LaRue

Frank V. White – LaRue Volunteer Fire Department – Line of Duty Death, 1967

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Frank Vernon White was born on 22 October 1914, in LaRue, Ohio. His parents are Orten W. & Grace (Moore) White. His parents preceded him in death. When Frank V. White filled out his draft card in 1940, he listed his occupation as farming with William Guthery of LaRue. Frank did serve in the United States Navy during World War Two. We find that Frank was a member of the Phillipi-Clement Post 101, American Legion, based in LaRue. Frank was married to Lucille M. (Kale).

Frank V. White was active in his community. He was a past councilman with the village of LaRue and also Mayor form 1966 until his death. He also served on the LaRue Volunteer Fire Department. At the time of his death, Frank V. White was employed with B. F. Goodrich Company, in Green Camp, as a foreman.

On 26 March 1967, Frank V. White responded with the LaRue Volunteer Fire Department to a report of a grass fire. This was one of several the department responded to on that day. The grass fires were all burning along the New York Central railroad. These fires were thought to be caused by a passing train. This fire was located about two miles east of the village of LaRue and nearly a quarter of a mile from the nearest road.

While at the scene Frank V. White collapsed. Andrew Ford, a LaRue Funeral Director, was called to the scene to find Mr. White already dead. Due to the difficulty accessing the scene, Mr. Ford flagged a train crew and gained their assistance in delivering a cot to the scene and removing Mr. White to the nearest road crossing.

It was thought that White died of a heart attack while assisting at the fire. He died while in the Line of Duty (LODD) and left behind his wife and two daughters.

Frank V. White is buried at the LaRue Cemetery, LaRue, Marion County, Ohio. At the burial members of Phillipi-Clement Post 101, American Legion conducted military honors.

The Scioto Valley Fire District (LaRue Fire Dept.) has a plaque to honor the memory of Frank V. White for the sacrifice he made.

Frank V. White is remembered on the World War Two Memorial Wall and on the Marion County Fire Fighters Memorial, both located in the Marion Cemetery.

Pvt. Clarence R. Phillippi – World War One Casualty

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Clarence Roy Phillippi was born 3 April 1897. His parents are John & Lola M. (Myers) Phillippi of near LaRue, Ohio.
Clarence was a Private (Pvt.) with D Company, on 31 May 1917, when they left Marion for service in World War One. Pvt. Clarence R. Phillippi would serve in France with D Company, until he was killed in action on 6 June 1918. Pvt. Phillippi was the first citizen from LaRue to be killed while serving in World War One. He was killed in a trench raid in the Baccarat Sector, near the village of Anclerville. Pvt.
Phillipi was first buried in the French Military Cemetery, Amcervillers, France. On 16 February 1921, his remains were disinterred for return to the United States. On 18 May 1921, his remains arrived aboard the U. S. A. T. Wheaton, at Hoboken, New Jersey. On 4 June 1921, his remains arrived in LaRue, Ohio, for final rest. The American Legion Post 101 in LaRue, Ohio, would be named in his honor.

Pvt. Clarence R. Phillippi’s name can be seen on the LaRue Veterans Memorial Column, in the LaRue Cemetery. He is buried in the LaRue Cemetery, LaRue, Ohio.

American Legion Post 101- Phillippi-Clement, LaRue, Ohio, co-named it’s post to honor his memory.
Clarence R. Phillippi 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.

Clarence R. Phillippi’s temporary grave at Ancerville, France. Grave #22 (behind Patrick Ferrel’s grave).

James A. Clement – LaRue’s First KIA in World War Two

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James A. Clement was born on 12 January 1918, In Hepburn, Harden County, Ohio. His parents are Emery O. & Bessie E. Clement. James A. Clement was a graduate of Kenton High School. Prior to entering service he was employed with the Marion Army Air Force Depot. In August of 1943, he married Pauline (Johnson) at Orlando, Florida. His wife was from Mt. Victory, Ohio.
James A. Clement entered service in March of 1941. In April of 1943, after completing his flight training in Phoenix, Arizona, he would receive his wings. Lt. Johnson would then be chosen for advanced training and was sent to Orlando Air base, Florida. He was trained at night fighter pilot in the school of applied aviation tactics.
Upon his request, he was sent overseas in September of 1943. Lt. Cement was assigned to the 12th Fighter Command, 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 62nd Fighter Wing. His squadron was a night fighter squadron assigned to defense of Allied shipping on the Mediterranean front. His squadron was based on Sardinia, where he would fly a British Beaufighter. His squadron also was to intercept enemy raiders along the Mediterranean front. He was report as Missing in Action on 1 May 1944, when on a special night mission over Italy. Lt. Clement was reported as the first LaRue resident killed in World War Two. His body was never recovered.

