Pfc. Ralph M. Baker – World War One Casualty

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Ralph M. Baker born 24 October 1894, in Caledonia, Ohio, and formerly of Marion, was the son of Mrs. Martha Baker and the late, Sidney Baker. After Ralph’s father passed away, his mother and sister, Ruth, relocated to Saint Petersburg, Florida. Ralph’s two brothers, Claude C. Baker and E. M. Baker remained in Marion. Ralph would work at Magnetic Springs, Ohio, before going to Saint Petersburg, Florida to see his mother and enlist into service.
While in the service, Ralph M. Baker would attain the rank of Private First Class (Pfc.) on 20 July 1918. Pfc. Baker arrived overseas on 9 September 1918, and was assigned to the medical staff of the 89th Base Hospital. Pfc. Banker would die of pneumonia while serving in France on 2 October 1918.
Pfc. Ralph M. Baker is buried in Saint Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial, Thiaucourt-Regnieville, Departement de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine, France.
Pfc. Ralph M. Baker is honored 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.

From The Marion Daily Star dated 11-28-1918

RALPH BAKER IS DEAD
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE

Son of Late Sidney Baker, of
This City.

YOUNG BAKER IS VICTIM
OF PNEUMONIA OCTOBER 2

Member of Medical Staff at One of the Base Hospitals – Two
Brothers in Marion.

Ralph Baker, a son of the late Sidney Baker, of Marion, died October 2, of Pneumonia, “somewhere in France.”
The news was received here this morning by the young man’s two brothers, Claude C. Baker, of east Columbia street, and E. M. Baker, of south High street.
Young Baker would have been twenty-four years old October 24. After the death of the father, the young man’s mother, Mrs. Martha Baker, and her daughter, Ruth, went to St. Petersburg, Florida, where they now reside.
The young man was a member of the medical staff at one of the base hospitals in France.
Before entering the service he was employed for five years as a masseur at the Magnetic Springs bath house and was quite well known.

Pfc. Wilbert J. Alexander – World War II Casualty

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Wilbert James Alexander was the son of Robert & Ella (Sloan) Alexander. Prior to enlistment Wilbert Alexander was employed at the Ohio Blue Limestone Company. Alexander entered service at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio on 21 October 1941. From there he attended training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. In March of 1942 Alexander was able to return to Marion and visit his wife, Ruth Eileen (Willmeth) Alexander, and his parents.AlexanderWWII02
In April of 1942, Alexander was sent overseas, where he eventually landed in North Africa, in November of the same year. Pfc. Alexander was serving with the 168th Infantry, 34th Division “Red Bull Division.” It was in April that the family last heard from him via letter. It would be a year later that the family would learn that Pfc. W. J. Alexander was reported Missing In Action (MIA), on 30 March 1943, in the North African theater of operations. The Defense Department stated that Pfc. Alexander was reported MIA during combat operations in Fondouk, Tunisia. His wife received official notice on 24 April 1943, that her husband was MIA.
It would not be for another year that the Defense Department would declare Alexander as dead.
Wilbert J. Alexander would leave behind his wife and a daughter, Carolyn Ella, who was born after he left Marion. Alexander and never would have a chance to meet his year and a half old daughter.
Pfc. Wilbert J. Alexander 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 World War II Veterans Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery; and the Tablets of the Missing, North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.

Charles Simpkins – World War One Casualty

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Charles Simpkins was born 27 June 1896, in Lawrence County, Ohio. Simpkins was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry A. Simpkins. Simpkins came to Marion and worked as a section man with the Hocking Valley on the north section of town. Mr. Simpkins stayed with his sister, Mrs. William Cook. He also had three brothers: George Simpkins, John Simpkins and William Simpkins all of Marion. Charles Simpkins enlisted in D Company, 166th Infantry, 42nd Division on 6 June 1917. He was transferred to A Company of Cardington before the company left Marion. It is later found that he was with Company W, 166th Infantry. Company W may refer to wounded.
While Pvt. Charles Simpkins was in the trenches in Europe, he was found unconscious and had to be removed by stretcher bearers. It was thought by the doctors that he had been gassed by exam of his lungs. He remained unconscious for seven days. Simpkins was moved from a hospital in France to the United States. He sailed back to the United States aboard to USS Susquehanna, arriving at Newport News, Virginia on 3 May 1918. He was then admitted to the General Hospital in Cape May, New Jersey, on 12 May 1918. He returned to Marion in mid-September 1918, and was able to walk to his sister’s home and was returned to bed rest. His condition then began to get worse until he expired.
Charles Simpkins is buried in the Marion Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.
Charles Simpkins 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.

Simpkins9-27-1918
From The Marion Daily Star dated September 27, 1918

2nd Lt. Ethel D. (Klinke) Ledley – World War Two Veteran

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Ethel Dolores (Klinke) Ledley was born 23 August 1916, in New York. Ethel went to nursing school in Schenectady, New York. She would join the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) in 1944. While serving in South Carolina, she would meet her husband Damon Ledley. Damon was also serving in the Army and was from Prospect, Ohio. 2nd Lieutenant Ethel Klinke would serve with the 21st General Hospital. She would serve in North Africa, England, and France.
After the military Ethel would settle in Marion, Ohio with her husband and raise their family. They had two children, Michael and Pam. Ethel worked at Whirlpool Corporation as a nurse.
Ethel D. (Klinke) Ledley is not recognized for her service on any memorial in Marion, Ohio. Women service members are recognized as a group on the Women’s Memorial at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio. But we recognize and remembered her service to her country during World War Two here.

Pfc. James E. Thomas – World War Two Veteran – Korean War Casualty

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James Edwin Thomas born on 1 July 1927, was the son of Ernest Burdett Thomas & Mary Ann (Jenkins) Thomas. James E. Thomas was a veteran of World War Two. Thomas must have been recalled to active duty for the Korean War, or had reenlisted. Thomas was serving in Korea with A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division “First Team.” Private First Class (Pfc.) James E. Thomas was killed in action in the Chorwon area of North Korea on 7 October 1951.
Pfc. James E. Thomas is buried in the Marion Cemetery..
Pfc. James E. Thomas is remembered on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery; on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; and on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse.