Never Forgotten 2024

MeMorial Day 2024

Seymour man made the ultimate sacrifice

Memorial Day is a time for Ameri cans to reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the United States of America.

The nation pauses to remember and honor those who were willing to give their lives while defending its most precious ideal of freedom throughout our storied 246 years.

STory By Jordan richart

PHoToS SubMitted

James Floyd “Bud” Beldon Jr. is one who the nation pauses to remember. Beldon, who grew up in Seymour, was killed in action during World War II.

He was 25 years old, married and a Sey mour resident, when he died while fighting in Europe. Beldon was survived by his wife, Martha, and parents James and Charlotte Beldon. He had no children.

He was one of the 72 from Jackson County to lose their lives in battle during World War II. Jackson County has lost a total of 130 people to war since World War I.

An attack in Germany on Dec. 12, 1944, proved to be fatal for Beldon while he was serving with an infantry division of the First Army. He was treated and died on Dec. 13, 1944, at a hospital in France.

Specific details about the injuries that led to his death are sparse, although it was reported the battle he was injured in occurred in Gey, Germany, in the American bulge near Düren.

(SEE Sacrifice PAGE 2)

Sacrifice

ContinuEd from PAGE 1

Beldon was taken straight to a hospital in France after the incident, and officials were immediately concerned that the nature of his injuries were very serious, according to reports. However, multiple searches through a variety of records did not reveal information about what caused or what type of injuries he sustained. Even his remaining family does not know the details of his death.

“I can’t recall any specifics except that he died in a hospital in Liege,” his nephew Jeff Miller wrote by text message.

Miller’s research found that his uncle likely participated in the liberation of Paris in August 1944 and provided a few details about December 1944.

“The history of the 1st Army says this about their activities in December 44: ‘When the Germans attacked during the Battle of the Bulge, First Army found itself on the north side of the salient, and thus isolated from the 12th Army Group, its commanding authority,” he said.

The Associated Press had reported on the Dec. 12, 1944, battle, describing it as “hard fighting” at the flooded Roer River where the First Army advanced over Nazis toward Cologne. The battle allowed the First Army to capture Merode and the Associated Press described the unit as fighting “yard by yard and house by house” throughout the German villages.

The Associated Press also reported about the area leading up to the day Beldon was fatally injured, sharing reports in a Dec. 4, 1944, edition of The Tribune. That report stated the First Army had won high ground within 1,000 yards west of Gey and made moderate gains over battle planes and German tanks along the Cologne plain front.

While Beldon had to sacrifice his life during that battle, he contributed to the advancement of the U.S. Army and its allied forces.

Memorial services for Beldon were held at the First United Methodist Church in Seymour on Jan. 14, 1944.

The Tribune described the church as “filled to capacity” as people gathered to mourn and pay their respects. The Rev. Edwin F. Shake, the pastor at the church, delivered the memorial message. Chaplain Phillips Brooks Henderson of the Freeman Army Airfield also helped take part in the services.

He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Seymour with his parents.

Beldon was honored in the 1945 Patriot yearbook at Shields High School, and his family was presented with Honors during a Flag Day ceremony by the Elks in 1945. Beldon had been a member of the Elks.

Miller said he never knew his uncle, but has a picture of Beldon holding him when he was around 2 years old. The photo shows Beldon in uniform, and Miller believes the photo was taken when he was on leave. Miller was living with his mother and grandparents while his father was serving in the South Pacific at the time of Beldon’s death.

“I remember the great sadness in the Beldon home after hearing the news and after the funeral service,” he said. I don’t know what I can add other than he was beloved by my mother, sisters and parents.”

Miller’s parents honored Beldon by calling their son Jon “Bud.”

The battle that led to his death was not the only time he had been a casualty during the war.

In August 1944, just a few months before his death, Beldon was injured in the upper left arm by shrapnel during an attack in France. He was treated

Pictured from left: The Freedom Wall at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. // James Floyd “Bud” Beldon Jr., fourth from left in the second row, is pictured with the Shields High School track team. // Beldon Jr., front row on the far left with other members of the Shields High School football team.

for his injuries only after the attack had been completed, but reportedly turned down staying in the hospital so he could continue with his company. The surgery removed the shrapnel from his shoulder, and doctors warned him to keep a close watch on his wounds as he continued his service.

He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries in August 1944. He also was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic action and the Infantryman’s Combat Medal for exemplary service in action.

