Pvt. Ervin B. Roberts Vietnam Casualty

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RobertsErvin Bradley Roberts was born 1 October 1947. He died in Vietnam in a truck accident less than a month from him being eligible to return to the states. He was serving with the 359th Transportation Company, 240th QM Batttalion, 58th Field Depot, Army Spt Cmd in the Qui Nhon, 1st Logistical Command, Vietnam. Pvt. Ervin Bradley Roberts is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio.
Pvt. Ervin B. Roberts is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio, on the west side of the Marion County Courthouse and on Panel 47W Line 022 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Pvt. Ervin B. Roberts is also remembered on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, at the Marion County Admin building at 222 West Center St. in Marion, Ohio.

From The Marion Star dated August 23, 1968.

Pvt. Roberts Dies

Viet Accident Injuries
Take Life of Marionite

Word has been received of the death in Vietnam, Wednesday of a Marion serviceman, Pvt. Ervin Bradley Roberts, 20. He died as the result of injuries suffered in a truck accident. relatives here have learned. In September he would have been eligible to return to this country.
His father, Chester H. Roberts of Hamilton and his mother Mrs. Carl Johnson of San Diego, Calif., formerly of Marion, Mrs. John Dutcher of 468 Evans Rd. and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Picket of Caledonia are the grandparents.
Entering military service Jan. of 1966 from Marion he was one of three brothers serving that reside at home and abroad; David who received his discharge ??? San Diego and Spec. 5 Chester H. Jr. is stationed near Washington, D.C.
Surviving besides the parents, brothers and grandparents is a sister, Karen Sue of Caledonia.
The family is awaiting further details concerning the accident and funeral arrangements are pending return of the body to this country.

George J. Porter, WWII, Korea War Veteran, United States Military Academy Class of 1946

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PorterUSMAGeorge Jewel Porter was the son of George V. Porter & Wyona Porter of Marion, Ohio. George J. Porter was born 27 January 1924 in Marion, Ohio. George attended Marion schools and Ohio State University. George J. Porter was a veteran of World War Two. George went by the nickname, “Jude.” George graduated from West Point on 4 Jun 1946, and was commissioned in the Coast Artillery Corps. On 7 July 1946.
George J. Porter served during the Korean War as battery commander in the 76th Anti-Aircraft Battalion of the 10th Anti-Aircraft Group.
George would return from Korea and attend the Artillery Advanced Course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He would return to Ohio, and from 1953 to 1955 he would serve duty with the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. After completing his assignment in Ohio, George would go to Germany and serve with the 3rd Armored Division “Spearhead,” 3rd Battalion, 16th Artillery Regiment.
George would later earn his Law degree and work as a Patent Attorney with National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) in Huntsville, Alabama. After moving to Chicago, Illinois, George would work as a senior patent attorney with Brunswick Corporation. Eventually he returned to Huntsville, Alabama to open his own law firm.
After ten years of running his own law firm, George would retire and earn his pilots license and travel the country with his wife Joan. After the loss of Joan he would later be reunited with an old friend, Lucy, from his West Point days and eventually marry her.
George passed away unexpectedly on 20 July 2005, in Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina. He was buried Calvary Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. George left behind six children from his union with Joan, his 103-year-old mother and his wife, brother Thomas and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

George J. Porter is remembered on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall at the Marion Cemetery.

Pfc. Frank E. Kaylor WWI, Distinguished Service Cross

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Frank E. Kaylor was born 29 May 1896 in Logan County, Ohio. At the time of his enlistment Frank E. Kaylor had listed Marion, Ohio, as his hometown. Pfc. Frank E. Kaylor served in Company D, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F. While serving in combat, northwest of Chateau-Thierry, France, Pfc. Kaylor and Pfc. Frank Ford advanced over open ground in the face of enemy fire. They forced the enemy to abandon their position while killing one and wounding one. The rest of the enemy gun crew fled from their gun position. This action earned both Kaylor and Ford the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), the nations second highest medal awarded in combat.

Pfc. Frank E. Kaylor died 5 Nov 1960 and is buried at Bellefontaine City Cemetery, Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation for:

Pfc. Frank E. Kaylor

Division: 42d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

War Department, General Orders No. 35 (1920)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Frank E. Kaylor (ASN: 93423), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., northwest of Chateau-Thierry, France, 27 July 1918. After he and a comrade located a hostile machine-gun in a clump of trees 1500 meters north of a chateau which their platoon was holding east of Fere-en-Tardenois, they secured the permission of their platoon commander to attempt to force the enemy to abandon this position and advanced over open ground and in the face of fire. With their rifles they drove the enemy from their gun, killing one and wounding another.

The comrade spoken of in the citation is Frank M. Ford from Kentucky. Ford was also a member of D Company.

Sgt. James S.C. Bowden Struck by Lightning in Training – 1968

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BowdenJames Samuel Cleveland Bowden was born 23 October 1945. He died on 22 August 1968, in Florida. He is buried in Cresthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana. James Bowden is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio.
From The Marion Star dated August 23, 1968

                                    James Bowden Dies

Marion Soldier Struck,
Killed by Lightening Bolt

Bowden002A 22 year old Marion man who had just a few more days of training left was killed Thursday when lightning struck at Eglin AFB at Eglin Fla., where he was on maneuvers.
Sgt. James Bowden, son of Oscar and Laura ???? Bowden of 609 E. Church St. was killed along with one other soldier. Of the other eight men injured, one is in critical condition in an Eglin hospital while the others were treated and released.
Mrs. Bowden said she was notified of her son’s death early this morning. However, she said she had no other details on the accident.
Sgt. Bowden and the others were members of the 2nd Ranger Co., 1st Student Battalion, which was undergoing special training at the base. They were stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga., and Sgt. Bowden was to have completed his training next Wednesday.
He was scheduled for paratrooper school after completion of the other work. He entered the Army in October last-year and started the ranger training in July this year.
He was born Oct. 23, 1945 in Indianapolis, but had lived all his life in Marion. Graduated from Harding High School in 1963, he attended Ohio State University the transferred to Youngstown University where, he was a senior when he entered service.
A biology major, he was planing to be a veterinarian and was to have been graduated from college in six months.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Mrs. Kenneth D. Robinson of Tampa, Fla. and Mrs. S.G. Mehallis of Pittsburg.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

On April 6, 2018 June Johnson sent this account of knowing Jim at Kent State in 1967:

I knew Jim when he went to Kent State University, he wanted to be a veterinarian.

He had lost his brother-in-law Ken Robinson in the Vietnam war. Ken was a MIA until 1989 when they recovered the remains and his airplane. He was a pilot. That bothered Jim a lot that he was missing.

He said he had to stay out of college one year to get extra money to pay for his college knowing what would happen with the draft. He didn’t have to go he was the only son but he went anyway.

He did enjoy the Army way liked the buddies he made in there.

He was on maneuvers at Eglin Air Force Base to be a Ranger when he and another young man were struck by lightning. The base was/is noted for lightning strikes. He was buried in Cresthaven Memorial Cemetery, Bedford, Indiana

I miss him and think of him daily. Someday we will be together again.

He was one of the sweetest most loving person i have ever met. I worried about him going to Vietnam because he never could hurt anyone or thing. He was so intelligent, witty and caring but you guys knew all that.

I am sorry I can’t add more. Hopefully you can use some of this information

Thank you
June Johnson

Pvt. Frank Irvin Clifton – WWI Honor Roll

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Frank Irvin Clifton was born 10 February 1892, In Espyville, Marion County, Ohio. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Clifton of Espyville. Frank I. Clifton was drafted into service 29 April 1918. He received his training at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio and was then sent to Fort Niagara. He was a member of C Company, 45th Battalion. Prior to going into service, he was employed as a section foreman with the Erie Railroad.
Private Clifton became ill while at Fort Niagara and soon died. Clifton died on 15 October 1918. His remains were returned to Marion, and he was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Big Island, Marion County, Ohio.
Private Frank I. Clifton 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.