Pacific Theater

SSgt. Curtis Borror Missing in Action After Crew Bails Out of B24, 1944

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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

PFC Howard L. Russell Killed in Action, 1945

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Howard LeRoy Russell was born on 30 July 1916, In Marion, Ohio. His parents are Howard L. Russell & Lucille Mann. Russell had a stepbrother, Harold Russell, who was serving with the United States Navy.
Howard L. Russell graduated from Alliance High School. He worked at Alliance Manufacturing Company, prior to entering service.

Howard L. Russell attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC), and was assigned to I Company, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division “Tropic Lightning.” PFC Russell was first listed as Missing in Action and later recovered and returned to Marion, Ohio, for burial.

After being in the service for two years and overseas for one year, PFC Russell was killed in action at Luzon, Philippines, on 27 January 1945.

Upon PFC Russell’s return to Marion, Ohio, military honors were observed for his service and sacrifice. His uncle, Reverend Howard Berridge, of Adrian, Michigan, officiated at the funeral. VFW Post 3313 was charged with the graveside military rites.

Post Commander S. Harold Haughn and Chaplain Anthony Rizzo folded the colors.
Post participants listed: Pall bearers were Clyde Porter, Ed McAndrew, Don DeLong, James Cusick, Sr., Warren Wise, Anthony Rizzo and Warren Thomas. Those on the firing squad were from the Marion Engineering Depot, commanded by Chester Whitt; Clyde Weatherbee, Donald Hamilton, Kenneth Niles, Charles Evert, Jr., Don Evert, Joseph Crane and Richard Jordan. Color Bearers were Otis Pace and James Saunders. Bugler was Don Atkinson of Harding High School.

The Marion Star unknown date

PFC Howard L. Russell was laid to rest in the Marion Cemetery.
Howard L. Russell’s name is not found on any of Marion’s Honor Rolls. We remember his sacrifice here.

S1C Stanley L. Foulke, Former Huber Manufacturing Employee, Dies in Service, 1944

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Stanley LeRoy Foulke was born on 20 February 1924, in Marion County, Ohio. His parents are Roy A. & Anna S (Miley) Foulke. Stanley L. Foulke attended Harding High School. He was employed at the Huber Manufacturing Company.

Stanley L. Foulke entered service on 21 July 1943. He joined the United States Navy Reserves and attended boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois. He also saw training at San Bruno, California. He attained the rank of Seaman First Class (S1C). He was sent for overseas service in December of 1943. It was reported that S1C Foulke was killed in a truck accident while serving in the Pacific Theater. He died in service on 30 July 1944. His family was advised that his remains were buried on an island in the Pacific, until the cessation of hostilities.

It appears that S1C Stanley L. Foulke’s remains were returned to Marion for final burial, at the Marion Cemetery.

Stanley L. Foulke is 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 Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Sgt. Charles Hayes Died in Service, 1946

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Charles Hayes was born 22 April 1924, in Jackson County, Kentucky. His parents are Walter R. & Priscilla “Pricie” (Lawson) Hayes, of near Caledonia, Ohio. Charles J. Hayes graduated from Martel High School, Class of 1942. Prior to entering service Charles Hayes was employed with farming.

Charles Hayes enlisted into the United States Marine Corps., on 10 April 1943. He attended training at San Diego, California; Norman, Oklahoma; Jacksonville, Florida; Edenton and Cherry Point, North Carolina. He was serving as a Sergeant with the Marines in Peiping, China. Among his Medals are the Asiatic Pacific and American Campaign ribbons, Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

Sgt. Charles Hayes became ill and died from cerebral meningitis at a hospital in Tientsin. His death occurred on 3 June 1946, and he was first buried with full military honors on 9 June 1946, at Tientsin American Legion Cemetery, China. Later his remains were returned to the United States aboard the U. S. A. T. Dalton Victory.

The remains of Sgt. Charles Hayes were laid to rest at New Caledonia Cemetery, Caledonia, Ohio, where military honors where performed by Caledonia Post 401, American Legion.

Charles Hayes is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; and on the World War Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

TSgt. Elvis L. Greer Missing in Action, 1945

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Elvis “Bill” Lowe Greer was born on 15 January 1920, in Milan, Tennessee. His parents are Ernest & Emma (Lowe) Greer of Milan, Tennessee. Elvis married Sarah V. (Fisher) of Rutherford, Tennessee. Elvis came to Prospect, Ohio, to live with his Aunt, Mrs. H. D. Chapman. He lived here for three years, prior to his entering service while in Marion County, Elvis was an employee with the Marion Steam Shovel Company.

Elvis L. Greer enlisted into the Army Air Corps, in April 1942, from Marion, Ohio. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (TSgt.) and was an aerial engineer. He was assigned to Bergstrom Army Air Field, Austin, Texas. In May of 1944, he was sent overseas. TSgt. Elvis L. Greer was assigned to the 3rd Combat Cargo Group,10th Combat Cargo Squadron, China-Burma-India. He was a crew chief aboard a C-47 Dakota.

On 27 May 1945, while flying a shuttle mission between Shingbwiyang and Warazup, Burma, his C-47A (#42-92981) is believed to have gone down in the Hukawng Valley, Burma. The crew was listed as Missing in Action. In February of 1946, TSgt. Elvis L. Greer was officially declared, Killed in Action, his remains were never recovered.

TSgt. Elvis L. Greer is remembered, at the sight of his parents grave, by a memorial marker. This is located at the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Milan, Gibson County, Tennessee. He is also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Elvis L. Greer is 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.