April 24 in Clarksburg Ohio World War II History:

Ohio Military History -- Spotlight on Clarksburg Ohio World War II Veterans and their activity on April 24, 1944 and 1945:

April 24, 1944: Harold Hoffman and the 40th Infantry Division depart Guadalcanal for the battle of New Britain. Jack Morris flies his 18th bombing mission on the Leysham, Germany airfield (Leipheim). Richard Stevens departs the U.S. for the European Theater as part of the 20th Corps of Field Artillery in the Observation Section.

April 24, 1945: Harry Jordan departs the United States for the European Theater. Lee Dunkle writes Mr. Timmons from aboard LST 863 to describe his recent experience walking along an island invasion beach littered with Japanese bodies. Solon Graham departs Chatham Field, Georgia and waits on a rail siding for a bomber assignment in Europe, which is ultimately canceled and he is assigned, instead to fly in the Pacific.

My Good Friend Jean Pierre, from Chartres, France: Honoring Lt. Thomas Pearce of Clarksburg Ohio

Chartres' Jean Pierre laying flowers at the base of Lt. Thomas Pearce's cross at St. Laurent cemetery in Normandy, France: April 10, 2009.

On May 11, 1944, my cousin, Clarksburg Ohio resident, Lt. Thomas Pearce (487th Bomb Group, 838th Bomb Squadron), was killed-in-action when his B-24 bomber was hit by German Anti-Aircraft Artillery over Chateaudun, France. Following an emergency crash landing in a French farm field not far from Chateaudun, the aircraft caught fire and exploded with a significant amount of fuel remaining in the aircraft's tanks, and a full bomb load in the bomb bay. Before the explosion, Pilot - Captain Ed Brodsky, and Co-pilot - Captain Jack Roberts managed to squeeze through a hole in the windshield and escape, but were quickly captured by German troops and sent to the Stalag Luft III POW Camp. Lt. Lee Johnson, an additional Navigator on the mission, parachuted to safety before the aircraft crash landed and was also captured. The remainder of the crew including Clarksburg's Lt. Pearce, Lester Weiss (Navigator), Walter Simoni (Engineer), Cliff Nance (Radio Operator), William J. Murphy (Gunner), Elton Tollett (Gunner), and Bronis Lipskas (gunner), were trapped inside and killed when the aircraft exploded a few minutes following the crash landing.

Today, I received a surprise email from a dear friend, Mr. Jean Pierre, from Chartres, France, who visited Lt. Thomas Pearce's grave (At the U.S. Military Cemetery in St. Laurent, France - overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy) this weekend and laid a nice bouquet of flowers at its base. Mr. Pierre has taken a keen interest in this specific crash and through the years shared information back and forth with me, including sending me two separate pieces of the wreckage -- a piece of the aircraft's glass, as well as a piece of the sheet metal. He is a smart and compassionate man who shares my love for World War II history and a deep respect for the men who fought in the war. One of his most significant research accomplishments was locating and uncovering the remains of the pre D-Day C-47 crash that killed Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment Company Commander Lt. Thomas Meehan. Lt. Meehan's death on June 6, 1944, led to the promotion of Lt. Richard Winters -- the focal point of Stephen Ambrose's book and HBO special - Band of Brothers. I am proud to be Jean Pierre's friend and appreciate his friendship very much. Without excellent, intelligent resources like Mr. Pierre, it would be very difficult for Americans to thoroughly research and locate the crashes and battlefields of loved ones. Thanks Jean! (PICTURED: Jean Pierre in Normandy in front of Clarksburg Ohio's Lt. Thomas Pearce's grave).

Today in Ohio World War II history: Clarksburg Ohio's Lt. Williams flies an attack mission with the Bats Outa Hell squadron!

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

March 16, 1945: Almer Sowers departs the U.S. bound for the Pacific Theater to serve as a Light Truck Driver with the 3745th Quartermaster Truck Company. Daryl Williams flies a mission with the 499th Bomb Squadron, in a highly modified B-25 Mitchell bomber designed to attack Japanese ground and shipping targets. The included photo included was taken out the back of Williams' B-25 showing para-frag bombs (with white parachutes) dropping on a Japanese target. Eugene Mace graduates from Navy Fire Control school in Bainbridge, Maryland. Eugene Morris is serving in an armored unit at Fort Meade, Maryland recently completing basic training. Russ Furniss departs the U.S. bound for the Pacific Theater serving as part of the 24th Infantry Division, 21st Infantry Regiment, HQ Company.