Beldon entered the U.S. Military on Oct. 27, 1941. He received his commission and was promoted to first lieutenant on June 12, 1943, at Fort Benning, Georgia.

At one point, he was stationed at Camp Gruber in Oklahoma in April 1944, and his wife joined him while stationed there.

He was part of the famous 42nd Rainbow Division during his time at Camp Gruber. It was reported he returned to Seymour with his wife for visits while on leave.

Beldon landed in England on May 26, 1944, where he initially served at an officer’s replacement center. He was then assigned to the infantry division and crossed into France sometime after D-Day.

Beldon went into action on July 11 to assist with the break in SaintLô. The fight in Saint-Lô ended up being one of the hardest hit villages as American and Allied forces used the momentum of D-Day to take back

village-by-village and town-by-town of German-occupied France. The town was so devastated it was referred to as the “Capital of Ruins.”

Beldon, of course, was able to escape harm during that battle.

Beldon was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1919, but became a son of Seymour after his parents relocated there when he was 3 years old.

Records from the 1937 Patriot yearbook at Shield High School and other historical documents show Beldon was someone who people admired and was a talented athlete.

Beldon was the business manager of The Patriot and the Hi-Y club, which was a club limited to 40 students who showed a high standard of character. He also was on the football, baseball and track teams where he reportedly excelled.

“Beldon is a fine right end and could catch passes like an All-American,” was how writers of The Patriot described him in the 1937 yearbook.

After graduating from Shields High School in 1937, he attended Indiana University for two years before returning to Seymour to work for his father’s insurance agency. Beldon’s Insurance was located in downtown Seymour at the corner of Walnut and Second streets, which today is occupied by the Seymour Eye Clinic.

Beldon’s contributions and sacrifice will not be forgotten, so long as the nation continues to observe Memorial Day and honor those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

COUNTY’S FALLEN

Four county men who gave their lives during World War i

Honoring those men and women who served and we thank them for their service.

When you have experienced the loss of a loved one you can trust Christensen Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services to guide you through the process of honoring their life. At Christensen Family Funeral Homes you are served by a Christensen. We are a local family, serving local families.

orvil edgar Greenlee

Private First Class Greenlee, Company M, 26th Inf., 1st Div., was awarded the Silver Star decoration under General Orders No. 1, Headquarters 1st Div., Camp Taylor, Ky., January 1, 1920; for gallantry in action and especially meritorious service. Private Greenlee was born Nov. 25, 1894, at Kurtz, the son of George and Sarah (Utterback) Greenlee. He enlisted Sept. 22, 1917, and was sent overseas June 11, 1918. He participated in the battle of Aisne-Marne and was killed in action at Chateau-Thierry, July 18, 1918. He was buried in France.

(SEE Live S PAGE 4)

WorlD War ii

infantryman loses life in Pacific area

»Private First Class Woodrow W. Nicholson, former Tampico resident, was killed in action April 19 while serving with an infantry division in the Philippines, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Ernestine Mason Nicholson, of Louisville, who was visiting friends in Tampico when the War Department message was delivered.

Pfc. Nicholson, who is the son of Mrs. Stella Nicholson, former Washington county resident;

who is now making her home with relatives in Tampico, was a member of an infantry division which recently was listed in newspaper accounts as participating in the drive on Mindanao Island in the Philippines, and it is believed by his family that he was killed at the time of that campaign.

on Basketball Team

Pfc. Nicholson was born July 26, 1919, in Washington county and moved, with his family when a child to Tampico. He graduated from the Tampico High School where he was active in athletics and played on the school basketball team. A popular and likable young man, his death comes

as a shock to his many friends in the county. He was employed in Elyria, Ohio, for several years after his graduation from high school and prior to his induction into the army he moved his family to Louisville, where they now live. He was married in Kentucky to. Ernestine Mason, who, with one little daughter, Bonnie Sharon, age three years, survives. Entering the armed forces in June, 1944, he received training at Camp. Hood, Texas, and Ft. Ord, Calif., going overseas in December, 1944. Besides the mother, widow and daughter, Pfc. Nicholson is survived by five sisters.

