WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - 2nd Lt. Richard V. Breininger

 

Second Lieutenant 

Richard Virgil Breininger

Richard was a Mark Township boy born on December 31 1912, to John Freidrich Wilhelm and Pearl (Hane) Breininger. His father died in 1938, leaving his mother with four children to raise - Richard, John, Audrey and Annabelle.

Richard graduated from Mark Township High School, and then attended the Defiance College and Purdue University.

After graduation, he was employed by Swift & Co., Defiance and later by John Hane of Montpelier as an insurance salesman.

He first married Leola Yarlott in Allen County, Indiana on April 16, 1932. The couple were divorced in 1939, and then Leola died of heart disease in August 1939, never remarrying.

On June 3, 1939, Richard married Marion Russell Gravette, the daughter of Alonzo C. and Mary (Glass) Gravette, in Williams County, Ohio. He was 26 and a resident of Pioneer and she was 28 and lived in Bryan. She was a bookkeeper who was the secretary of the war price and rationing board in Montpelier.

Marion and Richard Breininger

And suddenly, the war was here. Richard filed his draft registration in Montpelier on October 10, 1940. He was 5'10" and 190 pounds with blue eyes and black hair. He was self-employed as an insurance agent, a partner in the Hane Agency.

 

He enlisted on December 18, 1942, in Toledo.. Richard served at Camp Robinson in Arkansas, and completed the Officer Candidate Course at Fort Benning, Georgia where he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He would be in Company A of the 60th Infantry Regiment, a part of the 9th Infantry Division. and he was assigned to the intelligence service.

Richard's company was not a part of D-Day, but instead were confined in a camp in England being briefed about the mission coming just four days later. Their uniforms were changed from olive drab to gas impregnated clothing, and ammunition, rations, and other items were issued there.

60th Infantry moving forward

The 60th Infantry Regiment, whose motto was "To the Utmost Extent of Our Power,"

boarded a small American built ship that carried a British flag and departed England at 7:30 p.m.  The boat anchored off the coast of France at Omaha Beach on June 10 where the soldiers stayed aboard until they moved in late morning to Utah Beach, where they were to disembark. 2nd Lt. Richard V. Breininger was killed in action on that day, June 10m 1944mshortly after the beginning of the invasion. Was he moving ahead of his unit to collect intelligence? No story could be found.

From the Bryan Democrat, July 31, 1944

"LT. RICHARD V. BREININGER DIES IN FRANCE

"...Lieut. Richard V. Breininger, 31 of Montpelier, was killed in action in France on July 10, according to a telegram received Sunday from the War Dept. by his wife, Mers. Marrian Breininger, who is secretary of the war price and rationing board there.

   He entered the service on Dec. 26, 1942, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in August, 1943, when he went into the military intelligence department of the infantry. He went to England on April 8, 1944.

Lieut. Breininger was born and raised at Mark Center in Defiance county, graduating from high school there with the class of 1930. He attended Defiance College the following year, took a short course at Purdue University, and then accepted a position with Swift & Company, working at Alma, Michigan, and Lexington, Ky. for several years. 

Five years ago he located at Montpelier, becoming associated with his uncle, John Hane, in the insurance business. He was a member of the English Lutheran Church in Bryan, and the Masonic lodge

He leaves his wife; his mother, Mrs. John F. Breininger of 235 North Enterprise Street, Bryan; a brother, John, of Bryan; and two sisters, Mrs. Gerhardt Rohrs of Antwerp, and Annabelle Breininger of Montpelier."

Lt. Breininger was first buried in France at the Sainte Marie Eglise Cemetery. but the family requested that the body be brought home. He was shipped home to New York and made it home to the Thompson Funeral Home in Bryan in 1948. Services, military and Masonic, were held at the gravesite in Lost Creek Cemetery, Defiance County, on July 16, 1948.