March 16, 1946: Wendell Carroll 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.

Today in Ohio World War II history: Cleary departs Monschau for Eupen, Anderson graduates air mechanic school and 3 years later leaves the ETO

This date in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

February 24, 1942: Bob Anderson graduates air mechanic school at Sheppard Field, Texas.

February 24, 1943: Darrell Templin, Dick Garrison, Dick Shanton, Howard Bryant, Jack Ater and Rolland Bookwalter depart Clarksburg for Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana to immediately report for duty to the U.S. Army. Harmon Jobe arrives the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

February 24, 1945: Bob Anderson departs the European Theater of Operation bound for the United States. Charlie Jobe reaches the Roer River and the 82nd Airborne are relieved by the British. He returns with the 82nd Airborne Division to their Suippes, France base camp. Willis Cleary departs Monschau, Germany (pictured left) for Eupen, Belgium to reposition along the Siegfried Line.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history: Garrison returns home, USS Ranger docks in Casablanca with Ralph Ater aboard.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

February 23, 1943: Glen Ater and wife Nell host a farewell party in Clarksburg to send brother Jack Ater off to war, the second Ater brother to enter service during World War II. Ralph Ater, aboard the USS Ranger arrives Casablanca transporting 75 P-40 Warhawk fighters to the region. Pictured left: Mechanics working on a P-40 atop the deck of the USS Ranger in May of 1942.

February 23, 1945: Cary Skinner officially joins up with the 41st Infantry Division at Mindoro. Dick Garrison departs England bound for the United States following receiving wounds in the Hurtgen Forest as part of the 121th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. Frank Ater sends a letter to his parents telling them he just arrived in France from England and is currently serving with the 743rd Tank Battalion. Howard Fay departs the U.S. for the Pacific Theater. John Jordan completes his service aboard the USS Ranger.

February 23, 1946: Harold Dawson is discharged from the U.S. Army at Fort Devens, Mass.

February 22: A big day for Clarksburg Ohio B-24 Liberator crew members during World War II

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

February 22, 1944: Lt. Jack Morris (392nd Bomb Group) writes to his parents while in a hospital recovering from fatigue and wounds received in his first crash of World War II - this time in England, the result of being shot up following a bombing mission. Morris does not elude to his wounds nor the crash he and his crew endured two days before on February 20 in his letter to his parents. His war was not over, but he was awrded the Purple Heart for this crash. (photo: February 20, 1944, the remains of Lt. Morris' B-24 in southern England following their crashlanding in a beet field). Roy Hawkins departs the U.S. for the European Theater.

February 22, 1945: Don Adams flies his fifth B-24 bombing mission over Murnau, Germany with the 485th Bomb Group.

Clarksburg Ohio World War II veteran spotlight: Captain Herman Dinkler

Clarksburg Ohio World War II veteran spotlight: Captain Herman Dinkler.

Clarksburg High School graduate and Clarksburg Ohio resident, Captain Herman Dinkler entered service with the U.S. Army March 29, 1941. Eventually, he served in the 548th Quartermaster Depot attached to the 3rd Armored Division during World War II. Dinkler arrived the ETO (European Theater of Operation) May 1, 1944, landing in Liverpool, England. He served as the commander of a Quartermaster group that supplied combat troops in Northern France, Normandy, Ardennes, and the Rhineland. He was in Liege, Belgium on VE-DAY and shipped home aboard the Victory Ship Montclair. Dinkler's "Now" photo was taken at his home on Egypt Pike just outside Clarksburg in May of 1984. Unlike the other Now and Then photos taken for this project, Dinkler took the time to squeeze into an old uniform, which makes for an excellent now and then comparison.

Clarksburg Ohio World War II veterans prepare for action on February 15

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

February15, 1943: Elwood Dean transfers from Fort Benning, Georgia to Fort George E. Meade, Maryland training with D Company, 417th Infantry Regiment, prior to his service with thew 82nd Airborne.

February 15, 1944: Don Maddux arrives Camp Blanding, Florida for infantry training from the Army induction center at Ft. Hayes, in Columbus Ohio. John Dawson departs Clarksburg Ohio following a furlough and returns to his Air Corps base at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. John Peck reports to Hunter Field, Georgia.

February 15, 1945: Fred Rittenhouse transfers from Fort Knox, Kentucky to Fort Meade, Maryland staging for overseas duty.

