Marion County Remembers

Remembering SSGT Leonard Leo Brown (Fairmont) June 22, 1921 - June 6, 1945 ---- SSGT Leonard Leo Brown (Service Number 15320201) was born June 22, 1921 in Fairmont, WV. The son of George and Mary Catherine "Katie" (Gooch) Brown, the Brown family lived in the Quiet Dell Community on 310. George worked as a core maker for a foundry (1920 Census) and as a foreman for Domestic Coke (1930-1940 Censuses). The Brown family lived just a few doors down from the family of Medal of Honor recipient Woodrow "Woody" Williams, and a plaque at the WV National Guard Armory in Fairmont, WV, describes the duo as childhood friends. Leonard attended East Fairmont High School, graduating in the class of 1941. No EFHS yearbooks denote activities for Leonard, but the 1940 Orion does list his nickname as "Lem McGee." It is unfortunate to note that Leo was not the only member of the EFHS class of 1941 to die in service during WWII. His classmates Howard Dodd ,  William "Bill...

From the 1946 Orion: "In grateful recognition of the valiant services of our returning veterans we dedicate to them this volume- the 1946 Orion. We would not forget to especially remember those who sacrificed most. In the honor to their memory we record here the names of those who gave their lives to allow us one more chance to preserve our American ideals for which so many of our forefathers have striven." Charles Adams: 1938 Ralph Bartholow Ray Boyers Howard Brown : 1930 Leonard "Leo" Brown : 1941 Fred Cannon: 1934 (also attended FSU) James Cervo Melvin Conner Frank Cosco Delmas C. Curry Robert Davis: 1931 (also attended FSU) Howard Dodd : 1941 Forrest F. Estel Samuel Fox, II Ralph Friscenda Glenn Nichols William Von Harris James H. Hayhurst Carl C. Heflin Tom Knox: 1941 William Layman : 1941 James Maddox: 1931 (also attended FSU) Payson McCray : 1930 J ohn McKinney, III : 1933 (also attended FSU) Theodore M. Mowery Harvey "Harry" Myers Clyde Pierce John...

Remembering PFC Billy Festus Snider (Monongah/Fairmont) April 8, 1925 - June 1, 1944 ---- PFC Billy Festus Snider (Service #35758283 )  was born April 8, 1925 in Monongah, WV, the son of Lawrence and Jennie (Gandy) Snider. Billy was the 7th child of 9: four girls and five boys. According to the 1930 census, their family lived at 25 Main Street in Monongah, where Lawrence was an electrician in the coal mines. Between 1930 and 1935, their family moved to Fairmont, where they lived at 3 Plaza Place (1940 census). Lawrence was a machinist in the coal mines. Billy attended Fairmont Senior High School for three years, dropping out before senior year to enlist in the military. The 1943 Maple Leaves yearbook said of Billy, "Billy, one of our sport juniors has the 'great' ambition 'to work.' His hobbies are dancing, swimming, and skating, all of which he does very, very well. His activities include study halls." Military Service: Billy registered for the draft on April...

Remembering PVT Harold Hershal Austin July 19, 1921 - May 29, 1943 ---- PVT Harold Hershal Austin (Service Number 35746790) was born July 19, 1921 in Randall, West Virginia (near Star City in Monongalia County), the son of Jesse Ray and Goldie Ethel (Boyce) Austin. At the time of Harold's birth, their family was living on McKinley Avenue in Morgantown, while Jesse worked as a coal miner.  Sometimes between 1925 (Morgantown City Directory) and the 1930 Census, they moved to Fairmont. There they lived with Goldie's parents at 347 Blaine Street (where the Gateway Connector Playground now is). Jesse was a laborer at the local lumber company (1930 Census). By 1940, they were back in Monongalia County, where Jesse worked as a farmer and Harold and his older brother Paul worked as laborers for the National Youth Association (1940 Census). Military Service: On December 22, 1942, Harold enlisted in Clarksburg, WV. Harold was listed as a semi-skilled foundry employee, with a 7th grade e...

Remembering Tec5 William Columbus "Singing Willie" Jones, Jr. (Fairmont) December 3, 1913 - May 26, 1945 ---- Tec5 William Columbus Jones (service number 35742122) was born on December 3, 1913 in Tuggles, Virginia, the son of  Willie Columbus Jones and Sadie Everett (Taylor). At the time of William's birth, Willie was a farmer and Sadie, a college graduate, was a teacher. Between William's birth and 1920, their family moved to the coal mining town of Wilcoe, McDowell County (now part of Gary), where Willie worked as a miner (1920 Census). By 1927, they had moved to  Fairmont, WV, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They lived several places in Fairmont- 632 Spring Street (1927- 1939 City Directories), 108 Baltimore Street (1940 Census), and 724 1/2 Walnut Avenue (Draft Card). Willie supported their family by working as a janitor in office buildings and schools, while Sadie worked as a teacher (1930 Census) and later a housekeeper (1940 Census). William gra...

Remembering PFC John Yelcich (Fairmont) June 5, 1922 - May 13, 1944 ---- PFC John Yelcich (service # 35744765)  was born June 5, 1922 in Fairmont to Thomas and Mary (Ribic) Yelcich. Thomas, born in Yugoslavia, worked as a coal miner.  In 1930, the family lived in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, but by 1935 had moved back to Fairmont, where they lived at 133 Bourbon Street. John was the oldest of eight children-- three boys, five girls. The 1940 census shows that John had only attended his freshman year of high school before entering the work force, most likely at Barnes School or Fairmont Senior High School. Military Service: On June 30, 1942, John entered the draft. He is listed as being 5' 10 1/2" and 155 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion. At the time, he was working for Bethlehem Steel's Industrial Collieries Corporation in Barrackville, WV, Mine #7. John enlisted in Clarksburg on November 30, 1942, and became a member of the 338th Infantry, 85th Div...