Marion County Remembers

Remembering PVT Harold Hershal Austin July 19, 1921 - May 29, 1943 ---- PVT Harold Hershal Austin (Service Number 35746790) was born July 19, 1921 in Randall, West Virginia (near Star City in Monongalia County), the son of Jesse Ray and Goldie Ethel (Boyce) Austin. At the time of Harold's birth, their family was living on McKinley Avenue in Morgantown, while Jesse worked as a coal miner.  Sometimes between 1925 (Morgantown City Directory) and the 1930 Census, they moved to Fairmont. There they lived with Goldie's parents at 347 Blaine Street (where the Gateway Connector Playground now is). Jesse was a laborer at the local lumber company (1930 Census). By 1940, they were back in Monongalia County, where Jesse worked as a farmer and Harold and his older brother Paul worked as laborers for the National Youth Association (1940 Census). Military Service: On December 22, 1942, Harold enlisted in Clarksburg, WV. Harold was listed as a semi-skilled foundry employee, with a 7th grade e...

Remembering Tec5 William Columbus "Singing Willie" Jones, Jr. (Fairmont) December 3, 1913 - May 26, 1945 ---- Tec5 William Columbus Jones (service number 35742122) was born on December 3, 1913 in Tuggles, Virginia, the son of  Willie Columbus Jones and Sadie Everett (Taylor). At the time of William's birth, Willie was a farmer and Sadie, a college graduate, was a teacher. Between William's birth and 1920, their family moved to the coal mining town of Wilcoe, McDowell County (now part of Gary), where Willie worked as a miner (1920 Census). By 1927, they had moved to  Fairmont, WV, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They lived several places in Fairmont- 632 Spring Street (1927- 1939 City Directories), 108 Baltimore Street (1940 Census), and 724 1/2 Walnut Avenue (Draft Card). Willie supported their family by working as a janitor in office buildings and schools, while Sadie worked as a teacher (1930 Census) and later a housekeeper (1940 Census). William gra...

Remembering PFC John Yelcich (Fairmont) June 5, 1922 - May 13, 1944 ---- PFC John Yelcich (service # 35744765)  was born June 5, 1922 in Fairmont to Thomas and Mary (Ribic) Yelcich. Thomas, born in Yugoslavia, worked as a coal miner.  In 1930, the family lived in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, but by 1935 had moved back to Fairmont, where they lived at 133 Bourbon Street. John was the oldest of eight children-- three boys, five girls. The 1940 census shows that John had only attended his freshman year of high school before entering the work force, most likely at Barnes School or Fairmont Senior High School. Military Service: On June 30, 1942, John entered the draft. He is listed as being 5' 10 1/2" and 155 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion. At the time, he was working for Bethlehem Steel's Industrial Collieries Corporation in Barrackville, WV, Mine #7. John enlisted in Clarksburg on November 30, 1942, and became a member of the 338th Infantry, 85th Div...

Remembering MSGT Richard Glassco Tennant (Farmington) October 3, 1918 - May 8, 1943 ---- Master Sergeant Richard Glassco Tennant (Service # 15012411) was born October 3, 1918 in Farmington, WV to Loren and Willa "Pearl" (Davis) Tennant.  Loren worked as a telegraph operator (1920 census) for the railroad. Unfortunately, Loren died in 1927, leaving Pearl unemployed in Farmington with their three children- Ruth (11), Richard (8), and Edna (7), living at Parish Run specifically. Richard attended Farmington High School, graduating with the class of 1937. While at Farmington High School, he played baseball and football ("Richard Tennant, Lost in May 1943, Is Reported Dead ," Fairmont Times) .  The 1944 Lincolneer Yearbook says of Richard: "Dick," a bombardier has been missing in the Pacific theater of war since May 8, 1943. He is a graduate of our school in the class of 1937. He enlisted in the Air Corps in 1939 and has been in Panama and the South Pacific sinc...