Marion County Remembers

Remembering PFC Marshall Theodore Hartley, Jr (Rachel/Mannington) October 28, 1924 - December 25, 1944 ---- PFC Marshall Theodore Hartley, Jr (Service #35756644) was born in Rachel, WV on October 28, 1924, the son of Marshall "Peck" and Etta Pearl (Rice) Hartley. In 1930, their family lived on Mods Run Road in Rachel, where Peck worked as a truck driver for the coal mine. Somewhere between 1935 and 1940, they moved to 411 James Street in Mannington (1940 Census). Peck was a "Chuck Weightman" for Jones Collieries in Rachel (1940 Census).  Military Service: Marshall entered the draft on December 18, 1942 at age 18. A student, he was 5'11" and 160 lbs, with blue eyes, brown hair, and light skin. Marshall attended three years of high school, most likely at Mannington High School (Enlistment Records).  He enlisted in Clarksburg, WV on June 18, 1943. He was a member of the 8th Infantry Division, 13th Infantry Regiment, Company C. The U.S. Army historians write in...

Remembering PVT Nick Mihalic, Jr (Montana) April 17, 1916 - December 13, 1944 ---- Note: PVT Nick Mihalic, Jr is the great uncle of legendary Alabama football coach, Nick Saban Nick's name is listed on his draft card as "Nick Junior Mihalic," instead of as "Nick Mihalic, Jr" ---- PVT Nick Junior Mihalic (Service #35739885) was born in Montana, West Virginia (near Rivesville) on April 17, 1916, the son of Nick and Mary (Ynshgnski) Mihalic. Nick, Sr was a coal miner (1920, 1930 Census, 1938 City Directory), while their large family lived in Monongalia County (1920 Census), Ida May (1930 Census), Fairmont (1935 City Directory), and "Meredith Springs" (1938 City Directory). Unfortunately, he died in Barbour County in 1942.  Nick Jr. attended four years of high school (Enlistment Record), likely graduating around 1933, but it's unclear which Marion County high school he would have attended.  Military Service: 24-year-old Nick Mihalic registered for the ...

Remembering PFC Carl Edward Tatterson (Fairmont) June 25, 1912 - October 20, 1944 ---- PFC Carl Edward Tatterson (Service #35762658) was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on June 25, 1912, the son of Charles and Rosa (Fleming) Tatterson. Charles was an ice wagon driver (1910 Census), a farm operator on the Grafton Pike (1920 Census), and by 1930 both Charles and Carl were working as dairy men (1930 Census).  On October 24, 1936, Carl married Letha Marie Shuck in Watson. The 1940 census shows Carl as working for the State Roads Department and living on "Road 31."  Military Service: Carl registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He lists himself as self-employed and living at Rt 4. Carl was 6' and 206 lbs, with brown eyes, black hair, and dark skin. He enlisted in the military on October 25, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV, where his occupation was listed as farm hand. Carl went on to join the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Regiment, Company B. An August 19, 1944 article i...

SSGT Marion Arlie Tennant (Service #35382677) was born May 23, 1914 in Fairmont, West Virginia to Arlie and Mary (Ammons) Tennant, the younger of two sons. They were married in 1910, but divorced by the 1920 census. In 1920, Mary and the children (Herbert and Marion) were living at 1109 Pennsylvania Avenue in Fairmont. In 1930, they were renting 205 Highland Avenue in Bellview, renting part of the house to Jack and Frances Green and their son Robert. By 1940, Marion was working as a purchasing agent for the Fairmont Hotel. Built in 1916, the Fairmont Hotel stood on the corner of Jefferson and Monroe Streets. It is now home to the East View Apartments. Marion entered the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 5'11" and 155 lbs, with gray eyes, brown hair, and light skin. Military Service: Marion enlisted in the Army and served with the 712th AAF Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group. He was the right-waist gunner aboard the B-24 Liberator "Chubby Champ" when it was hit by Luftwa...

PVT George Odbert "Obbie" Cozard (service #35783751) was born March 8, 1926 in Fairmont (Watson), West Virginia, the son of Walter and Georgia (Arnold) Cozad. He was the younger of two sons, with his brother John Odis Cozad only a year older than him (born March 2, 1925). The Cozad family lived in Watson until sometime in the 1930s, when they moved to Lancaster, Ohio. Walter continued working as a glass factory employee, this time at Anchor Hocking Glass. The 1940 Census for Lancaster indicates that they'd been living in Lancaster at least since 1935. By 1943, the family had returned to Watson, and Walter was working (again) at Owens-Illinois, this time as a mold maker. Time at Fairmont Senior High School: During this time, George was attending Fairmont Senior High School. The 1943 FSHS Maple Leaf says by George's junior year photo: "Obbie' came to us from Lancaster High School. His ambition is to become a book-keeper and we think that he will fit perfectly i...

Remembering PFC Glenn Erlin Nichols August 28, 1918 - April 16, 1945 ---- PFC Glenn Erlin Nichols (service # 35082055) was born August 28, 1918 in (North View) Clarksburg, WV, the son of Rev. Ira and Julia (Debroux) Nichols. Ira was born in West Virginia, and Julia was born in Belgium.  In the 1920s, the family was living in North View in Clarksburg at 1216 North 17th Street, while Ira worked as a mold maker at a glass plant. Unfortunately, Julia died in 1929, leaving Ira with five kids under the age of 14 to raise alone, four sons, and one daughter. Ira married Edith Cork on May 31, 1930, in Fairmont. Their home addresses are both listed as Fairmont, WV on the marriage certificate. Unfortunately, Edith died less than 8 years later at age 25, on February 9, 1938. Ira remarried one last time on June 3, 1940, in Virginia. Ira's 1940 address is listed as 1321 Speedway Avenue, Fairmont, and his bride, Ethel Louise Thomas, hailed from Carolina. At that time, Ira was working at Owens Ill...