 

Lost Creek Cemetery

His wife, Marion, did not remarry and had  

  returned to her family in Lexington,       Kentucky by the funeral in 1948. However,   by the 1950 U.S. Census, she was back 

 living in Montpelier, working as a clerk

 and bookkeeper for the government for   Munitions Plant 936. She was faithful to the

 War effort. A widow, she was buried beside

 Richard in Lost Creek Cemetery.

Lost Creek Cemetery

Lt. Richard Breininger was awarded a Purple Heart, a European Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. His unit was also acknowledged for their bravery during this invasion that continued right after his death.

In the Defiance Crescent-News of July 10, 1946, on page 2, his family posted a beautiful memorial to the husband, son, and brother whom they cherished:

"IN LOVING MEMORY

OF LIEUTENANT RICHARD V. BREININGER

WHO WAS KILLED IN NORMANDY, FRANCE,

TWO YEARS AGO TODAY, JULY 10, 1946

A telegram came

And said Richard was killed. 

Life isn't the same

But it's what the Lord willed.

They say not to worry

Whatever, do not regret;

He died in glory,

But it's hard to forget.

He was a dear boy

Who asked little from life,

To love was his joy,

To work was his strife.

He never complained

However tough was the going,

Always said I'm all right,

We had no way of knowing.

For this great land of ours

He was called to fight.

We're sure that he served 

With all his might.

He gave his life

So we could have freedom;

May his home be a mansion

In the Lord's kingdom.

Richard's Mother, Wife, Sisters and Brother."

Dawn Hasch, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Robert L. Mansfield

 

Private First Class 

Robert Leroy Mansfield

Robert L. Mansfield

Robert Mansfield was tall and thin (5'11" and 130 pounds) when he filled out his draft registration. With brown hair and eyes and a ruddy complexion, he was a handsome, young man who lived with his parents at 319 Tacoma Street in Defiance.

Born on December 8, 1924, in Defiance County, he was the son of John H. and Esther Z. (Dirr)

Mansfield. He attended Defiance High School and lived with six siblings: Emmagene, Paul, Leland, Marvin, Helen and Jacqueline. A brother, James, was deceased.

Before enlisting, he worked as a truck driver for Mayer Coal and Ice Company and Nolan's Grocery Store.

When he was 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 9, 1943.  He would become a part of the 297th Infantry Engineer Combat Battalion. His training was mainly in Camp Rucker, Alabama.

On January 25, 1944, he landed in England with his battalion. The Engineering Battalion left the city of Bournemouth, England to reach its marshalling camp on June 4, 1944.

The 297th working on structures.
Their insignia, with the French motto, "Essayons" means
"Let us try."

During the first night of the D-Day invasion, on June 6, 1944, the troops were loaded onboard their landing craft for the crossing of the English Channel. PFC Mansfield was part of the first wave of the invasion that landed on Utah and Omaha beaches.   PFC Mansfield was killed in action on Utah Beach on that night - June 6, 1944, the first casualty from Defiance County in the D-Day invasion.

The Crescent-News July 24, 1944, pg 1

"ROBERT MANSFIELD - INVASION VICTIM

Pfc Robert L. Mansfield, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Mansfield, 319 Tacoma Street, was killed in action in France with invasion forces on the Normandy beachhead D-Day, June 6.

He is the first invasion casualty reported from Defiance County and the 31st man to lose his life in the war.

News of his death was contained in a second telegram received Friday. An earlier message on July 4 had listed him as seriously wounded

Private Mansfield was a member of the Engineers Corps attached to the paratroopers. He entered service March 9, 1943, and received his training at Camp Rucker, Ala. He went to England last Dec. 22.

He was born in Defiance December 8, 1924, and had spent his entire life here except for a short time in Montpelier. He was employed as a truck driver by the Maher Coal and Ice. Co. and Nolan's Grocery.

He leaves his parents, three sister, Mrs. Grant Patrick, Wellston, O., and Helen and Jacquelyn at home; three brothers, Paul Mansfield S2/C, Camp Pendleton, Va; Leland, Hartsburg, and Marvin at home.; and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Dirr, New Bavaria. A brother, James, is dead.

