Marion County Remembers

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, PFC 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 paint...

Remembering PVT Charles William Reynolds (Fairmont/Crossroads) March 16, 1914 - August 27, 1944 ---- PVT Charles William Reynolds (service #35847826) was born in Fairmont, WV on March 16, 1914, the son of William and Lessie (Lake) Reynolds. William, a farmer, lived with his family on what was listed on census records as Goose Creek (1920-1950 censuses), but more specifically, on what is now Levels Road, near Cross Roads. In 1929, Charles' only brother, Robert, died at age 17 of influenza and pneumonia. Charles attended East Fairmont High School for three years (Enlistment Record), and likely would have been in the graduating class of 1932 if he had completed his time there. Charles married Pauline Emma Tatterson on July 27, 1933. Three years later, in 1936, they welcomed a daughter named Patricia. Their family lived next door to Charles' parents, William and Lessie, on the family farm, while Charles worked as an apprentice mold maker at Owens-Illinois (1940 Census, Draft Card)....

Remembering EM1 Harvey Loyal "Harry" Myers (Fairmont/Hammond) February 6, 1921 - August 13, 1944 ---- EM1 Harvey Loyal "Harry" Myers (Service #2582850) was born February 6, 1921 in Randolph County, West Virginia, the son of Harvey and Florence (McCaulley) Myers.  By 1930, their family lived at 221 Gordon Street in Fairmont, where Harvey was serving as a Deputy Sherriff (1930 Census), before moving to Goose Creek in the Hammond area with Harvey as a farm manager (1940 census). Harry attended East Fairmont High School. Unfortunately, he was unphotographed in his 1940 senior yearbook, but the Orion stated that he was a member of Junior Hi-Y, Debator's Club, and Basketball during his time at EFHS.  Military Service: Harry entered the Navy on May 28, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland. Harry's service, according to Navy Muster Calls: Month ending March 31, 1941: F3C Myers (Fireman Second Class) transferred on March 26 from the USNTS in Norfolk to the U.S.S. Ludlow Mont...

Remembering PVT Boyd Bragg (Baxter) July 29, 1925 - August 8, 1944 ---- PVT Boyd Bragg (Service #35762660) was born July 29, 1925 in Wyatt, WV, the son of Russell and Carrie (Singleton) Bragg. Wyatt, WV is in Harrison County, about 8 miles from Enterprise. In 1930, their family was living in Otter, Braxton County, while Russell worked as a farmer. Sometime after 1935, their family moved to Baxter and Russell worked as a timberman in the coal mine (1940 Census). Boyd attended one year of high school (Enlistment Record) Military Service: On Boyd's 18th birthday, July 29, 1943, he entered the draft. Boyd's address was listed as Rivesville, where he worked on his father's farm. Boyd was 5'6" and 134 lbs with brown eyes, red or brown hair, and freckled skin. He enlisted on October 25, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV. PVT Boyd Bragg was serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, Company F during the Operation Lüttich counter-offensive, the Ba...

Remembering 2LT Millard Fillmore Arnett, Jr. (Fairmont) March 10, 1922 - August 3, 1944 ---- 2LT Millard Fillmore Arnett, Jr. was born in Fairmont on March 10, 1922. the son of Millard and Gladys (Shroyer) Arnett. When Millard, Jr. was born, his family lived at 1116 Carlton Street, and Millard Sr. was a tailor (1920 census), but by 1930 had moved to Barrackville, where they lived with Millard, Sr's father (1930 census). According to the 1940 Census, the family moved to 1016 Lowell Avenue by at least 1935, where both Millards and Millard's brother, William, worked at Monelity Machines. In 1943, Millard married Caroline Wells Snider. Military Service: Millard entered the draft on June 30, 1942. At the time, he lived at 801 Short Avenue and worked for his father. He was 5'8" and 140 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin. According to his Honoree Plaque through the American Battle Monuments Commission , Millard was a P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot.  Unfortunately, 2LT M...

Remembering PVT Howard Alexander Brown (Fairmont) July 10, 1912 - August 1, 1944 ---- PVT Howard Alexander Brown (service # 35934127) was born in Clarksburg, WV on July 10, 1912, the son of Alexander and Georgia (Thorne) Brown. When Howard was born, his family was sharing a house on 169 Elliott Street in Clarksburg with Alexander's family: his parents, his sister, her husband, and Howard's two older sisters- five adults and three children (1910 Census). Alexander and his father both worked at the local glass factory, with Alexander working as a glass blower. Howard's immediate family remained at 169 Elliott Street through at least 1927 (1920 Census, 1927 City Directory), but by 1930 had moved to Fairmont (1930 Census). According to the 1930 census, Alexander was a laborer at the bottle factory. Education and Marriage: Howard graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1930. At some point in 1935, Howard married Jeanette Nuzum, and the duo moved to 114 Pleasant Street. They ...