Caledonia

Michael R. Landes Caledonia Volunteer Fire Department, Line of Duty Death, 1976 (Also a Full-Time Lt. with the Marion Township Fire Department)

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Michael Robert Landes was born on 14 October 1943, in Caledonia, Ohio. His parents are Robert C. & Virginia K. (Sartin) Landes, younger brother Donald (Porkie) Landes, older sister Patricia who married the now deceased Gerald Bowers and an infant sibling who died at birth. His early years were spent living between Caledonia and Bucyrus until his parents purchased a home on South High Street in Caledonia. Michael attended Caledonia High School, where he played on the baseball team and was a part of the final class of 23 students to receive their diplomas from Caledonia in 1963, after this, students were at the newly constructed River Valley High School in Claridon, Ohio.


After high school Michael joined the U.S Navy where he was stationed off the coast of Africa and worked as a cook during the Vietnam War. He tried his best to make the bland military food appealing to his shipmates and was known to barter an extra hamburger or two in exchange for cigarettes or premium laundry service. In August of 1968 he was honorably discharged with a rank of Culinary Specialist Third Class (CS3).

Michael R. Landes was involved in the community he was raised in. He served on the Caledonia Council, was a member in several clubs and organizations. He served on the newly formed First Consolidated Fire Department as the Emergency Medical Service Coordinator for the department. He was also a barber by trade.

Shortly after the Navy he attended Andrew’s Barber College in Columbus Ohio, and after receiving his barbers license, he opened Mike’s Barber Shop in Cardington, Ohio, in addition to joining the Caledonia volunteer fire department.

One night after work in October of 1970 he was introduced to Jean A. Boston by a mutual friend and was immediately smitten, so much so he was known to play the song “Jean” whenever a jukebox was available. The two were married May 1, 1971, and had two children Michelle (Mitzi) R. and David W.

In February of 1971, he began as one of the original 10 full time members of the Marion Township Fire Department working under Chief Harry Burdick. Landes was promoted to Lieutenant when the
department expanded to three shifts. He was assigned to lead A-shift. The original group of ten all came from varying backgrounds none of which was previous fire service with the exception of volunteer work. The crew worked well together and were known for playing practical jokes on one another during down time. Being a small department with only a $100,000 budget to work with ($771,000 in today’s economy) and no paramedic squad in the fleet the firefighters purchased and outfitted a chassis truck at the cost of $18,500 and placed it into service in early 1973.

Wanting to also be of service to his home community of Caledonia, he ran for a vacant seat and won the election to have a seat as a member of the Caledonia Village Council in November of 1975.

On the morning of 26 February 1976, Landes was driving a water tanker truck from the Caledonia Fire Department to a reported structure fire. He and two other firefighters were responding in the tanker. It was reported that when Landes turned the tanker right from Caledonia’s High Street onto State Route 309, he realized the brakes had failed. He then lost control of the tanker and the truck rolled, throwing himself and another firefighter from the vehicle. All three firefighters were injured, but Landes suffered fatal injuries while he was pinned beneath the truck.

Michael died of his injuries and left behind his parents, wife, Jean, and two minor children. Landes’ death was in the line of duty and was grieved by his many friends and coworkers. Michael R. Landes was 32 years old when he died. He is buried in the New Caledonia Cemetery, Caledonia, Marion County, Ohio.

He is also remembered on the Marion County Firefighters Memorial located at the front of the Marion Cemetery. His daughter Michelle worked as a dispatcher for the Marion Township Fire Department and was an administrative assistant upon retiring. Michelle’s 3 children, Erica, Michael and Sophia have also
done their part with MTFD and being legacies of the department have been known to suit up as Sparky the Fire Dog at community parades and events.

Michael’s son David also has worked in fire service working wild-land fires in the Carolinas and Tennessee, he is currently an Independent Contractor in San Marcos Texas.

Thank You to David Landes for assisting in writing this article and Jean for her assistance with providing valuable information. Thanks to all of the family of Michael Landes for their sacrifice in keeping our community safe.

Albert W. Dice – Caledonia Volunteer Fire Department – Line of Duty Death, 1968

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Albert W. Dice was born 4/9/1907 in Claridon, Marion County, Ohio, to John L. and Catherine M. (Durtschi) Dice . He married Betha Kightlinger on 3/1/1930, in Kirkpatrick.
Chief Dice was a Mechanic for over 40 years with Hill’s Motor Sales, in Caledonia Ohio. He served with the Caledonia Fire Department, from 1933, and succeeded Robert Allen after being Assistant Chief.

On the evening of 1/7/1968 there was a fire in a two-story house on S. Water Street. The fire was spotted by a motorist around 5 PM. Firefighters stated that the fire was throughout the upper part of the house, but was contained by the tin roof and asbestos siding. Chief Dice and FF Waddell were talking by a truck while resting, when they started to walk away, Chief Dice slumped to the ground. Dice was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival at 9:10 PM. The coroner ruled that Chief Dice died of asphyxiation from smoke inhalation.
Chief Dice left behind his spouse and 3 sons; Lowell, Rodney and James; five Grandchildren; 3 brothers and 1 sister. Chief Dice was buried in Caledonia Cemetery.
Article researched and contributed by Marion County Firefighter Memorial

Sgt. Elwin C. Jones – World War Two Casualty

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Elwin Cornelius Jones was born on 16 December 1917, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Mr. Nelson & Gladys I. Jones. Elwin had three brothers who were also serving in the military; Pvt. Emil Jones, U. S. Army; MMM3C Earl Jones, U. S. Navy; and F2C Kenneth Jones, U. S. Navy. Elwin C. Jones attended Marion City schools and later graduated from Caledonia High School. He was the Valedictorian with the Class of 1936. Prior to entering service Elwin was employed in Broadway, Ohio as the depot clerk and telegraph operator.
Elwin C. Jones would enter service in January of 1941. He took his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. At Ft. Knox, Jones was assigned to a former Ohio National Guard unit from Port Clinton, Ohio. This unit would form into the 192nd Tank Battalion. Elwin Jones was assigned to Company C of the battalion. The company would be stationed in Hawaii for a short time and then move to the Philippine Islands. Jones would attain the rank of Sergeant and move with the Battalion to the Philippines in November of 1941.
Sgt. Elwin C. Jones later became a Prisoner of War (POW) when Bataan was surrendered to the Japanese. He took part in the Bataan Death March and was held as a POW at Camp O’Donnell.
His parents would receive telegrams from the War Department during the war notifying them that Elwin was Missing in Action, verified as a POW, and later of his death. It would be three years after his death before they would learn of his death. They were told that he had died in a prisoner of war camp, of dysentery on 9 May 1942.
They would not learn of the details of his death until another member of C Company would visit the family in Caledonia, Ohio.

After the war, another member of C Company visited the Jones family in Caledonia. According to family members, this soldier told them how Elwin really died. He told the family that Elwin and he had been selected to go out on a work detail. Elwin was sick from dysentery that he could hardly stand. An aggravated Japanese guard, believing Elwin was faking his illness so that he would not have to work came up to him and killed him.

From Bataan Project

It would not be until April 1949, that Sgt. Elwin C Jones’ remains were returned home to Marion County, Ohio. He was buried in Caledonia Cemetery in Caledonia, Ohio.
Sgt. Elwin C. Jones is remembered 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.