Clarksburg Ohio World War II history March 20 1943-1945

Today in Ohio World War II history featuring soldiers from Clarksburg, Ohio:

March 20, 1943: Harry Junk arrives safely in North Africa. Picture included in this blog is Harry Junk on the left and unknown soldier on the right in North Africa.

March 20, 1944: Jack Ater returns to Fort Leonard Wood following an 11-day furlough in Clarksburg with his parents. Joe Ater transfers from San Antonio, Texas where he completed pre-flight training and is now participating in flight training in Tulsa, OK. Tom Eycke is currently based in New Guinea and searching jungles for Japanese ammo and supply dumps, determining what supplies are salvagable.

March 20, 1945: Fred Rittenhouse's entire 777th Tank Battalion takes over the Hotel Ludwig Porch in Wassenach in preparation for the crossing of the Rhine River. John Roseboom is serving with the 760th Field Artillery Battalion in Manila, Philippines.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history -- residents of Clarksburg and Deerfield Township raise $60,000 in War Bond Purchases!

This day in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

February 18, 1943: Ralph Hawkins returns to Clarksburg to speak to the student body about his Navy experiences. Hawkins mentioned that he watched the U.S.S. Wasp be destroyed by the Japanese (pictured left). Ray Tucker reports for duty at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.

February 18, 1944: Cecil Southward departs Chillicothe following a 10-day furlough and returns to the 693rd Engineers at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Don Garrison is a new arrival to England. Don Harmount returns to Clarksburg from his base in Cleveland to visit family on furlough. Harold Garrison is discharged from a southwestern Pacific hospital after feeling better from the effects of Malaria. Howard Betts is promoted to sergeant and is part of a replacement unit based at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Jack Ater’s infantry division completes Louisiana Maneuvers training and returns to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. While training in England with the 981st Field Artillery, James Reisinger writes a note to Pryor Timmons thanking him for the list of Clarksburg servicemen he mailed to him. Back in Clarksburg, Hoyt Graham, Sr., President of the Clarksburg Bank and chair of the local war bond drive, announces that Clarksburg area residents purchased $60,000 of War Bonds during the most recent fundraising drive. Warren Martin is stationed in England as an Army Postmaster.

February 18, 1945: Fred Rittenhouse and the remainder of the 777th Tank Battalion. catches up with A Company at Camp Twenty-Grand, and the entire Battalion moves out toward Soissons, France. Wendell Carroll’s ship docks in the European Theater of Operations.