Frederick Wilson Peters was born 5 January 1871, in Marion, Ohio. His parents were Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Peters of Marion. Nathan Peters was a well known druggist in Marion. F. W. Peters’ grandfather, Nathan Peters, was Marion’s first Mayor. It is said that Nathan Peters’ home was part of the underground railroad in Marion, Ohio. F. W. Peters service record shows him as a private with G Company on 13 July 1892, while the company was still at Prospect, Ohio. He would be made a corporal on 3 August 1892. And after the company was moved to Marion, Ohio on 31 October 1892, he would be promoted to the rank of sergeant on 9 November 1892. At this time he would also be detailed as the company’s first sergeant. On 2 August 1895, Peters would receive the rank of Second Lieutenant. Almost a year later he would see promotion to First Lieutenant on 14 July 1896. He received his Captain’s bars on 3 March 1898. He would then see service in the War with Spain while leading G Company. During the War with Spain, G Company would be mustered into Federal Service with the 4th O. V. I. F. W. Peters would also see active service during the Wheeling Creek strikes of 6 June to 19 June 1894. Capt. F. W. Peters would end his service with the Ohio National Guard, on 14 April 1899. F. W. Peters would marry Lillian Gertrude West on 28 December 1899. At some point, F. W. Peters served as Safety Director for the City of Marion, Ohio. Peters was an insurance salesman while in Marion. By August of 1936, he working as an insurance adjuster in Dayton, Ohio. F. W. Peters would die in Martel, Ohio on 20 October 1955. He is buried in the Marion Cemetery.
CAPTAIN PETERS Writes Home to a Friend – Fourth Ohio Highly Complimented. Captain Peters, writes home from Guayama, under date of August 7, among other things says: “General Haines says the Fourth Ohio does not need any officers; that we took to fighting like old ones. “We are anxious to get to the next town. I have often seen pictures of these towns and their people, but I never believed until now of their much-vaunted beauty. This city is simply wonderful in it beauty. I would not be able to tell you half of what we have gone through and seen.” Captain Peters concludes his letter which is principally a description of the skirmish of our troops August 5, with the statement that the entire company is in good health and spirits, and is asking to be remembered to all Marionites.
David Johnston Price was born 22 December 1946. His parents were Dr. W. Neil Price & Cleta J. Price of Marion, Ohio. He was from Marion, Ohio, and attended Harding High School. After Graduating from Harding in 1964, Price went on to Michigan University and Miami University of Ohio. While at Miami of Ohio, Price was in the AFROTC. When Price graduated from college he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. David J. Price entered service, joining the United States Air Force, in 1968. Price attained the rank of Captain (Cpt.) and served as a radar-navigator on a B52. Cpt. Price was assigned to the 744th Bomb Squadron, 307th Strategic Wing, SAC. Cpt. Price had served in Vietnam for four months in 1971. On 1 June he left duty at Beale Air Force Base, California, for duty combat duty in Thailand. Cpt. Price was based out of U-Tapao, Thailand. The B-52 (tail number 56-0677) was struck by lightning over Northern Thailand, which disabled electronics and caused a fire in the port wing of the aircraft. Cpt. Price was killed on 30 July 1972, along with four other crewmen. There was one other crewman who survived. Cpt. David J. Price left behind a wife, Margaret (Stewart) Price and a son, David W. Price, one year old. Cpt. David J. Price 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., on Panel W01, Line 60.
Henry Niles Love was born in 1849, in Georgia. He married Eunice Lee on 4 November 1874. Henry N. Love would be entered as a private with G Company of the Fourteenth Regiment, O. N. G. on 31 October 1892. He would be commissioned as Captain on 14 July 1894, and become the company commander until 15 January 1898. Serving under his command in October of 1896 would be his son, Harry T. Love as a Musician. When the Battleship Maine was sunk on 15 February 1898, Captain Henry N. Love immediately requested to the Adjutant General, to organize a company of volunteers in Marion, Ohio. The United States Declared War on Spain on 25 April 1898. On 25 August 1898, when G Company was leaving Marion to be mustered into service, Captain Henry N. Love had already arranged to use the armory. He at that time had 53 names and was preparing to drill. His son, Harry T. Love 15 years old at that time, was on his way with G Company to serve in the war with Spain. Henry N. Love would die in 1935 and is buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Marion Eugene McGinnis was born 13 April 1920, in Marion, Ohio. His parents were Ivan T. & Helen (Penser) McGinnis. McGinnis had three brothers, Warren H. McGinnis, John McGinnis and Tom McGinnis. At the time of his death, two brothers were in the military; Warren was in aviation cadet training and was awaiting receiving his wings as pilot; Pvt. John McGinnis was stationed with a tank detachment unit. Younger brother, Tom was still a senior at Harding High School at the time of Marion McGinnis’s death. Marion McGinnis was a 1939 graduate of Harding High School. Marion played on the football team. Prior to entering service, McGinnis was employed at Kline Department store. McGinnis enjoyed performing magic for parties and other social gatherings. Marion E. McGinnis enlisted in the Army at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio, on 16 September 1941. McGinnis would receive training at, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; Lowery Field, Denver, Colorado’s armament school; Las Vegas, Nevada’s aerial gunnery school; Salt Lake city, Utah; Spokane, Washington; Great Falls, Montana; and Kearney, Nebraska. McGinnis would attain the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt.). On 14 June 1943, before leaving the United States for England, McGinnis and the B-17 (Flying Fortress) crew he was assigned to would fly over Marion, Ohio, on their way east. This aircraft was named El Lobo.
