From Somewhere in France: Letters To Ohio From a World At War: Available for online purchase

Today, Victor Cleary's second book on Clarksburg Ohio's World War II effort, FROM SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE: LETTERS TO OHIO FROM A WORLD AT WAR, is available for purchase online through popular online publisher, Lulu.com.

From Somewhere in France focuses on the village and township’s efforts during the war and features nearly 200 personal letters from Clarksburg Ohio’s World War Two era soldiers, sailors, and airmen.

You can buy the book today! Click here to purchase Victor Cleary's From Somewhere in France now for $19.99. Or, visit Lulu.com and on the site's home page type "From Somewhere in France" in the search prompt.

Letters from 70 individuals are included in Cleary's newest book. Detailed information on over 50 of these veterans were not included in the individual chapter stories making up Clarksburg’s Courageous: World War II, Cleary’s first book on the subject, therefore a substantial amount of new material about the village's war effort is exposed in this second piece, making it an ideal companion to the first.

The following is a list of individuals whose letters are included in the book.

SSGT Ralph W. Anderson
Aerial Engineer
8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 325th Bomb Squadron

TSGT Robert C. Anderson
P-38 Crew Chief
15th Air Force, 14th Fighter Group, 37th Fighter Squadron

SGT Allen Anderson
Navigator-in-training
36th Training Group, Squadron A

Sgt. Bernard Ater
Aerial Engineer

Seaman 1st Class Marcus Ater
Gunner's Mate
USS Denver (CL- 58): Cruiser

LT Joe Ater
Multi-engine pilot
324th Army Air Force Base Unit

SGT Jack Ater
Heavy Machine Gunner
97th Infantry Division, 387th Infantry Regiment, Company D

PFC Robert Bethel
Surgical Technician
58th Medical Corps. 344th Medical Dispensary

SGT Corrine Bochard
General Clerk
WAAC Detachment 4201

SGT William Bochard
Radio Operator
6th Army, 10th Corp., 99th Signal Battalion

SSGT Sylvester Bookwalter
Medical Laboratory Tech
3702nd AAF Base Unit, 344th Bomb Group

CPL Delbert Boyer
Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun crewman

T/5 Wendell Bryant
Amphibious Truck Driver
479th Amphibious Truck Company

Roger Bryant

PVT Charles Bryant

SGT Wendell Carroll
Infantry Medic
3rd Army, 80th Inf. Div., 319th Inf. Reg., HQ Detachment

SGT Willis Cleary
Infantry Clerk
2nd Infantry Division, 23rd Infantry Regiment, K Company

SSGT Charles Crabb
Top Turret Gunner
12th Bomb Group, 81st Bomb Squadron. The Earthquakers!

SGT Robert K. Dawson
3rd Army, 69th Infantry Division

CPL John M. Dawson
Radio Operator Mechnic
3507th AAF Base Unit, Aircraft Squad III, Flight I

LT Robert E. Dawson
P-39 and P-51 Fighter Pilot
11th Air Force, 54th Fighter Group , 42nd Fighter Squadron

SSGT Herman Dinkler
Quartermaster
3rd Armored Division, 548th Quartermaster Depot, Advanced Communication Section

SGT Carl Dinkler
Infantryman
8th Infantry Division, 28th Infantry Regiment, Company A

LT Myron Dodd
Pilot
15th Air Force, 465th Bomb Group, 782nd Bomb Squadron

AUX Mary Ann Driapsa
Woman’s Auxiliary

Seaman 1st Class Leo Dunkle
Crew
LST #863

CPL Tom Eycke
Intelligence NCO
1st Cavalry, 24th Infantry, 77th Infantry, 234th Quartermaster Salvage Collection Company

PFC Oscar Garrison
Parachute - Field Lineman
82nd Airborne Division, 505th Parachute Inf Reg, 115th Field Artillery Batt., Battery C

LT Lewis Garrison
Navigator
8th Air Force, 466th Bomb Group, 787th Bomb Squadron

PVT Don Garrison
Quartermaster and Crane Operator
3204th Quartermaster Service Co

SGT Richard Garrison
Infantryman
8th Infantry Division, 121st Infantry Regiment, I Company

