PFC Charles W. Shuster of LaRue, Ohio, Killed in Action, 1918

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Charles W. Shuster was from the LaRue, Ohio area. His parents are Charles Sheldon “Sell” & Samantha (Wygle) Shuster. Charles W. Shuster had a cousin, John E. Shuster, Jr., who also died while serving in World War One.

Charles was a former member of Marion’s D-Company. He transferred to A Company based in Cardington, Ohio. Charles attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC), while serving with A Company, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division “Rainbow Division.” PFC Shuster had sailed to Europe with the regiment aboard the transport USS Henry R. Mallory (ID-1280), which departed Hoboken, New Jersey, on 10 October 1917. He was listed as killed in action on 27 September 1918, in France.

PFC Charles W. Shuster is buried in Saint Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial, Thiaucourt-Regnieville, Departement de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Charles W. Shuster 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.

AO3 Joseph W. Artis Died in Training, 1943

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Joseph William Artis was born on 16 March 1921, in Bay Bridge, Ohio. His parents are George W. & Flossie M. (Anderson) Artis of Lima, Ohio. The father of Joseph W. Artis, George W. Artis, is a veteran of the Border Campaign and World War One. George Artis served with D Company, Fourth Ohio Infantry. Joseph and his parents lived in Marion, Ohio, prior to relocating to Lima. Joseph W. Artis graduated from Lima Central High School, in 1939. While in Lima he was listed as an usher and later a signal maintenance man with Erie Railroad.

Joseph W. Artis joined the United States Navy on 22 November 1941. He attended training at Great Lakes Naval Station, Illinois; Gunnery school at Jacksonville, Florida; the free gunnery school at Hollywood, Florida; also, while at Jacksonville, he took the navigation course.

Joseph W. Artis attained the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class (AO3). While at Jacksonville Air Station, AO3 Artis was assigned to Squadron T3 as an Air Bombadier Instructor. AO3 Artis and two other crew members were killed while on a training flight. The crash occurred near the naval air base in Jacksonville, Florida, 27 July 1943. AO3 Joseph W. Artis is buried in the Shawnee Cemetery, Lima, Ohio, between his parents and sister.

Joseph W. Artis 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.

Names of Crewmates:
Ensign John C. Osborne from Bayard, Nebraska
Ensign Edward J. Means from Little Rock, Arkansas

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.

Cpl. Jefferson F. Howe Killed in Action, 1918

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Jefferson Fleetwood Howe, Jr. was born on 17 January 1895, in Jackson County, Ohio. His parents are Charles & Martha J. (Exline) Howe. in 1910, he was living with his grandfather, Jefferson Howe, Sr. Prior to entering service, Jefferson was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company as an electrician.

He enlisted in the Army on 13 June 1917. Jefferson F. Howe, Jr. attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC) on 5 September 1917 and Corporal on 7 January 1918. He served with C Battery, 10th Field Artillery, 3rd Division “Rock of the Marne” while in France. Cpl. Howe saw service in the Champagne-Marne and Aisne-Marne Defensive Sector. Among Cpl. Howe’s awards are the Silver Star.
Cpl. Jefferson F. Howe was killed in action on 28 July 1918, in France.

Cpl. Jefferson F. Howe, Jr. is buried in the Pierce Mather’s Cemetery, Jackson, Ohio.

Jefferson F. Howe, Jr. 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.

PFC John F. Ruhl Killed in Action, 1944

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John Franklin “Jack” Ruhl was born on 24 November 1910 in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Philip F. & Edith S. (Taggart) Ruhl. John’s father preceded him in death. His mother remarried William Spitzer. John F. Ruhl married Nellie F. (Rockwell). Prior to entering service John F. Ruhl lived in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. He was employed with Railway Express Agency as a Messenger.

John. F. Ruhl entered service on 2 October 1943, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Private First Class John F. Ruhl was sent for overseas duty in February of 1944. PFC Ruhl was killed in action at the Battle of Cherbourg, France, on 25 June 1944. He was buried in a temporary grave until return to the United States, aboard the U. S. A. T. Lieutenant James E. Robinson in December of 1948.

John F. “Jack” Ruhl is buried in the Marion Cemetery.
John F. Ruhl is not on any of the Marion Honor Rolls at the time of this writing.