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.

Johnson sails for North Africa as Minser arrives, Delbert Boyer serving with 466th Bomb Group

Happy New Year! On New Year’s Day in Ohio World War II history, Clarksburg Ohio residents continue a busy schedule.

January 1, 1943: Dwight Willis transfers from Atlantic City, NJ to Camp Kilmer, N.J. Franklin Johnson departs the Unites States for overseas duty sailing for North Africa. Richard Minser's parents receive word that he arrived safely in North Africa and is based in Casablanca.

January 1, 1944: Amos Morris completes basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Delbert Boyer writes a note to Frank Carroll in Clarksburg explaining his new role as a ground crew member for the 466th Bomb Group in Alamagordo, NM. Merrill Hughes returns home on furlough to visit his family. Willis Cleary is briefly admitted into an Irish hospital and alerts wife and family back home that he was discharged and back with his unit.

January 1, 1945: John Haynes is assigned to Camp Wolters, Texas with C Company, 62nd Battalion, 2nd Platoon.

January 1, 1946: Cecil Richardson's ship docks in the United States.

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.