(Reprint of an article that appeared in the May 10, 1945, edition of The Seymour Daily Tribune)

ContinuEd from PAGE 3

James Collins Cox

Private First Class Cox, Company K, 28th Inf., 1st Div., was awarded the Silver Star decoration under General Orders No. 1, Headquarters 1st Div., Camp Taylor, Ky., January, 1, 1920, for gallantry in action and especially meritorious services. Private Cox was born at Brownstown May 19, 1901, the son of Thomas and Nora Cox. He enlisted June 11, 1917, and was sent overseas Oct. 31, 1917. He was wounded in the battle of Cantigny, May 25, 1918, and died of his wounds, June 20, 1918. He is buried in the Aisne-Marne American

Cemetery, Beleau, Aisne, France, grave 69, row 9. block A. arvie r . Wilson

Private Wilson, Company L, 26th Inf., 1st Division, was awarded the Silver Star decoration under General Orders No. 1, Headquarters 1st Div., Camp Taylor, Ky., January, 1, 1920, for gallantry in action and especially meritorious services. He enlisted March 29, 1918, and was sent overseas July 21, 1918. He was killed in action Oct. 6, 1918. He participated in the battles of Meuse-Argonne and was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romange-sous-Montfaucon, Meuse, France. He was born Sept. 24, 1894, at Brownstown, the son of Isaiah and Sophie (Drappenstandt) Wilson.

louis Jackson Tabor

Private First Class Tabor, 28th Inf., 1st Div., was awarded the Silver Star decoration under General Orders No. 1, Headquarters 1st Div. Camp Taylor, Ky., January 1, 1820, for gallantry in action and especially meritorious services. Private Taylor enlisted Nov. 2, 1916, and was sent overseas June 14, 1917. He was killed in action July 18, 1918, at Soissons, and is buried in the. Brownstown cemetery. He participated in the battles at Sommerviller, Ansauville, Cantigny, Montdidier-Noyon, AisneMarne Soissons. He is the son of Eramus and Susan (Elkins) Tabor and was born at Brownstown August 4, 1900.

(Source: The Brownstown (Ind.) Banner, Nov. 30, 1932)

PFC. WOOdrOW NiChOLSON

vieTnaM War

Local veterans organize new brownstown Post 10807, VFW

»State Veterans of Foreign Wars commander Elmer Thei, district commander Wayne Shuler, and several local veterans have successfully organized Brownstown Post 10807 of the VFW.

Officials met in early August to elect a slate of officers for the organization, and in early September visitors from throughout the state came for installation services. Members have been meeting on the second and fourth Mondays either at Brock’s restaurant or at the town hall.

On Monday, Oct. 9, members established a charter name for the group, honoring Kenneth Merle Branaman, who was killed in

action July 19, 1966, in the Vietnam conflict. He was 21 at the time.

Branaman was the son of Vivian Gray Branaman and the late Onis Branaman and was raised in the Clearspring community of Jackson County. He was a great-grandson of Marlon Gray, a blacksmith in the Tampico and Ewing areas. His grandparents were the late Hugh and Mabel Gray, who operated a restaurant and station in Ewing for many years.

He was a nephew of Hugh L. Gray Jr., Mrs. Robert O’Hara of Brownstown, and the late Joseph Gray, former Jackson County Sheriff. He has several brothers and sisters residing in the county.

The new post has about 40 members with a goal of 100 new or reinstated members by July, 1990. Members belonging to the post before Nov. 12 will be listed as charter members. Eligible members must have

young infantryman listed missing in action

»Sgt. Joseph H. Brock, 2nd Div. Infantryman, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Ephie Brock, of Medora, has been reported killed in action, according to word received by the parents June 29th.

The young combatant enlisted in the Army February 23, 1949, and has been reported missing in action since February 12 in Korea.

He took his basic training with the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Breckenridge, Ky.. after which he was attached to the 2nd Division at Fort Lewis. Wash., which sailed for Korea in August, 1950.

Sergeant Brock was in the thick of the Korean fighting and was wounded November 27, 1950, in the left leg and right hand. During the

battle in which he was wounded only ten men in his Company escaped being killed, wounded or captured. Fourteen days later the parents received word that he had returned to duty.

The young combat hero earned his stripes, the Purple Heart, the Korean Theatre ribbon and battle stars, and the Combat Infantryman’s badge for his meritorious n service in Korea.

His fine record as a soldier in the United States Army also made him eligible for the Good Conduct medal.

Survivors besides the parents include four sisters and four brothers, all of Medora.

(Reprint of an article that appeared in the The Brownstown Banner on July 11, 1951.)

served in a wartime combat zone and recieved (sic) the proper combat ribbons for their service. Any qualified veteran would be welcomed and may contact any of the officers or members of the post.