SSGT Harold Garrison
Forward Artillery Observer
32nd Division, 120th Field Artillery Batt., HQ Battery

Muriel Hale
Wife of B-17 Bomber Pilot Lt. George C. Hale
92nd Bomb Group, 325th Bomb Squadron

LT Robert Hamman
Mobile Howitzer Commander
9th Armored Division, 73rd Armored Field Artillery, Battery A

CPL Forrest Hicks
Fire Control Operator

SSGT Harold Hoffman
Infantry Section Leader
40th Infantry Division, 160th Infantry Regiment, D Company

CPL Harry Holloway
Heavy Mortarman Crewman
82nd Airborne, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, H Company, and 2nd Battalion HQ Company
Silver Star Recipient (June 1944)

Martin Junk

Field Director John Kirkwood
Red Cross Field Director

SGT Bill Lemly
Ball Turret Gunner
15th Air Force, 465th Bomb Group, 782nd Bomb Squadron


SGT John Martin
Infantryman
90th Infantry Division, 358th Infantry Regiment, G Company

CPL Warren Martin
Mail clerk
8th Air Force, 301st AAF Base Unit, 704 Air Material Sq.

PFC Paul McCormick
Life Guard
919 Signal Corps, 48th Repair Squad, 4121st AAF Base Unit

PFC Glenn McPherson
Light Truck Driver
204th Quartermaster Battalion

LT William Merz
Artillery Officer
Americal Division, 245th Field Artillery Battalion, HQ Battery, A Battalion

LT Jack Minser
Railhead Supervisor
Army Transportation Corps: 6th Port Headquarters

CAPT Sarah Moomaw
WAAC Training Center

SSGT Gene Morris
Heavy Mortar Crewman
1st Infantry Division, 745th Tank Battalion, Heavy Mortar Platoon & HQ Company

Seaman 1st Class Glenn Morris
Seaman 1st Class

PVT Charles Morris
Infantry Training

LT Jack Morris
Navigator
8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group, 576th Bomb Squadron

Seaman 1st Class Fred Nye
LCL Seaman

SGT Richard Pabst
Stationed in Okinawa

PFC John Peck
Aerial Radio Operator
1333rd Army Air Force Base Unit: 13th Area

Machinist Mate 2nd Class John Pool
Machinist Mate
USS Texas (BB-35) Battleship

SSGT Willis Prince
Aerial Nose Gunner
15th Air Force, 465th Bomb Group, 782nd Bomb Squadron

PFC James Reisinger
Artilleryman
981st Field Artillery Battalion

Ship Fitter 3rd Class Tom Rittenhouse
Ship Fitter
USS Hamul (AD-20)

SSGT John Roseboom
Artilleryman
1st Cavalry Division, 760th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery C.

PFC Ephraim Shull
Cook's helper
58th Ordnance Ammunition Company

PVT Henry Shull
U.S. Army

PFC Cary "Scoop" Skinner
Litter Bearer
41st Infantry Division, 116th Medical Battalion, 5th Squad, Troop B

T/4 Tom Sowers
Infantryman
80th Infantry Division, 318th Infantry Regiment Company A

PFC Richard Stephens
Artillery Observer
20th Field Artillery; attached to the 4th Infantry Division

CPL John Templin
Aircraft Mechanic
Air Transport Command: 1504th Army Air Force Base Unit.

Machinist Mate 2nd Class Robert Templin
Motor Machinist 2nd Class
Naval Sub Chaser

PVT Darrell Templin
United States Army Air Force

LT Daryl Williams
B-25 Pilot
5th Air Force, 345th Bomb Group, 499th Bomb Squadron BATS OUTA HELL

PFC Albert Willis
Firefighter
369th Harbor Craft Company

SGT Dwight Willis
Mess Sergeant
Air Transport Command: 1337th Army Air Force Base Unit, Battery 6

B-25 Mitchells in Urbana Ohio to honor Doolittle Raiders

On Thursday, April 15, the family and I visited Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio to see how many B-25 Mitchell bombers had flown in and gathered to prepare for today's scheduled formation flyover in Dayton (at the United States Air Force Museum) to honor the presence of the surviving Doolittle Raiders at the organization's annual reunion.

