Operation Shingle

Sgt. Clarence A. Roseberry, Graduate of Harding High School, Killed in Action, 1944

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Clarence Albert Roseberry was born on 7 November 1912, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are John M. & Oda (Uncapher) Roseberry. At the time of Clarence Roseberry’s death he had a brother serving with the United States Marine Corps, PFC Carl Roseberry. Clarence Roseberry graduated from Harding High School, with the Class of 1932. Clarence was taking classes preparing him for college and was recognized for his engineering skills. He served as Vice President of the Harding Vocational Department.

Clarence A. Roseberry graduated from engineering school at Tri-State College, Angola, Indiana. He then returned to Marion and worked for the Marion County Engineers, as a surveyor.

On 13 February 1941, Clarence entered service. He received his training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. It was here that he advanced in rank to Sergeant (Sgt.). He was trained as a range-finder for the field artillery. Sgt. Roseberry was assigned to the 27th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Armored Division “Old Ironsides.” Sgt. Roseberry was with the Division when it went to Ireland and then saw service in the North African Campaign. He would then move on to serve in central Italy and later was transferred to the Anzio beachhead.

He had written a letter to his family describing some of the action he was involved in and life in a three foot foxhole. He started the letter in ink and finished it in pencil. “It’s too hot to get my pen refilled.” Referring to the combat action at the beachhead. He then wrote, “My buddy has started to cook and there isn’t room enough in one fox hole to write and cook at the same time.”

Sgt. Clarence A. Roseberry was killed in action at Anzio, on 27 February 1944. He was reported to have died from artillery shrapnel. He had served on the front lines in Italy for 52 days. Sgt. Roseberry is buried in Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy.

Clarence A. Roseberry 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 II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Dale Greenland World War Two Veteran/POW

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Dale Greenland was a World War Two Prisoner of War. He escaped the Nazis and returned home. I apologize that the article below is not legible.

From The Marion Star

Marion Ranger Who Fled Nazi
Captors in Italy Arrives Home

Sgt. Dale Greenland, Captured at Anzio, Fears He’ll “Wake
Up.” Find Escape was Dream.

By John Bryans

It seems as if it were a dream. I’m afraid I’ll wake up said, Staff Sgt. Dale Greenland, recently returned home after serving with the First Ranger Battalion, being taken prisoner in the Italian campaign, and escaping to allied lines. Sgt. Greenland returned to his home here Thursday after more than three years of service which took him through the invasion of Africa, Sicily and Italy.
It was eight days after landings at Anzio that he was reported missing in action at Cisterna Di Littoria, a point on the Appian way. The men of the units involved fought until their supplies were exhausted, nearly 100 of the group being killed. The rest were taken prisoner by the Germans.
“After we were captured a typical Prussian colonel took charge,” Sgt. Greenland related. “He had a sword scar across his face, stood about six feet four inches in height, wore a monocle and owned a Doberman Pinscher dog. The colonel addressed us in excellent English: “Gentlemen: for you the war is over. I wish to compliment you on a fine battle. It’s too bad things had to happen as they did, but that’s war.”
Unsatisfactory Accommodations
“We found the German hotel facilities very poor and when the opportunity presented itself we escaped,” is the way Sgt. Greenland explains his return to allied lines. June 16, with Technical Sgt. Bob Halliday of the Third Ranger battalion, who was taken prisoner after the engagement at Cisterna Di Littoria.
Admitting that the Germans who took charge of the men after their capture were of the best fighting material, Sgt. Greenland said, “That ‘superman’ stuff is not true. You can’t make any soldier do the impossible.”
Though his parents Mr. and Mrs. Earl Greenland of 583 North Prospect street, had received official notice that their son was missing in action, they heard through various other sources that he was a prisoner of the Germans.
Heard In Broadcast
Cpl. Milton Birnbaum, Marion soldier who was stationed in the Italian Sector, heard a German broadcast which mentioned Sgt. Greenland as a prisoner.
The parents had also been encouraged by Sgt. Alex Szina of Dayton a friend of Sgt. Greenland who witnessed the action on the morning of Jan. 30, Sgt. Szina saw by early morning light, and was almost positive that Sgt. Greenland had not been hurt in the engagement. Sgt. Szina was wounded by mortar shells in the back, face and arm. He is a patient at Valley Forge hospital near Phoenixville, Pa.
A letter written to Mr. and Mrs. Greenland Jan. 17 told them not to worry that their son would be “busy” for awhile.
After their escape to allied lines Sgt. Greenland discovered that those men of his unit who had come through the action had already been sent back to this country. He immediately began his trip home, arriving in Marion Thursday. He will report to Miami Beach, Fla, Sept. 3 for reassignment.
“I certainly hope that I can get back to the same unit,” he said, “I wouldn’t want to serve with any other.”
Dangerous Duties
Sgt. Greenland’s job with his unit was that of demolition sergeant, which included hunting for booby traps, blowing bridges and seeing that enemy installations left in the invaded area were neutralized. When some of the men of the First battalion took part in the Dieppe raid, Sgt. Greenland was attending a school in which his unit was attached to a British special service brigade. It was here that he came in contact with the British “commandos.”
Sgt. Greenland has come through without being wounded in landings at Arzew, North Africa, in Sicily, above Salerno and at Anzio. He termed the Anzio Landing where he was in the first group ashore as a “quiet landing.”
Though he is far from war, loud sounds still startle him. As he was talking to the reporter of a thunder storm was in progress. “it reminds me of battle, but I’m getting used to it, he exclaimed.
“I practically eat these,” he said as he pointed to a pack of cigarettes. “It was hard to get them over there.” Still the sergeant praised the commanders of his unit, Col. William Darby and Lt. Col. Herman Dammer. “What one didn’t think of the other did. They did everything possible for us and some things that were impossible.”
Engaged to Wed
Other plans may call for his marriage. He is engaged to Miss Virginia Hurley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Hurley of 226 Forest Lawn boulevard. Plans for the wedding day are still uncertain.
“thoughts of coming home to my family and seeing my twin brother were what kept me going when I became disgusted with the situation over there,” he said.
Sgt. Greenland has been overseas since April 1942. In Ireland he joined the Rangers and later went to Scotland. After joining the army Sgt. Greenland was trained at Ft. Knox, Ky., in the quartermaster corps. He was home in March, 1942. Before he embarked from Fort Dix, N. J. Sgt. Greenland attended St. Mary Parochial High school and was employed by the Dependable Messenger service here.