Present officers are J. Herschel Forgey, president; Dr. Loren Noblitt, senior vice-commander; Oren Killey, Junior vicecommander; Glenn Killey, quartermaster; James Farmer, adjutant; Hugh L. Gray Jr., chaplain: Bryce Ping, surgeon; Jerry D. Weddle, guard; and Carl Hyde, David Hyde, and Stanley Goen, trustees.

Next scheduled activity for the membership will be the dedication of the new veterans memorial on the Jackson County Courthouse lawn in Brownstown on Nov. 11. Interested persons should call Forgey at 358-2816.

(Reprint of an article that appeared in The Brownstown Banner on Oct. 31, 1989.)

Korean War

KENNET h Br ANAMAN

JackSon county’S C ASUALT iES OF WA r

World War I

(28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918)

Stanley G. Akers, Pleasant Grove, (found dead Oct. 17, 1919, near his Pleasant Grove home while home on furlough from Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville)

Fred Allman of Brownstown Township; reportedly died Oct. 14, 1918, in a hospital in France.

Walter Arbuckle, Seymour, (killed in action July 25, 1918; first Seymour man to be killed in action during the war)

Francis M. Brewer, Vallonia, (died July 17, 1918, at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. He had been ill for several months and underwent surgery in the spring and did not recover his strength)

Frank W. Burbrink, Peter’s Switch, (died of Spanish influenza, Oct. 5, 1918, following a short illness at Camp Muster, Michigan)

Pvt. Robert S. Casebolt, Vallonia, (listed as severely wounded Oct. 16, 1918 by the Commanding General of the American Expeditionary Forces)

Cadet Henry E. Cobb, Seymour, (died April 23, 1918, at a hospital at Elling Field near Houston, Texas, following a short illness with pneumonia)

James Collins Cox, a Brownstown native who later lived in Indianapolis with aunt and uncle, severely wounded on May 28, 1918, in the battle of Cantigny and died of his wounds June 20, 1918.

Virgil Fountain, Norman Station, (died sea of pneumonia in Oct. 11, 1918)

Vance H. Gossman, Driftwood Township, (passed away of tuberculosis on Aug. 28, 1919, at the U.S. army hospital at Fort Benjamin Harrison following a lingering illness. He was the second Driftwood Township boy to die while in action)

Michael Charles Graves, Seymour, (died at sea aboard the U.S. Ship Solace in 1918 following an illness with pneumonia)

Private First Class Orvil Edgar Greenlee, Company M., 26th Infantry, 1st Division. Killed in action at Chateau-Thierry, July 18, 1918, and buried in France.

Hubert Hackman, Tampico, (died Oct. 28, 1918 at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, Alabama, after a brief illness with the influenza)

Martin A. Hagan (no information available)

Chester A. Hartwell, 22, Seymour, (killed in action on July 11, 1918, in France)

Lebert Huckleberry, Sidney, Illinois, formerly of Crothersville, (died in October 1918 at Camp Taylor)

Pvt. Harry A. Leslie, Seymour, (fatally wounded by shrapnel on Aug. 26, 1918, during hard fighting at Anzac Ridge in the Ypres Salient in Belgium. He died at an American hospital the following day)

Albert M. Lewis, Crothersville, (killed in action Oct. 4, 1918, in France)

Clarence Lockhart (no information available)

Fred R. Lubker (no information available)

James Lucas, Hamilton Township, (killed in 1918 in action in France)

Carl Mitchell (no information available)

Leslie L. Mount, Crothersville, (died Feb. 14, 1918, of peritonitis at Parris Island, South Carolina)

Pvt. William J. Myers, Seymour, (died Oct. 2, 1918, of pneumonia at a hospital in Indianapolis)

James H. Pruden, Cortland, (died in August 1918 at the base hospital at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville)

Joseph E. Schill, Indianapolis, formerly of Crothersville (died Aug. 9, 1918, of wounds received in action)

Pvt. James Bain Stewart, Clearspring, (died from disease in France. He was the first

Jackson County man to die in the service of his country during World War I)

Louis J. Tabor, Columbus, formerly of Jackson County (died of wounds received in the battle of Argonne)

Charles W. Thompson, Brownstown, (killed in action July 1918)

Arvie R. Wilson, he enlisted March 29, 1918, and was sent overseas July 21, 1918. He was killed in action Oct. 6, 1918. He participated in the battles of Meuse-Argonne and was buried in the Muese-Argonne American Cemetery, Romange-Montfaucon, Meuse, France

