Marion County Remembers

Remembering 2LT John Kendall Penrod (Fairmont) April 25, 1923 - September 28, 1944 ---- 2LT John Kendall Penrod (Service #O-1323962) was born April 25, 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Charles and Glenna (Kirby) Penrod. Charles was a foreman for the railroad company (1920 Census). By 1930, their family had moved back to Glenna's home state, West Virginia. Their family lived first in the Union District of Monongalia County (1930 Census), then 305 East Park Avenue in the Union District of Marion County (1940 Census). John graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1940. On March 14, 1941, John's father Charles died of a Cerebral Hemorrhage.  Military Service and Marriage: John registered for the draft on July 1, 1941. At the time, he was 6' and 150 lbs with blue eyes and brown hair. He was an employee at Owens-Illinois. He enlisted in the Army on September 16, 1942, at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio. Amidst his military training, Cadet John Penrod (now stationed in Utah) ma

Remembering MTSGT Edward Payson McCray (Fairmont/Norwood) October 7, 1912 - September 16, 1944 ---- Master Technical Sergeant Edward Payson McCray was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on October 7, 1912, the son of Charles and Lulu (McGinnis). Charles was a mail carrier, and a farmer, in the Winfield District (Rt 3, 1910-1920 Census). Lulu filed for divorce in Michigan on July 28, 1926, after 31 years of marriage. It was finalized on January 13, 1927, and she married Charles Morley shortly thereafter. Edward lived with his mother and stepfather, also a farmer, in Benton, Ohio (1930 Census).  College, First Military Service, and Marriage: Edward graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1930, and attended Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) in 1931 and 1932.  Edward initially entered the service on December 2, 1933, beginning with an Aviation Maintenance Squadron in Quantico. On March 28, 1937, he married Margery Ethel Thompson (a doctor's assistant) in Monongali

Remembering PFC James Edward Monroe (Worthington/Fairmont) July 7, 1922 - September 8, 1944 ---- PFC James Edward Monroe (Service #33554254) was born in Chiefton, WV (near Worthington) on July 7, 1922, the son of Arch and Lura (Post) Monroe. Their family spent most of James' life in the Grant District of Marion County, where Arch worked as a "mining machine" operator (1920 Census) and farmer (1930 census). The 1935 Fairmont City Directory shows a brief detour to the Westchester area of Fairmont, but by 1940 they were back in the Grant District, this time specifically on a side road near Boothes Creek/ (Old) Monongah Road (1940 Census). At that time Arch was working as a "coal loader" (1940 census).  Military Service: James entered the draft on Jume 30, 1942 in Calvert County, Maryland. At that time he was living in North Beach, Maryland and working at "Uncle Billy's Amusement Park." James was 6'1 1/4" and 191 lbs, with gray eyes, brown hai

Remembering Tec5 Olen Jay Canfield (Levels Road) January 10, 1919 - September 6, 1944 ---- Tec5 Olen Jay "Skeeter" Canfield (Service #35275107) was born January 10, 1919 in Norton, WV, the son of John and Sarah (Fansler) Canfield. Norton is about six and a half miles from Elkins, in Randolph County. Their family spent the next few decades in Marion County (1920-1940 Census) with John working as a general laborer (1920), lumber cutter at the sawmill (1930), and WPA Road Laborer (1940). The 1940 Census specifies their location as Levels Road, and gives Olen's occupation as "new laborer."  ---- Military Service: Olen entered the draft in Colfax on October 16, 1940. At the time, he was unemployed. Olen was 6'3 1/2" and 165 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. "Skeeter" enlisted on February 10, 1942 at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio. His occupation was listed as "metal rolling." In the service, Olen was part of

Remembering PFC Ray Hern December 29, 1908 - September 2, 1944 ---- PFC Ray Hern (Service #35739799) was born in Erie, WV (Harrison County) on December 29, 1908, the son of John "Jack" and Tennessee (Wilson) Hern. Ray grew up in Worthington where Jack was an "oil field worker" (1910 Census) and on Rarker Run Road in the Paw Paw District, where Jack was a farmer (1920 Census). Ray only attended school through 7th grade. On June 22, 1928, Ray married Ida Leo Wilson in Clarksburg, WV. At the time, they were both living in Enterprise, just over the border of Marion County into Harrison County.  The 1930 Census found them living with Leo's mom, Sarah, in Bingamon near Worthington, WV (Marion County). At the time, Ray was working as a coal miner. The duo then lived in Hutchinson on New Hill Road, where Ray worked as a coal loader (1940 census). Military Service: Ray entered the draft on October 16, 1940. He listed his hometown as Worthington and his employer as Consol

Remembering PVT John Edwin "Buck" West (Fairmont) February 10, 1915 - August 29, 1944 ---- Note from the author: two days ago, we published a story about PVT West's brother-in-law, PVT Charles William Reynolds . Tragedy struck their family three times in two months, as PVT Reynolds was killed August 27, 1944, PVT West was killed August 29, 1944, and the brother of their respective wives, Carl Tatterson, died as a POW on October 20, 1944.  ---- PVT John Edwin "Buck" West was born in Fairmont, WV, on February 10, 1915, the son of Clinton and Edna (Pople) West. Their family lived at 326 Haymond Street in Fairmont at the time of John's birth ( November 1914 West Virginian ), and Clint worked as a laborer at Owens-Illinois (1920 Census). The family moved around a bit, living at 332 Blaine Street for a time (1923, 1929 Fairmont City Directories) while Clint worked as a tinner, before moving to Holidays Cove in Brooke County where Clint worked as a house painter (1