PFC Howard G. Lee Dies in Service, 1945

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Howard G. Lee was born on 15 May 1912, in LaRue, Ohio. His parents are Crawford K. & Kathryn A. (Shirea) Lee of Marion, formerly of LaRue. Prior to entering service, Howard G. Lee was employed with Interstate Truck Lines, which ran from Chicago to Baltimore, Maryland. Howard was married to Marjorie (Lee), of Chicago. They were married in March of 1943.

Howard G. Lee entered service on 4 November 1943. In October of 1944, he was sent for duty overseas. While overseas he served as a Private First Class (PFC). He was assigned to the 158th Infantry Regiment “Bushmasters.” He was serving in Legazpi, Luzon, Philippines, when he became ill. He was diagnosed as having “sleeping sickness.” He died from the disease on 2 August 1945.

PFC. Howard G. Lee is buried in the LaRue Cemetery, Marion County, Ohio.
Howard G. Lee 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. Harold E. Dickinson, Sr. Killed in Action, 1944

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Harold Edward Dickinson, Sr. was born on 26 June 1917, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Andrew N. & Edna L. (Cross) Dickinson. His parents both died when Harold was young. Harold was raised by his grandparents, Joseph A. & Mary J. Dickinson. His Grandfather, Joseph, died when Harold was 21 years old. Andrew attended school in Marion, at Greenwood School. Prior to going into service, Harold had worked as a grinder, in the heat treat department at the Spicer Manufacturing in Toledo, Ohio. He had also been employed at the Marion Steam Shovel Company. Harold E. Dickinson married Cleo (Sloop) on 4 September 1942, at Napoleon, Ohio. He had a son from a former marriage, Harold, Jr.

Harold E. Dickinson was inducted into service on 30 June 1943, from Marion, Ohio. Harold attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC.) He attended training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia; and Fort Meade Maryland. He was serving with K Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, “Rock of the Marne.” PFC. Harold E. Dickinson, Sr. was killed in action on 27 July 1944. PFC. Dickinson and his wife, Cleo, shared the same birthday. She had received a letter from him the day before he died, in which he shared hopes to celebrate their next birthday together, but he was tragically killed the day after their shared birthday.

PFC. Harold E. Dickinson, Sr. is buried Chapel Heights Memory Gardens, Marion, Ohio.
Harold E. Dickinson 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. William J. Maniaci Killed in Action, 1944

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William Joseph Maniaci was born 7 July 1921, in Utica, Ohio. He is the son of Nick & Nancy Maniaci.
William J. Maniaci graduated from the St. Mary Parochial School, with the Class of 1939. Prior to entering service he worked at the Home Super Market on Silver Street.

William J. Maniaci entered service on 30 July 1942. He attended training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Camp Croft, North Carolina; Camp Butner, North Carolina; Camp Gordon, Georgia and Fort Dix New Jersey. In July of 1943, it was announced that Private Maniaci would be assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program at Syracuse University. He was to attend with fellow Marionite, Pvt. James J. Pfeiffer. They were classified in basic engineering. They were to be instructed on English, history, math, geography, chemistry, physics, physical training and military science. He was later assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Back to Fort Dix; Camp Gordon and Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

William J. Maniaci was sent for overseas duty in January 1944, arriving in England, until D-Day.
He served as an infantryman in H Company, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division “IVy.” He had written a letter to his parents, dated 22 July 1944, in which he stated that he had been part of the battle at Cherbourg. During this battle, Maniaci sustained a shrapnel wound to his arm. Maniaci had attained the rank of Sergeant. Sgt. William J. Maniaci was killed in action near St. Lo, France, on 26 July 1944. He was temporarily buried in France. In July of 1948, the remains of Sgt, William J. Maniaci were returned to Marion, Ohio. The Bird McGinnis Post No. 162, American Legion conducted military honors.

Sgt. William J. Maniaci is buried in the Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Marion, Ohio. Sgt. Maniaci 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.

Pvt. Robert C. Sagers Killed in Action, 1918

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Robert C. Sagers was born 5 November 1895, in Oakland, Maryland. His mother was Edna Weaver of Marion, Ohio. Robert C. Sagers would enlist while in Columbus, Ohio, on 20 March 1917. Sagers served with the 166th Infantry, in Company I, 42nd Rainbow Division. Private Robert C. Sagers saw service in the Champagne-Marne; Defensive Sector. He was killed in action on 16 July 1918, in France.

Pvt. Robert C. Sagers is buried in Union Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio.

Pvt. Robert C. Sagers 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.

Tech-5 Milton Birnbaum – World War Two Casualty,

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Milton Birnbaum was born 10 June 1915, in New York City. His parents are Max & Helena A. (Israel) Birnbaum of Marion, Ohio. Milton’s family is Jewish and he had two brothers who were also serving during World War Two, 2nd Lt. Isadore Birnbaum and Staff Sergeant Sam Birnbaum. Milton graduated from Harding High School in 1933. He attended Ohio State University, for 2 years and was employed with the State Highway Department, from 1939 until he entered service.

Milton Birnbaum entered service on 9 January 1942, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He was overseas for 10 months, serving with the 19th Engineer Combat Regiment. Milton attained the rank of Technician Fifth Grade (Tech5). While in Italy he would report the capture of Sergeant (Sgt.) Dale Greenland of Marion, by the Germans near the Anzio Beachhead. Sgt. Dale Greenland would later make his escape from the Germans and return not only to the Allied lines, but survive the war and return to Marion.

Tech5 Milton Birnbaum was killed in action on 11 October 1944, while serving in Italy. Birnbaum is buried in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy.

Milton Birnbaum 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.