American Legion Post 101- Phillippi-Clement, LaRue, Ohio, co-named it’s post to honor his memory.
James A. Clement is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

LaRue G.I. 1st Marion County Casualty of Korean War

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From the Marion Star dated 15 July 1950

Seriously
Wounded
In Combat
R.W. Blankenship
Is Victim, Defense
Dept. Tells Family

Marion County’s first casualty of the Korean war was reported in an Associated Press dispatch from the Defense Department at Washington D.C. today.
He is Pfc. Robert Winston Blankenship, 19, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Earl P. Hague of LaRue. He was seriously wounded in combat, his grandparents were advised by the Defense Department telegram late yesterday. He was one of 28 Army officers and enlisted men reported injured in action in Korean Was Casualty List No. 22 issued today by the Defense Department.
Enlists In 1947
Pfc. Blankenship enlisted at Marion in the Army Ground Forces July 1, 1947 for three years service. He was stationed in California until 15 months ago when he was transferred to Japan.
He was shipped from Japan to Korea for war duty, his grandparents said.
Pfc. Blankenship was in Japan when last heard from six weeks ago by his sister, Mrs. Delores Jones. At that time he was on maneuvers with the 34th Infantry Regiment in which he served as a crewman on a heavy mortar.
He was reared by his grandparents. He enlisted in the Army before completing his studies at LaRue High School.
He has an elder brother William Blankenship at LaRue, a sister, Mrs. Delores Jones of 262 Bellefontaine avenue; and a second brother Gary at Gallipolis, O.

The LaRue Eight

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From The Marion Star dated July, 14, 1950

Larue8

Three Marine Corps Reserve pilots and five enlisted men from the Larue area will participate next month on one of the largest peace-time movements across the United States ever made by a single air unit.

They are members of VMF 244, an air squadron which will leave Columbus Aug. 5 for El Toro Marine Air Corps base near Los Angeles. They will return to Columbus Aug. 19.

The LaRue men are making a real contribution toward keeping the squadron’s standards up to Marine Corps requirements, according to Lt. Col. Haines, commander. The squadron is based at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Columbus.

Fighter pilots who will take part from LaRue are: First Lt. John M. Benson, First Lt. Keith Fields, and First Lt. Cloyd Waters. These men will pilot Hellcat fighters from the Naval Air Station in Columbus to the California base. They are veterans of fighting in World War II.

Enlisted Men

Five LaRue enlisted men who are not veterans of the last war will also take part in the mass movement.

They are: Pvt. Frank E. Benson, Pvt. Ronald B. Ballinger, Pvt. Grover Wall, and Pvt. Richard Fields, and Pvt. Richard Fields. (Two Pvt. Richard Fields were listed in the Marion Star article) They all are graduated from LaRue High School this year and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. All are employed on farms near LaRue except Ronald Ballinger. He assists his father in the operation of a filling station in LaRue.

VMF 244 will be in the over-all lifts of a total of 41 Marine Air Reserve Squadrons, based at 25 Naval Air Station throughout the nation. The squadrons will move on a war-time basis. Fighter planes under the command of Major Herbert Langenfield, of Pittsburgh, Pa., will fly across the country in battle formation.

The air lifts will involve a total of 561 fighter and transport planes and approximately 6,000 officers and men and their equipment. The results are expected to provide a model pattern for coast-to-coast mobilization of all the nation’s air reserves, according to Brigadier of William O. Brice, Commander, Marine Air Reserve Training, who is directing the unit. (sic)

Varied Experience

The three pilots have had varied experience during the last war. First Lt. Benson, who now works at the Marion Production Credit Association, was a fighter pilot in the Philippines and China. He joined the Marine Corps in November 1943 and left in June 1946. He participated in Marine Air Reserve maneuvers at Cherry Point, North Carolina in 1947, 1948, and 1949.

First Lt. Keith Fields is finishing his last quarter at Ohio State University. He was stationed in the Philippines during the last war and met Lt. Benson on missions. Unlike Lt. Benson, Lt. Fields is married and has a small daughter.

First Lt. Cloyd Waters is now working with the Wyandot County soil conservation service at Upper Sandusky. He joined the Navy first in 1942 and later transferred to the Marine Corps. He fought in the battle of Okinawa and later was stationed in Japan. He was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1945. He and his wife, Katheryn, have two girls.