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

Ohio Military History: Spotlight on Clarksburg Ohio WWII servicemen

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

April 22, 1942: Charles Mallow, Foreman Skinner, Harmon Jobe, and Harry Junk enlist in the U.S. Army.

April 22, 1944: Robert Hamman (pictured) graduates armored OCS at Ft. Knox, Kentucky as part of the 61st Graduation Class and is commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually assigned to serve with the 9th Armored Division. Jack Morris flies his 17th bombing mission with the 392nd Bomb Group on a marshalling yard located in Hamm, Germany. John Peck departs Clarksburg for Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia following a ten-day furlough in Clarksburg, Ohio with his family.

April 22, 1945: Willis Cleary and the 23rd Infantry Regiment depart Merseberg, Germany and arrive Frohburg, Germany. The 23rd Infantry is billeted in a former Nazi Youth Camp.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio WWII history: Morris flies his 14th bombing mission with the 392nd bomb group.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II History:

April 18, 1944: Jack Morris flies his 14th bombing mission with the 392nd Bomb Group on an airfield near Brandenberg, Germany, close to Berlin. Pictured is Morris' crew (photo taken by Morris) before taking off for one of their raids, with their B-24 in the background.

April 18, 1945: Almer Sowers arrives the Pacific Theater. Roy Pearce sends a letter to his mother stating that he has healed from his shoulder wound and is heading back to the front with the 1st Inf. Division. Russ Furniss arrives the Pacific Theater. Willis Cleary and the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division, depart Goettingen, Germany and arrive Merseberg, Germany the same day. Billeted in a German Army barracks.

Three Clarksburg Ohio World War II Navy personnel engaged in battle at Okinawa, April 1

Today in Ohio Military History: Spotlight on Clarksburg Ohio WWII veterans on April 1, 1941-1945.

April 1, 1941: Bob Dawson enlists in the U.S. Army Air Corps and eventually serves as a P-39 Cobra fighter Pilot with the 54th Fighter Group, 42nd Fighter Squadron.

April 1, 1943: Don Harmount enrolls at Fenn College and is promoted from Staff Sergeant to Technical Sargeant. Kenneth Ater receives a promotion to Sergeant while based in North Africa with the 2622nd Ordnance Transportation Company. Ralph Richardson is training at Camp Lee , Virginia with the 11th Quartermaster Group, G Company. Roger Bryant is based in India. William Bochard is serving in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator in the 6th Army's 99th Signal Battalion.

April 1, 1944: Willis Cleary and the entire 23rd Infantry Regiment and 38th Infantry Regiment's of the 2nd Infantry Division are present in Armagh, Ireland (Cleary pictured right in the doorway of his quonset hut in Armagh) when General George Patton gives a fiery speech to the regiments in preparation for the Normandy Invasion.

April 1, 1945 (Easter Sunday): Albert Willis writes home to let his parents know he has been in a Red Cross hospital in New Guinea for six weeks recovering from a foot wound. Gerald Bethel aboard the U.S. Destroyer - the USS Bache (DD-470) arrives off the coast of Okinawa to perform "screening" and "Pickett Duty". Howard Fay, aboard the LST #221 is involved in the assault and occupation of Okinawa as well. Ralph Hawkins, aboard the USS Stack also arrives Okinawa on assault day and provides anti-sub and anti-aircraft patrolling, are in the process are attacked by Japanese aircraft. Hoyt Graham's aircraft departs the Pacific Theater bound for the United States. Robert Templin returns to Ohio following 18 months of service aboard a submarine chaser based on Trinadad Island. William Bochard is released from a hospital in the Philippiines after an extended illness and a month of hospitalization. Willis Cleary departs Grenzhausen, Germany by truck and arrives Waldeck, Germany after a 140 mile drive. K Company men stay in the Westalennor Hotel.

