History Spotlight: We Remember

Written by Doug Humes

Photos courtesy of Marple Historical Society

We celebrate Memorial Day, the memory of D-Day, the 4 th of July, Veterans Day. The bedrock of each celebration is our freedom, and the men and women who fought and gave their lives for that freedom. During those occasions this year, while some WWII veterans remain among us, let us remember the local men from Marple and Newtown who gave their lives in that war.

Melvin Doughten

Valedictorian of Marple-Newtown High School class in 1937, served in the U.S. Army’s 894th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and was killed in action in Italy on April 9, 1945. He is buried in the American Cemetery outside of Florence, Italy.

Frank Melvin Doughton's high school portrait

Malcolm Lee Watson

A corporal in Patton’s 318th Infantry, Malcolm had volunteered many times for reconnaissance duty. He was killed by German artillery on December 3, 1944 during General Patton’s push towards Germany, and is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in France. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

Report of death of Malcolm Lee Watson

Clifford Douglas Murray, Jr.

Only son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Murray, Sr., Clifford joined the Army in February 1942 and saw action in the North African and Sicilian campaigns, in Italy and in France as a member of the First Infantry Division. He was killed in action in the Normandy invasion on June 16, 1944, and was buried at the American Cemetery in Normandy.

Draft card for Clifford Murray, Jr.

George A. Toms

George was a graduate of Marple-Newtown High School. He was a radioman-gunner and was missing in action in the Battle of Midway on June 5, 1942. George was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement as a tail gunner in aerial combat during the Battle of Midway.

Citation on George Toms’ distinguished Service Cross

Harry Brooks Mackay

Attended St. Anastasia’s and Newtown Township’s schools. Harry died on April 2, 1944 at age 18 during the Anzio Beach Campaign. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, and after the war returned home and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Report of death of Harry Mackay

William E. Yerger

A graduate of Marple-Newtown High School, class of 1932, Staff Sargent Yerger died August 12, 1945 while serving with the 12th Air Force in Naples, Italy. After the war, he was brought home for burial with his family at Cumberland Cemetery in Media.

Grave of William E. Yerger

Lest we forget, there are others with local ties, and men and women who served and died in other wars. In remembering these local men who died in World War II, we do not slight the service of all of those who sacrificed, and who gave their lives, in service to our nation.

For more information on the history of Marple, visit the Marple Historical Society website and Facebook page, and join the Society to keep up to date on coming events.

www.MarpleHistoricalSociety.org