Cpl. Robert E. Jenner Killed in Action, 1944

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Robert Edward Jenner was born on 26 January 1925, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are William D. & Mary M. (Thieken) Jenner. His father preceded him in death. Robert E. Jenner attended St. Mary Parochial School. Prior to enlisting he had worked at Frank Brothers Company, in the rug department.

Robert E. Jenner enlisted in the United States Marine Corps., on 14 December 1942. He was called to service on 9 January 1942. He went to boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. He also attended training at New Rivers, North Carolina. Jenner was sent overseas for duty in May of 1943. He attained the rank of Corporal (Cpl.) and was assigned to the Pacific Theater. Cpl. Robert E. Jenner was assigned to Company B, 1st. Battalion, 22nd Marines Regiment, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, 6th Marion Division, at the time of his death. Among his assignments were; Guadalcanal and Guam.

Cpl. Robert E. Jenner was killed in action on 21 July 1944, in Guam. This was the first day of the Battle of Guam (1944). It was Americas attempt to retake Guam back from the Japanese. This was one of the earlier steps in Operation Forager. The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade landed in the south, near Agat. Their LSTs took heavy casualties from Japanese artillery.

The Marines reported to his mother that he was temporarily buried in a location in the Pacific Theater. It appears that Cpl. Jenner was later buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. There is also a grave stone memorial with his name on it, at the Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Marion, Marion County, Ohio.

Robert E. Jenner 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.

Private Charles J. McDaniel, Jr. Dies in Service, 1942

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Charles J. McDaniel, Jr. was born on 3 June 1921, in Ironton, Ohio. His parents are Charles J., Sr. & Mina M. (Harris) McDaniel, former Marion residents. Charles, Jr. lived in Marion for several years before returning to Ironton, in 1937. Charles had a brother, Clarence McDaniel, also residing in Marion. Clarence is a World War Two Veteran, United States Army. Charles, Jr. returned to Marion and was staying with his aunt, Mrs. T. B. Spence. While residing with his aunt, in Marion, he was employed at Marion Steam Shovel Company.

Charles J. McDaniel, Jr. was inducted in the United States Army, on 21 January 1941, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He was serving in the 166th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division “Buckeye Division.”

Private Charles J. McDaniel, Jr. was serving at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. On 1 February 1942, he suffered a fatal gunshot wound. The Associated Press reported, “Tent mates told Camp Shelby officers they heard a shot Saturday and saw McDaniel fall, an army pistol in his hand.”

It is strange to note that Cpl. Carlos S. Frazier, also of Marion, Ohio, entered service on the same date and at Fort Hayes. And on 9 January 1942, just over 3 weeks prior, Cpl. Frazier also died at Camp Shelby under similar circumstances. The report from tent mates was eerily similar as well.

Pvt. Charles J. McDaniel, Jr. died in service on 1 February 1942, and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio.
Charles J. McDaniel 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.

Lt. Phyllis (Barber) Fate, Korean War Veteran

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At the time of our meeting and interview, Ms. Fate was not doing well. She had just been placed on Hospice and wanted to share about her military service. She was found to be very proud of her service to her country. She also related that she was “the only ‘girl’ member of the local Korean War Veterans Association.” The following is what she wanted to share.

Phyllis M. (Barber) Fate was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1922. Phyllis said that she was born in the family home, in Portland. Her parents are Frank & Rebecca Barber. She has a sister, Beverly (Barber) Steele. Her sister also served in the Navy, as a WAVE Phyllis attended High School at Gresham Union High School, in Oregon. She graduated from Gresham High School in 1948.

After high school she decided to join the United States Navy, in the W. A. V. E. S. program. She said her parents had no problem with her joining. Her parents felt she was an adult and could make her own decisions. Her sister was already signed up and serving in the military too. She said she never served at the same stations as her sister. Her sister served her time in Boston.

Lt. Phyllis Barber (left) and sister, Beverly (right)

Phyllis joined the United States Navy in 1952. She served for almost 7 years. During that time she was stationed at Long Island, New York for Basic Training; and was later sent to California to work aboard the U. S. S. Haven (AG-12). The Haven was a hospital ship. It had served during the Korean War to receive treat and transport casualties from the war. The Haven was later placed in dry dock in California. There it still functioned as a hospital ship for the military.

While Lt. Phyllis Barber was serving she said she wrote often to her mother and aunt. She said that she stayed busy in her free time by sewing with a sewing group she belonged to. She also remembers a time when her and some friends went to see a movie that was in production, while in San Diego, California.