The word on the street is that it very well may be the final reunion for the exclusive group of men who on April 18, 1942 performed a daring, never before attempted carrier launch from the U.S.S. Hornet in a medium-sized bomber full of fuel and bombs, led by a world-renowned aviation pioneer -- and flew unprotected to Tokyo to bomb a number of military targets and then crashland in China in hopes of escaping Japanese ground troops before being caught. The plan, which was part PR, part retaliation for Pearl Harbor, and part show of force, miraculously worked, albeit the damage was little. Colonel Doolittle and his men helped us get our point across, no doubt, and it was a heroic feat. Unfortunately, some were captured and beheaded by the Japanese -- a common practice by the sword wielding Japs that you will never see nor hear of on Hanks and Spielberg's - HBO's The Pacific. Nevertheless, check out the video of the B-25's at Grimes. They were a beautiful sight!

Today in Ohio History: Clarksburg Ohio veterans continue through WWII

September 28, 1942: Ralph Ater enlists in the U.S. Navy. Pictured with his family.

September 28, 1944: Marcus Ater, aboard the USS Denver, returns to Manus. Norman Trapp flies his fifth bombing mission on Magdeburg in B-17 43-38405. Willis Cleary and the 23rd Infantry Regiment’s Personnel Group departs the Landereau, France hospital they were using as the regimental base and travels by train heading northeast toward Belgium.

September 28, 1945: Dwight Overly’s ship docks in the United States

Today in Ohio History: Clarksburg Ohio World War II Daily Update

September 25, 1942: Clarence Minnix transfers from Ft. Benjamin Harrison to Camp Crowder, Missouri attached to D Company, 29th T.N. Signal Battalion. Harold Anderson returns stateside from a two year assignment in Panama. Following a ten-day furlough in Clarksburg, he reported to Ft. Monroe, VA. Harold Hoffman departs the U.S. bound for the Pacific Theater as a Heavy Machine Gun section leader, D Company, 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. John Pool enlists in the U.S. Navy. Richard Minser transfers from Fort McClellan, Alabama to Fort Hamilton, New York.

September 25, 1943: Bob Anderson and the 14th Fighter Group, 37th Fighter Squadron, depart North Africa to inch closer to Europe by basing their P-38 Lightnings out of Sicily for a brief period. Clarence Minnix arrives Clarksburg on a 15-day furlough following additional training in Tennessee and recently transferred from the 2nd Army to the 3rd Army. Corrine Bochard is based at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey attached to a Woman's Army Air Corp unit. Don Garrison and the 538th Battalion depart Fort Pierce, Florida for Camp Pickett, Virginia. Sam Saxour departs the U.S. bound for the Pacific Theater to serve as a Surgical Technician with the 80th General Hospital. Tom Eycke enjoys a weekend in Clarksburg with his parents, grandmother and wife while on a brief weekend pass.

September 25, 1944: Robert Hamman lands at Utah Beach as part of the 9th Armored Division, 73rd Armored Field Artillery. Lewis Dennis and the 10th Armored Division arrive in France.

September 25, 1945: Jack Ater, attached to the 97th Infantry Division arrives the Pacific Theater. Marcus Ater, aboard the USS Denver, provides covering support for troops landing at Wakanouri Wan.

Today in Ohio History: Clarksburg Ohio World War II veterans participate in significant advances

Today in Ohio Military History: Clarksburg Ohio World War II vets move on the enemy:

September 23, 1943: Norman Dean receives a medical discharge from the U.S. Army and returns to Chillicothe, Ohio. He was previously based at Fort Knox, Kentucky. W.A. Anderson is based at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

September 23, 1944: Carl Dinkler (pictured) writes to his parents stating that he is recovering in a British hospital but he has serious surgery ahead on his legs and noted that the Battle of Brest (France) was extremely tough duty. Dinkler was wounded severely days before, when a German sniper singled him out while retrieving bodies from the battlefield, as portions of the 28th Infantry Regiment and the 6th Armored led a task force through the Brittany region of France to cut off German forces in the port city of Brest. Charlie Jobe, part of the 82nd Airborne Division, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 80th Airborne Artillery, Battery F, boards a glider in England and lands near Nijmegan, Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. Sgt. Dick Garrison, part of I Company, 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, assists in securing the Crozon Penninsula and neutralizing German troops in the area. John Templin enlists in the U.S. Army. Gunner's Mate, Marcus Ater, abord the USS Denver cruiser, provides cover for a Navy Task Force tasked to sweep for mines near Ulithi, in support of the future landing. Tom Sowers enlists in the U.S. Army and eventually serves in the 80th Infantry Division (ETO).

