B-24 Pilot, Lt. Stanley R. Neal Killed in Action, 1944

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Stanley Robert Neal was born on 12 June 1918, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Robert M. & Clara A. (Anson) Neal. Stanley had a brother, Ensign Howard L. Neal, who would later die in a crash of a military aircraft. Stanley R. Neal graduated from Harding High School, in 1936. He was employed for a time at the Marion Star with the circulation staff, the City Loan Company; and prior to entering service he was employed with Marion Steam Shovel Company.

Stanley L. Neal entered service on 2 April 1941, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He was trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Randolph Field, Moore Field, and Kelly Field, Texas. At Moore Field, Stanley R. Neal received his commission as a Second Lieutenant. He would later be promoted to First Lieutenant, in England and was assigned as a pilot on a B-24 Liberator bomber. The group Neal was flying with was under the command of actor, James M. Stewart. Lt. Neal had flown nine missions. The aircraft B-24 (#42-7569) “Sky Wolf,” was assigned to the 445th Bomb Group, 701st Bomb Squadron. Lt. Neal was shot down over Germany, on his tenth mission, after he had successfully completed the bombing run.

Neal and one of his friends he was serving with had an agreement to write to their family if anything happened in combat. His friend wrote to Neal’s parents stating that it appeared that Neal’s aircraft went down in a controlled landing, and it was hoped the crew made it safe.
The crew had successfully completed their mission and was attempting to return to their base in England. An enemy fighter made its way into the formation. The fighter shot Neal’s aircraft which was directly behind the aircraft flown by Neal’s friend. One of the other American gunner’s was able to shoot the enemy fighter plane.

Reported by The Marion Star

Lt. Neal was initially reported as Missing in Action (MIA). Later it was learned that he was Killed in Action (KIA), on 20 February 1944. His parents would learn of the official record as KIA, in a telegram received in October of 1945. Less than a year later, Lt. Stanley R. Neal’s brother would die in a military aircraft crash.

Lt. Stanley R. Neal is buried in the Neal Family Lot, Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Stanley R. Neal 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.

Crew of B-24 (42-7569) “Sky Wolf“:
Technical Sergeant Marvin Abrams Radio Operator
Staff Sergeant Monroe C Cohea Ball Turret Gunner
2nd Lt. Morris Hankin Navigator
2nd Lt. John A LaMar Bombardier
2nd Lt. Robert W McMeekin Co-Pilot
1st Lt. Stanley R Neal Pilot
Staff Sergeant Harry Rosenthal Tail Gunner
Staff Sergeant Bonifacio P Salmon Right Waist Gunner
Technical Sergeant Kenneth L Stacey Top Turret Gunner

TM2 John H. Wells Lost at Sea with Submarine Grunion (SS-216), 1942

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John Harrison Wells was born on 23 March 1920, in Ohio. His parents are John & Lesta (Belle) Nichols. John married Elizabeth M. (Sugden), on 23 March 1942, New London, Connecticut.

John H. Wells entered the United States Navy on 25 January 1939, while a resident of Marion, Ohio. While serving in the Navy, John attained the rank of Torpedoman’s Mate Second Class (TM2). It appears he served aboard the following: USS 0-7 / SS-68 (an O-class submarine), USS R-2 / SS-79 (an R-class Submarine), and the USS Wasmuth DD-338 (a Clemson class destroyer). He was last assigned to the submarine U.S.S. Grunion (SS-216). The Grunion was a Gato-class submarine.

USS Grunion (SS-216)

TM2 John H. Wells was aboard the Gunion, while it was on patrol off the Aleutian Islands. On 30 July 1942, while the Gunion was patrolling near Kiska Island, it reported intensive antisubmarine activity. The Gunion was then ordered back to Dutch Harbor. The Grunion was never heard from again. All crew was reported as Missing in Action. The government did not officially declare TM2 John H. Wells as dead until 2 August 1943. It was later discovered that the Grunion was sunk by Japanese freighter Kano Maru. The Grunion received one battle star for her World War II service.

Sinking of U.S.S. Grunion (SS-216):

31 July 1942:
Off Kiska, Aleutians. While the dense fog weakens a little, KANO MARU resumes her course to Kiska harbor cruising at 15 knots. At 0547, LtCdr Mannert L. Abele’s (USNA’26) (former CO of USS S-31) USS GRUNION (SS-216) on her first war patrol, torpedoes KANO MARU and gets a hit on the starboard machinery room that floods and stops the diesel engine. Two crewmen are KIA.

At 0548, the sub’s periscope is spotted. KANO MARU’s 8-cm/40 (3-inch) Type 41 guns and 13mm MGs fire at USS GRUNION, but score no hits. At 0557, Abele fires another unreliable Mark-14 torpedo that runs deep. At 0607, two other torpedoes hit KANO MARU near the machinery room, but fail to explode. Abele attempts to surface and sink KANO MARU by gunfire, but sustains fire from KANO MARU guns and MGs. At 0610, the 8cm gun’s 84th shot hits the conning tower. USS GRUNION crash dives, but Abele’s green crew loses depth control. USS GRUNION exceeds crush depth, implodes and is lost.