Pvt. Edward P. Zimmerman, Seymour, (killed in action Oct. 28, 1918)

World War II

(Sept. 1, 1939 — Sept. 2, 1945)

Staff Sgt. Jesse Ault, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Jan. 5, 1945, in Belgium)

Pvt. Carl Robert Baker, Army, (killed in action June 9, 1943, in France) (first Owen Township youth to be killed in action)

Seaman First Class Feltner Baker, Navy (killed when the USS John Penn sank off Guadalcanal on Aug. 3, 1943)

Fireman Controlman 3rd Class Thomas Leon Barksdale, Navy, (killed July 30, 1945, when the heavy cruiser, the USS Indianapolis, went down off Leyte)

Pvt. Newton H. Bechtel, Army, (died Feb. 2, 1945, at Brooks General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas)

Lt. James F. “Bud” Beldon Jr., Army (died Dec. 12, 1944, in a French hospital of wounds received Dec. 12, 1944, while fighting with an infantry division of the First Army; received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star)

F. Blackwell (no information available)

Staff Sgt. Edward W. Blair, Army, (killed in action on May 8,1945, on Luzon)

2nd Lt. Virgil F. Bobb, Army (commissioned on field; killed in action on March 2, 1945, in Germany)

Pfc. George A. Brown, Army (killed in action Jan. 12, 1945, in France)

Melvin M. Brown, Army, (no information)

Oren E. Brown, Army, (killed on March 24, 1945, in Germany)

Sgt. Edwin Chastain, Crothersville, formerly of Seymour, Army Air Corps, (killed in action on Nov. 25, 1943, the European front in the Italian area)

Gilbert C. Cline II, California, formerly of Seymour, Navy, (killed in action in the Pacific when his ship sank in 1941)

Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Kenneth E. Cockrum, Navy, (aboard the USS Arizona)

Pfc. Morris A. Cole, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Dec. 28, 1944, on the Western Front in France)

Keith E. Cook, Army, (no information available)

Robert H. Cottingham, Crothersville, Army, (no information available)

2nd Lt. Fred Crawford, Indianapolis and formerly of Seymour, Army Air Corps, (killed June 11, 1944, on June 11 while flying over Burma as a pilot)

2nd Lt. Jessie B. Crecelius, Seymour, Army, (listed as missing in action Nov. 10, 1943, in the North African area of the European Theater. Listed as killed in action on Dec. 15, 1943)

Pfc. Clyde Davers, Medora, Army, (died Oct. 2, 1944, while serving in Germany)

Pvt. Roy J. Davis, Seymour, Army, (died in Japanese prison camp)

Pvt. Luther D. Eisele, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Aug. 17, 1944, in France)

Pfc. Curtis E. Findley, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Feb. 10 in Italy)

Pfc. Eathel L. Fish, Bedford, formerly of Norman, Army, (killed in action on May 18, 1944, on Wake Island)

Pfc. Donald Fleetwood, Norman, Army, (killed in action October 1944 in Italy)

Ensign Robert Fleetwood, Seymour, Navy, (killed in a plane crash in February 1943 on the Atlantic coast)

Pfc. Verlas W. Fleetwood, Army, (killed in action on Feb. 20, 1945, in Manila)

Pfc. Carl D. Fox, Army, (no information available)

Lt. j.g. Charles Owen Frost, Seymour, Navy, (died on Aug. 24, 1941, from battle fatigue in the U.S. Naval Hospital at Bethesda, Maryland)

Pfc. John R. Gambrel, Tampico, Marines, (killed in action on June 15, 1944, on Saipan)

Tech. Sgt. Hershel Ray Gresham, Vallonia, Army, (tailgunner killed Nov. 30, 1944, during a bombing mission over Leipzig, Germany, while serving with the Eighth Air Force)

Sgt. Wesley W. Gumm, Army, (killed on the Western Front in 1945)

Seaman Loren W. Hancock (no information available)

Rondall C. Harbaugh, Freetown, Navy, (killed in action when his ship was hit and sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1944)

Pfc. Max Harrington, Seymour, Army Air Corps, (killed Oct. 21, 1941, in crash of his army plan in Panama)

Pfc. Paul Hattabaugh, Vallonia, Army, (killed in action while serving in the Pacific Theater)

Pfc. Omer H. Heckman, Cortland, Army, (killed in action May 28, 1944, in Italy)

