SSgt. James W. Mitchell, Brother of World War One Casualty, Is a World War Two Casualty

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James Wilson Mitchell was born 3 August 1908, in Marion, Ohio. His parents were Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Mitchell. He had a brother, Fleet Mitchell, who died of disease during World War One. James W. Mitchell attended Harding High School. On 21 March 1936, he was married to Alice (Peters), in Marion, Ohio. He was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company. He also had a step-son Charles Peters, who was serving as a Lieutenant in the Army Air Force as a navigator. Lt. Peters was stationed at Alamagordo, New Mexico, in August of 1945.
On 19 November 1942, James W. Mitchell would enlist in the Army Air Corps., at Patterson Air Field, Ohio. From here he would move to Keesler Field, Mississippi, and be trained as ground mechanic. He then would go to Harlington Army Air Force Gunnery School, in Harlington, Texas, and graduate and receive his wings on August of 1943. Next would be advanced training at Davis-Montham Field, Tucson, Arizona.

Sergeant Mitchell was part of the original cadre of 459th Bombardment Group (BG) going overseas in January of 1944. Sgt. James W. Mitchell was assigned to the 756th Squadron of the 459th BG.
Mitchell would attain the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt). He was assigned as a Waist Gunner on a B-24.
SSgt. Mitchell was assigned to B-24 (42-52406), nicknamed “Smokey.”
On 17 March 1944, while on a mission to bomb Messerschmitt plants in Vienna, Austria, another B-24 (42-52319) the La Borrache) was hit by flak. The flak hit destroyed the La Borrache’s tail and rudder. The La Borrache then lost control and collided with Smoky. The tail of the Smokey was sheared off in the collision. Both ships began to disintegrate and came down killing 21 airmen. One crew member from Mitchell’s crew, SSgt. Charles W. Bell survived.
SSgt. Bell was in the tail section when he bailed out. SSgt. Bell was captured by the Germans. He would report the deaths of some of the crewmen. Also, captured German records indicate that some crew members of this aircraft crash were buried in Soldiers Cemetery Vienna, Austria. It did not list SSgt. Mitchell’s remains with those buried in Soldier’s Cemetery. But later American reports from the Quartermasters General, Memorial Division, report that the remains of SSgt. Mitchell were recovered from Central Cemetery in Vienna, Austria.
SSgt. James W. Mitchell was reported Missing in Action (MIA). His wife would be notified via telegram that he was MIA in 1944. It would not be until August of 1945 that she would be again telegrammed stating her husband was officially declared dead. He was declared killed in action on 17 March 1944.
SSgt. Mitchell’s remains are reported as recovered and returned to the United States.
SSgt. James W. Mitchell 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.

Cpl. Paul E. Terry – Korean War Casualty

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Paul Earl Terry was born 26 April 1932. His parents were Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Terry of Marion, Ohio. Paul E. Terry would attend Vernon Junior High School. He would leave school to work as a laborer at the Marion Steel Building Company. Terry would enlist in the U. S. Army in February of 1949. Terry had seven siblings. One of his brothers was also serving in the army, Staff Sergeant Frank Terry.
Paul E. Terry was sent to Japan in May of 1949. Private First Class (Pfc.) Paul E. Terry was serving with the 63rd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm), Headquarters Battery of the 24th Infantry Division, “the First to Fight Division.” He would be sent o Korea, with the 24th Infantry Division, when the war broke out. Pfc. Terry was first reported as Missing in Action, near Taejon, on 14 July 1950. Terry would be promoted while listed as MIA to Corporal (Cpl.). Cpl. Terry was later reported as killed in action along the Kum River, South Korea on 14 July 1950. Cpl. Paul E. Terry is buried Greenmound Cemetery, Kilbourne, Ohio.
Cpl. Paul E. Terry is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; and on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse.

Marion Youth
Missing In
Korean Action
Pfc. Paul Terry, 18,
May Be With U.S.
Gen. Wm. F. Dean
Pfc. Paul Earl Terry, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Terry of 195 Chicago avenue is “missing in action” in the current Korean campaign.
A member of the 63rd Field Artillery Battalion near Taejon, he is reported missing since July 14. A telegram was received by his parents from the Defense Department Wednesday.
He was a member of a battery command unit. His parents received a letter from him dated July 11 telling them he had been in a battle and he was well and feeling alright.
That was the last communication received concerning their son until the Wednesday telegram.
May Be With Gen. Dean
Mrs.. Terry said her son had written he had served with Major General William F. Dean for a while but they did not know for how long or where.
Gen. Dean, commander of the 24th Division, has also been reported missing in action, according to an Associated Press report.
On July 14, the day Pfc. Terry was reported missing, American ground forces were trying to hold the Red army tanks on the Kum River line. It was that day the first breach of the Kum line amid severe fighting was reported.
Pfc. Terry attended Vernon Junior High school but left school to work for the Marion Steel Building Co. as a laborer.
He enlisted in the army in February 1949 and was sent to Japan in May 1949. He attended school in Japan and was graduated from army training school there.
He has five brothers and three sisters. On brother Frank, is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army supply corps at Dayton. His other brothers are: Harold, Dale, Vinal and Donald. His sisters are: Mrs. Ervin Jones of Delaware, Esther and Sandra Terry still at home.
“We do so hope he’s alright,” said Mrs. Terry today. We just hope and pray he’ll turn up among some of the wounded.”

