Dale Greenland World War Two Veteran/POW

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Dale Greenland was a World War Two Prisoner of War. He escaped the Nazis and returned home. I apologize that the article below is not legible.

From The Marion Star

Marion Ranger Who Fled Nazi
Captors in Italy Arrives Home

Sgt. Dale Greenland, Captured at Anzio, Fears He’ll “Wake
Up.” Find Escape was Dream.

By John Bryans

It seems as if it were a dream. I’m afraid I’ll wake up said, Staff Sgt. Dale Greenland, recently returned home after serving with the First Ranger Battalion, being taken prisoner in the Italian campaign, and escaping to allied lines. Sgt. Greenland returned to his home here Thursday after more than three years of service which took him through the invasion of Africa, Sicily and Italy.
It was eight days after landings at Anzio that he was reported missing in action at Cisterna Di Littoria, a point on the Appian way. The men of the units involved fought until their supplies were exhausted, nearly 100 of the group being killed. The rest were taken prisoner by the Germans.
“After we were captured a typical Prussian colonel took charge,” Sgt. Greenland related. “He had a sword scar across his face, stood about six feet four inches in height, wore a monocle and owned a Doberman Pinscher dog. The colonel addressed us in excellent English: “Gentlemen: for you the war is over. I wish to compliment you on a fine battle. It’s too bad things had to happen as they did, but that’s war.”
Unsatisfactory Accommodations
“We found the German hotel facilities very poor and when the opportunity presented itself we escaped,” is the way Sgt. Greenland explains his return to allied lines. June 16, with Technical Sgt. Bob Halliday of the Third Ranger battalion, who was taken prisoner after the engagement at Cisterna Di Littoria.
Admitting that the Germans who took charge of the men after their capture were of the best fighting material, Sgt. Greenland said, “That ‘superman’ stuff is not true. You can’t make any soldier do the impossible.”
Though his parents Mr. and Mrs. Earl Greenland of 583 North Prospect street, had received official notice that their son was missing in action, they heard through various other sources that he was a prisoner of the Germans.
Heard In Broadcast
Cpl. Milton Birnbaum, Marion soldier who was stationed in the Italian Sector, heard a German broadcast which mentioned Sgt. Greenland as a prisoner.
The parents had also been encouraged by Sgt. Alex Szina of Dayton a friend of Sgt. Greenland who witnessed the action on the morning of Jan. 30, Sgt. Szina saw by early morning light, and was almost positive that Sgt. Greenland had not been hurt in the engagement. Sgt. Szina was wounded by mortar shells in the back, face and arm. He is a patient at Valley Forge hospital near Phoenixville, Pa.
A letter written to Mr. and Mrs. Greenland Jan. 17 told them not to worry that their son would be “busy” for awhile.
After their escape to allied lines Sgt. Greenland discovered that those men of his unit who had come through the action had already been sent back to this country. He immediately began his trip home, arriving in Marion Thursday. He will report to Miami Beach, Fla, Sept. 3 for reassignment.
“I certainly hope that I can get back to the same unit,” he said, “I wouldn’t want to serve with any other.”
Dangerous Duties
Sgt. Greenland’s job with his unit was that of demolition sergeant, which included hunting for booby traps, blowing bridges and seeing that enemy installations left in the invaded area were neutralized. When some of the men of the First battalion took part in the Dieppe raid, Sgt. Greenland was attending a school in which his unit was attached to a British special service brigade. It was here that he came in contact with the British “commandos.”
Sgt. Greenland has come through without being wounded in landings at Arzew, North Africa, in Sicily, above Salerno and at Anzio. He termed the Anzio Landing where he was in the first group ashore as a “quiet landing.”
Though he is far from war, loud sounds still startle him. As he was talking to the reporter of a thunder storm was in progress. “it reminds me of battle, but I’m getting used to it, he exclaimed.
“I practically eat these,” he said as he pointed to a pack of cigarettes. “It was hard to get them over there.” Still the sergeant praised the commanders of his unit, Col. William Darby and Lt. Col. Herman Dammer. “What one didn’t think of the other did. They did everything possible for us and some things that were impossible.”
Engaged to Wed
Other plans may call for his marriage. He is engaged to Miss Virginia Hurley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Hurley of 226 Forest Lawn boulevard. Plans for the wedding day are still uncertain.
“thoughts of coming home to my family and seeing my twin brother were what kept me going when I became disgusted with the situation over there,” he said.
Sgt. Greenland has been overseas since April 1942. In Ireland he joined the Rangers and later went to Scotland. After joining the army Sgt. Greenland was trained at Ft. Knox, Ky., in the quartermaster corps. He was home in March, 1942. Before he embarked from Fort Dix, N. J. Sgt. Greenland attended St. Mary Parochial High school and was employed by the Dependable Messenger service here.