C ASUALT iES OF WA r

Staff Sgt. Warren N. Henderson, Carr Township, Army, (killed in action on Jan. 21, 1945, in the Southwest Pacific)

Pfc. Lawrence Havener, Seymour, Army, (missing in action Dec. 16, 1944, in Luxembourg)

1st Lt. Billy Elbert Hubbard, Army, (died of an accidental gunshot wound on Aug. 15, 1943, at Camp Hyder, Arizona)

Pvt. William O. Hunnicutt, Seymour, Army, (listed as missing in action Sept. 26, 1944, when his division was forced to retreat during the battle for France. Declared dead in October of 1945)

Lt. Robert C. Jordan III, Army, (killed Nov. 2, 1944, in the crash of an army bomber near Menlo, Iowa)

Radioman 3rd Class Donald W. Keller, Seymour, Navy, (listed missing in action on May 5, 1944. He was serving on the USS Gudgeon when the submarine failed to return from patrol operations in the Pacific area)

Pvt. Howard W. Kriete, Seymour, Army, (killed in action in October in Italy)

Cpl. James F. Kriete, Army, (died in July 18, 1945, in Czechoslovakia)

Pfc. William Landau, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Aug, 6, 1944, in France)

Sgt. George N. Larkin, Army, (killed in action Dec. 20, 1944, in Italy)

Pfc. Albert M. Lewis, Crothersville, Army, (became lost in the waves and washed overboard while on battery convoy Oct. 2, 1944, near Daytona Beach, Florida)

Cadet Frank W. Lewis, Seymour, Army, (killed Jan. 7, 1943, in an army airplane accident at Pecos, Texas)

Pfc. Glenn E. Loper, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Sept. 11, 1944, France)

Cpl. Willard A. Mackey, Seymour, Army, (killed in action March 1, 1945, in Germany)

Radarman William A. Martin Jr., Seymour, Navy, (lost at sea Sept. 17, 1945, in a typhoon in the South Pacific)

Pfc. Clarence H. McConnell, Ewing, Marine Corps, (killed in action May 10, 1945, on Okinawa)

1st Lt. William Kenneth McKain, Seymour, Army, (killed May 4, 1945, in the crash of an army airplane in California)

Staff Sgt. Robert D. McKinney, Freetown, Army, (killed in action Jan. 13, 1944, in Italy)

Sgt. James Wallace McMillan, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Nov. 27, 1944, on the Italian Front in the European Theater)

Pfc. Erven F. Meyer, White Creek, Army, (killed in action Jan. 7, 1945, in Belgium)

Pfc. Donald Mikels, Norman, Army, (killed in action June 26, 1944, on Saipan).Pvt.

Richard L. Mitchell, Vallonia, (died Nov. 17, 1945, while in the service on Luzon)

Sgt. Donald L. Moore, Seymour, Army, (died April 21, 1944, in England. He was an aerial gunner on a B-24 bomber).

Pvt. Marshall E. Moore, Clearspring, Army, (killed in action in 1944 in Italy.)

Pfc. Franklin L. Morgan, Army, (killed in action on Feb. 8, 1943, on Luzon)

Pfc. Kenneth E. Morgan, Seymour, Army, (killed in action on Feb. 16, 1945, in Germany while serving with a U.S. Infantry Division of the Third Army).

Pfc. Woodrow W. Nicholson, Tampico, Army, (killed in action on April 19, 1945, while serving with an infantry division in the Philippines.)

Max Norris (no information available)

Pvt. James E. Nowling, Army, (died of wounds received on Dec. 3, 1944, in France).

Pfc. Albert J. Oberring, Army, (killed in action on Sept. 23, 1944, while serving with Co. I of the 137th Infantry in France)

Pvt. Challenor L. Pearson, Army, (killed in action in 1944 somewhere in France)

Howard H. Peek, Army, (no information available)

Cpl. Forrest W. Pfaffenberger, Army (no information available)

Staff Sgt. Kelso M. Poore, Army Air Corps (tailgunner with a B-17 Flying Fortress bombing crew killed Sept. 6, 1944, in an air raid over Germany, brother to 1st Lt. Max Poore)

1st Lt. Max Poore, Army Air Corps (killed near the German border on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1944)

James G. Pruitt, Army (no information available)

John C. Putman (no information available)

Howard B. Ranabauer (no information available)

Clinton Oral Reynolds, Army (no information available)

Pfc. Wilford Reynolds, Sparksville, Army (killed in action on Sept. 5, 1944, somewhere in Belgium)

