SSgt. William E. Fultz Dies in Service, 1971

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William Earl Fultz was born 29 June 1933, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He married Charlene Dewitt. Fultz was a resident of Marion, Ohio.

William E. Fultz was a career Army service member. He had entered service about 19-1/2 years prior to his accidental death. Fultz had attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt). SSgt. Fultz was a veteran of both Korea and Vietnam.

While heading home for Christmas in 1971, he was involved in an automobile accident in Indiana. He was coming home from Fort Sheridan, Illinois. SSgt. Fultz died as a result of this accident on 15 December 1971.

SSgt. William E. Fultz left behind his wife and daughter, Kathryn L. Fultz. Kathryn who was born in Columbia, South Carolina, stayed in Marion, Ohio, and raised her family here. She had married Roger Rayburn. SSgt. William E. Fultz is remembered on Honor Roll at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio.

S2C Vernon E. Brammer Dies in Service, 1946

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Vernon Emmett Brammer was born on 20 March 1928, in Lawrence County, Ohio. His parents are William G. & Garnett (Suiter) Brammer. Vernon E. Brammer enlisted in the United States Navy in 1946. He had served for 11 months, and was assigned to the U. S. S. Topeka. Brammer had held the rank of Seaman Second Class (S2C).

While the Topeka was docked at Long Beach, California, S2C Brammer had returned home on leave for the holidays. S2C Brammer was involved in an automobile accident near Green Camp, Ohio. Brammer was fatally injured in the accident and died on 11 December 1946. Officiating at his funeral service was Earl Holiday, World War One veteran of Marion, Ohio. Vernon E. Brammer is buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio.

Vernon E Brammer 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. Busby W. Sweney Killed in Action, 1943

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Busby Wottring Sweney was born on 22 July 1920, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Kenneth F. Sweney, Sr. & Marguerite E. (Wottring). Busby W. Sweney attended the Marion City Schools and graduated from Harding High School, in 1938. He was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company, prior to entering service.

Busby enlisted in the Army Air Forces in the summer of 1941. He had hoped to become a pilot. Busby W. Sweney was called to active duty with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He reported to Fort Hayes, Columbus , Ohio, on 12 December 1941. He was trained at King City, California; Santa Ana, California, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Busby W. Sweney graduated from Bombardier school on 15 August 1942, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant.

He was assigned to overseas duty on 15 February 1943, serving as a Bombardier, aboard a B-24 Liberator. He left with the 375th Bomb Squadron, 308th Bomb Group. The aircraft he was assigned to at that time was B-24D (#41-24287), nicknamed “Thumper.” Sweney’s original crew had crashed on 15 April 1943, when Sweney was not scheduled to fly, due to other duties at base. It appear the crash occurred over China during a storm.

Sweney was promoted to First Lieutenant on 1 June 1943. In July of 1943, his crew participated in the bombing mission of the ports of Hongat and Campha, China. Sweney and crew were credited for the sinking of two Japanese ships. These ships were a 4,000 ton naval auxiliary vessel and a 4,000 ton freighter. An Associated Press correspondent, Thoburn Wiant, was aboard for the mission. He reported Lt. Sweney as saying, “There was a terrific explosion after the bombs hit the auxiliary ship. Some of the crew got away in a lifeboat. I scored a direct hit on the stern of the freighter. The debris flew in all directions, covering a wide area of the sea.”

Sweney had flown as squadron bombardier in the lead ship on several missions. On 16 August 1943, he was awarded the Air Medal, for his service as bombardier of 25 missions. He was slated for promotion to Captain, due to his service time and repeated successes as a bombardier.

Lt. Busby W. Sweney completed his 50th mission, on 14 November 1943. Upon completion of their 50th mission, this made the crew next in line to be relieved from combat duty. Lt. Sweney was operating from a base in India until 24 November 1943. He was then transferred to China.

On 10 December 1943, Lt. Busby W. Sweney was killed in action. This was about three months after the death of his younger brother, Kenneth F. Sweney, Jr.

On 23 October 1944, First Lieutenant Busby W. Sweney was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

First Lieutenant Busby W. Sweney’s remains were one of the first two remains returned home to Marion, Ohio, after temporary burial overseas. They were disinterred from their original overseas burial locations. They left Hawaii on 30 September 1947. They arrived back in the United States, aboard the United States Army Transport (USAT) Honda Knot, arriving in San Fransisco, California, on 10 October 1947 . When the U. S. A. T. Honda Knot arrived, all Navy ships in port were displaying their colors at half-mast. On 22 October 1947, the bodies of CMC2C Ira C. Howard and 1st. Lieutenant Busby W. Sweney, arrived at the Union Station, Marion, Ohio. Lt. Busby W. Sweney was accompanied by 1st. Lt. Gordon G. Michael, Honor Guard.

The City of Marion ordered the flag, at the front of the Marion County Honor Roll (Court House), to be placed at half-mast at 4 o’clock and stay as such until after the funeral services were completed. Also, in honor of all World War Two dead that are to be returned in the future; local merchants were asked to display their flags. The courthouse bell was rung for five minutes, beginning at 2:30pm. Also, at that time the whistles at the Marion Power Shovel Company and the Huber Manufacturing Company would be blown for the five minutes, while business operations were suspended, in honor of the war dead. This was one of Marion’s expressions of honor for all those yet to return home for burial in the years to come.

Lt. Busby W. Sweney is buried in the Marion Cemetery in the Sweney Family Plot.
Busby W. Sweney 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.

PFC John H. Bristley Killed in Action, 1944

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John H. Bristley was born on 22 May 1913, in Marion, Ohio. His mother is Alice Bristley. John had sister who was serving as a Lieutenant in the Army Nurses Corps, Lt. Ruth E. (Bristley) Rice and a brother serving as a Corporal, Cpl. Paul E. Bristley, who was serving at Camp Millard, Bucyrus, Ohio. John Bristley attended Harding High School and had worked at the Bowe Ice Cream Company prior to entering service.

John H. Bristley enlisted in 1938. He spent 18 months serving in Iceland before being transferred to England. In August of 1944 PFC Bristley was sent to France. PFC Bristley was originally reported as Missing in Action (M. I. A.), on 3 December 1944. He had attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC), and was serving with the 10th Infantry Regiment, Fifth Infantry Division “Red Diamond and Red Devils.”

PFC John H. Bristley was killed in action by the result of injuries from artillery fragments on 8 December 1944. He is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Among the awards received were, the European Service Ribbon, Purple Heart and the Silver Star Medal.
PFC John H. Bristley 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.

Tech5 Robert C. Everhart Killed in Action, 1944

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Robert Clinton Everhart was born on 3 April 1913, in Forest, Hardin County, Ohio. His parents are James C. & Elizabeth A. (Kellogg) Everhart. Robert had attended school at Oak Street School and was later employed with Alloy Steel Casting Company prior to entering service.

Robert C. Everhart entered service on 20 November 1940, in Kenton, Ohio. He was stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas and Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was trained as a tank driver and was sent overseas in July of 1944. Everhart attained the rank of Technician 5th Grade (Tech5). He was assigned to the 77th Tank Battalion (Separate).

Everhart was killed in action, while supporting infantry units in Germany. Tech5 Robert C. Everhart died on 30 November 1944, in Flossdorf, Germany.

Tech5 Robert C. Everhart is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.
Robert C. Everhart 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.