Marion County Remembers

Remembering PFC Ray Hern December 29, 1908 - September 2, 1944 ---- PFC Ray Hern (Service #35739799) was born in Erie, WV (Harrison County) on December 29, 1908, the son of John "Jack" and Tennessee (Wilson) Hern. Ray grew up in Worthington where Jack was an "oil field worker" (1910 Census) and on Rarker Run Road in the Paw Paw District, where Jack was a farmer (1920 Census). Ray only attended school through 7th grade. On June 22, 1928, Ray married Ida Leo Wilson in Clarksburg, WV. At the time, they were both living in Enterprise, just over the border of Marion County into Harrison County.  The 1930 Census found them living with Leo's mom, Sarah, in Bingamon near Worthington, WV (Marion County). At the time, Ray was working as a coal miner. The duo then lived in Hutchinson on New Hill Road, where Ray worked as a coal loader (1940 census). Military Service: Ray entered the draft on October 16, 1940. He listed his hometown as Worthington and his employer as Consol...

Remembering PVT Boyd Bragg (Baxter) July 29, 1925 - August 8, 1944 ---- PVT Boyd Bragg (Service #35762660) was born July 29, 1925 in Wyatt, WV, the son of Russell and Carrie (Singleton) Bragg. Wyatt, WV is in Harrison County, about 8 miles from Enterprise. In 1930, their family was living in Otter, Braxton County, while Russell worked as a farmer. Sometime after 1935, their family moved to Baxter and Russell worked as a timberman in the coal mine (1940 Census). Boyd attended one year of high school (Enlistment Record) Military Service: On Boyd's 18th birthday, July 29, 1943, he entered the draft. Boyd's address was listed as Rivesville, where he worked on his father's farm. Boyd was 5'6" and 134 lbs with brown eyes, red or brown hair, and freckled skin. He enlisted on October 25, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV. PVT Boyd Bragg was serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, Company F during the Operation Lüttich counter-offensive, the Ba...