Robert Leslie Baker was born on 27 March 1916, at Broadway, Ohio. Robert attended school at Harding High School, Class of 1934. While at Harding, Robert took College Prep. Courses and was involved with the Hi-Y Club and the National Honor Society. He has a brother, Wilton Baker, who was discharged from the Army, after serving two years in Italy. Robert L. Baker married Helen F. (Humes) and they had a son, Robert William Baker, together. Baker would enter service on 26 August 1943. He left for overseas duty in April of 1944.
While in Europe Robert L. Baker served with the 168th Engineer Combat Battalion in England, France and Germany. He attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC.). He was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Ardennes. Baker was initially reported as Missing in Action (MIA). But later, members of his unit reported that he was a prisoner at the Wittlick Prison Camp. They reported this after their release from the same camp. They reported that he was being treated by the Germans for an illness when they had last seen Baker.
It was later determined that Robert L. Baker had died, on 15 January 1945, leaving behind a wife and three year old son. PFC Robert L. Baker is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.
Robert L. Baker 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.
Raymond Moler was born on 1 September 1918, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are George E. & Melissa B. Moler. Raymond Moler lived in the Claridon area of Marion County. Moler entered service on 11 February 1941.
Raymond Moler was a Private (Pvt.) with the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division “Tough Ombres.” Pvt. Moler and the 357th Infantry Regiment, entered the Battle of the Bulge on the 6th of January 1945. Pvt. Moler was killed in action in Belgium, on 11 January 1945, just as the Germans were beginning to make their retreat from the Ardennes.
CAMPAIGN OF THE ARDENNES On the 6th, the Division moved northeast into Luxembourg to take its place in the Battle of the Bulge. The 357th moved into an assembly area near Bavigne and immediately began making preparations for an attack against the Germans who had just a few short days ago boasted that they’d be back in Paris soon. The attack to the north was begun on the 9th and met with immediate success. The enemy had strong forces in this area, but evidence of their disorganization was apparent. The advance of the Regiment to the north threatened the supply and withdrawal routes to the northeast, and as a result, many of the shivering Germans gave up, while others fought on to the bitter hand. On the 11th, the Regiment took over 1200 prisoners. This was particularly gratifying as many of them came from the German 5th Paratroop Division, the same outfit encountered by the 357th at Beau Coudray many months before.
From: Regimental History of the 357th Infantry Compiled by: S-Sgt. George von Roeder
Pvt. Raymond Moler is buried in Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, Hamm, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Raymond Moler 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.
Carlos Sims Frazier was born 27 April 1919, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Alfred E. & Stella (Sims) Frazier. Carlo’s mother preceded him in death by one and a half years. Carlos was a 1940 graduate of Harding High School. While at Harding he was considered an all-around athlete. He played Varsity Football, basketball and baseball. As a halfback with the football team, he was a 1938 All-N. C. O. second team member. Prior to enlistment Frazier was employed with the Bowe’s Ice Cream Plant.
Carlos S. Frazier entered service 21 January 1941, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He attained the rank of Corporal (Cpl.) Cpl. Frazier served with D Company, 166th Infantry. While at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Cpl. Carlos S. Frazier would die of wounds sustained in an accidental shooting on 9 January 1942. The Marion Star article of January 10, 1942, reported that, “tent mates reported he had been handling his .45 pistol when he accidentally discharged the weapon, causing the fatal injury.”
Cpl. Carlos S. Frazier was only 22 years old at the time of his death. The Marion Star article dated January 10, 1942, contained kind words from the Harding football coach and basketball coach.
The football coach, William O. Williams stated, “He was a fine boy-one of the best.” And Basketball Coach Dewey N. Bohyer said, “He was a very good, clean-cut athlete and a swell kid all around.”
Cpl. Carlos S. Frazier 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.
Matthew Gossard was born in Marion, Ohio. He was raised here and graduated from Elgin High School, Class of 2001. While in high school, Matt participated in football, basketball, cross country, baseball and track. Matt says he was a very competitive young man, he wanted not only to be good at the things he did, but he wanted to succeed and win.
Matt says that he was asked by a friend to come to the local recruiter’s office. Matt’s friend said that Matt only had to come in and speak with the recruiter, he would not be required to fill out any paperwork or sign anything, in order for his friend to gain the day off. He said he only went to help his friend get an extra day off work. Matt said he did listen to the army recruiter and was impressed with what he had to say. Matt states that he was taking some classes at Marion tech and working, but he did not have any definite career path or school plans. After hearing the recruiter, Matt decided to join the United States Army. Matt said it was out of a sense of adventure as well as a patriotic duty.
Matt entered service and attended basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He started basic training the day President George W. Bush declared war on Iraq. War was declared on 3 March 2003. After basic training he attended the basic infantry course and jump school. Matt would be classified as an 11B-1P. Matt was deployed in August 2003. He was serving with the 3rd/505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division “All American Division.” He was assigned to A Company, 1st Platoon. He held the call sign of Red 2 Bravo.