Today in Ohio History: Clarksburg Ohio war veterans

Today in Ohio History: Clarksburg Ohio World War II heavy bomber crew members continue fighting:

September 22, 1943: Ralph Anderson is participating in advanced B-17 training at Dalhart, Texas and preparing to transfer to Scott Field, Illinois in a few days for rotation overseas.

September 22, 1944: Norman Trapp flies his second bombing mission to Kassel, Germany in B-17 42-31879 nicknamed "The Shark." (PHOTO: The Shark behind a 351st Bomb Group crew - not including Trapp)

Ohio Military History: Service...In the Family

Generational Military Service from Clarksburg Ohio - A Family Affair

Recent examinations of Clarksburg Ohio's service rolls from the Civil War, World War I, and World War II identified a number of consistent names. I thought it would be fitting to list them and the information we have about each soldier.

ADAMS
Ralph Adams, Sergeant, 166th Infantry Regiment, H Company, World War I
Donald Adams, 1st Lieutenant, 485th Bomb Group, B-24 Liberator Pilot, World War II

ATER
George Ater: Company A, 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Abraham Ater: Company K, 89th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Glenn Ater:, Corporal, H Company, 166th Infantry Regiment, World War I
Joe Ater, 1st Lieutenant, 324th Army Air Base Unit, B-17 Pilot, World War II
Jack Ater, Sergeant, 97th Infantry Division, Heavy Machine Gunner, World War II
Marcus Ater, U.S. Navy, Gunner’s Mate, U.S.S. Denver – Cruiser, World War II

DAWSON
Lewis Dawson, Mechanic, 330th Infantry Regiment, G Company, World War I
Robert E. Dawson, Captain, 11th Air Force, 54th Fighter Group, P-39 Pilot, World War II
Robert K. Dawson, Sergeant, 69th Infantry Division, World War II
John M. Dawson, Corporal, Radio Operator Mechanic, World War II

DONAHOE
William S. Donahoe, Company H, 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Emmitt Donahoe, Seaman aboard the U.S.S. Michigan battleship, World War I

DOWNING
William Downing, Mail carrier for Company H, 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Joseph Wesley Downing, 236th Engineer Combat Battalion, World War II

HAMMAN
Royal Hamman, Private, 84th Infantry Division, 333rd Inf Reg, I Company, World War I
Robert Hamman, Lieutenant, 9th Armored Division, World War II

MADDUX
J.W. Maddux, Company A, 61st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Nelson Maddux, Company K, 89th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Don W. Maddux: 35th Infantry Division, 137th Infantry, World War II (Killed In Action)

MALLOW
Anson Mallow, Company H, 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Reed Mallow, PFC, 1st Cavalry, 7th Regiment, World War II (Killed In Action)

RITTENHOUSE
Fred Rittenhouse, Private, 166th Infantry Regiment, H Company
Fred Rittenhouse, PFC, 777th Tank Battalion, World War II
Tom Rittenhouse, Ship Fitter, U.S.S. Hamul, World War II

SHANTON
Orlie Shanton, MP, 330th Infantry Regiment, K Company, World War I
Dick Shanton, Corporal, 389th Anti-aircraft Battalion, World War II

SKINNER
Joshua Skinner, 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Cary Skinner, Litter Bearer, 41st Infantry Division, World War II

TAYLOR
Frank Taylor, Sergeant, 332nd Infantry Regiment, D Company, World War I
Willis Taylor, Corporal, 2nd Engineer School, World War II

TEMPLIN
E.W. Templin, Company H, 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
John Templin, Corporal, 1504th Army Air Base Unit, World War II
Wanda Templin, Chief Yeoman, WAVE’s, World War II

WILLIS
John W. Willis, 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Civil War
Jas. Willis, Company H, 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War
Dwight Willis, Sergeant, 1337th Army Air Base Unit, World War II