Marion County Remembers

Remembering T/5 Wildon Ralston "Buck" Bailey August 21, 1918 - January 26, 1945 ---- T/5 Wildon Ralston "Buck" Bailey (Service Number 35275121) was born August 21, 1918 in Kincheloe, Harrison County, the son of Archibald and Druzilla (Nicholson) Bailey. Archibald (listed in several places as "Archie") was a farmer (1920 Census) and later a General Store Operator (1930 Census).  "Buck" graduated from Unidis High School in West Milford in 1937, and by April of 1940 was living in Fairmont with his sister Waveline, her husband, and her son. He is listed as a laborer at "Glass House." Military Service and Marriage: He entered the draft on October 16, 1940 in Fairmont, WV. At the time, he worked at the Fairmont Aluminum Co (now Novelis) and lived at 1040 Indiana Avenue. Wildon was 5'8" and 160 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin.  Buck enlisted on February 10, 1942 at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio (Army Enlistment Records)...

Remembering PVT Glenn Grenville Wadsworth (Boothsville) October 10, 1923 - January 20, 1945 ---- PVT Glenn Grenville Wadsworth (Service Number 35752793) was born in Smithfield, West Virginia on October 10, 1923, the son of Reverend Golden Gordon and Velma May (Starkey) Wadsworth. During the 1920 Census, Golden (often written as G.G. Wadsworth) was working on his family's farm on Broad Run Road near Ashley in Doddridge County. He still lived in Ashley when he and Velma married on January 2, 1921 (WV Marriage License), and in Doddridge County when Glenn was born in 1923, but by 1930 their family was living in Harrisville (Ritchie County) while G.G. worked as a Methodist Pastor (1930 Census), the career and calling he'd have for the rest of his life.  The 1940 Census found their family, including 16-year-old Glenn and his five siblings, living in Ft. Spring, WV, near Ronceverte in Greenbrier County. The 1940 census also notes that in April of 1935, their family was living in...

Remembering PFC Glen Hayward Cosner (Grant Town) October 22, 1922 - January 13, 1945 ---- Note: Some records show Glen's name as Glen, and others say Glenn. We're going to use Glen in this mini-biography as it is what is recorded on his birth record and on his gravestone. ---- PFC Glen Hayward Cosner (Service #35747205) was born in Philippi, West Virginia on October 22, 1922, the son of Leslie and Goldie (Marsh) Cosner. When Glen was born, his parents were living in Midland, West Virginia, and his father was working as an engineer (WV Birth Record). By 1930, the Cosner family had moved to Grant Town in Marion County, where Leslie worked at the coal mine as a foreman (1930 Census) and later a section boss (1940 Census). Glen graduated from Fairview High School in 1941, where he participated in Varsity Club, Pep Club, Glee Club, Baseball, and Basketball. His senior yearbook gave his nickname as "Caswell." Military Service: PFC Glen Cosner entered the draft on June 30, 1...

Remembering PVT Andrew Heide Fletcher (Farmington/Rachel) August 2, 1918 - January 7, 1945 ---- Note: The West Virginia Veterans Memorial records Andrew's middle name as Heide, as does his son's findagrave profile. Andrew's draft card, however, says Hines. It's unclear at this time which one is correct. ---- PVT Andrew Heide Fletcher (service number 15115975) was born in Farmington, WV on August 2, 1918, the son of (John) Russell and Bernice (Ramage) Fletcher.  Throughout his career, Russell worked at the coal mine. In the 1920s, their family lived in the Chaltham Hill area, while Russell worked as a laborer at the coal mine (1920 Census). In the 1930s onward, they lived near "Little Mods Run Road," where Russell was first a motor repairman (1930 Census), then an electrician (1940 Census).  Wedding bells rang on December 27, 1938, when Andrew married Martha Floyd from Mannington.  Andrew, who according to his Army enlistment paperwork, completed three years of...