From The Marion Star dated 14 August 1944

Related Article from the same date:

Ranger’s Desire To
See Twin Realized

When Sgt. Greenland arrived home, and was asked what he would like most to do, he said all his wishes would be fulfilled if he could see his twin brother, Staff Sgt. Gale Greenland now stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark.
Sgt. Greenland must have placed his wish on the right star, for this week-end saw his brother home on emergency furlough.
“I certainly am glad to see him,” Sgt. Greenland exclaimed.
The twin bothers had not met for three years in which Dale had been in the army. Dale was in the first group of draftees to leave Marion in 1940.

From The Marion Star dated 14 August 1944

CMM Robert E. Hickman Dies in Service, Vietnam Era

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Robert E. Hickman was born 27 July 1933, in Marion Ohio. Chief Machinist Mate Robert E. Hickman was a 17 year veteran of the United States Navy. Hickman tragically died in an automobile accident, in Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, on 1 July 1968. He was a Chief Petty Officer while serving in Vietnam.

Hickman was the son of Andy L. Hickman and Dora Hickman. He left behind his wife, Mary Ann Kamaka Hickman, whom he married on July 1, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also left behind two children; Timothy Mehele and Kathryn.

Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Hickman is buried at Grand Prairie Cemetery, Brush Ridge, Marion County, Ohio.

Robert E. Hickman is remembered on the Honor Roll, at Marion Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; on the west side of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D. C. on Panel W54, Line 29.

SSgt. Perry B. Cartwright Missing in Action, 1944

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Perry Bovee Cartwright was born on 30 August 1918, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. His parents are Fred & Miriam (Bovey) Cartwright, of Baltimore, Maryland. Perry B. Cartwright was a brakeman with the Erie Railroad Company. He was also a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. In 1938, he married Betty G. (Wilson), in Delaware. Betty’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wilson of Marion, Ohio.
Together Perry and Betty had a daughter, Linda Loa, age 6 at the time of Perry’s death.

Perry B. Cartwright was inducted into service 10 May 1942, from Marion, Ohio. Perry attended basic at Keesler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi. He received his wings at Las Vegas Army Air Field, Las Vegas, Nevada. In March 1943, Perry was sent overseas. He would have served time in North Africa and/or Italy. He was assigned to the 12th Bombardment Group, which in February 1944 was sent to the China-Burma-India theater.

Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) Perry B. Cartwright was assigned to the 82nd Bomber Squadron, 12th Bomber Group, Medium, U.S. Army Air Force. He was on a crew of a B-25J, Mitchell. On 20 June 1944, SSgt. Cartwright and crew flew in a formation to deliver ammunition to Palel. He and his crew were aboard B-25, #43-3961, which departed Pandaveswar Airfield in the morning. During the flight the formation had to separate due to cloud cover. SSgt. Cartwright’s aircraft became lost and unaccounted for. On 26 July 1944, the crew was declared Missing in Action. It was not until 11 February 1946, that SSgt. Perry B. Cartwright would be officially declared dead.

I was the formation leader of a three-ship formation scheduled to fly ammunition into Palel on the morning of June 20, 1944.
I took off from Pandaveswar Airfield at approximately 0705, June 20, 1944, joined the formation and set course for Palel via Silchar and Imphal, flying at an altitude of about 1,000. As I continued on course a stratus cloud layer began developing, so that by 0740 I was flying at an altitude of 3,000 above a low broken stratus cloud deck (1,500 – 2,500) and a higher broken strato-culumus deck (5,000 – 12,000). Bij 0800 it appeared that the two cloud decks were merging. Therefore at about 0830, without having encountered instrument conditions but with instrument conditions eminent at my flight level, I signaled for the wingman to break formation. The left wingman turned left immediately and the right wingman (Missing aircraft AAF No. 43-3961, Sq. No. 41) turned right a moment later. I held course about 30 seconds then turned left inside of the left wingman and began to climb in an irregular rate and course. Upon reaching about 8,000 another B-25 was in view for the ensuing two or three minutes, but was not identified as to aircraft number. Thus the late time fo positively seeing A/C #41 was at the point of the formation break-up which was at about June 20, 1944 approximately 20 Miles Southwest of Silchar at an altitude of 3,000.
I continued my flight to Palel and return to Comilla without flying instruments at any time.
All the above times and locations are from my own calculations, not the navigators.

