Christmas furloughs for some Clarksburg soldiers, Norman Trapp flies 12th bombing mission, Garrison prepares for the ETO

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II History:

December 24, 1942: Herschel Bethel visits his mother in Greenland, Ohio while on a ten-day furlough from Camp Van Buren, Arkansas.

December 24, 1943: Hoyt Graham hosts his friend, Lt. Henry Fielder who is also based at Wright Field, at the Graham house in Clarksburg for Christmas. Lewis Garrison’s parents receive word that Lewis is transferred to Alamogordo, NM and attached to the 466th Bomb Group, 787th Bomb Squadron, where the group was preparing for overseas departure. Merrill Hughes receives a furlough from Easton, Pennsylvania to spend a three-day pass with his wife and family in Clarksburg. Tom Eycke returns to Clarksburg to enjoy a holiday furlough from Camp Ellis, Illinois.

December 24, 1944: Allen Anderson returns to Ohio from his base in San Antonio, Texas to enjoy a 14-day furlough with his mother in Chillicothe. Corrine Bochard and Jack Ater return to Clarksburg to enjoy furloughs with their respective parents. Marcus Ater, aboard the USS Denver - returns to Manus. Norman Trapp (photo above - Trapp front row center) flies his 12th bombing mission with the 351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron, in B-17 44-8374 and the target is the Biblis Airfield (recon photo through link).

December 24, 1945: Sgt. Dwight Willis returns to the United States following service in China, India and Burma. Robert Boggs departs the European Theater bound for the United States. Tom Eycke is officially discharged from the U.S. Army following service in the Pacific Theater.

8th Infantry based in Ireland, leave from the USS Ranger, Margraten Cemetery

Today in Clarksburg Ohio's World War II history:

December 15, 1942 - PFC Richard “Jack” Minser is promoted to Corporal while based in North Africa.

December 15, 1943 - Sgt. Dick Garrison, 8th Infantry Division, 121st Infantry Regiment is stationed in Colebrooke, Ireland training for the invasion of Normandy. Lt. Harold Anderson departs the states for a second tour of coastal artillery service in Panama. Herman Dinkler returns to Clarksburg on furlough from Camp Ellis, Illinois. Ralph Ater is on leave from the USS Ranger and flies into Dayton's Wright Field to spend time with his parents in Clarksburg. Solon Graham is participating in flight training in San Antonio, Texas with the 43rd Squadron, Group E, Wing 1. Cpl Warren Martin officially arrives the European Theater when his troopship docks in Scotland.

December 15, 1944 - Fred Rittenhouse’s convoy of troopships departs the U.S. bound for Europe. Rittenhouse serving with the 777th Tank Battalion, A Company. PFC Leo Rose returns to Fort Lewis, Washington following a furlough in Clarksburg.

December 15, 1945 - Cpl Eugene Morris is promoted to the rank of sergeant while based in Bamberg, Germany. T/5 Charles Hughes, Merrill Hughes' brother, writes to his parents from Holland describing Merrill's grave at Margraten, Holland American Cemetery and the Dutch family who has adopted the grave promising to care for it in the family’s absence.