Ory Sturgis Patten was born on 26 June 1919, in Marion County, Ohio. His parents are Francis E. & Sara (Struthers) Patten, of Caledonia, Ohio. Ory S. Patten was a graduate of Claridon High School, Class of 1937. Ory married Ethel Mae (Smith) Patten, on 9 February 1941, in Marion, Ohio. Prior to entering service, Patten was employed with the Pollak Steel Company. He was also listed as a farm hand.
Ory S. Patten was inducted into service on 12 December 1942, Columbus, Ohio. He was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Camp Toccoa and Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Pickett, Virginia. Patten was sent overseas in October of 1943.
Ory S. Patten was serving as a Private First Class (PFC) with A Company, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division “Keystone.” PFC Ory S. Patten was killed in action on 30 September 1944, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium. He was initially reported as missing in action and it was not until over a year later that he was listed as presumed dead. He left behind his wife and to daughters; Sally & Rosalie, they were aged three and two years of age at the time of his death.
Among his awards are the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal.
PFC Ory S. Patten is listed on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.
Ory S. Patten 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.
Howard Quinton Mann was born 25 April 1922, at South Point, Ohio. His parents are John H. & Murzy A. (Vanscoy) Mann. Howard’s father preceded him in death. His father was a veteran of the War with Spain. Howard had a brother S1C Alfred Mann who died in service, in 1942. Howard also had a brother in the Navy, S1C James F. Mann. Howard and his brother, James, enlisted together. Howard attended the Marion public schools. Howard was married to Norma E. Mann and together they had a son, John H. Mann. Prior to entering service Howard was employed as a molder at Commercial Steel Castings Company.
Howard Q. Mann enlisted at the local recruiting station, on 6 August 1942. He then attended boot camp at Great Lake Naval Station, Illinois. Howard attained the rank of Seaman First Class (S1C). He was serving as a United States Navy Armed Guard, aboard the Merchant Ship Sunoil.
“The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II. The men of the Armed Guard served as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels…”
In March of 1943, the MS Sunoil was sailing with a convoy, when it developed engine trouble. It was unable to stay with the convoy. By 5 April 1943, the ship was spotted and torpedoed by two different German u-boats. The MS Sunoil sank and all aboard were lost.
Merchant Ship Sunoil
In March 1943, the American tanker MS Sunoil was equipped with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns, and a 26-man gun crew that included Seaman 1st Class HOWARD QUINTEN MANN. On the 27th, Seaman Mann was on board as the tanker sailed out of New York with a 62-ship convoy, HX-231. Her cargo of 102,000 barrels of fuel oil was bound for Halifax and Scotland.
By Apr 5th, after leaving Halifax, the tanker had developed engine problems and was forced to fall back (straggle) from the convoy. German submarine U-563 spotted the zigzagging Sunoil and fired three torpedoes, one of which hit. The Armed Guards on board forced the U-boat to submerge, and a distress signal was heard by British ship HMS Vidette which came forward and averted another attack. Later that day, another submarine, U-530, spied the tanker and fired a spread of three torpedoes; one hit and the ship stopped. After being hit by two more torpedoes, the MS Sunoil quickly sank. A destroyer in the vicinity searched for any sign of the ship without success before returning to the convoy.
There were 43 Merchant Mariners and 26 US Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.
From the Records of the United States Naval Reserves
On 6 April 1944, the Navy officially declared S1C Howard Q. Mann as dead. His remains were not recovered. Howard Mann left behind his wife and 15 month old son.
Howard Q. Mann 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.
Ralph Donovan Davis was born on 21 October 1918, in Ohio. His parents are Zora P. Davis & Lelah R. (May), formerly of Marion. His father practiced as an attorney. Ralph D. Davis attended and graduated from Harding High School, Class of 1936. While at Harding, he was involved in the Junior and Senior Play, Hi-Y Club, Press Club, Student Counsel, Quiver Staff among others. He was also a college preparatory student. Davis went on to attend Marietta College and the Ohio State University. He had worked as a reporter with the Wellston Daily Sentinel.