April 1, 1946: Howard Betts is discharged from the U.S. Army at Camp Atterbury, IN.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history

Today in Ohio World War II history: Clarksburg Ohio residents move forward:

March 18, 1943: Glenn McPherson's 204th Quartermaster Battalion docks in North Africa.
Willis Cleary returns to Clarksburg for a three-day furlough from training in Wisconsin.

March 18, 1944: James Williams departs the U.S.

March 18, 1945: Eugene Morris is aboard the Queen Mary steaming for Scotland to serve as a postal clerk in HQ Company of the 745th Tank Battalion. Fred Rittenhouse's 777th Tank Battalion wake up in civilian homes in Ettringen, Germany commandeered the night before.

March 18, 1946: Willis Taylor is discharged from the U.S. Army at Camp Atterbury, IN

Today in Ohio World War II History: Clarksburg Ohio World War II veterans advance!

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history: Ohio World War II veterans from Clarksburg Ohio continue to work their way in hopes for an end to the war.

March 11, 1944: Howard Eisenbrey departs Clarksburg Ohio following an extended furlough with his parents, bound for Foster General Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Lt. Lewis Garrison officially arrives the ETO attached to the 466th Bomb Group, serving as a Navigator aboard a B-24 Liberator.

March 11, 1945: Fred Rittenhouse, part of the 777th Tank Battalion, motors toward Zingsheim, Germany and stays with civilians for six days while resting and performing regular maintenance on the battalion's tanks. Kenneth Dean departs the European Theater to return to the U.S. Willis Cleary and the 23rd Regimental Personnel Group depart the village of Kommern, Germany and arrive Ahrweiler, Germany with plans to cross the Rhine River at Remagen once the bridge is secured by the 9th Armored Division. Cleary's regiment moves into German homes and raids a local distillery. Pictured above is Cleary's grandson Vic Cleary standing in streets of Kommern in May of 2000.

March 11, 1946: Dwight Casto's ship departs the ETO bound for the United States. Wendell Carroll's troopship docks in the United States.

Clarksburg Ohio World War II Now and Then: St. Georges d' Elle

The tiny village of St-Georges-d’Elle France, nestled in Normandy's hedgerow country a few kilometres inland from Omaha Beach, is situated at the base of Hill 192, where fierce fighting between American and German soldiers resulted in terrible bloodshed in July of 1944. On the other side of the hill lay the significant crossroad city of St. Lo, which for Allied Forces, was a major objective following the invasion of Normandy.

The “Now” photo taken in June of 1999, features Nick Cleary in the foreground, son of Clarksburg Ohio World War II veteran Sgt. Willis Cleary – 23rd Infantry Regiment – K Company, standing near the 2nd Infantry Division’s monument erected to honor the many men from the division who lost their lives while liberating the village in pursuit of German forces atop Hill 192. Fortunately for our family, Sgt. Cleary was unscathed during the battle, which claimed the lives of many of his good friends and acquaintances within the regiment. St Georges d’ Elle’s chapel, pictured in both photos, was damaged severely by artillery fire during the battle, but repaired nicely following the war. A second plaque inside the chapel recognizes the American troops who fought for the village’s freedom.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history: The Clarksburg Star provides a detailed update on soldiers preparing for war!

Today in Ohio World War II history: Clarksburg Star Provides Detailed Update on Clarksburg Ohio boys preparing for World War II

On March 6, 1942 the Clarksburg Star provided an update on a number of Clarksburg Ohio's service personnel preparing for war throughout the U.S. The following notes were printed in the paper:

Bob Anderson is transitioning into different aircraft mechanic training and currently staying at the Edgewater Hotel in Santa Monica, California studying the P-38 Lightning at the Lockheed Aircraft Plant.

Bob Dawson is training with the 4th Pursuit Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group in Florence, South Carolina.

Forrest Hicks is based at Fort Sherman - Canal Zone - Panama attached to Battery K of the 1st C.A.

Harold Hoffman is based near Los Angeles, California with the 160th Infantry Regiment.