Statement from Duane L. Crosby, 2nd Lt, Air Corps:

SSgt. Perry B. Cartwright’s remains were never recovered. He is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Perry B. Cartwright 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.

Crew members of B-25, #43-3961
2nd Lt Richard D. Kizer, Pilot
2nd Lt Jack V. Burkett, Co-Pilot
1st Lt Celso R. Mosteiro, Bombardier/Navigator
S/Sgt Perry B. Cartwright, Engineer/Gunner
T/Sgt William T. Dalton Jr., Radio Operator/Gunner
Cpl Charles Kelliher, Armorer/Gunner

Pvt. Robert E. Murphy Died in Service, 1944

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Robert Eugene Murphy was born on 19 February 1925, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Robert P. & Florence B. (Swindler) Murphy. Robert attended school at St Mary’s Catholic High School. While in school he was very athletic. He was involved in football, baseball, and basketball. had plans to become a physical education instructor.

Robert E. Murphy enlisted into the Army Air Corps. during his junior year of high school. He enlisted in September of 1943. He had been employed with Commercial Steel Casting Company. Robert had a brother, Jean S. Murphy, who served in the United Sates Navy. Pvt. Robert E. Murphy was assigned to Camp Pyote, Texas. On 20 June 1944, he was involved in a fatal accident with a dump truck on the airfield.

Pvt. Robert E. Murphy was buried in Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Robert E. Murphy 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. Verne I. Mounts Falls Victim to the Influenza Pandemic of 1918.

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Verne Ivor Mounts was born on 5 December 1887, in Marion County, Ohio. His parents are Henry N. & Elizabeth G. (Barnhart) Mounts, of Prospect, Ohio. Of his three siblings; brother Gilbert Mounts, was serving in the Students’ Army Training Corps., at Capitol University; and Harlow Mounts was in training at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio. Brother Harry was living in Prospect at the time.
Verne was well known for his skills as a baseball player. He was a catcher for the Prospect baseball team prior to entering service.

Verne I. Mounts enlisted in the Army on 13 December 1917, in Columbus, Ohio. Mounts saw training at Kelley Field, San Antonio, Texas; Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia; Camp Greene, North Carolina; and Camp Upton, New York. After he completed his training he served as an aircraft mechanic.


He left for overseas duty on 15 June 1918, to France. He attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.) and was assigned to 14th Company, 4th Motor Mechanics, Department of Military Aeronautics. Sgt. Verne I. Mounts saw action in Chateau-Thierry Belleau Wood, the Battle of Saint. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensive.

Sgt. Verne I. Mounts fell victim to the Influenza pandemic of 1918. He was hospitalized at Issoudum, France, where he died of pneumonia, on 6 October 1918. After a military service he was first buried in A. E. F. Cemetery number 32, in Grave number 118, on 8 October 1918. On 26 August 1920, his remains were disinterred and prepared for transport back to the United States. His remains arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the USS Pocahontas, on 18 October 1918. He remains arrived in Prospect, Ohio, on 5 November 1920 for final burial.

My Dear Mrs. Mounts:
I am writing this letter concerning the death of your son, Sergeant Verne I. Mounts, which occurred in the hospital here from pneumonia, October 6. I can assure you from personal knowledge that everything was done for him that could be done. He had the best of care from the nurses and physicians, but it was impossible to check the disease. He was given a military funeral, his company attending as an escort. There were many beautiful floral pieces. As a minister and acting Chaplain, I was called to officiate at the burial service. We laid his body to rest in the beautiful A. E. F. cemetery No. 32, and his grave is plainly marked so it can be identified at any time. I am sure, in the midst of your sorrow, you may well be proud of your son. He has made the supreme sacrifice for his country and his fellowmen. Such sacrifice and such an example is never in vain. He has joined the immortal host and lives in the lives of others, who, inspired by his example, go forth with renewed courage to complete the great task. May God bless and comfort you in your sorrow and loss.
I am here in Y. M. C. A. work. When at home I live at No. 6 Park place, Utica, N. Y. If any way I can be of further help to you I will be glad if you will let me know. Assuring you of my deep interest and sympathy I am
Yours respectfully,
Arthur. J. Dean, Chaplain.

Letter received by Mrs. Elizabeth Mounts (Mother of Verne I. Mounts)

Sgt. Verne I. Mounts was laid to rest in Prospect Cemetery in Marion County, Ohio.
The memory of Verne I. Mounts is honored by having the name of American Legion Post 368 – Verne I. Mounts, in Prospect, Ohio, named in his memory. Sgt. Verne I. Mounts 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.