Marion County Remembers

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...

Remembering PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (Mannington) June 27, 1910 - July 3, 1944 ---- PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (service # 35761754 )  was born in Sutton, WV on June 27, 1910, the son of John and Neoma "Susie" (Rose) Gault. In 1910, John was a foreman at a cooperage company in Otter, WV (Braxton County). By 1920, their family had moved to Plum Run in Marion County, where John worked as a laborer at the gasoline plant. The Gaults later moved to Hope Hill in Rachel (1930 census), and though the 1940 census vaguely describes their 1935-1940 address as "Rt 250," Arthur's 1940 draft card indicates that their family remained in Rachel. Arthur graduated from Mannington High School, likely around 1937 or 1938. Arthur entered the draft on October 16, 1940. At that time, he was working as a laborer for Jones Collieries, Inc. He is listed as being 5'8" and 150 lbs with blue eyes, brown hair, and ruddy skin. Military Service On September 30, 1943, Arthur enlisted in the...

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 ...