Marion County Remembers

Remembering PVT Steve Postellak (Farmington) July 31, 1924 - December 30, 1944 ---- Note: to the best of my knowledge, PVT Steve Postellak was the last Marion County man to die in military service in 1944. Postellak is also spelled with several different variations over the course of the records located. Most notably, Peter's declaration of intent for naturalization gives their last name as "Pasztellak" --- PVT Steve Postellak (Service #35756622 was born in Farmington, WV on July 31, 1924, the son of Hungarian immigrants Peter and Rosa (Zebo) Postellek. Their family lived in the "Big Laurel Run Road" area of Farmington (1930, 1940 Census), as Peter was a laborer at the Jamison Coal & Coke #9 Mine.  Somewhere between 1930 and 1935, Peter lost his right leg above the knee, and was no longer able to work (Naturalization Paperwork, 1940 Census). Steve graduated from Farmington High School in 1942. Military Service: Steve registered for the draft on December 17, ...

Remembering PFC Marshall Theodore Hartley, Jr (Rachel/Mannington) October 28, 1924 - December 25, 1944 ---- PFC Marshall Theodore Hartley, Jr (Service #35756644) was born in Rachel, WV on October 28, 1924, the son of Marshall "Peck" and Etta Pearl (Rice) Hartley. In 1930, their family lived on Mods Run Road in Rachel, where Peck worked as a truck driver for the coal mine. Somewhere between 1935 and 1940, they moved to 411 James Street in Mannington (1940 Census). Peck was a "Chuck Weightman" for Jones Collieries in Rachel (1940 Census).  Military Service: Marshall entered the draft on December 18, 1942 at age 18. A student, he was 5'11" and 160 lbs, with blue eyes, brown hair, and light skin. Marshall attended three years of high school, most likely at Mannington High School (Enlistment Records).  He enlisted in Clarksburg, WV on June 18, 1943. He was a member of the 8th Infantry Division, 13th Infantry Regiment, Company C. The U.S. Army historians write in...

Remembering Tec5 Paul William Frantz (Fairmont) September 28, 1923 - December 17, 1944 ---- Note: WWII Tec5 status is equivalent to CPL, so some records have Paul listed as Tec5, others say CPL. --- Tec5 Paul William Frantz (Service #35752794) was born in Lumberport, West Virginia on September 28, 1923, the son of Henry and Margaret (Nichols) Frantz. Their family lived in a number of places in Fairmont over the next two decades (see note at bottom), while Henry worked as a painter (1927 City Directory), plumber, "general utility worker," and later at North Pole Ice, before settling down in Paul's final home, at 38 Freeland Street in 1939 (1939 City Directory). It is interesting to note that another fallen Marion County servicemember, S1C Dale Franklin Cox , lived at 34 Freeland Street at the same time that Paul lived at 38 Freeland Street (1940 Census). Paul attended St. Peter's High School in Fairmont, housed in what is now Fairmont Catholic Grade School. A newspaper...

Remembering PVT Nick Mihalic, Jr (Montana) April 17, 1916 - December 13, 1944 ---- Note: PVT Nick Mihalic, Jr is the great uncle of legendary Alabama football coach, Nick Saban Nick's name is listed on his draft card as "Nick Junior Mihalic," instead of as "Nick Mihalic, Jr" ---- PVT Nick Junior Mihalic (Service #35739885) was born in Montana, West Virginia (near Rivesville) on April 17, 1916, the son of Nick and Mary (Ynshgnski) Mihalic. Nick, Sr was a coal miner (1920, 1930 Census, 1938 City Directory), while their large family lived in Monongalia County (1920 Census), Ida May (1930 Census), Fairmont (1935 City Directory), and "Meredith Springs" (1938 City Directory). Unfortunately, he died in Barbour County in 1942.  Nick Jr. attended four years of high school (Enlistment Record), likely graduating around 1933, but it's unclear which Marion County high school he would have attended.  Military Service: 24-year-old Nick Mihalic registered for the ...

Remembering  PFC John Lee Ensminger (Watson) July 19, 1914 - December 3, 1944 ---- PFC John Lee Ensminger (Service #35375948) was born in Watson (Fairmont), West Virginia on July 19, 1914, the son of Fred and Jennie June (Hamilton) Ensminger. Fred was a coal miner (1920 Census) and track man at the coal mine (1930, 1940 Census), with their family living in what at the time was called the "Sandy Ridge" area of Watson. John followed in his father's footsteps, working at the Virginia & Pittsburgh Coal & Coke Company together in Kingmont (Draft card). On October 16, 1940, 26-year-old John registered for the draft. He was 5'11" and 160 lbs, with blue eyes. blonde hair, and light skin. Somewhere after the draft, and after the publication of the 1941 Fairmont City Directory, John married Dorothy Ellen Stealey. Military Service:  PFC John Lee Ensminger enlisted on April 7, 1942 at Fort Hayes. According to a December 29, 1944 article from the Fairmont Times, John ...