This monument is the only known memorial bearing the names of the four Marion, Ohio, veterans who died in service to their country during the Spanish American War, aka The War with Spain. This monument was erected by the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry Association in 1923.
For more info on the four Marion veterans, see the Honor Roll at the top of the page.
Wesley C. Winter was born around 1870. Winter was with G Company when they had formed up on 25 April 1898. Pvt. Winter was detailed as the Company Clerk on 17 May 1898. He would be relieved from that detail on 9 August 1898. He was with the 4th O. V. I. when they were in action and captured Guayama, Puerto Rico, on 5 August 1898. On 27 August 1898, Pvt. Winter is listed as “sick, at the Division Hospital at Guayama, Puerto Rico.” On 5 September 1898, Pvt. Wesley C. Winter died and was buried in Guayama.
There is a grave marker in Delaware, Ohio, at the Oak Grove Cemetery. Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the 4th O. V. I., as well as the article in the Marion Daily Star dated 7 November 1898, lists him as buried in Guayama, Puerto Rico.
At this time the author is not aware of an Honor Roll, for those who died in service in the Spanish American War aka The War with Spain, in Marion, Ohio. But there is a memorial bearing the names of those from the Fourth Ohio who died in service. See the Fourth Ohio Memorial, in Guánica, Puerto Rico.
Chester Danner was born in Marion County, on 22 February 1899. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. O. C. Danner of Marion. Danner married Gertrude (Keeler). They had a son, Robert Marshall Danner.
Chester Danner would serve with D Company during the Border Campaign and again with them when they reorganized and left for Europe in World War One.
While serving with D Company, who was part of the famed Rainbow Division, Danner would see combat in which he “went over the top” five times. Danner would be gassed and return to the company to see more action. Danner would suffer from “shell shock.”
When Danner returned to Marion, Ohio, he would talk of his service and about some of those who he served with. He also praised the support services such as the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., and Salvation Army. Danner also would talk at local schools. In these talks he stated that the “mothers of D Company boys’ could be justly proud of their campaigns. The articles the Star would publish gives us a look at what war was like for the veterans of Marion, Ohio.
Chester W. Danner would die 12 January 1958. He is buried in Daytona Memorial Park, Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
CHESTER DANNER, WORLD
WAR HERO, IS BACK HOME
Decorated with French Insignia
for Bravery.
WEARS WOUND AND SERVICE
STRIPES AND TWO BADGESThe Marion Daily Star dated 25 November 1918
Over the Top Five Times – He’s
Now Suffering from Shell
Shock.
Chester Danner, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Danner, of No. 793 east Church street, who saw service in France, arrived here Saturday evening from Ft. Sheridan, near Chicago, to spend a ten-days furlough with his parents. Mrs. Danner, who went to Ft. Sheridan, Friday accompanied her son home Saturday evening.
Danner, who is only about twenty years old, was “over the top” five times. He was gassed July 15 and spent seven days in a hospital, returning to action as soon as released. Shortly afterward he suffered of shell shock, spending four months in various base hospitals in France. He was sent to this country to recuperate, landing at Ellis Island October 20. Recently he was transferred to Ft. Sheridan, where he will go from here at the expiration of his furlough.
Young Danner speaks in the very highest forms of the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A. and Salvation army in France. Everything possible is done by these organizations for the comfort of the sick and wounded. Also when at the front many comforts are provided the boys by the noble workers of these organizations, who are never weary and who know no fear.
Some Battles He’s In.
Danner participated, as a member of the Rainbow division, in the battle of the Marne, the battle of Chateau Thierry and many minor engagements. In one battle he lost the sleeve of his blouse when his arm was grazed by machine-gun fire. He was one of a squad of men who received orders one night to go to the German trenches and bring in two German prisoners who were known to be there. Sixty-eight men responded to the order and when they reached the trenches they found 200 Boches instead of the two, as expected. The Americans killed all of the 200 Germans, losing fifteen of their own men, but they captured the two prisoners as ordered.
Six days after landing in France, Danner was in the trenches at the front. His entire service was filled with thrilling adventure and he had many hairbreadth escape from death.
Decorated for Bravery
Danner wears a green and gold cord denoting a divisional citation for bravery, conferred by the French. He wears two gold bands on his left arm signifying that he has served one year in active service in France, while a gold band on his right arm shows that he has been wounded in service. In addition to these, he wears two badges, one in green and red signifying service on the Mexican border, and one in white and blue, for the Franco-American service.
Danner speaks French quite fluently. While never actually in Paris, he was within 200 yards of the city limits at one time. After returning to the United States, Danner spoke in a mass meeting at Times Square, New York, in the interest of the war drive, conducted a few weeks ago.
He Praises Geran.
The young man speaks in the highest terms of Captain George T. Geran, of D company, the boys looking upon the latter as a father.
Many of the boys were moved to tears when Captain Geran was transferred to another command as acting major. He also praises “Bob” Stafford, another Marion boy, who is said to be one of the bravest lads in the Rainbow division.
Danner has a slight weakness of the throat, due to gassing, and a nervouse affection caused from shell shock, for which he is receiving treatment at Ft. Sheridan. (sic)
Jackson Lee Southward was born 23 June 1930, in Forest Ohio. He was the son of Harley R. & Lena W. (Bash) Southward of Marion, Ohio.
Jackson L. Southward entered service with the United States Air Force, on 19 August 1947. On 8 January 1950, he would reenlist. Southward was home on leave between tours in Japan and his new duty in Texas. While home on leave, Sgt. Southward was involved in an automobile accident in which his vehicle struck a tree and he was ejected from the automobile. The accident occurred about a mile south of Marion. The report said he was killed instantly. He died on 9 August 1952.
Sgt. Jackson L. Southward is buried in the Marion Cemetery.
Sgt. Jackson L. Southward is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio.
When G Company, 4th O. V. I. arrived back in Marion, it was still not mustered out of service. They were granted a furlough to return home and begin returning their lives back to normal and to partake in the celebrations that Marion’s citizens had planned for them. The citizens had hung the American flag and bunting throughout the town. Bands had turned out to greet them at the depot and parade them to the courthouse for speeches and cheers.
With calls for Captain Peters to address the crowds being denied as was his modest character, Lt. Titus would step forward to address the crowd. After his few comments G Company was moved to the steps and three cheers raised to their honor. Cpt. Peters would then propose the company to raise three cheers for the citizens of Marion. The company was then marched to the armory, at that time situated somewhere on State St. Cpt. Peters would give his remarks to the men of G Company and then he released them.
The men of G Company would bring home relics from their campaign. Some brought back guns, swords and canes. one man even brought back a Puerto Rican Parrot. They also returned with a small white poodle that had been their mascot throughout.
G Company was not without it’s casualties. The company would leave three members behind in Puerto Rican graves, and one member would later die from illness after his return. They even left a couple members behind, locked up in the brig. Some members of G company would be transferred to other companies and to staff positions.
Many members of G company would stay in Marion to form a Spanish American Veterans association in Marion. They would be active in supporting the future members of the reorganized company when they served as D Company in the Border Campaign and World War One.
They would also hold a reunion here in Marion for 4th Regiment. It was the 38th such reunion for the group in this state. It was held in Marion, Ohio, on 5 August 1936. 5 August was the chosen date for the annual reunion, due to the fact that the Regiment was involved in a five hour skirmish on 5 August 1898. It was in this skirmish that the regiment captured the city of Guayama, Puerto Rico.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 