Pietro Pisacreta immigrated to the United States when he was about 16 years old. His father was Moreno Pisacreta. He came from Italy aboard the Barbarossa. He arrived in New York, from Naples, Italy, on 28 April 1907. It is not known what brought him to Marion, Ohio, but he was listed as single and living on Farming Street in 1917. 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.
After only being in the United States for ten years, Pisacreta was enlisted into the United States Army, on 30 July 1917, at Columbus Barracks. Pisacreta served with the 59th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division “IVeY”, in E Company. Pvt. Pisacreta would serve with the American Expeditionary Forces from 5 May 1918, until he was declared Missing in Action, on 19 July 1918.
Pvt. Pietro Pisacreta is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; and on the Tablets of the Missing, Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, France.
Clayton A. Parr – World War One Veteran
Clayton Albert Parr was born 17 March 1892, near Agosta, Ohio. His parents were Samuel & Sarah E. (Clayton) Parr of Marion, Ohio. He was married to Altie (McKibben) Parr.
Clayton Parr served with D Company, ONG, during the Border Campaign, prior to World War One.
Clayton (Clay) Parr would also serve with D Company for service in World War One, in Europe. He was overseas from 18 October 1817 until 5 September 1918. Private (Pvt.) Clay A. Parr would received an Honorable Discharge, on 3 February 1919. Pvt. Parr had served as a cook for the 166th Infantry while overseas.
Clayton Albert Parr died on 1 December 1934 and is buried in the Chapel Heights Memory Garden in Marion, Ohio.
Pvt. Perry F. Ruick – World War One Casualty
Perry Francis Ruick was born on 26 March 1890, in Franklin County, Ohio. His parents were John A. Ruick, Jr. & Ann Rebecca (Neel) Ruick of Marion, Ohio. Prior to enlistment, Perry F. Ruick was employed as a painter with the Price Brothers, in Marion, Ohio.
Pvt. Perry F. Ruick would depart Montreal, Canada, on 5 June 1918, for service in Europe. He would travel aboard the SS Nankin, while assigned to Headquarters Company, 331st Infantry, 83rd Infantry Division.
He was serving in Europe with Co I, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division (Blue and Gray Division), during World War One. In November of 1918, his parents received a telegram from the War Department, stating that their son had been, “severely wounded and was in a hospital.” Four weeks had passed with no further word of his condition. The parents had sent several letters trying to find out further information. As of this writing the circumstances of his wounding and death are not known.
Perry F. Ruick would die on 20 October 1918. On 2 July 1921, the remains of Pvt. Perry F. Ruick would arrive in Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the U. S. A. T. Wheaton. The U. S. A. T. Wheaton was a United States Army Transport Funeral Transport. His remains would then be reinterred. Records indicate that he was buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Perry F. Ruick 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.
Tech5 John G. Snyder – World War Two MIA
John Grover Snyder was born 15 February 1919, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Grover C. & Cleah J. (Harmon) Snyder. John had a brother, George W. Snyder, who was also a World War Two veteran. George served with the 82nd Airborne Division. John G. Snyder attended Waldo High School. It appears he was a Sophomore at Harding High School in 1935. He would go on to attend Ohio Northern University. He was employed with Employed Hanley Engineering Service Co., in Prospect, prior to being drafted into service. He married Glenna H. (Conkle), of Waldo, in May 1942.
John G. Snyder took training at Camp Forrest, Tennessee and Camp Gordon, Georgia. He served in the European Theater with the 12th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. He attained the rank of Technician 5th Grade (Tech 5). Tech 5 John G. Snyder was listed as missing in action on 29 June 1944, somewhere over the English Channel. His body was never recovered. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, Cambridgeshire, England.
Tec 5 John G. Snyder 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. Willis Kuba – World War Two Casualty
Willis Kuba was born on 7 September 1917. His parents were Frederick W. & Ida S. (Siefke) Kuba. Prior to moving to Marion, Ohio, the family had lived in Logan County, Ohio. Willis had sixteen siblings. Prior to entering service Willis had lived in the Big Island area and was employed as a farm laborer.
Willis Kuba would enter service on 26 March 1942, from Marion, Ohio.
Willis Kuba would serve with the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, “IVy.” He attained the rank of Private First Class (Pfc). Pfc. Kuba would most likely have been with the invasion landing at Utah Beach. The 8th Infantry Regiment was the first of the 4th Infantry Division units to land at Utah Beach, on 6 June 1944. Buy the 24th of June, the 4th Infantry Division was in the midst of the first phase of the drive to Cherbourg. It would be on the 24th of June, that Pfc. Willis Kuba was killed in action.
Pfc. Willis Kuba had been awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his actions. Pfc. Willis Kuba is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.
Pfc. Willis Kuba 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.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 