Marion County Remembers

Remembering PFC Howard Wade Dodd (Fairmont/Pleasant Valley) April 7, 1922 - July 26, 1944 ---- PFC Howard Wade Dodd (Service #475400)   was born in Fairmont, WV on April 7, 1922, the son of Clarence and Nellie (Dillow) Dodd. Clarence worked at the Fairmont Motor Company, working his way up from "service man" (1930 Census) to mechanic (1940 Census) to service manager (1938 Fairmont City Directory). Between 1939 and 1943 he made the switch to working at the Fairmont Box Company, where he worked until his retirement. All the while, their growing family lived on Miller Avenue in Millersville. Education: Howard attended East Fairmont High School, graduating in the class of 1941. The 1940 Orion lists Howard's nickname as "Zeke, and the 1941 Orion yearbook, Howard as a member of the Yellow Jacket newspaper staff during his time at EFHS.  It is unfortunate to note that Howard was not the only member of the EFHS class of 1941 to die in service during WWII. His classmates Wil...

Remembering PVT Louis Maset (Worthington/Four States) December 6, 1923 - July 22, 1944 ---- PVT Louis "Louie" Maset was born in Dalltown, PA, on December 6, 1923, the son of Augustino "August" and Virginia (Coldebella) Maset. August and Virginia were both Italian immigrants. August arrived from Chodagué, Italy in 1914, and in 1920 was living in Fairmont (Guffy Street) and listed as a laborer on "the bridge." This likely means that he participated in the creation of the Million Dollar Bridge, dedicated to Marion County WWI casualties. Virginia arrived in the US in 1912 and lived in Pennsylvania, where her father was a coal miner. August and Virginia married in May of 1923 in Pennsylvania-- ages 24 and 16. By 1930, their young family was living in Rachel, where August was a loader at the coal mine (1930 census). The 1940 census showed August working as a trackman at the coal mine, and the family living at Parrish Run. Louie registered for the draft on June 3...

Remembering PVT Nick Lourick (Rivesville and Jordan) August 12, 1925 - July 17, 1944 ---- PVT Nick Lourick (Service # 35762664) was born August 12, 1925 in Talbott, WV, the son of Pasquale "Patsy" and Lena (Spitto) Lourick. Patsy and Lena, as well as their oldest daughter, Christine, were originally from Salerno, Italy. Salerno is about a half hour away from Pompei. Patsy immigrated in 1909, Lena and Christine in 1911 (1930 census). No 1920 census data was immediately available, but from 1930-1940, their family lived in the Paw Paw District of Marion County, where Patsy worked as a coal miner and farmer (1930, 1940 census). A 1943 City Directory gave their phone number as being a Rivesville extension, but it's unclear how close they lived to Rivesville. Military Service: Nick entered the draft on August 18, 1943-- 6 days after his 18th birthday. At the time, his family was living at Box 13, Jordan. Nick is listed as being 5'8" and 135 lbs, with brown hair, brown ...

PFC Frank Albert Cosco (Monongah/Fairmont) August 21, 1919 - July 12, 1944 ---- PFC Frank Albert C osco (Service #35213852) was born  August 21, 1919 in Monongah, WV, the son of Calabrian immigrants Domenick and Mary Teresa (Mascara) Cosco. When Frank was born, his father was working as a coal miner in Monongah, and they lived at 148 Pike Street (1920 census). By 1930, the family had moved to 1209 Speedway Avenue. During their time there, Frank attended East Fairmont High School (enlistment records show that he attended for two years). Military Service: Frank registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 5'6" and 175 lbs, with black hair, black eyes, and dark skin. At the time of registration, he was working for Owens Illinois Glass Company in the mold shop (1940 Census). 364 days later, Frank enlisted in the military in Huntington, WV.  PFC Frank Albert Cosco  was serving with the 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, Company C in the Northern Marianas ...

  Remembering PFC Harry Millard Kuhn, Jr (Metz/Mannington)  August 25, 1917 - July 6, 1944 ---- PFC Harry Millard Kuhn, Jr (service # 15072213) was born on August 25, 1917 in the Lincoln District of Marion County, the son of Harry Sr. and Lucy (Davis) Kuhn.  Harry Sr. was a laborer in the gas field industry (1920 census), an occupation he continued through the rest of his life. The 1930 census shows the family living in the "Farmington Suburbs," but by 1940 they were living near Flat Run Road in Mannington (closer to Metz) on a farm, working as farmers. By then Harry, Jr. had dropped out of school and was also working on the farm. The 1940 census lists his highest level of education as 7th grade. (Note: Harry, Sr.'s 1967 obituary lists him as a "retired oil driller.") ---- Military Service: Harry registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 5'8" and 140 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin. At the time of registration, he was working...

Remembering PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (Mannington) June 27, 1910 - July 3, 1944 ---- PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (service # 35761754 )  was born in Sutton, WV on June 27, 1910, the son of John and Neoma "Susie" (Rose) Gault. In 1910, John was a foreman at a cooperage company in Otter, WV (Braxton County). By 1920, their family had moved to Plum Run in Marion County, where John worked as a laborer at the gasoline plant. The Gaults later moved to Hope Hill in Rachel (1930 census), and though the 1940 census vaguely describes their 1935-1940 address as "Rt 250," Arthur's 1940 draft card indicates that their family remained in Rachel. Arthur graduated from Mannington High School, likely around 1937 or 1938. Arthur entered the draft on October 16, 1940. At that time, he was working as a laborer for Jones Collieries, Inc. He is listed as being 5'8" and 150 lbs with blue eyes, brown hair, and ruddy skin. Military Service On September 30, 1943, Arthur enlisted in the...