlatch served with Marion’s D Company during the Border Campaign, which occurred just before the United States entered World War One.

Shortly after Whitlatch and D Company arrived back in Marion, the company was reactivated for service in World War One. Whitlatch was among those soldiers who went to Camp Perry for training in preparation to move with the 42nd Division “Rainbow” to Europe. The Fourth Ohio was reorganized as the 166th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division.

At some point, Whitlatch was assigned to A Company, Fourth Ohio. While the regiment was at Camp Perry, Whitlatch and D Company soldier, Pearl Morris, returned to Marion on furlough. It was on 23 August 1917, that Morris and Whitlatch got into some trouble. They came to Marion and celebrated by getting intoxicated and got into a fight, that caused the police to arrest them. They were then sent back to Camp Perry, to have their punishment decided by the military. There it was reported by Captain George T. Geran, that the men were fine $40 and placed in the regimental guard house for 30 days.

On 18 October 1917, Pvt. Sanford H. Whitlatch and the 166th Infantry sailed aboard the U. S. S. Henry R. Mallory for Europe. While in Europe Whitlatch saw action in the Champagne-Marne; Aisne-Marne; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Defensive Sector. He was promoted on 1 February 1919, to Private First Class (PFC) and on 13 February 1919 he was transferred to the 165th Field Hospital, 117 Sanitary Train, until his return to the United States.

On 16 September 1919, PFC Whitlatch departed Brest, France, for the return to the United States. He sailed aboard the Sol Navis and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, on 26 September 1919. He was Honorably Discharged from service on 3 October 1919.

Sanford H. Whitlatch returned to Marion, Ohio, where he was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company in 1942. He retired as a brakeman with the Erie Railroad in 1949.
Sanford H. Whitlatch died on 9 April 1965, and is buried in Chapel Heights Memory Garden, Marion, Ohio.

Pvt. Sam Anges Died of Wound Received in Action, 1918

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Sam Anges was born on 16 February 1893, in Esperia, Provincia di Frosinone, Lazio, Italy. Marion information shows that Sam Anges and Pietro Pisacreta both filed for citizenship and received papers on 23 July 1917. The pair then went directly to the recruiting station to enlist. They stated that they would rather serve with American army rather than their native army.

Sam Anges enlisted on 3 May 1918, at the Columbus Barracks. Pvt. Sam Anges served in Company A, 59th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division “IVey Division.” He was a private and was a veteran of the Aisne-Marne and Meuse-Argonne offensive. On 21 July 1918, records indicate Pvt. Anges was wounded in action. His wounds and severity were not recorded. On 2 October 1918 Pvt. Anges died of wounds received in action.

Sam Anges is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial,Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.
Sam Amges is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; and on the World War One Honor Roll, located on the second floor of the Marion County Courthouse.

Note: Sam Anges’ named is spelled (incorrectly) Auges, on both Honor Rolls located in Marion, Ohio.

Thomas L. McWade, Former D Company Member, Gives Look at Life of Wounded Soldier Returning Home, 1918

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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 HOME

D Company Boy Arrives in
Bellefontaine Saturday

Remembers 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.
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.”

From The Marion Daily Star dated 11-26-1918