Deployed to Iraq Private First Class (PFC) Gossard served at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Saint Michael. This was in the city of Mahmudiyah and is located 25 kilometers south of Baghdad. FOB Saint Michael was located on the site of an old chicken factory, giving it the nickname “Chicken Factory.” As this was early in the war, Gossard and his platoon mates had to build up the FOB from scratch. They did not have phones or computers set up for contacting family in these early stages. They had to write old fashioned letters with pen and paper and mail them home to communicate with family. Gossard remembers that even in these early stages of the war, the humvees did not even have armored plating. They soldier would have to scrounge around and find wood to use to improve the blast protection from roadside bombs. He said that family members even sent kevlar clothe through the mail, so they could improve on their protection. The army did eventually get up to speed on the war, but the early days were very spartan.
“Ace of Spades” Captured Gossard remembers when the “Ace of Spades” (Saddam Hussein) was captured. Gossard was part of Task Force All American working in conjunction with Operation Red Dawn. Operation Red Dawn was the operation involving the search and capture of Saddam Hussein.
On the night of Dec. 12th, 2003, my platoon was sent out to a city called Latafiyah, to assist in the capture of Saddam Hussein. We were unable to locate him, due to him being tipped off that we were coming. We went back to FOB St. Michael and got a few hours of sleep. When I woke up early that next morning of the 13th, I was escorting an Iraqi contractor that was pouring concrete on the base. While I was with this man he received a phone call and looked up at me and just started shouting, “Saddam! Saddam!” while making a gesture with his hands like he was in handcuffs. I realized he was telling me that Saddam had been captured early that morning. So that is how I found out that Saddam Hussein had been captured, from an Iraqi contractor.
Gossard Recalling When He Heard Saddam Was Captured
During down time, Gossard said they pretty much did “as boys will do” for entertainment. He said they would through knives, wrestle and goof off. But mostly in the down time they tried to get caught up on sleep, as there was not much time allotted for sleep. Most time was spent improving the FOB, guard duty and patrolling.
Post deployment training at Fort Bragg Once back at Fort Bragg, the battalion resumed training. During a battalion airborne exercise. Gossard, now a Specialist (SPC), would begin a series of experiences that would forever change his life. As he was ready for an airborne jump exercise from a C-17. SPC Gossard experienced series of events that would include his parachute not deploying, his reserve failing to open properly and an entanglement. He landed mostly on his head and upper back while still loaded with his full gear. His parachute lines had him so tightly entangled, that he was unable to release his equipment during his plummet to earth. Gossard tells of the events from waiting as jumper #13, until his impact on the ground, where he briefly lost consciousness, when he tells his story.
Gossard’s injuries would leave him in such pain that he was unable to perform his duties. He says he felt the Army saw him as a failure and instead of trying to repair and restore him, they pushed pain medications to him. Matt was suffering from a traumatic brain injury, multiple herniations to the discs in his back and all on top of trauma from his Iraq deployment. He later realized he had become addicted to pain medications. He was subsequently medically released from the military. Gossard battled not only the physical pain, but the mental pain of not being able to perform tasks that he had previously succeeded in and the addiction and post traumatic response he was experiencing.
Restoration After going into a treatment center in Tennessee, Gossard began to hear from God and was able to respond to God’s offer of restoration. Gossard reestablished the relationship that God offered him and began serving Jesus Christ. Gossard now shares his experience that lead him into this wonderful relationship and encourages others to hear and obey God’s call for reconciliation.
I recommend that all seek out and hear the incredible story that Matt has to share. You can go to the following website to see where Matt is speaking next. https://marionnaz.org/leadership If you are a veteran who is dealing with addiction, depression or PTSD you may contact Matt or the Veterans Crisis Line.
Gossard returned to Marion after his treatments and is living here with his wife and three children. Matt Gossard is the Director of Discipleship at the Marion Nazarene Church, at the time of this posting. He still serves his community through his church and is an encouragement to veterans transitioning back into civilian life and all those struggling with addictions.
Some of the organizations that have helped Gossard over the years:
William Eugene “Bud” Norton was born on 19 January 1923, in Little Sandusky, Wyandot County, Ohio. His parents are Lewis A. & Glady K. (Swihart) Norton of Marion. Also serving was his brother, Pvt. Robert Norton, stationed in Belgium with an anti-aircraft unit. William E. Norton attended Harding High School. He was employed with Huber Manufacturing Company, where his father had also been employed.
William E. Norton entered service on 11 February 1943, in Columbus, Ohio. He attended training at Camps in Texas, Oregon and Washington. Norton attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC) and was assigned to the Medical Corps.
PFC William E. Norton was then transferred to the 23rd Infantry Regiment “Tomahawk Regiment”, 2nd Infantry Division “Second to None.” He saw service in England, France and Belgium. PFC Norton was injured in action on 16 January 1945.
His family received a telegram that said Bud had been wounded, so they started to prepare the house in order to take care of him. The next day another telegram came that said there was a mistake and that William had been killed in action. The family was told that he had been seriously wounded and had frozen to death while laying in the snowy battlefield.
Unknown Source
PFC William E. Norton was killed in action on 19 January 1945, near Eibertingen, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium. He is buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium.
William E. Norton 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.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 