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 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...