George E. Hudson was born 20 May 1899, in Spencerville, Ohio. His parents were Samuel J. & Sarah E. (Hedges) Hudson of near Prospect, Ohio. George E. Hudson would join D Company, on 23 June 1916, as they were preparing for service in the Border Campaign. He would serve with D Company and return to Marion, Ohio. When D Company was again called upon for service overseas, in World War One, Private (Pvt.) George E. Hudson would again answer the call.
George E. Hudon attained the rank of Private First Class (Pfc.). While Pfc. George E. Hudson was serving in France, he would become ill and hospitalized with influenza. After his return to duty he would not be reunited with D Company, he was sent to M Company of the 110th Infantry. Pfc. Hudson would become wounded and captured by the Germans. His status at that time was unknown and his brother, Charles (C. B.) Hudson of Marion, was notified that his brother was Missing in Action (MIA). Later his brother would be notified that Pfc. Hudson was located and returned to American care. Pfc. Hudson was taken to Base Hospital No. 17, in Dijon, France, on 22 December 1918.
While in the base hospital. Pfc. Hudson would write his brother insisting that his condition was not serious and he was well cared for. He said that he had enjoyed a Christmas dinner and looked forward to returning home.
Sadly C. B. Hudson would receive a letter from Captain (Capt.) William Pringle, that Pfc. George E. Hudson succumbed to his wounds and died. Capt. Pringle was the acting chaplain at the base hospital and gave some kind words and stated that it was his, “duty to conduct the funeral services and lay away, in far off France, the body that he gave so willingly for his God and country.”
Pfc. George E. Hudson died 8 January 1919, in Dijon, France. Pfc. Hudson was buried initially in a military cemetery in Dijon, France. His remains were disinterred on 16 February 1921, and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the U. S. A. T. Wheaton (funeral ship), on 18 May 1921. He was then buried in Tomlinson Cemetery, Mendon, Mercer County, Ohio.
George E. Hudson 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.
PO3 James L. Rush – Vietnam Casualty
James Leroy Rush was born 2 November 1944. He was the son of Clyde Arthur Rush & Helen Lucille Camron. Rush attended Elgin High School and graduated in (?1963?). While at Elgin, Rush was a three sport athlete. Rush would play on the first football team in which Green Camp, LaRue, New Bloomington and Prospect would come together as one school/team. Rush would play guard and linebacker.
James L. Rush enlisted in the United States Navy on 25 September 1963. Rush would attain the rank of Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class (AMH3). He was assigned to the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), TF 77, 7TH Fleet.
Petty Officer Third Cass (PO3) James L. Rush was injured in an accident on the flight deck of the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Rush would be moved to the Naval Hospital at Da Nang, South Vietnam, where he would die of his injuries on 15 Feb 1967, at the age of 22.
James L. Rush would leave behind his mother; a wife, Jillian Joan Rush; and a son, James Lee Rush, Jr.
James L. Rush is buried in Prospect Cemetery, Prospect, Ohio.
James M. Rush 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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial, at the Marion County Admin building, at 222 West Center St. in Marion, Ohio, and on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington, D. C., Panel 15E, Line 36.
PFC Isaac D. Hunter, Jr. – World War Two Casualty
Isaac Denton Hunter, Jr. was born on 12 February 1925, in Summer County, Tennessee. Isaac went by I. D. Hunter. His parents are Isaac Denton, Sr. & Florence M. (Barber) Hunter. The parents were living near Morral, Ohio at the time of Isaac’s death.
He attended school in Franklin, Kentucky. He would come to Ohio with his family in October of 1943. In the short time that Isaac was in the Morral area, he was engaged in farming.
Isaac D. Hunter entered service on 18 January 1944, in Franklin, Kentucky. He would attend training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Pvt. Hunter would go overseas in August of 1944. Isaac would attain the rank of Private First Class (PFC.) Pvt. Hunter’s family would first learn that their son was reported as missing in action, on 21 September 1944. Pfc. Hunter would serve in an infantry unit until he was killed in action on 30 Sep 1944, in France.
Pfc. Isaac Denton (I. D.) Hunter, Jr. is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Portland, Sumner County, Isaac D. Hunter 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.
Lt. Geneva Imbody – World War Two Veteran
Geneva (Imbody) Whittridge was born on 31 August 1914. Her parents are William A. & Lydia S. (Schwaderer) Imbody of New Bloomington, Ohio. She was a graduate of Agosta High School, Class of 1932. She would marry Burdell Whittridge, on 23 July 1949, in Green Camp, Ohio.
Geneva graduated from Grant Hospital Training School for Nurses, in 1937. She would attend graduate school at University of Chicago, Illinois and graduate in 1941. She then would work as Supervisor of Surgery, at Grant Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
In February of 1941, Geneva (Imbody) would enter service with the United States Army, Army Nurses Corps (ANC). She would attend training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Later in 1941 she would be sent overseas to serve as a Second Lieutenant.
Lt. Geneva (Imbody) would serve for five years with the ANC. She would see service in Africa, Sicily and Italy (Anzio Beach). Lt. Imbody served with the 15th Evacuation Hospital, 5th Army. Among her awards she was awarded six Campaign Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. Lt. Imbody was honorably discharged in May of 1946.
While serving in Italy, Lt. Imbody would get a chance to be reunited with her brother, Sgt. William D. Imbody. The Marion Star would report on the meeting of the siblings.
After military service, Geneva (Imbody) Whittridge would work for 53 years as a nurse. She worked for Dr. Frank Murphy; worked at Crile General Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio; and worked in nursing homes in Marion, Upper Sandusky and Kenton, Ohio.
Geneva (Imbody) Whittridge died 25 September 1998, and is buried in the Marion Cemetery.
Geneva (Imbody) Whittridge is remembered on the World War Two Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery.
F-1C Oliver S. Wiseman – World War Two Casualty
Oliver Stanley Wiseman was born in Waterloo, Ohio. He was born on 2 September 1924. His parents are James F. & Amy A. (Payne) Wiseman of Marion, Ohio. Wiseman attended schools in Waterloo. He would come to Marion, Ohio, and was employed with Commercial Steel Castings Company. Oliver S. Wiseman was married to Margaret (Riggsby) Wiseman. They had two daughters, Madonna and Patricia. Wiseman was drafted into service from Marion, Ohio, in April of 1944. He served in the United States Navy.
Oliver S. Wiseman was a Fireman First Class (F-1C). F-1C Wiseman was killed in action on 28 May 1945, while serving in the Pacific Theater. He was killed during the battle for Okinawa “Operation Iceberg.”
In an article dated 21 February 1949, it is reported that the body of F-1C Oliver S. Wiseman was returned for burial and that the body was to be sent to Ironton for burial. His remains were returned aboard the U. S. A. T Dalton Victory. No grave is know at the writing of this article. His parents are buried in Fairview Cemetery in Wilgus, Ohio. A military headstone application was made for Oliver S. Wiseman, for Wilgus, Ohio.
F-1C Oliver S. Wiseman is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 