Imperial Japanese Navy Page

Rediscovered

The Grunion was never heard from again. Air searches off Kiska were fruitless, and on 5 October the Grunion was reported overdue from patrol and assumed lost with all hands. Her name was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 2 November 1942. Captured Japanese records show no antisubmarine attacks in the Kiska area, and the fate of Grunion remained a mystery for 65 years, until the discovery in the Bering Sea in August 2007 of a wreck believed to be her. In October 2008, the U.S. Navy verified that the wreck is the Grunion.

From Lost 52Project

The body of TM2 John H. Wells was not recovered. He is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii.

TM2 John H. Wells 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.

Watch the Lost52Project video (about 4 minutes in length) about the Grunion.

PFC Elmer W. Garrison Killed in Action While Serving in North Africa With the First Ranger Battalion, 1943

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Elmer Ward Garrison was on 9 September 1914, in Huntington, Indiana. His parents are Elmer L. & Gertrude J. (Ward) Garrison of Marion. Elmer had a brother, Sgt. Robert D. Garrison, stationed on Curacao at the time of Elmer’s death. Elmer graduated from Harding High School, Class of 1932. Garrison was talented in tennis and even was an instructor locally.He had worked at Huber Manufacturing Company, the Defiance Pressed Steel Company, and Metal Product Company. He was working as an electric welder in Galion, Ohio at the time of his induction into service.

Entered service in 21 October 1941, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He attended basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, later transferred to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He served with his unit in Ireland. He then joined the Rangers and was trained in Scotland before going to North Africa. He was serving with the First Ranger Battalion, with the rank of Private First Class (PFC).

PFC Elmer W. Garrison was reported as Missing in Action (MIA) on 12 February 1943, after becoming separated from his unit while on a night raid. He was later declared Killed in Action (KIA) on that same date. The Rangers were conduction a night time raid on Sened Station, in North Africa. This station was being defended by the Italian, Centauro Division.

His parents received a letter from his commanding officer while his status was still MIA.

“We went on a night raid about three weeks ago and the company did a fine job in accomplishing their mission. Your son did great work during the first part of the raid. When we withdrew we checked for missing men and went back and picked up the wounded we could find. Since it was pitch dark and we were under enemy fire, the task was somewhat difficult. Unfortunately we could not locate Elmer, which leads us to believe that he must have been wounded, otherwise he would have reported back. I am sorry that we can’t give you more positive information, but this is the best we can do. At least it enlarges on the base facts of a war department message.”
The letter goes on to state, “Elmer was one of my best soldiers, he always did more than just his duty. I feel we have lost him only temporarily…Elmer, by the way, was awarded the Order of the Purple Heart for his part in the raid. In due time it will be presented to you.”

Letter written by Garrison’s commanding officer, Captain R. A. Murray, Jr., stating that he believed PFC Garrison was wounded in a night time raid and may still be alive.

Another Marion Veteran, Dale Greenland may have been involved in this same action.

PFC Elmer W. Garrison is buried in North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.

Elmer W. Garrison 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 William H. Andrews Killed in Action, 1944

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William Harvey Andrews (Signed and printed “Andrew” on draft card) was born on 21 January 1919, in Logan County, Ohio. His parents are Aubrey C. (stepfather) & Blanche Hamilton, of Marion, Ohio. His employment is listed as being engaged in farming and employed with Emmet Johnson of Ridgeway and he also worked for the T. & O. C. Railroad. William H. Andrews was inducted into service while living in Ridgeway, Ohio. He enlisted into the United States Army, on 9 November 1942, in Columbus, Ohio.

William H. Andrews attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC), and was trained with the Ambulance Corps. at Fort Blanding, Florida; Camp Forrest, Tennessee and Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He had been confined to the hospital while at Camp Atterbury and his unit was sent overseas.

PFC Andrews was then sent to stations at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Fort Meade, Maryland, for infantry training. He was then sent overseas and returned to the medical corps.

While in Europe he served in the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division “Old Reliables.” PFC Andrews was killed in action in France on, 2 August 1944.

PFC William H. Andrews is buried in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France.

William H. Andrews 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.

Pvt. Earnest C. Messenger Killed in Action, 1945

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Earnest Clark Messenger was born on 31 July 1917, in Morral, Ohio. His parents are Owen M. & Elva B. (Russell) Messenger, both of Marion. Earnest C. Messenger attended Harding High School, Class of 1936. He worked at the Isaly Dairy Company prior to being drafted into service. Earnest entered service on 22 July 1944, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio.

Pvt. Earnest C. Messenger was trained at Camp Hood, Texas and Fort Meade, Maryland. Pvt. Messenger was then sent overseas for service in Europe in January 1945. He served with Company G, 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division “Blue Ridge Division.” He was with G company while American forces assaulted the Seigfried Line. G Company had led the attack across the Our River, between Luxembourge and Germany, on 9 February 1945. Pvt. Messenger was initially reported as MIA on 28 February 1945, in the Luxembourg area. He was later reported as Killed in Action (KIA) in Germany, on 9 February 1945.
Pvt. Messenger left behind his wife and two daughters; Joyce 8, and Barbara 6, at the time of his death.

Pvt. Earnest C. Messenger is buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium.

Earnest C. Messenger 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.