Lt. Perry W. Wolfe Missing in Action After B-24 Shot Down Over Germany, 1945

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Perry Wallace Wolfe was born on 8 January 1921, in Coshocton, Ohio. His parents are Robert G. & Margaret (Roberts) Wolfe. Perry graduated from Mt. Gilead High School, where he was on the football and basketball teams for four years. He also was a member of the Hi-Y Club for four years. After high school, Perry was employed with C. C. Yagger, in Marion, Ohio. Perry may have been a salesman, as listed in his military records.

Perry W. Wolfe enlisted into the army on 16 May 1942, at Patterson Field Fairfield, Ohio. Perry attained the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He was a copilot of a B-24J Liberator. 22nd Lt. Wolfe was assigned to the 703rd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, in Tibenham, England.

On 3 March 1945, the aircraft B-24J #44-48844 that Lt. Wolfe and crew were aboard was hit by flak. The aircraft was seen as it went down over Rothensee Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. Witnesses stated that the aircraft received a direct hit on the bomb run and the right fin and rudder fell off. They went into a spin and two chutes were observed. Of the ten crewmen, four survived the crash and became Prisoners of War. The crew and dispositions are listed at the end of this article. Sadly, Lt. Perry W. Wolfe was among those killed or missing in action.

Perry W. Wolfe is remembered for his service and sacrifice on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.
Perry W. Wolfe’s name does not appear on any memorials in Marion, Ohio.

Crew Members of B-24J #44-48844:
Pilot 1st. Lt. Richard A. Winters of New Jersey, Killed in Action

Copilot 2nd. Lt. Perry W. Wolfe of Ohio, Missing in Action

Navigator 2nd. Lt. Ira J. Castles Prisoner of War

Bombardier 2nd. Lt. Matthew S Bahelka Prisoner of War

NTG 2Lt Charles P. Flanzer Killed in Action

Radio Operator SSgt. Melvin E. Schmidt Prisoner of War

Engineer Tech. Sgt. John F. Cicchetti Missing in Action

Waist Gunner SSgt. Karl G. Goff Prisoner of War

Waist Gunner Sgt. Vincent J. Rispoli Killed in Action

Tail Gunner Sgt. Francis Houston of Pennsylvania, Killed in Action

Pvt. Henry Brown, Colored Veteran of Civil War, Lies in Unmarked Grave

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Henry Brown was born in 1839. Records indicate that Henry was enlisted into the Union Army in August of 1864. He served with the Fifth Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. He was a Private and was assigned to Company E. Pvt. Henry Brown was discharged from service in October of 1865.
Henry Brown died on 22 June 1899 and is buried in the Old Singles Section, Marion Cemetery. It sadly appears from the news article, that Henry died alone and of starvation as a result of alcoholism.
Henry Brown is remembered for his service on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Chapel, on Column 3.

Note: Due to lack of records, the cemetery has no exact location of Henry Brown’s unmarked grave. If it is located in the future a veteran marker may be placed. Research on this veteran is ongoing.

Pvt. Sam Anges Died of Wound Received in Action, 1918

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Sam Anges was born on 16 February 1893, in Esperia, Provincia di Frosinone, Lazio, Italy. Marion information shows that Sam Anges and Pietro Pisacreta both filed for citizenship and received papers on 23 July 1917. The pair then went directly to the recruiting station to enlist. They stated that they would rather serve with American army rather than their native army.

Sam Anges enlisted on 3 May 1918, at the Columbus Barracks. Pvt. Sam Anges served in Company A, 59th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division “IVey Division.” He was a private and was a veteran of the Aisne-Marne and Meuse-Argonne offensive. On 21 July 1918, records indicate Pvt. Anges was wounded in action. His wounds and severity were not recorded. On 2 October 1918 Pvt. Anges died of wounds received in action.

Sam Anges is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial,Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France.
Sam Amges 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.

Note: Sam Anges’ named is spelled (incorrectly) Auges, on both Honor Rolls located in Marion, Ohio.

Capt. Edward F. Cooper Killed in Action, Civil War 1865

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Edward Ferdinand Cooper was born on 23 November 1840, in Ohio. His parents are Joseph & Sarah A. (Sturges) Cooper. Joseph and Sarah had eight children: Sturges Herbert, Anna Marie, William Henry, George Endicott, Edward Ferdinand, Charles Pettit, Albert Brooks, and Charlotte Elizabeth.