Garrison stricken with Malaria in the Pacific, Lt. Adams flying regular B-24 Missions, Peck completes 450 hours in C-46 time over the Hump!

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

February 14, 1941: Marvin Carroll enlists in the U.S. Army and is eventually assigned to the 14th Armored Infantry, C Company.

February 14, 1943: Harold Garrison (pictured left) spends his first day in Perth, Australia as part of the 32nd Infantry Division.

February 14, 1944: Harold Garrison becomes ill due to the effects of Malaria and is admitted to a hospital in the Southwest Pacific.

February 14, 1945: Lt. Don Adams flies his third bombing mission on the Lobau Oil Refinery in Vienna, Austria. John Peck completes 450 hours of operational flight time in C-46's over the Hump in the China India Burma theater.

Dean recovering from wounds in Louisville, Clarence Minnix departs the states for the Pacific Theater

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

February 9, 1943: Clarksburg Ohio native James Pool transfers from Fort Lewis, WA to Keesler Field, Mississippi.

February 9, 1944: John Dawson returns to Clarksburg to enjoy a 10-day furlough with his family.

February 9, 1945: Clarence Minnix departs the U.S. bound for the Asiatic-Pacific Theater serving as a Truck Driver in C Company, 68th Signal Battalion. Following receiving wounds in Normandy while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, F Company, Elwood Dean (pictured left) recovers from surgery at Nicholas Hospital in Lousiville, KY. His oldest brother, Norman Dean stops by for a visit.

Clarksburg Ohio World War II Veteran Spotlight: Harold Garrison

Clarksburg Ohio World War II Veteran Spotlight: Harold K. Garrison

S/SGT Harold K. Garrison served in the U.S. Army as a Survey Instrument Expert and Cook as part of the famed 32nd Infantry Division, 120th Field Artillery Battalion., HQ Battery. Garrison served in the Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns -- New Guinea, Saadore and the Netherlands East Indies.

During World War II, he worked directly with 32nd infantry units as a Forward Artillery Observer to survey Japanese locations for a 105MM Howitzer Battalion. Unfortunately, Garrison was stricken with Malaria during this service and therefore served the remainder of his service in KP.

Back in Clarksburg Ohio, Garrison owned a gas station and served the citizens for many years as a Deerfield Township Trustee.

World War II: Clarksburg Ohio veteran spotlight

Clarksburg Ohio World War II Veteran Spotlight (Now and Then):

PFC Almer E. Sowers

PFC Almer E. Sowers served in the U.S. Army as a light truck driver attached to the 3745th Quartermaster Truck Company. Sowers left the United States in February of 1945 for the Pacific Theater and served in New Guinea and the Phillipines. It’s interesting to note that he had a chance encounter with Clarksburg veteran Russ Furniss aboard the troopship carrying the two to war, while the ship was out to sea. Sowers lived out his life in Deerfield Township just outside Clarksburg Ohio and farmed the fields surrounding his rural home located approximately 3 miles south of Clarksburg on State Route 207. Color photo taken in May of 1984.

Clarksburg Ohio's John Dawson is forced from flight school while Lt. Jack Morris forced march from POW camp

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

January 27, 1944: John Dawson From Sioux Falls, South Dakota, John Dawson writes Clarksburg High School Superintendent Pryor Timmons to update him on his flight school status. Disappointed, he explains to Mr. Timmons about an illness that forced him from flight school and into radio instruction.

January 27, 1945: Lt. Jack Morris of the 392nd Bomb Group (pictured left) and the remainder of the prisoners at Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Germany (Poland) begin their forced march ultimately to Stalag Luft VII in Moosburg, Germany due to the Russian's aggressive pressure on German forces along the Eastern front.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history: Graham in Georgia

Today in Ohio World War II history: Clarksburg Ohio native, Solon Graham arrives Chatham Field in Savannah, Georgia for flight training in the B-24 Liberator. Graham is pictured with close friends, second from the left.

World War II update for Clarksburg Ohio: Today in Ohio Military history - January 19, 2009

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

January 19, 1942: John Martin enlists in the U.S. Army starting his military service during World War II.

January 19, 1943: Scott Dinkler (photo left L to R: Scott Dinkler with brother Carl Dinker) returns to Patterson Field, Ohio after a 5-day furlough with his parents in Clarksburg Ohio.

January 19, 1944: Amos Morris writes to Pryor Timmons, Superintendant of Clarksburg High School that he was just off a five-day train trip across the country to California for restaging and that he recently received a promotion to 2nd Class Petty Officer. Eugene Overly’s troopship docks in England.

