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ARM3 George Yanick (WWII)

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Remembering ARM3 George Yanick (Grant Town) September 4, 1923 - November 2, 1942 ---- "Those of us who have returned from Guadalcanal realize the great contribution and sacrifice made by those pilots and radio-gunners who did not come back with us. We know that the loss of your son is a tremendous blow and yet there is a measure of consolation in knowing that your son died in the service of his country in an active war-zone; that before he left us he fought for a long period of time in actual combat with the enemy and acquitted himself gallantly and bravely." Letter from LT P.W. Maxwell to Anna Miskov ---- Note: A 1943 article from the Fairmont Times lists George as being 17 at his time of death, and gave his enlistment date as two years prior. The article also states that George was the first person from Grant Town to be killed in action in WWII. ---- ARM3 George Yanick (Service Number 2583181) was born September 4, 1923 in Amsterdam, Ohio, the son of Eli and Anna (Lachansko...
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West Virginians Aboard the USS Rueben James

West Virginians Lost Aboard the USS Rueben James S1C Harold Beasley (Hinton) F1C Leftwich Carbaugh (Princeton) Y3C Dennis Daniel  (Saxon, Raleigh County) S1C Edwin Farley (Williamson, Mingo County) TM3C Aldon Neptune (Mannington) S1C Sunny Settle (Charleston) F2C Chester Welch (Cabin Creek) S1C George Woody, Jr (Logan County)
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SSGT John Lawrence Nary Ford (WWII)

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Remembering SSGT John Lawrence Nary Ford (Fairmont) February 24, 1922 - October 12, 1943 ---- SSGT John Lawrence Nary Ford (Service Number 15115355)   was born February 24, 1922 in Beckley, WV, the son of William David and Anastasia (Nary) Ford. William was an electrician in an electric shop. 1930 found their family living back in Marion County, at 518 Merchant Street (1930 Census). At some point between the recording of the 1930 Census and 1935, the Fords moved to Wheeling, WV, where William continued his career as an electrician (1940 Census). In March of 1936, William, now 52, was diagnosed with an abscess in his right lung as a result of tuberculosis. Unfortunately, he never fully recovered, and on May 4, 1936, William died of a cerebral embolism in Wheeling, WV (WV Death Certificate). Anastasia was left with two teenage sons and a young daughter to raise alone. She and her kids moved in with her parents in Fairmont at 419 Quincy Street, while working for a paper company a...
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EFHS Casualties in WWII

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 William David Ford: 1941 (not listed in 1946, but appeared in 1941 Orion) 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 and WVU) Payson McCray : 1930 J ohn McKinney, III : 1933 (als...
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Fairmont State University's Fallen Servicemembers

Fairmont State University's Fallen Servicemembers  * Denotes Marion County Resident From the Jaynes Hall Plaque (1948 Yearbook): Note: This is not necessarily a complete list of all fallen Falcons. Asterisk denotes Marion County citizen.  Frank Alessio* Lawrence Richard Berry* John K. Boyles Wilbert Burns Fred B. Cannon Barton Core Angelo Crescenzi * Robert G. Davis John Dragoo* 1LT Frank Kinsey Evans * John L. Ford* William Goetz * Ray Goode Donald Haggerty* Harold Hicks* William Howells Hale D. Hyer Glenn E. Kern * James Maddox * Edward McCray * John McKinney * Virgil Nataly* Warren Owens Oral Postlethwait Richard Shurtleff * Dwight Skaggs James Smith Grafton Stidger* Victor Stiles* William Watson * Harry F. Wells James Houston James S. Sweeney Tau Beta Iota Members: Lawrence Richard Berry* 1LT Frank Kinsey Evans * William Bebb Howells Glenn Elbert Kern * SSGT Kenneth Lawrence Morgan * James Shirley Sweeney William LaVelle Watson, Jr. * Henry Alfred Weber, Jr.
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SGT Harry Edgell (WWII)

Remembering SGT Harry Edgell  May 22, 1912 - June 26, 1945 ---- SGT Harry Edgell (Service Number 35386728 )  was born May 22, 1912 in Marion County, West Virginia, the son of Raymer and Mary (Snyder) Edgell.  Their family lived in the Lincoln District near Mannington, where Raymer was a farmer (1910, 1920 Censuses).  At time of publication, I could not find a 1930 census record for Harry, who would have been around 18, but the 1940 census shows Harry imprisoned at the Moundsville Penitentiary near Wheeling, WV. Based on newspaper articles, he'd been imprisoned since at least 1936, including two jail-breaks ("Catch Convicts in West," "Three Fugitives Caught by Police"). Military Service: On October 16, 1940, Harry, now employed by "various farmers," entered into the draft. He gave his home address as Mannington. Harry was 5'8" and 130 lbs with blue eyes, blonde hair, and light skin (Draft Card). He enlisted in the Army, and presumably turned hi...
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MAJ Howard Marshall Batson, Jr. (WWII)

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Remembering Major Howard Marshall Batson, Jr. (Mannington) April 13, 1910 - January 28, 1945 ---- "One on whom you could count—One who never turned back, but marched breast forward” - Reverend George McPherson Hunter, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Mannington ---- MAJ Howard Marshall Batson, Jr. was born April 13, 1910 in Vaughan, WV (Nicholas County), the son of Dr. Howard Marshall (often noted as H.M.) and Annie (Butler) Batson. H.M. was a doctor in Nicholas County (1910 Census). When Howard was young, his father served in World War I as a medical officer for the 29th Field Artillery, Fourth Division. He survived the war, and by 1920 their family was living in the Buffalo Creek area of Mannington, H.M.'s hometown. While living in Mannington, Howard graduated from Mannington High School. He then attended Fairmont State Normal School (1927 Mound Yearbook) and West Virginia University, from which he graduated in 1931 with a bachelor's degree. While at WVU, Howar...
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