Edward F. Cooper was one of four brothers who served during the Civil War. Edward F. Cooper served in the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Fourth and Fifth Independent Battalions, Company B. He had attained the rank of Captain (Capt). On the morning of 9 April 1865, after more than a week of heavy campaigning with the Confederates, Capt. Cooper was mortally wounded in the battle of Appomattox Court House. This was very much near the surrender of Robert E. Lee. Capt. Edward F. Cooper was said to be the last officer to die in the Army of the Potomac before Lee’s surrender.

It was April 9, 1865, time 10 o’clock in the morning, and the place was Appomattox Court House and the battle had begun. On this morning the 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry lost a number of men on this last day, among them was Captain Edward F. Cooper, who was the last officer to be killed in the Army of the Potomac. He fell just before the flag of truce appeared. But before he expired he learned of the surrender of Lee.

From: HISTORY AND ROSTER OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH INDEPENDENT BATTALIONS
AND THIRTEENTH REGIMENT…
By HOWARD ASTON

Capt. Edward F. Cooper’s brother, Charles Cooper, served in B Company as well.
Edward F. Cooper died in action on 9 April 1865, and was originally buried in Liberty Church, Virginia. He was reinterred at Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Dinwiddie County, Virginia.
Marion, Ohio, has no Honor Roll for the Civil War, yet he is remembered on the walls of the Soldiers & Sailors Chapel, at the Marion Cemetery. His name is in Column 58, under 13th Reg. OVC.

Also, when Marion’s Civil War veterans organized a Grand Army of the Republic Post (G. A. R.), it was named in Honor of two of the Cooper brothers that died during the Civil War, “G. A. R., Cooper Post #117.” Sturges H. Cooper was the first killed and his brother, Edward Cooper, may have been the last Marion Soldier Killed in Action during the Civil War.

Pvt. Herbert Cooper Killed in Action, Civil War 1861

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Sturges Herbert “Bert” Cooper was born about 1835. His parents are Joseph & Sarah A. (Sturges) Cooper. Joseph and Sarah had eight children: Sturges Herbert, Anna Marie, William Henry, George Endicott, Edward Ferdinand, Charles Pettit, Albert Brooks, and Charlotte Elizabeth.

Sturges Herbert “Bert” Cooper was a member of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O. V. I.), during the Civil War. Cooper was a member of Company K. Cooper was one of four Cooper brothers who served their country during the Civil War. Sturges H. Cooper enlisted and was mustered into K Company, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on 4 June 1861. This was the first company organized in Marion, Ohio, for the Civil War. It was organized by Albert H. Brown. On 18 June 1861, Pvt. Cooper was ordered by Colonel Andrews to transfer to the Band.

Sturges H. Cooper was a Private (Pvt.) and served in the band as a Musician First Class. Pvt. Cooper was the first Marion soldier killed in action during the Civil War. He was shot by rebel snipers, on 18 July 1861, at Beverly, West Virginia.

“Bert Cooper, a member of the Fourth Ohio Regiment, and the leader of the band, and who was sent by his general some six miles distant to see another member, was killed. Just before arriving at his destination he was shot dead by concealed Rebels, one shot taking effect in his face, and another in his heart, which of course killed him instantly. He was buried, where he was stationed, in Western Virginia.”

Letter from Virgil D. Anderson to James H. Anderson
Dated 6 August 1861

The final resting place appears to be somewhere in West Virginia. I have not yet identified the location and it may well be that he was never reinterred to a war cemetery. From Anderson’s letter we see he may be buried in West Virginia.

Marion does not have a Civil War Honor Roll, but he is remembered with his name on the Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Chapel, at the Marion Cemetery; on Column 5 under the “4th Regiment O. V. I., Company K,” inscribed: “Cooper, S. H.”

Also, when Marion’s Civil War veterans organized a Grand Army of the Republic Post (G. A. R.), it was named in honor of two of the Cooper (Sturges and Edward) brothers that died during the Civil War, “G. A. R., Cooper Post #117.” Sturges H. Cooper was the first killed and his brother, Edward Cooper, may have been the last Marion Soldier Killed in Action during the Civil War.