January 19, 1945: Carl Dinkler (pictured above and on the right, with brother Scott) returns to Temple, Texas following a Christmas furlough to Clarksburg, heading back for more therapy and recovery from his wounds received while fighting near Brest, France, part of the 8th Infantry Division’s 28th Infantry Regiment, A Company. Don Harmount is enjoying a furlough home from Foster Field, Texas. Joe Kelly is training at Camp Wolters, Texas as part of the 3rd Platoon, A Company, 56th Infantry Training Battalion. Max Willis receives his discharge from the U.S. Army, ending his World War II service. Solon Graham travels to Westover Field, Massachusetts.

Ohio servicemen move into fighting position throughout the globe, Clarksburg's John Peck Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross!

Today in Ohio World War II history. Clarksburg servicemen move into fighting position:

January 15, 1943: Clarence Minnix is training at Camp McCain, Mississippi and recently transferred from Camp Crowder, Missouri. Clarence's brother Clifford Minnix is training at Fort Bliss, Texas attached to the 509th C.A. Richard Minser arrives North Africa with the Railway Transportation Corps.

January 15, 1944: Harold Hoffman is serving as a machine gunner in the 40th Infantry Division. The division gathers on Guadalcanal in preparation for its first combat assignment at New Britain. The New Britain link is to an excellent 30 minute video of the battle! Richard Stevens is based at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

January 15, 1945: John Peck receives the Distinguished Flying Cross for logging over 300 hours of flying time in a C-46 Commando cargo plane (C-46 pictured above). Peck, based in India is flying weekly cargo missions over "The Hump," the slang term used to describe a treacherous stretch of Himalayan Mountains between destinations. Orville Watkins completes boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois and returns to Clarksburg for a 9-day furlough. Roy Holloway, 80th Infantry Division, and Roy Pearce, 1st Infantry Division, arrive the European Theater as infantry replacements, unknown to the fact that both will be wounded in three months time.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history: Hawkins surrounded by Germans

Today in Ohio World War II history, Clarksburg Ohio’s Roy Hawkins is cut off and surrounded by Germans.

January 7, 1944: Eugene Overly departs the U.S. bound for England. Paul McCormick is newly based at a New Orleans hospital.

January 7, 1945: Don Garrison in France, writes home and suggests setting up a community center in Clarksburg for the boys to go to and socialize after the war. Roy Hawkins, part of the 463rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery is fiercely attacked by three German army divisions, including the 21st Panzer Division at their positions near Hatton and Rittershoffen, Germany.

January 7, 1946: Cecil Southward and Sam Saxour are discharged from the U.S. Army.

Anderson moves his P-38 Lightning to McChord Field, Edward Lowe's ship arrives the U.S.

Today in Ohio World War II history, Clarksburg Ohio residents continue their daily duties:

January 6, 1943: Bob Anderson, along with the 55th Fighter Group move P-38 Lightning fighters from a CCC camp to better facilities at McChord Field, Washington. Don Harmount arrives Clarksburg to enjoy a 14-day furlough from training in Jackson, Mississippi. John Kirkwood Sr., a World War I veteran, transfers to Camp Lee, VA.

January 6, 1946: Edward Lowe’s ship docks in the United States.

Crabb training in the B-25, USS Denver departs to support the invasion of the Philippines

On this day in Ohio World War II history. Clarksburg Ohio soldiers, sailors and airman keep to a busy schedule but report back regularly to their families in Ross County for regular updates.

January 4, 1943: Charles Crabb (photo left) sees a Japanese Zero for the first time while based in Greenville S.C. The captured Zero was flown to the base for detailed enemy aircraft study. The same day, Crabb flies a training mission in a B-25 Mitchell bomber from Greenville, SC to Atlanta, GA. At this point in his training, he writes to his parents that he has been flying regular training missions and keeping very busy preparing for eventual rotation overseas. Paul McCormick transfers to Duncan Field, Texas.

January 4, 1944: Scott Dinkler is discharged from an Army hospital in Oran after recovering from a leg infection received while working on aircraft in Abadan Iran. Scott returns to his regular duties.

January 4, 1945: Curtis Willis departs Whittier, Alaska bound for the mainland U.S. Marcus Ater, aboard the USS Denver, departs San Pedro Bay to help provide firing cover for the landings at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines.

January 4, 1946: Eugene Overly’s ship docks in the United States.