Herman Dinkler is based at Camp Shelby, Mississippi training with the 57th Quartermaster Regiment, Company C.

Jack Morris is based at Fort Sam Houston, TX part of the 504th M.P. Battalion, Company D.

Joe Ater has been reassigned to Baker Field, California.

John Martin is training at Camp Wolters, TX attached to the 63rd Infantry Training Battalion - D Company.

Kenneth Dean is based at McChord Field, Washington attached to the 505th Signal A.W. Regiment.

Lewis Garrison is trainnig at Camp Roberts, California with the 75th Field Artillery.

Mert Garrison is based at Camp McQuaide, Watsonville, California attached to the 168th Field Artillery, Battery B.

Murrell Prince is based at the Schofield Barracks with the 34th Engineers, Company D near Pearl Harbor – Hawaii.

Oscar Garrison is based at Fort Jackson, South Carolina - Field Artillery.

Ralph Anderson has been assigned to the 312th School Squadron at Sheppard Field, Texas.

W.A. Anderson is with the 7th Signal Company in San Jose, California.

Warren Whitehurst was recently promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant while based in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Willis Cleary (pictured third from left on balcony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas) has been assigned to K Company, 23rd infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division located at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.

World War II history today from Clarksburg Ohio: Cleary departs for Camp Elsenborn, Haynes participates in invasion of Iwo Jima

February 16, 1942: Walter Morris enlists in the U.S. Navy and eventually becomes a certified deep sea diver.

February 16, 1944: Max McPherson is in the U.S. Marine Corps serving in Panama. Willis Prince returns to his bomber group in Salt Lake City, Utah for additional training before transitioning overseas.

February 16, 1945: Aboard the U.S.S. New York, Robert Haynes, participates in the pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima. The New York fires more rounds than any other ship in the Task Force. Tom Rittenhouse sends a letter home to his parents alerting them that he has been drafted into the Seabeas and will be sent to Rhode Island for further training. Sgt. Willis Cleary (pictured left before the war) departs Dison, Belgium and returns to Camp Elsenborn, Belgium with the 23rd Regimental Personnel Group.

Ater graduates with top honors, Cleary returns home before shipping to the ETO, Bethel's ship docks!

On this day in Clarksburg, Ohio World War II history:

December 23, 1942: Willis Cleary returns home on leave from Camp McCoy, Wisconsin to enjoy a 14-day furlough in Clarksburg, which will be his last before shipping overseas.

December 23, 1943: Bernard Ater graduates from the Pratt & Whitney Engine School in Ypsilanti, Michigan at Willow Run Airport. Ater receives the highest classification in his squadron (pictured above left to right: Clarksburg airmen Joe Ater, Ralph Anderson, Bernard Ater, and Bob Anderson). Ralph Richardson writes to Pryor Timmons describing the rainy weather conditions while serving as a cook with the U.S. Army in North Africa.

December 23, 1945: Sgt. Robert Bethel’s troopship docks in the United States.

World War II: 576th Bomb Squadron win an excellent crew, 23rd Infantry Regiment regroups from initial shock of Battle of the Bulge

On this day in Clarksburg World War II history:

December 19, 1943: Lt. Jack Morris’ B-24 crew (pictued left) gets assigned to the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group, 576th Bomb Squadron based at Wendling, England.

December 19, 1944: Dwight Overly enlists in the U.S. Army at Fort Hayes, Ohio. Willis Cleary and the remainder of the Provisionary Reserve Group leave their defensive position along the Elsenborn Ridge near Berg, Belgium, pair off for safety and march 12 miles back to Camp Elsenborn through the cold and snow, to reform the 23rd Infantry Regiment’s Personnel Section. Visit this excellent site featuring the 2nd Infantry Division monument erected in the Twin Villages (Krinkelt/Rocherath, Belgium) by Pierre Constant to honor the men from the 2nd Infantry Division who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.