Phyllis received her training as a Registered Nurse at the Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Phyllis attained the Rank of Lieutenant (j.g.). She also met her husband, William Fate, while she was serving. William Fate is a native of Marion, Ohio. William is a veteran of World War Two, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Phyllis said she also served in Washington, Wisconsin, in a receiving station for new recruits. Here she assisted in medical exams of new recruits. She also spent time at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

William & Phyllis Fate on their wedding day

When Phyllis met her husband, who was in the Marine Corps., she was an officer and he was an NCO. She said since they were not in the same chain-of-command, so the military did not frown upon their relationship. But when she became pregnant, she had to leave service, as the WAVES did not permit them to have dependents.

When her husband, William, retired from the Marine Corps., they relocated to his hometown of Marion, Ohio. William had served for 30 years in the United States Marine Corps. He saw service through World War One, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Phyllis and William were married and raised two sons, William and David, in Marion, Ohio. One son also served as a Marine. When Phyllis came to Marion to set up her home, she worked at the Marion Power Shovel on the Shovel’s weekly newspaper. She then returned to nursing at Marion General Hospital as a medical floor nurse, where she retired. Phyllis calls Marion her home. Here she raised her two sons and worked until retirement. Phyllis is very proud to have served her country and still displays here photos from the days she was a Navy Lieutenant.

CWTA Arthur E. A. Harruff Lost at Sea, 1943

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Arthur Edwin Albert Harruff was born on 21 December 1903, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Samuel & Wilmina (Conaway) Harruff. Arthur E. Harruff married Francis E. Harruff. Francis was born in Massachusetts. Together they had two daughters; Mary Jane and Sharon Harruff. The family was residing in Redondo Beach, California, at the time of Arthur’s death. The family had move there about 15 years prior.

Arthur E. A. Harruff was drafted into service and served in the United States Navy. He was a Chief Water Tender (CWTA). CWTA Arthur E. A. Harruff served aboard the USS Helena (CL-50). in the early morning during the Battle of Kula Gulf, on July 6, 1943, the Helena saw combat with Japanese destroyers. Helena was hit by three enemy torpedoes that broke the cruiser in three parts, resulting in the loss of 168 crewmen. One of the crewmen lost in that battle was CWTA Arthur E. A. Harruff. The USS Nicholas (DD-449) picked up survivors of the Helena. The survivors had to swim through oil covered waters. they were treated aboard the Nicolas. CWTA Arthur E. A. Harruff was reported as Missing in Action. It was not until August of 1945 that he was officially reported as dead. His sister, Mrs. Lowell Ulsh, of Caledonia, was among the local family that would receive news of official status as killed in action.

The remains of the USS Helena were discovered in late March 2018, in the New Georgia Sound, South Pacific.

This March 24, 2018 photo provided by Paul G. Allen shows the starboard stern quarter of the light cruiser USS Helena. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage. The March 23, 2018 discovery revives stories of the battle-tested ship’s endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival story of 165 of the crewmen. In all, 732 of the 900 crew survived its July 5, 1943 sinking. (Paul G. Allen via AP)

The remains of CWTA Arthur E. A. Harruff were not recovered. His name is found on the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Arthur E. A. Harruff 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.

Sgt. John P. Roszman Killed in Action, 1945

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John Phillip Roszman, Jr. was born on 12 August 1922. He was born and raised in Pleasant Township of Marion County, Ohio. His parents are John P. Roszman, Sr. & Ida (Hickman) Roszman of near Prospect, Ohio. John P. Roszman, Jr. attended Pleasant Township School. John P. Roszman, Jr. married Janis M. (Peak) of Delaware, Ohio, on 29 June 1942. John was employed with Universal Cooler Corporation.

John P. Roszman, Jr. entered service on 17 October 1942. Camp Campbell, Kentucky and Camp Barkley, Texas. Roszman was sent overseas on 20 September 1944. His son, Michael was born on 12 December 1944, so John likely never got to meet his son.

While overseas John served as a Sergeant with the 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division “Hellcats.” While fighting against the Germans’ Operation Nordwind, Sgt. Roszman was listed as Missing in Action (MIA). He was thought to be lost near Herrlishiem, France. It was later discovered that Sgt. John P. Roszman, Jr. was killed in action on 14 January 1945. His family was notified of his death in late March of 1934.

Sgt. John P. Roszman, Jr. was buried in a temporary grave in France. Among his awards were the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star Medal, and European-African Mid-Eastern Theater Ribbon. His body was returned to the United States aboard the Oglehtorpe Victory on 9 July 1948. It was reported by his wife’s parents that she had been very despondent since learning of her husbands death over three years prior to the return of his remains. Sadly when his widow, Janis M. Roszman learned that her husband’s remains had arrived at Columbus, Ohio, she took her own life. It was believed that she waited until this time, in order to be buried with him. Tragically they left behind their 3-1/2 year old son.

John P. Roszman is buried in the Prospect Cemetery, Marion County, Ohio, next to his wife after a double funeral service.

John P. Roszman 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. His name can also be found on the Universal Cooler Corporation Honor Roll.