Pfc. Billy Richardson (no information available)

Pfc. Raymond L. Rigel, Seymour, Army (killed in action Jan. 2, 1945, in Belgium)Pvt. Chester W. Ritter, Chillicothe, Ohio, formerly of Seymour, Army, (killed in action Oct. 13, 1944, on the Italian front)

Pvt. Herschel A. Rose, Seymour, Army (killed in action Dec. 21, 1944, in Belgium)

Fireman Second Class Glen E. Ross, Norman, Navy, (killed July 30, 1945, when the heavy cruiser, the USS Indianapolis, went down with heavy loss of life off Leyte)

Staff Sgt. Farrell Rudolph, Army, (killed Jan. 11, 1945, in France)

Pvt. Robert B. Sapp, Cortland, Army, (killed in action Aug. 29, 1943, on Attu)

Pfc. James E. Schwalbach, (no information available)Pvt. George O. Smith, Norman, Army, (no information available)

Lt. Robert E. Speer, Brownstown, Army Air Force, (killed June 7, 1944, in the crash of an army plane in Brazil)

Staff Sgt. Dallas C. Spray Jr., Ewing, Army, (killed in action Aug. 25, 1944, in France)

2nd Lt. Robert E. Stahl Jr., Wegan, Army, (killed in an accident in 1944 while serving in the Asiatic area)

Pvt. Ralph F. Steinkamp Jr., Brownstown, (died Nov. 3, 1943, of wounds in the Italian campaign. Steinkamp, the son of Ida Steinkamp, was the first soldier from Jackson County to die on the European Front in World War II. A memorial service was held Dec. 5, 1943, at Wegan Lutheran Church.)

Pvt. Melvin W. Steltenpohl, Brownstown, Army, (drowned on Sept. 26, 1944, Ramgarh, India).

Seaman 2nd Class Roger Stewart, Crothersville, Navy, (died when the Warrington was sunk in a hurricane off the Atlantic Coast on Sept. 14, 1944)

Motor Machinist’s Mate 1st Class John Gilbert Sutton, Seymour, Navy, (killed in action in 1945 in the Pacific area)

Cpl. Albert Earl “Chub” Sweany, Crothersville, Marine, (killed Sept. 14, 1944, during an invasion in the Pacific Theater)

Pfc. Max V. Thomas, Crothersville, Army, (killed in action Jan. 8, 1945, in Luxembourg)

Pfc. Winfred A. Tidd, Seymour, Army, (killed March 9, 1945, on Luzon)

Sgt. James Edward Tinch, Seymour, Army,

C ASUALT iES OF

(killed in action Jan. 19, 1945, on the western front in Europe)

Technician 5th Grade Ermil R. Trapp, Seymour, Army, (killed in action Sept. 15. 1944, in France)

William H. Trapp, Navy, (no information available)

Electrician’s Mate Max G. Tudor, Navy, (missing in action on Nov. 6, 1943, after the USS Foote, on which he was serving, was torpedoed)

Staff Sgt. Harold “Pete” Vance, Seymour, Army Air Force, (reported missing Nov. 4, 1944, after the Flying Fortress he was in, was hit and damaged over Hamburg, Germany. He was later declared dead.)

T/4 Walter Waldkoetter, Seymour, Army, (killed on D-Day June 6, 1944)

Pfc. Donald Albert Walker, Crothersville, Army, (killed in action Jan. 4, 1945, in Germany)

Pfc. Clayton C. Weddel, Norman, Army, (killed in action Nov. 20, 1944, in Germany)

Pfc. Charles R. Wells, Seymour, Army, (reported missing in action on April 7, 1945, in Italy)

Pvt. Herbert H. Wheeler, Brownstown, Army, (killed in March 1, 1944, at the Anzio beachhead in Italy)

Johnny White, Army, (no information available)

Robert White, Army, (no information available)

Pfc. Archie Whitsett Jr., Army, (killed in action Jan. 15, 1945, in France)

Pfc. Harold M. Wieneke, Army, (killed in action Dec. 13, 1944, on the Italian front)

Pfc. Marlen N. Williams, Medora, Army, (died of injuries received Jan. 4, 1945, in Belgium)

2nd Lt. Earl H. Wonning, Army, (reported missing in action Feb. 25, 1944, during a raid over Germany)

Motor Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Eldon E. Wood, Reddington, Navy, (killed May 25, 1945, off Okinawa)

