Pvt. Richard A. Griffith – World War Two Casualty

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Richard Alvin Griffith was born on 10 October 1916, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Edwin H. & Faye Griffith. Richard A. Griffith attended Harding High School. Prior to entering service he was employed at the Hotel Harding as an Elevator Operator and Bell Hop.

Richard A. Griffith would enter service with the United States Army. He was inducted at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio, on 10 January 1942. Pvt. Griffith served with the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division “Name Enough,” under Patton’s Third Army. Pvt. Richard A. Griffith died in France, on 23 November 1944.
Pvt. Richard A. Griffith is buried in the Radnor Cemetery, Radnor, Delaware County, Ohio.
Richard A. Griffith 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.

Harry M. Dombaugh – United States Naval Academy, 1877

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Harry Mason Dombaugh was born on 24 January 1856. His parents were Philip & Sarah E. (Deardorff) Dombaugh. His parents had nine children. Harry M. Dombaugh attended the United States Naval Academy and was a graduate of the Class of 1877.

Records show that, “Lieutenant Harry Dombaugh left Monday night for duty at the United States Navy Torpedo Station at Newport, R. I.,” in the fall of 1889. In 1901, he was the Lt. Commander of the USS Hartford. We then find that he Commanded the USS Arkansas, on 29 August 1907; USS Nevada (Battleship #36), and USS Olympia (Cruiser #6). By July of 1909, he was on the list of Navy officers, who applied for voluntary retirement and whose applications have been accepted. At this time he was Commander of the USS Ozark (Monitor).

Captain Dombaugh was mentioned in a letter dated 5 August 1918, written from Major George B. Knapp to Knapp’s father.
Commander Harry M. Dombaugh died on 11 October 1920, and is buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.

Caption: Officers of USS HARTFORD, during reconstruction. Picture taken in 1901. The officers are, (from left to right): Assistant Paymaster Walter Camp, Ens Thos C. Hart, Ens Victor S. Houston, Capt. F.W. Witte, Lt. Cdr. Alex Sharp, Sailmaker Fronk Watson, Lt. John E. Hines, Comdr. John M. Hawley, Tall man behind?, Surgeon Edw. R. Stitt, Lt. Cdr. Harry M. Dombaugh, Gunner David F. Diggins, Lt. George W. Laws, Asst. Surg. Edw. G. Palmer, Gunner Wm. J. Foley, Warrent officer ?, Chaplain Robt. E. Steele, Warrrent officer ?

Cpl. Raymond C. Moll – World War Two Casualty

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Raymond Charles Moll was born 23 May 1922, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Charles H. & Ida A. (Zwilling) Moll. Raymond was a 1940 Graduate of the St. Mary Parochial High School. He was employed at the Marion Steam Shovel Company prior to entering service.

Raymond C. Moll entered service on 6 October 1942. He received training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Camps Robinson, Arkansas; Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp McCain, Mississippi; and Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. He was sent for overseas duty in September of 1944. He attained the rank of Corporal (Cpl.).

Cpl. Raymond C. Moll served in the 12th Infantry Regiment “Warrior Regiment,” 4th Infantry Division “IVy Division,” 3rd Army, in Europe. during the week of 10 December 1944, his parents received notice that their son was Missing in Action (MIA). Later, on 26 December 1944, his parents would receive official notice that their son was killed in action, in Germany. Cpl. Raymond C. Moll was killed in action at the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, Germany, on 17 November 1944.

Cpl. Raymond C. Moll was first buried in Belgium. His remains were returned to the United States, on 26 October 1947. He was laid to rest in the Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery, in Marion, Ohio.
Raymond C. Moll 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.

World War Two Artifact Found – Linked to Marion Veteran

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I was contacted by Markus Tamas. He was inquiring about a World War Two veteran, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. Tamas is a relic hunter who lives in the Netherlands. While searching an old dump site near Nothum, he had uncovered a world war two era helmet liner and other artifacts. Based of the marking on the helmet, he would begin to research the events, military units and personnel from this area. He believes that the helmet belonged to Lt. George F. Pennington. Pennington had been assigned to the Company E, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division “the Yankee Division.” In 1944, Lt. Pennington had made a heroic stand against German force attacking his position. Lt. Pennington was killed in this action on 28 December 1944.

I had written a brief article about Lt. Pennington and his late son, Clinton G. Pennington. At the time of researching for the articles, I was unable to locate descendants of Lt. Pennington. After Mr. Tamas contacted me asking for assistance in locating family, I was eventually able to get him in contact with Lt. Pennington’s grandson.

From Markus Tamas
Helmet Liner-Front

Hemet Liner-Rear

Pvt. Harold R. Lessig Dies in Service, 1943

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Harold Ross Lessig was born on 2 January 1920, along with his twin brother, Garold Ross Lessig. Their parents are Arthur E. & Ida Mary (Mason) Lessig of Green Camp. Harold was employed as a repairman at Universal Cooler Corporation, Marion, Ohio. Harold entered service 25 October 1941, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He received training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia; Fort Knox, Kentucky; and Camp Shelby, Mississippi. He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, prior to leaving for overseas duty in March of 1943.

Pvt. Harold R. Lessig was serving in England, with the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, “Blue and Gray Division.” His parents learned that, on 8 November 1943, he was injured and was being treated at a British Naval Hospital in Dartmouth, England.
Pvt. Harold R. Lessig died of his accidental injuries on 10 November 1943. Pvt. Harold R. Lessig is buried in Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridgeshire, England.
Harold R. Lessig is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery; and on the Universal Cooler Corp. Honor Roll.

An interesting note:
Harold and Garold Lessig were twins, from Marion, Ohio. Garold served as a Sergeant when Harold was killed. In my research I discovered there were also a Harold and Garold Lessig (twins), from Florida. Both of these Lessig twins were killed during World War Two. In fact, Harold died first and died in his brothers arms. Garold died about three and a half months later, in combat.
It seems too coincidental, but they had different parents and came from different states. But the Florida twins appear to have been survived by another set of twin brothers, as well as another brother and five sisters.