Raunchy Wolf aka El Lobo
Family in Marion Gets Air Salute From Flier Son Marion got its first glimpse of what a plane of the type purchased by patriotic countians in a month-long countywide bond selling campaign last month can do when a Marion youth saluted his family in a 15-minutes series of simple maneuvers. In the plane, a four-motored giant of the sky commonly referred to as a B-17, was Sgt. Eugene McGinnis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan McGinnis of 480 South State street and one of three brothers now in the armed service. Sgt. McGinnis, a gunner in the waist of the death-dealing machine, was on his way to an undisclosed east coast base. Three hours before the plane arrived over Marion, Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis received a telegram from their son telling them that he expected to be over Marion later in the day. The plane was first seen at 3:15 and was last seen shortly after 3:30. Soon after it was first seen a handkerchief to which was attached a short note addressed to Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis was dropped from the plane. It lit near the Standard Oil Co. station at the corner of South Main and Columbia streets and was taken to the McGinnis home by Dick Putney of 283 Pearl street, an employee at the station. On the handkerchief inscribed in ink was his parents’ name and address. In the attached note he said hello and said he hoped the note would be taken to his folks if it landed near their home. Sgt. McGinnis spent a three-day furlough with his family two weeks ago.
The Marion Star dated 6-15-1943
Dorsal Queen
SSgt. Marion E. McGinnis was assigned to the 551st Bomb Squadron, 385th Bomb Group, of the 8th Air Force. SSgt. McGinnis would serve as the ball turret gunner on a B-17. Less than six weeks after arriving to his duty in England, McGinnis would score a direct hit on a German Messerschmitt fighter plane. McGinnis shot down the Nazi Messerschmidt 109, in July of 1943. McGinnis is reported to tell his fellow airmen, “It won’t be my last one.” he went on to say, “When I saw the Messerschmidt 109 first, he was Hell-bent out of the clouds about 300 yards away. I tracked him until he came within 200 yards and then I squeezed the triggers. He went out and off a little, then he blew up. Honestly there wasn’t a piece of that Nazi left big enough to see.” The pilot, Lt. Paul M. Yanello, of Pennsylvania, said that El Lobo was pushing along in formation ‘by sheer willpower.’ One engine was knocked out and there were other troubles, but the big four-motored bomber got “there and back despite one helluva time.””
After leaving England on a bombing raid over Germany, McGinnis and crew landed for refueling and rearmament in North Africa. Pilot, Lt. Yanello, convinced McGinnis to perform some magic tricks for the locals. McGinnis is said to have done an assortment of parlor tricks and gave several encores.
SSgt. Marion E. McGinnis would be killed in action on 26 September 1943. He was aboard the Dorsal Queen (B-17 #42-30264), when the aircraft suffered a mid-air collision. Ironically the other aircraft that they collided with was named, “Raunchy Wolf ” aka “El Lobo” (B-17 #42-3290). I do not know if this was the same aircraft that the crew flew over Marion or not. But the Raunchy Wolf was delivered to Bangor on 15 June 1943; the Marion fly-over of the El Lobo was on 14 June 1943. The dates make it very possible that this was indeed the aircraft that later was involved in the fatal crash. It appears that McGinnis remained with his crew that flew over Marion; as Paul Yannello was the pilot with whom he flew over Marion. Yannelo was the pilot of the Dorsal Queen at the time of the crash. So it seems possible that the aircraft that McGinnis and crew flew over Marion, then delivered to Maine was the same aircraft that they would later collide with, resulting in the deaths of the crews. The crash occurred at Bulphan, Thurrock Unitary Authority, Essex, England.
In October of 1943, Marion’s father and mother, received a letter from General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, and First Lt. James O. Kincannon, Army Chaplain with the 385th Bombardment Group. The Chaplain shared his condolences and shared his fondness of SSgt. McGinnis. He shared that McGinnis was not only a, “…fine, outstanding young man, a good soldier and a man of good character.” He went on to say that McGinnis was one of his main helpers in the base chapel.
In 1944, SSgt. McGinnis’s father received a posthumous Air Medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters, on behalf of his son. The Air Medal was awarded for actions over Europe in which SSgt. McGinnis had destroyed an enemy aircraft while on a bombing mission. The Oak Leaf Cluster was for completing ten missions over Europe.
SSgt. Marion E. McGinnis died on 26 September 1943 and was buried in the Marion Cemetery. His grave is located in the American Legion Post 162 Section. The American Legion Post 162 in Marion, Ohio, is named the Bird/McGinnis Post 162, to co-honor Marion E. McGinnis. SSgt. Marion E. McGinnis is also remembered on the Honor Roll, at 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.
Jeffery Scott Forry was born 27 February 1950. He was the son of Fred & Garnet (Jones) Forry of Marion, Ohio. Jeffery Forry was a 1968 graduate of Harding High School. At Harding Forry was involved in the Hi-Y’s, Prom Planning, Football, Cross Country and Track. Before entering service Jeffery worked at the Standard Oil Station on S. Main Street. Jeffery S. Forry enlisted into the United States Marines on 6 June 1968. Forry enlisted because of his great respect for his older brother who was serving as a Marine. PFC Jeffery S. Forry was a machine gunner in D Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division. PFC Forry would serve in Vietnam where he would be killed by small arms fire in the Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. Other acounts are that the helicopter that Forry and others were aboard was shot down by rocket fire as it made its approach for landing at his units location. Forry died as a result of that crash on 20 March 1969. PFC Jeffery S. Forry is buried in the Marion Cemetery. PFC Jeffery S. Forry 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 Panel 29W Line 088 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington, D. C.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 