Marion County Remembers

Remembering CPL William Von Harris (Fairmont) May 24, 1917 - November 6, 1944 ---- CPL William Von Harris (Service #15324425)   was born in Fairmont, WV on May 24, 1917, the son of Lester and Arretia "Rita" (Williams) Harris. Their family lived on Front Street in Fairmont, and Lester was a laborer (1920 Census) and later a deliveryman for the laundry while the family lived at 702 Columbia Street (1930 Census). William, often listed by his middle name Von, attended East Fairmont High School for 4 years, though the 1946 EFHS WWII Honor Call does not give a graduation year for him.  Marriage and Enlistment: On October 8, 1936, Von married Mary Kathleen Richardson in Farmington, WV. They had two children, Thomas Leroy Harris (1939-2024) and Howard Paul Harris (1942-2011). Their family lived at 14 Roy Terrace near Monroe Street in Fairmont, while Von worked at Owens-Illinois as a laborer (1940 Census). Von registered for the draft on October 16, 1940 in Winfield, near whe...

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...

Remembering PVT Nick Lourick (Rivesville and Jordan) August 12, 1925 - July 17, 1944 ---- PVT Nick Lourick (Service # 35762664) was born August 12, 1925 in Talbott, WV, the son of Pasquale "Patsy" and Lena (Spitto) Lourick. Patsy and Lena, as well as their oldest daughter, Christine, were originally from Salerno, Italy. Salerno is about a half hour away from Pompei. Patsy immigrated in 1909, Lena and Christine in 1911 (1930 census). No 1920 census data was immediately available, but from 1930-1940, their family lived in the Paw Paw District of Marion County, where Patsy worked as a coal miner and farmer (1930, 1940 census). A 1943 City Directory gave their phone number as being a Rivesville extension, but it's unclear how close they lived to Rivesville. Military Service: Nick entered the draft on August 18, 1943-- 6 days after his 18th birthday. At the time, his family was living at Box 13, Jordan. Nick is listed as being 5'8" and 135 lbs, with brown hair, brown ...

Staff Sergeant Angelo Henry Crescenzi was born in New York on May 30, 1915, the son of Pietro "Peter" Paul and Katie Dale (Floyd) Crescenzi. Peter, born in Italy, was a railroad employee with the B&O Railroad in Bellview from at least 1920 through his death in 1957. The family lived at 129 Main Street in Rivesville for that span of time, according to census records. Angelo was the oldest son of 9 children, with 7 sisters and 1 brother. Angelo was 18 years older than his youngest sister. Angelo attended Rivesville High School, and went on to attend Fairmont State University (then "Fairmont State Teachers College). Time at Fairmont State: While at Fairmont State, Angelo participated in baseball (1935-1938) and football (1935-1938). During the fall 1938 football season, Angelo was the Captain of the "Fighting Teachers," as Fairmont State was known then.  It is interesting to note that Angelo played football with Fairmont State legend "Deacon" Duvall....