S1C Wilfred M. Ulery Killled in Action (Lost at Sea), 1944

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Wilfred Myron Ulery was born 2 September 1926, in Ohio. His parents were Lewis E. & Bernice (Hunt) Ulery of Marion, Ohio. Wilfred had attended Marion City Schools. Prior to enlistment he had been employed with the Baker Wood Preserving Company.

Wilfred M. Ulery entered service on 21 March 1944. He would be sent to the South Pacific for duty in May of 1944. Seaman Second Class (S2C) Wilfred M. Ulery was aboard the LST 47 on 15 December 1944. He was manning a 40mm gun during the Mindoro Island Landings in the Philippines. It was reported that the gun station that he was in took a direct hit and was completely blown from the LST, leaving the entire area in flames. There were no recovered remains of S1C Wilfred M. Ulery.

His parents did receive a letter from the commander of the LST, Lt. Zelvin Lowman. He shared the circumstances of Ulery’s death and also stated that Ulery was promoted to Seaman First Class (S1C).

S1C Wilfred M. Ulery was “Lost at Sea.” His is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing, in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Wilford M. Ulery 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.

(Note: the first name is spelled two different ways on the memorials. I have spelled it in the article as the prospective memorials have listed him.) Navy uses “Wilfred” as the spelling.

Sgt. Paul E. Riley Killed in Action, 1944

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Paul E. Riley was born on 20 September 1919, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Knelton Arthur & Bessie G. (Bair) Riley of Marion. Riley attended Harding High School. He had two brothers also serving; Burton Riley serving as Seaman First Class (S1C), in the South Pacific; and Knelton Riley serving as a Air Cadet at Childress, Texas.

Paul E. Riley had entered service on 7 March 1939, while a student at Harding High School and served with Marion’s D Company of the Ohio National Guard prior to his assignment in Europe. He had seen assignments in Panama, Iceland, England and Belgium prior to be sent to Luxembourg. Riley had attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt) and was assigned to the Coast Artillery. He was then transferred to the 22nd Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division “IVy,” about one week prior to his death.

Sgt. Paul E. Riley was killed in action on 26 December 1944. He is buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.

Sgt. Paul Riley 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. James M. Byram Dies of Pneumonia, 1918

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James Mayes Byram was born on 25 November 1890, in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. His parents are William W. & Ella F Byram. James M. Byram’s employment was listed as an Electrotyper. He was trained at the Methodists Publishing House, Nashville, Tennessee. James was married to Nell Marjorie (Arter), of Marion, Ohio. They were married in Marion on 1 September 1917. They made their home in Kenton, Ohio.

James M. Byram entered service while at Marion, Ohio. His enlistment began on 28 June 1918, Aviation Depot, Dallas, Texas. He attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.) on 4 November 1918. He was serving with the 865th Aero Squadron, Aviation Squadron Repair Depot, Dallas, Texas. While here he became an expert at aerial navigation. While serving with the 865th, Sgt. Byram became ill with influenza and was admitted to the Post Hospital, Aviation Repair Depot. Sgt. James M. Byram died on 14 December 1918, of pneumonia and acute interstitial nephritis. His wife, Nell, was living in Marion, Ohio, at the time of Sgt. Byram’s death.

Sgt. James M Byram is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee.


James M. Byram 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.

PFC Charles M. Stoneman Killed in Action, 1944

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Charles Milfred Stoneman was born on 19 June 1917, in Morrow County, Ohio. His parents are Albert L. “Roy” & Bertha A. (Healy) Stoneman. Charles M. Stoneman was married to Naomi L. (Hart). Stoneman had a brother, Cpl. James Stoneman, serving in the South Pacific. Prior to entering service Charles Stoneman was employed at the Scioto Ordnance Plant.

Charles M. Stoneman entered service on 16 December 1942. He attended training at Camp Howze, Texas and Camp Claiborn, Louisiana. He was sent overseas for service in Europe in September of 1944. Stoneman had attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC) and was serving with the 309th Engineers Combat Battalion, 84th Division “The Railsplitters.” PFC Charles M. Stoneman was killed during an attack by the German Lufwaffe. He was killed when a bomb hit the mess hall on 19 December 1944.

PFC Charles M. Stoneman is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.

PFC Charles M. Stoneman 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. John L. Vousden Missing in Action, 1944

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John Leote Vousden was born on 21 October 1917, in Zanesville, Ohio. His parents are John H. & Iva M. (Moore) Vousden. John L. Vousden attended Zanesville High School. It is not known when John came to Marion, Ohio. His draft card was annotated with a new address of North Greenwood St., Marion, Ohio.

John L. Vousden entered service and was assigned to the 2nd Air Transport Squadron, XX Bombardment Command. He last was based out of Luliang, Yunnan, China. John had attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.) and was serving as a radio operator with a crew flying C-46A (#42-96713).

On 16 December 1944, while flying a mission from Luliang, China, to Hsingching, China, the crew of four went missing. The last communication from the crew reported that they were over Ipin, China. The crew was never heard from again, and they were all reported as missing in action.

Sgt. John L. Vousden was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.

Sgt. John L. Vousden is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Sgt. John L. Vousden’s name is not listed on any memorials in Marion, Ohio.

Crew of C-46A (#42-96713):
1st Lt. Robert M. Cole, Pilot
2nd Lt. Robert E. Smith, Copilot
Sgt. Charles F. Flynn, Jr, Engineer
Sgt. John L. Vousden, Radio Operator