Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II: Minnix arrives Clarksburg from Fort Bliss

Slow day in Clarksburg Ohio WWII history:

April 30, 1943: Clifford Minnix arrives Clarksburg from Fort Bliss, Texas on furlough to visit his parents.

April 30, 1944: Earl Martin (pictured middle) spends his birthday aboard his LST. Richard Shanton's ship arrives the Pacific Theater.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history: Lt. Jack Morris flies mission on Berlin in 1944 and Liberated from Stalag Luft 7A in 1945!

April 29, 1943: Charlie Jobe and portions of the 82nd Airborne, sail from New York harbor for Casablanca. Herschel Bethel departs the U.S. for the European Theater.

April 29, 1944: Jack Morris (pictured) flies his 20th bombing mission to Berlin's Marshalling yards. Viciously attacked by German figthters and the co-pilot is severely wounded. Morris' B-24 limps back to base, but makes it.

April 29, 1945: Dwight Overly departs Fort McCllelan, Alabama for reassignment at Fort Meade, Maryland. Earl Reisinger departs Clarksburg following a 36-day furlough and returns to San Diego for reassignment. Jack Morris is liberated from Stalag Luft 7A in Moosburg, Germany. The POW's were liberated by the U.S. 3rd Army, including a personal appearance by General George Patton. Jack and the remainder of the POW's remained in Moosburg until May 8, 1945.

Today in Ohio Military History: Spotlight on Clarksburg Ohio WWII Veterans

April 25, 1942: Wendell Bryant enlists in the U.S. Army at Fort Hayes, Ohio. Later serves with the 479th Amphibious Truck Company and landed infantry troops at Anzio and Normandy.

April 25, 1943: James Elliott arrives Clarksburg from Camp Atterbury, IN to visit parents over the weekend.

April 25, 1944: Wendell Carroll is enjoying a furlough in Clarksburg, Ohio with his parents and wife before returning to Salt Lake City for additional preparations to be shipped west. Carroll later serves in Europe with the 80th Infantry Division, 319th Infantry Regiment as a Medical NCO.

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.

Today in Clarksburg Ohio World War II history:

April 23, 1943: Don Bethel departs the U.S. bound for the China India Burma Theater. Foreman Skinner arrives Clarksburg from training in Orlando, FL to enjoy a 15-day furlough with his mother. Harry Holloway departs the United States as part of the 82nd Airborne Division, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, sailing for North Africa.

April 23, 1944: Willis Cleary, along with his infantry regiment (23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division) departs Belfast and arrives Swansea, Wales.

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.

GI Film Festival: May 13-17, 2009 - Washington DC

The GI Film Festival is approaching May 13-17, 2009 in Washington DC. I wish I could attend. Some fascinating movies are included in this year's collection. A couple especially caught my eye about World War II and made me think of Clarksburg Ohio WWII veterans who experienced similar situations.


The first is Everyman's War about one man's heroic effort during the Battle of the Bulge. A number of Clarksburg men were caught in bad situations during the Battle of the Bulge, from the Northern Shoulder near Elsenborn, down as far south as Bastogne.



Another interesting documentary is this one: The Inheritance of War, about the Baatan Death March survivors' efforts to sue leading Japanese manufacturers who tortured them and forced them into slave labor during the war. Some of my grandfather's friends from his early days at Ft. Sam Houston were captured by the Japanese and forced into these conditions and it reminds me of the letter he sent home expressing concern for his friends and how the division vowed to get even. They got even alright... but in Europe instead.