From The Marion Star dated July 22, 1950

James A. Clement – LaRue’s First KIA in World War Two

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James A. Clement was born on 12 January 1918, In Hepburn, Harden County, Ohio. His parents are Emery O. & Bessie E. Clement. James A. Clement was a graduate of Kenton High School. Prior to entering service he was employed with the Marion Army Air Force Depot. In August of 1943, he married Pauline (Johnson) at Orlando, Florida. His wife was from Mt. Victory, Ohio.
James A. Clement entered service in March of 1941. In April of 1943, after completing his flight training in Phoenix, Arizona, he would receive his wings. Lt. Johnson would then be chosen for advanced training and was sent to Orlando Air base, Florida. He was trained at night fighter pilot in the school of applied aviation tactics.
Upon his request, he was sent overseas in September of 1943. Lt. Cement was assigned to the 12th Fighter Command, 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 62nd Fighter Wing. His squadron was a night fighter squadron assigned to defense of Allied shipping on the Mediterranean front. His squadron was based on Sardinia, where he would fly a British Beaufighter. His squadron also was to intercept enemy raiders along the Mediterranean front. He was report as Missing in Action on 1 May 1944, when on a special night mission over Italy. Lt. Clement was reported as the first LaRue resident killed in World War Two. His body was never recovered.

American Legion Post 101- Phillippi-Clement, LaRue, Ohio, co-named it’s post to honor his memory.
James A. Clement 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 Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

S-1C Robert E. Goodrich – World War Two Casualty

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Robert E. Goodrich was born 26 October 1924. Robert’s parents were Vernon L. & Emily J. Goodrich of Marion, Ohio. Robert E. Goodrich attended schools in Marion. Prior to enlistment Goodrich was living in Middletown, Ohio, where he was employed.
Robert E. Goodrich enlisted while in Middletown, in June 1942. He would enlist in the United States Navy. He took basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois and advanced training in Norfolk, Virginia. Seaman First Class (S-1C) Goodrich would leave the states for the Southwest Pacific serving on convoy duty in January of 1944. The exact circumstances of S-1C Goodrich’s death are not known, but he was reported as buried at sea.
S-1C Robert E. Goodrich is listed on the Honor Roll, of the USS Birmingham (CL-62), aka Mighty B. We have an account of the actions that day aboard the Mighty B, on 4 May 1945, the day S-1C Goodrich was killed in action.

Aboard the Birmingham everything seemed rather peaceful. It was a beautiful cloudless day, and we weren’t firing at the moment. Then, at 0840, a plane was splashed by the St. Louis only 4,000 yards away. The very next thing that most of us recall was the rattling sound of 20mm. fire coming from our own ship, and to men who had fought and lived through almost constant air attacks for forty consecutive days and nights, 20mm. fire was the most frightening, God-awful sound imaginable. The next few seconds seemed like eternity, and then it happened. The plane, a single-engined “Oscar,” plunged into the starboard side of the main deck just abaft turret 2, and the ship shuddered with the impact. Those of us who were there had an indelible and everlasting picture carved into our minds as men streamed up from below in ever increasing numbers to receive much needed medical attention and comfort from the more fortunate ones. Yes, the Birmingham had taken a third strike. The plane itself penetrated to the third deck, where it exploded. The estimated 500 pound bomb carried under the fuselage kept on going and exploded farther down, the force of the blast carrying upward and forward. The entire sick bay area was demolished, resulting in the death of both the ship’s medical officers and the majority of our pharmacist’s mates and hospital corpsmen. Flaming gasoline started fires over the entire area. Powder magazines in the vicinity were immediately flooded as a precaution.

From The Saga of the USS Birmingham; A Compilation of Her Officers and Men, excerpt for May 4th 1945.
USS Birmingham (CL-62), aka Mighty B

S-1C Robert E. Goodrich 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.
S-1C Robert E. Goodrich is also remembered on the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.

USS Birmingham Display Aboard the USS Alabama, Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama

Arthur R. Keeran – World War One Casualty

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Arthur Roy Keeran was born on 10 Nov 1894, in Leipsic, Ohio. His parents were John R. & Mary S. Keeran. Prior to enlistment Arthur R. Keeran was employed as a clerk and as a laborer.
Arthur R. Keeran would enlist 18 November 1917. He would receive his training at Camp Sherman, Ohio with Company 3, Training Battalion, 158 Depot Brigade. He would then be assigned to Company B, 308th Ammunition Train, 83rd Infantry Division, at Camp Sherman until 20 December 1917; Keeran would then depart Hoboken, New Jersey, on 4 January 1918, aboard the USS Mercury. While in Europe he wrote home to D. C. Nelson. In the letter he talks of seeing some soldiers from Marion. (article below). He would serve in Europe with the Motor Transport Corps. 302 until his death. Pvt. Arthur R. Keeran died of tuberculosis on 5 March 1919. His remains would arrive at the Brooklyn Naval Base, on 19 June 1921, aboard the Mars.
Pvt. Keeran is buried in the Marion Cemetery. Pvt. Arthur R. Keeran is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; and World War One Honor Roll, located on the second floor of the Marion County Courthouse.

ARTHUR KEERAN’S NEWSY
POSTCARD FROM FRANCE
Tell About Marion Boys and
What They’re Doing.
D. C. Nelson has received from Arthur R. Keeran, of the 302d motor car company, postcards on the back of one of which Keeran states that he is located in Tours and is now engaged in driving a motor car for Colonel Bush.
Keeran says: “I had the good fortune of seeing some of the Marion boys. Yancey Shields is now a second lieutenant in the infantry. I saw John Douce, who is driving a car in the aviation corps. Corporal Millard Baldwin is in charge of an American gas station. Robert Coe and Owen Kirts are in the aviation not far from here and Harley Lewis is an officer in the artillery about fifty miles from this place.
“As far as I can learn all the Marion boys are O K and the way things are beginning to look we might get home some of these days.”

Marion Daily Star dated 11-02-1918