From The Marion Star dated 14 August 1944

Related Article from the same date:

Ranger’s Desire To
See Twin Realized

When Sgt. Greenland arrived home, and was asked what he would like most to do, he said all his wishes would be fulfilled if he could see his twin brother, Staff Sgt. Gale Greenland now stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark.
Sgt. Greenland must have placed his wish on the right star, for this week-end saw his brother home on emergency furlough.
“I certainly am glad to see him,” Sgt. Greenland exclaimed.
The twin bothers had not met for three years in which Dale had been in the army. Dale was in the first group of draftees to leave Marion in 1940.

From The Marion Star dated 14 August 1944

Pvt. Lewis A. Cochrun – World War Two Casualty

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Lewis Allan Cochrun was born on 23 December 1912, in Morral, Ohio. His parents are Thomas B. & Cleo E. (Walterhouse) Cochrun, of Morral, Ohio. Lewis had two brothers serving, Forrest in the United States Navy and Loren serving in the United States Army. Lewis married Fern M. (Jones), on 24 February 1940. They had three children together, sadly all three died in infancy. They lived in Bucyrus, Ohio, where Lewis worked as a core maker at the Crawford Steel foundry.

Lewis A. Cochrun entered service in August of 1943. He was sent for duty overseas in January of 1944. On 17 May 1944, Pvt. Lewis A. Cochrun was killed in action, in the Anzio area of Italy.

Lewis A. Cochrun 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 II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Private Charles E. Sweeney – World War Two Casualty

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Charles Eugene Sweeney was born on 23 April 1915, to Charles P. & Lillian M. (Corfield) Sweeney of Chauncey, Ohio. Sweeney was married to Antoinette Sweeney who was living in Marion, Ohio, at the time of his death.
Prior to entering the United States Army, Sweeney was employed with the Marion Steam Shovel Company. Sweeney was drafted into service. He would enter service on 22 September 1943, and begin serving overseas on 20 March 1944. His wife, Antoinette (Gibson) Sweeney, would receive her last communications with him just three days before he was listed as missing in action. In this letter he stated that he was part of an infantry unit that would be heading to Rome. It was not be until July of 1944, that she would be notified that he was killed in action on 28 May 1944. His death would come in the area of Anzio Beach. He was serving with the 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division.
Private Charles E. Sweeney is buried in the West Union Street Cemetery, Athens, Ohio.
Charles E. Sweeney 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 II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

PFC William O. Armstrong – World War Two Casualty

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William Orville Armstrong was born on 30 October 1906, he was the son of Harry L. & Myrtle M. (Carney) Armstrong. William O. Armstrong was married to Fern O. (Tumbleson) Armstrong. He had been employed with Pollak Steel Company in Cincinnati before moving with the company to Marion, Ohio.

Armstrong served for 15 years in the Ohio National Guard (ONG) prior to serving with the U. S. Army. He had been a member of B Company and D Company in the ONG. He served as a Sergeant in the ONG and was serving as a Private First Class (PFC) in the U. S. Army. PFC Armstrong received training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He served with an infantry unit from January of 1944, until his death. He would see service in North Africa and then Italy. PFC Armstrong was killed in action on 31 May 1944, in Italy.
PFC William O. Armstrong was buried in a temporary grave in Italy. On 7 July 1948, his remains arrived back in the United States aboard the United States Army Transport Carroll Victory. PFC William O. Armstrong is buried at the Marion Cemetery.
William O. Armstrong is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.