Harold Edward Bardon was born on 16 July 1923, in Little Sandusky, Ohio. His parents are Elmer & Myrtle (Racey) Bardon of Upper Sandusky. Harold E. Bardon attended school at Upper Sandusky. While a Senior at Upper Sandusky High School, he participated in Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Glee Club, Hi-Y, Operetta, Bowling and the Commercial Team. He graduated with the Class of 1941. Harold E. Bardon was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company. On Valentines Day of 1943, he married Evelyn (Gompf).
Bardon entered service on 21 April 1943, in Toledo, Ohio. Bardon would enter service with the United States Navy Reserves. He attended basic training at Great Lakes Training Station, Illinois. He was then assigned to Newport, Rhode Island. Bardon wore the rank of Seaman Second Class (S2C). It appears that while he was assigned to LCT-5, Flotilla One, he suffered a head injury while out at sea, off the coast of Virginia. S2C Harold E. Bardon died in service to his country on 8 December 1943, at the Naval Base Hospital, Norfolk Virginia. S2C Harold E. Bardon is buried in the Chapel Heights Memory Gardens, Marion, Ohio. Harold E. Bardon 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.
Oren J. Tennery was born 26 March 1919, in Ridgeway, Ohio. His parents are Floyd & Ethel Tennery. Oren attended schools in Marion, Ohio. Prior to entering service, he had been employed at Marion Milling Company, Marion Steam Shovel Company and Defiance Pressed Steel. He was last employed at Buick garage in Bellefontain when he entered service.
Oren J. Tennery married Vada Mae (Johnson). They had two children; Melvin and Marvin Tennery. Oren J. Tennery entered service on 19 April 1944, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama and Fort Meade, Maryland, prior to going overseas in August of 1944. Pvt. Oren J. Tennery served with the 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division “Timberwolf Division.” At the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, the 104th Infantry Division, would push into Germany. During combat action, on 4 December 1944, Pvt. Oren J. Tennery was killed in action. Pvt. Oren J. Tennery is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium. Oren J. Tennery 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.
Reuben G. Patrick was born on 12 June 1922, in Ashland, Kentucky. His parents are Ashland & Serena (Smith) Patrick of McArthur, Ohio. Reuben was married to Dayle (Franklin), of Marion, Ohio. Prior to entering service Reuben was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company. Reuben had also served with M Company of the National Guard.
Reuben G. Patrick entered service on 19 April 1944, at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky. Pvt. Reuben G. Patrick went for overseas service in October of 1944. He first went to England then saw service in France.
While in France, Pvt. Patrick served with L Company, 157th Infantry Regiment, in the 45th Infantry Division “Thunderbird Division.” On 25 October 1944, K and L Companies were involved in a bayonet fight with the Germans in the woods near Housseras, France. The battles would continue as the Germans put up fierce resistance. The weather at the time was described as being horrible. In late November the 45th Division was again making it’s push for Germany. But, during enemy shelling, Pvt. Patrick was struck by shrapnel, killing him. Pvt. Reuben G. Patrick was killed in action near Strasburg, France, on 29 November 1944.
Pvt. Reuben G. Patrick is buried in the Elk Cemetery, McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio. Reuben G. Patrick 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.
Frank Elza Middaugh was born on 17 March 1923, in Perry County, Ohio. His parents are George E. & Ida Middaugh of Marion. Frank had attended schools in Junction City, Ohio, before coming to Marion. Frank married Mary E. (Redmon) on 23 December 1942, in Marion, Ohio. Prior to entering service, Frank was employed by Marion Metal Products. Frank E. Middaugh would enter service on 13 January 1943, in Columbus, Ohio. He would be stationed at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; and see training at Dyersburg, Tennessee and Mobile, Alabama. His wife, Mary, was able to be with him while he was serving from April until September. Prior to his overseas move, she would return to stay with her parents in Caledonia, Ohio. Frank E. Middaugh attained the rank of Technician Fifth Grade (Tech 5). He was serving with the 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, United States Army Air Force. In early October of 1943, Tech 5 Middaugh would depart for overseas duty. The 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation was on its way to build landing strips and hangars in India, for B-29 Superfortresses. Tech 5 Frank E. Middaugh was declared Missing in Action (MIA), after His Majesty’s Transport (HMT) Rohna, was sunk on 27 November 1943. The HMT Rohna was sunk off the coast of Béjaïa, Algeria. The ship was attacked by a German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177, which dropped a glide-bomb that struck the port side. The sinking of HMT Rohna was the largest loss of United States troops by enemy attack at sea. 1,015 personnel lost there life at the sinking and another 35 would later die from injuries sustained in the attack.