Ralph D. Davis enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet Program, while a senior at Ohio State, on 20 April 1941. Davis attended training at Sikeston, Missouri; Randolph Field, Texas, where he was awarded his commission as a Second Lieutenant and his wings; later at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. While at Randolph Field, he married Ann (Abele), of Wellston, Ohio, in December of 1941.
Lieutenant Ralph D. Davis was assigned to a pursuit squadron, in Baltimore, Maryland. While here he was assigned to the 59th Pursuit Squadron. He was sent on special assignment at Langley a week before his accident.
On 3 April 1942, Lt. Davis and two other pilots left Langley Field, Virginia, that night the three planes encountered some difficulty. They planes were forced down into the Great Dismal Swamp in North Carolina, near the Virginia border. Two of the pilots made it out of the swamp and notified authorities and were assisting in locating Lt. Davis.
Lt. Ralph D. Davis died from injuries sustained in the crash of his aircraft, while serving his country. Lt. Ralph D. Davis is buried in the Ridgewood Cemetery, Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio.
Ralph D. Davis 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.
Earl Kenneth Rodman was born on 17 August 1914 in Paulding Co, Ohio. His parents are Benjamin & Clarice Rodman, former Brush Ridge residents. Earl had two brothers Ray and Vernon who in 1950, were serving at Fort Riley, Kansas. Earl K. Rodman was married to Hannah A. (Bibler) Rodman. Prior to entering service Earl K. Rodman was employed with Huber Manufacturing Company and later at the Bendix Airplane corporation, in Wayne, Michigan.
Earl K. Rodman entered service on 21 December 1942. He was trained at Fort Benning, Georgia. Earl attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). Rodman served on guard duty in Washington, D. C. He was sent overseas in June of 1944. PFC Rodman was reported as Missing in Action since 28 September 1944. He was serving with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Division “Blue Devils.” It was later determined that PFC. Rodman was killed in action near Bologna, Italy. His company was part of the Battle along the Gothic Line, in which his battalion was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. The actions from Mount Battaglia, are described in part below.
Second Day and Night on Mount Battaglia At 0530 hours, 28 September [1944]another terrific mortar barrage descended upon the mountain. It ceased in fifteen minutes and the Jerries struck again. The main effort was again directed at G Company. The forward outposts were soon overrun and the attacking troops were beaten back only after they had reached within a few yards of the crest. Again the artillery played a tremendous part in repelling the effort. The heroic actions of Lt. Vergot who defied all risks and dangers stayed at his observation post and directed deadly fire on all the critical areas. Several minor attacks continued during the morning and small groups of 25 to 30 attempted unsuccessfully to penetrate the outer lines. By now it became evident that the men of G Company could not stay in their prepared positions on the forward slope, because the constant mortar and rifle grenade shelling was making their positions very dangerous and costly. Captain Roeder consulted Lt. Col. Williamson and they decided to develop the rear slope for daylight occupancy, which would afford protection from enemy observation to the front and right. Everyone knew by now the Germans would assault — immediately following the cessation of preparation fires. It would be a case now of beating the Krauts to the hill top and occupying positions, so that grazing fire could meet his desperate rush. Casualties were so numerous that the command post was moved into a large defilade area in the open and the entire.. Other reports talk of the “fierce hand to hand combat that threw the enemy from the hill with both side suffering heavy losses.”
Quote from the 350th Infantry Regiment’s Historical Narratives
PFC Earl K. Rodman was temporarily buried in Italy. In September of 1950, his remains were returned to Marion, for final rest.
PFC Earl K. Rodman’s name is memorialized along with other members of the 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, on the peak of Monte Battaglia, Italy.
PFC Earl. K. Rodman is buried in Chapel Heights Memory Gardens, Marion County, Ohio. Earl K. Rodman 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.
Please consider visiting one of Marion County’s Veterans Memorials. Maybe even take your children to learn about what a Marion Veteran has sacrificed for their freedoms. Below is a link to Marion County’s Veterans Memorials.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 