PFC George L. Bolinger Dies of Pneumonia, 1919

marionohioveteransLeave a comment

George Lloyd Bolinger was born in 1893. His parents are Emerson R. & Laura C. Bolinger. George had married Laura (Stinfelfer) of Martel in August of 1918. He was employed in Martel as a telegraph operator.

George L. Bolinger entered service and left for Camp Merrit, New Jersey, on 24 June 1918. He then sailed for Europe on 3 September 1918. He departed Brooklyn, New York, aboard the Ajax. He was at that time assigned to B Company, 336th Infantry Regiment, 84th Division “Railsplitters.”

While in France he was stationed at LaMons, and working with Company F, 1st Provential Regiment.
PFC George L. Bolinger died of pneumonia on 9 March 1919. He was temporarily buried in St. Malo, France and then in an American Cemetery in Lambezellec, Finistere, France. On 5 June 1920, his remains were once again disinterred and shipped to Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the U.S.S. Mercury (ID 3012), arriving on 6 June 1920. His remains then arrived back in Marion County for final rest on 10 July 1920.
PFC George L. Bolinger is buried in the Claridon Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.

George L. Bolinger 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.

Pvt. Everett L. Cranston Dies in Service, 1945

marionohioveteransLeave a comment

Everett Lew Cranston, Sr. was born on 23 September 1923, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Walter L. & Mildred B. (Ralph) Cranston. Everett L. Cranston, Sr. had a brother, Cpl. Fred B. Cranston serving in Italy during World War Two. Everett had been employed at both the C & O Railroad and Erie Railroad, prior to entering service. He was listed as being a stock clerk.

Everett L. Cranston, Sr. was married to Minnie Mae (Morris) of Marion, on 26 June 1943. They had a son, Everett L. Cranston, Jr. Everett’s son went by the name “Butch,” and was later to be a veteran of the Vietnam War. They also had a daughter Nancy C. (Cranston) Carr.

Everett entered service on 15 January 1943, at Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky. Everett L. Cranston, Sr. was serving as a Private (Pvt.). In February of 1943, he was admitted to the hospital at Camp Wolters, Texas. He was discharged after less than a month of active service.

He returned to Marion and was ill until his death on 28 February 1945, in the Marion City Hospital.
Everett L. Cranston, Sr. is buried in the Marion Cemetery.

Everett L. Cranston 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.

PFC Francis E. Ault of the 5th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Killed in Action, 1945

marionohioveteransLeave a comment

Francis Eugene Ault was born on 25 May 1917, in Claridon Township, Marion County, Ohio. His parents are Harley E. Ault & Dora B. (Groves) of near Caledonia. Francis E. Ault graduated high school in 1935, from Claridon High School. Francis was employed with North Electric Manufacturing Company in Galion, Ohio.

Francis E. Ault entered service in February 1942. His stations include Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio; Pine Camp, New York; and Camps in Texas and California. He was sent overseas on 29 December 1943. He attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). While overseas he saw service in England, France, Belgium and Luxembourg prior to entering Germany. PFC Ault received commendations for actions in France and Bastogne.

PFC Francis E. Ault was killed in action while serving in a mechanized unit in the 5th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 4th Armored Division “Breakthrough.” His death occurred on 1 March 1945.
PFC Francis E. Ault is buried in the New Caledonia Cemetery, Caledonia, Marion County, Ohio.

Francis E. Ault 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. Clarence A. Roseberry, Graduate of Harding High School, Killed in Action, 1944

marionohioveteransLeave a comment

Clarence Albert Roseberry was born on 7 November 1912, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are John M. & Oda (Uncapher) Roseberry. At the time of Clarence Roseberry’s death he had a brother serving with the United States Marine Corps, PFC Carl Roseberry. Clarence Roseberry graduated from Harding High School, with the Class of 1932. Clarence was taking classes preparing him for college and was recognized for his engineering skills. He served as Vice President of the Harding Vocational Department.

Clarence A. Roseberry graduated from engineering school at Tri-State College, Angola, Indiana. He then returned to Marion and worked for the Marion County Engineers, as a surveyor.

On 13 February 1941, Clarence entered service. He received his training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. It was here that he advanced in rank to Sergeant (Sgt.). He was trained as a range-finder for the field artillery. Sgt. Roseberry was assigned to the 27th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Armored Division “Old Ironsides.” Sgt. Roseberry was with the Division when it went to Ireland and then saw service in the North African Campaign. He would then move on to serve in central Italy and later was transferred to the Anzio beachhead.

He had written a letter to his family describing some of the action he was involved in and life in a three foot foxhole. He started the letter in ink and finished it in pencil. “It’s too hot to get my pen refilled.” Referring to the combat action at the beachhead. He then wrote, “My buddy has started to cook and there isn’t room enough in one fox hole to write and cook at the same time.”

Sgt. Clarence A. Roseberry was killed in action at Anzio, on 27 February 1944. He was reported to have died from artillery shrapnel. He had served on the front lines in Italy for 52 days. Sgt. Roseberry is buried in Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy.

Clarence A. Roseberry 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.

Ensign Howard L. Neal Dies in Service, 1946

marionohioveteransLeave a comment

Howard Leslie Neal was born 31 March 1924, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Robert M. & Clara A. (Anson) Neal. Howard had a brother, Lt. Stanley R. Neal, who was killed in action, on 20 February 1944. Howard L. Neal graduated from Harding High School, in 1942. Prior to entering service Howard L. Neal had been employed with the Marion Star, in the mail-room and later with the Marion Steam Shovel Company. Neal enrolled into the Ohio State University. He entered service while at Ohio State.

Howard L. Neal took basic training at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. He later took pre-flight training at Oxford, Ohio; Iowa City, Iowa; and Primary Flight School at Naval Air Station (NAS) Minneapolis, Minnesota. He then entered two years training in the V-5 Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Upon completion of the program he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U. S. Navy at Corpus Christi, Texas. At the time of his commissioning, his brother, Lieutenant Stanley R. Neal was listed as Missing in Action, in Germany.

Ensign Howard L. Neal was then assigned to fly torpedo bombers at Miami Beach, Florida. He was later stationed at Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In August of 1946, he and another pilot, from Sandusky, Ohio, flew to Ohio to visit with their families. After leaving from their visit, Lt. Neal would be involved in a crash of his aircraft near Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. Witnesses stated, “The plane took off, circled the Sault Saint Marie airport, and then began a climbing roll. At the climax of the roll, the craft suddenly plummeted to earth, catching fire.”

The plane was reported to have developed engine trouble when it arrived from Atlantic City, several days prior to the crash. A repair crew was dispatched to retrieve the craft.

Ensign Howard L. Neal died on 7 August 1946. This loss occurred less than a year from when the family received official notice that Howard’s brother, Stanley, was declared KIA.

Ensign Howard L. Neal is buried in the Neal Family Lot, Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Although fighting had ceased for World War Two, men and women serving between 7 December 1941 to 31 December 1946, were eligible for the World War Two Victory Medal. Though not in combat, Ensign Howard L. Neal did die in service, in a time that he was eligible to wear the World War Two Victory Medal and is remembered on the World War Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.