A converted troop ship, the British-built Rohna was on its way to the China-Burma-India theater and jam-packed with nearly 2,000 men when it was hit by a German radio-controlled bomb on Nov. 26, 1943. The Rohna, part of a Mediterranean convoy, was the only ship to take a direct hit from a guided bomb and sank with 1,149 people. The 725-pound warhead pierced the lightly plated port side of the Rohna just astern of the aft funnel. Its delayed fuse exploded, blowing huge holes outward on either side of the ship at the waterline, near the engine room. The engine room flooded and caught fire. All electrical power went out. The ship’s superstructure above the engine room collapsed. Many ladders that were the only means of escape for hundreds below were shattered. Hatch covers began blowing into the sky. The entire 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion, located in compartments just aft of the engine room in the center of the ship, took a direct hit. More than 300 were believed killed instantly. Many more were sealed inside with no chance of escape. Many survived the initial strike but died in German strafing attacks or drowned in the open ocean. Some are buried in cemeteries in North Africa and Italy; others are still inside the wreck or scattered nearby.
“Forgotten Tragedy” by Carlton Jackson
HMT Rohna
On the date that Frank Middaugh’s wife and family received news that he was MIA, his wife had given birth to their daughter. The daughter was only four months old when Middaugh was officially declared killed in action. Tech 5 Frank E. Middaugh’s remains were never recovered. He is remembered on the Tablets Of The Missing, North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia. Frank E. Middaugh 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.
Another Marion Veteran was also killed aboard the HMT Rohna, during the sinking, Cpl. Bernard L. McCombs. Read more: “Allied Secret: The Sinking of HMT Rohna.” by Carlton Jackson Rohna – CLASSIFIED
Bernard Lynn McCombs was born on 14 June 1923, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Leroy & Ola (Shirk) McCombs. Bernard had attended school at Thomas A. Edison Junior High in Marion, Ohio. He had been employed at the Marion Steam Shovel Company and prior to entering service he was employed at the Scioto Ordnance Plant as a construction worker. He also enjoyed playing on the Ordnance football team. Bernard McCombs entered service on 13 January 1943. He would be stationed at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; and see training at Dyersburg, Tennessee and Mobile, Alabama.
Bernard was one of five brothers serving; Staff Sergeant John L. McCombs, Seaman First Class Robert M. McCombs, Fireman First Class Dale E. McCombs, and Marine Private Dale E. McCombs. Bernard would attain the rank of Corporal (Cpl.) and go overseas in early October of 1943. Cpl. McCombs served with the 853rd Engineers Battalion, Aviation, as a cook.
HMT Rohna
Cpl. Bernard L. McCombs was declared Missing in Action (MIA), after His Majesty’s Transport (HMT) Rohna, was sunk on 27 November 1943. The HMT Rohna was sunk off the coast of Béjaïa, Algeria. The ship was attacked by a German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177, which dropped a glide-bomb that struck the port side. The sinking of HMT Rohna was the largest loss of United States troops by enemy attack at sea. 1,015 personnel lost there life at the sinking and another 35 would later die from injuries sustained in the attack.
A converted troop ship, the British-built Rohna was on its way to the China-Burma-India theater and jam-packed with nearly 2,000 men when it was hit by a German radio-controlled bomb on Nov. 26, 1943. The Rohna, part of a Mediterranean convoy, was the only ship to take a direct hit from a guided bomb and sank with 1,149 people. The 725-pound warhead pierced the lightly plated port side of the Rohna just astern of the aft funnel. Its delayed fuse exploded, blowing huge holes outward on either side of the ship at the waterline, near the engine room. The engine room flooded and caught fire. All electrical power went out. The ship’s superstructure above the engine room collapsed. Many ladders that were the only means of escape for hundreds below were shattered. Hatch covers began blowing into the sky. The entire 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion, located in compartments just aft of the engine room in the center of the ship, took a direct hit. More than 300 were believed killed instantly. Many more were sealed inside with no chance of escape. Many survived the initial strike but died in German strafing attacks or drowned in the open ocean. Some are buried in cemeteries in North Africa and Italy; others are still inside the wreck or scattered nearby.
“Forgotten Tragedy” by Carlton Jackson
Cpl. Bernard L. McCombs’ remains were never recovered. He is remembered on the Tablets Of The Missing, North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia. Bernard L. McCombs 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.
Another Marion Veteran was also killed aboard the HMT Rohna, during the sinking, Tech5 Frank E. Middaugh. Read more: “Allied Secret: The Sinking of HMT Rohna.” by Carlton Jackson Rohna – CLASSIFIED
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 