Sgt. George M. Woodson, Army, (killed Nov. 4, 1943, on the European Front in Italy)

Pfc. Albert J. Wright, Brownstown, Army, (reported missing in action Jan. 8, 1945, in France

Korean War 1950-53

Cpl. Floyd N. Acton, Cortland, Army, (reported missing in action on May 17, 1951)

First Lt. Lynuel Bevers, Clearspring, Air Force, (killed in action in the crash of a C-119 transport he was piloting from Japan to Korea)

Sgt. Joseph H. Brock, Medora, Air Force, (reported missing in action on Feb. 12, 1951. Listed as killed July 10, 1951)

Pfc. Harold R. Clark, Louisville, Army, (reported missing in action Feb. 13, 1951. Later died in captivity in North Korea)

Pvt. Clarence R. Edmonds, Seymour, Army, (died July 6, 1952, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. He had been ill for the past month).

Sgt. James Earl Farley, Seymour, Air Force, (died of Hodgkins’ disease Sept. 23, 1951, at Camp Atterbury Base Hospital)

Master Sgt. Avery Green, Columbus, Air Force, killed in action on Nov. 9, 1950, in Korea. Green lived in Jackson County until moving to Columbus four years before his death. A flight engineer on a B-29, Green was born at Chestnut Ridge south of Seymour on Nov. 3, 1925, and graduated from Freetown High School.

Pvt. Roscoe Lloyd Hawn, Crothersville, Air Force, (killed in action July 10, 1952, his first day of combat, while serving as a rifleman in a battalion offense in Korea)

Pvt. John R. S. Holmes, Army, (no information available)

Warrant Officer Albert J. Kurtz, Crothersville, Army, (died Nov. 28, 1952, at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, California, where he had been flown seriously ill from Korea on Nov. 7).

Pvt. Marshall F. McKain, Spraytown, Army, (killed in action Oct. 21, 1951, in Korea)

Pfc. Earl G. Rosemeyer, Crothersville, Army, (died in a wreck in Kentucky while en route to report for duty and assignment at Fort Lee, Virginia, after a visit with his family)

Ship’s Serviceman 3rd Class Walter J. Sutton, Navy, (died Feb. 9, 1952, in an automobile accident at Camden, New Jersey).

Vietnam War

(Nov 1, 1955 — Apr 30, 1975)

Pfc. Kenneth Merle Branaman, Seymour, (killed by enemy machine gun fire while

engaged in a search-and-destroy operation on July 19, 1966, near Cu Chi)

Pfc. Dale Eugene Carmichael, Freetown, (died of hostile fire on April 25, 1967, in Quang Tri Province)

Spc. 4 Gary Lee Clark, Seymour, (died of non-hostile action on June 24, 1969, in Kontum Province)

Command Sgt. Major William H. Clevenger, 49, Seymour, (died as a result of wounds received June 6, 1969, at base camp in Vietnam when the area came under attack by hostile rocket fire)

Lance Cpl. William Manson “Bill” Daulton, Medora, (killed Oct. 24, 1970, as a result of a hostile land mine during maneuvers in Quang Nan Province)

Spc. 4 Martin Douglas Goen, Medora, (died April 6, 1971, in Quang Duc Province)

Spc. 4 Thomas Leon Guthrie, Medora, (died of hostile fire while on a combat operation in Gia Dinh Province)

Lance Cpl. James Elmore “Pete” Harrell, Cortland, (killed in action March 29, 1967, near Da Nang)

Cpl. Homer Howard “Ricky” Haws, Seymour, (killed April 15, 1968, in Thua Thien Province)

Lance Cpl. William Dean Laraway, Seymour, (killed April 11, 1967, of fragmentation wounds from a grenade while on patrol in Thua Thien Province)

Lance Cpl. Jackie Dean Reynolds, Seymour, (died of wounds sustained from small arms fire on March 4, 1966, in Pleiku)

Howard Earl Rothring Jr., Crothersville, (died while on a combat operations on April 14, 1969, in Hau Naghia Province)

Spc. 4 Thomas Arthur Stevens Jr., Seymour, (died May 28, 1968, from hostile fire in Thua Thien Province)

War in Afghanistan (2001 to the present)

138) Hunter Hogan (killed in combat on June 23, 2012, in Afghanistan)

Iraq war

139) Army Spc. Carter “C.J.” Gamble, Seymour, (killed in action by small arms fire in Iraq. At the time, he was the first soldier killed in action since Goen of Medora in 1971.)