Marion County Remembers

  Remembering PFC Harry Millard Kuhn, Jr (Metz/Mannington)  August 25, 1917 - July 6, 1944 ---- PFC Harry Millard Kuhn, Jr (service # 15072213) was born on August 25, 1917 in the Lincoln District of Marion County, the son of Harry Sr. and Lucy (Davis) Kuhn.  Harry Sr. was a laborer in the gas field industry (1920 census), an occupation he continued through the rest of his life. The 1930 census shows the family living in the "Farmington Suburbs," but by 1940 they were living near Flat Run Road in Mannington (closer to Metz) on a farm, working as farmers. By then Harry, Jr. had dropped out of school and was also working on the farm. The 1940 census lists his highest level of education as 7th grade. (Note: Harry, Sr.'s 1967 obituary lists him as a "retired oil driller.") ---- Military Service: Harry registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 5'8" and 140 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin. At the time of registration, he was working...

Remembering PVT Morris Harper "Jack" Hilghman, Jr (Fairmont) May 12, 1924 - June 9, 1944 ---- PVT Morris Harper "Jack" Hilghman, Jr was born May 12, 1924 in Fairmont, WV to Morris (Sr) and Helen (Nay) Hilghman. Their family (as of the 1920 census) lived at 1114 Fennimore Street, and Morris, Sr was a mechanic. Later, Morris started working as a draftsman for the Monongahela System (1930 Census) and the family moved to 425 Monroe Street, apt 4 (1939 City Directory). Jack attended Fairmont Senior High School, where he was a member of the Kl?ub (trivia club), Hi-life, and the basketball team. The caption accompanying his junior year photo in the 1942 yearbook reads: "Jack Hilghman: Killer or the Killer-Diller has an ambition to be a lawyer. Remember this when you're in trouble. Killer likes all sports. Kl?ub, Hi-Life and basketball make up his activities." On June 30, 1942 Jack registered for the draft. He was 5'7.5" and 160 lbs with brown hair, b...

Remembering SGT James Lionel Myers (Fairmont) March 29, 1919 - June 8, 1944 ---- "I do not know where he died, but one this is positive, he died a hero's death, because there isn't a man in France who doesn't respect the Paratroopers for their great achievements."   -Marion County resident PFC Thomas Blazek, who happened across his buddy "Jimmie's" grave in France (see bottom for full text) ---- SGT James Lionel "Jimmie" Myers was born March 29, 1919 in Fairmont, WV, the son of William and Grace (Shaferman) Myers.  William worked in the coal industry, as a foreman (1910 Census) and miner (1920 census). Unfortunately, William and James' brother, Herbert, died in the Jamison #8 mine disaster on January 14, 1926. The family moved to Fairmont by the time of the 1930 census, where James completed one year of high school at East Fairmont. James also entered into the coal industry, working as a trackman in the mines (1940 census). At that time...

Remembering SFC John Henry Shreves (Fairmont) February 29, 1911 - June 6, 1944 ---- Seaman First Class John Henry Shreves was born February 29, 1911 in Pine Grove, WV (Wetzel County), the son of John M. and Rosie (Lovell) Shreves. For the first portion of John H.'s life, his father was a farmer in Wetzel County (1920 census). By 1930, their family had moved to Owens Avenue in Fairmont, where John M. worked as a laborer at the coke factory. In 1932, John Henry Shreves married Ardeth Phoebe Vanata in Fairmont. In 1933 they were living at 113 Walnut Avenue with Ardeth's parents, before moving by 1935 to 815 Ridgely Avenue. Ardeth's father (who died in 1937) and her twin brother, Benjamin, were both painters. John worked as a laborer at the Works Progress Administration. On October 16, 1940, John entered the draft. He recorded himself as 5'10" and 174 lbs, with blue eyes and brown hair. D-DAY: On June 6, 1944, SFC John Henry Shreves was on board the USS LCI(L)-232, an ...