Arrangements for a memorial service have been deferred, pending official word from the government." 

He was first interred at the Sainte Mere Eglise Cemetery #2 (France), but in July 1948, his remains were recovered and brought home for burial in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.

The Crescent-News, August 28, 1944

Private First Class Robert Mansfield received the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal and the European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal.  His remains were returned home from France in July 1948 when they were buried in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.

Rhonda Casler, Researcher

WORLD WAR II - WAACS/WACS - WAVES - SPARS - JOIN THE WAR EFFORT

 

WAC Uniform

  WACS, WAVES AND SPARS

  

The United States government came to realize in   1942 that a whole part of our population could help win the war.   Women were very capable of jobs some men had and could replace them in some occupations, so that our men could join the front lines. The Army, Navy and Coast Guard began to recruit young to middle-aged women into jobs in noncombative environments, and women were eager to contribute.

Insignia of the WACS
Athena's head

WAVES uniform

In 1942, the WAVES were formed representing the Navy and the WAACS for the Army. By 1943, they were renamed the WACS and 60,000 women had enlisted.

Now they could officially have ranks, benefits and pay through the military. Also in 1943, they began to deploy overseas into all sorts of roles. The Marines also had an auxiliary women's unit - USMCWR - U.S. Marine Corp Women's Reserve)

The SPARS were formed as the auxiliary for the Coast Guard. The name was related to the Coast Guard motto, "Semper Paratus - Always Ready."

The Coast Guard at the time was short of men, so adding women to fill jobs as radio operators, parachute riggers, air traffic controllers and even logistic specialists helped immensely. About 10,000 women between the ages of 20-36 joined.

This addition of women to our armed services was somewhat controversial for some male servicemen. Some didn't want to go to the front lines; they liked their jobs and didn't want to lose them. The women also received equal pay. This caused some resentment, but for the most part, the extra labor force was welcomed and helped the overall confidence of our services.

SPARS uniform

At first, the women's jobs were mostly clerical, but as the war wore on, they were placed in more challenging roles. They were drivers and mechanics. (Queen Elizabeth II trained as a mechanic.) Maintenance specialists, flight simulator trainers, and radio operators and cryptologists helped our cause. Over 400 WACS served in the Manhattan Project to create the atomic bomb as scientists, metallurgists, photographers and technicians.

In DCGS, we are proud of one of our members who was a WAC. Roena Bayes was a graduate of Farmer High School and BGSU with a two year education degree. She joined the WAACs in 1942 and was trained in map reading and keeping flight records at Minter Air Force Base in California. In 1944, she was deployed overseas, assigned to the 8th Air Corp.

Roena Bayes

Her first job was at the Cheddington Air Force Base in England in mail, but her map reading talents led her to a task following Allied bomber progress in Europe and presenting these reports to a group of officers in England. 

After D-Day 1945, she and some other WACS were flown to France near Paris, assigned to the Composite Command of the 9th Air Force. Her group was to go through the Rothschild Estate that the Germans had occupied during the war as a headquarters, searching for relevant papers that the 

Nazis had left behind when they quickly

evacuated.

After V-E Day she was flown into Germany as part of the occupation troops, serving as a Briefing Coordinator. She attained the rank of Colonel and was given an Honorable Discharge in 1945. 

Roena at 100 years old.

Roena was very proud of her service and was always willing to talk about it. She died on September 18. 2024 at the age of 106.

If any reader has a woman ancestor who

served in the WACS, WAVES, or SPAR

during World War II,

please honor her by placing her

name along with a little information

about her in the comments.

Rank, Job Assignment, Location

or anything you might know about her

service.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Guy H. Slusser

 

PFC Guy Herman Slusser

This photo of PFC Slusser appeared in the Crescent-News on August 26, 1943, along with Sgt Eugene Kern and Sgt. Lloyd Amaden, who all were killed in the Battle of Munda in the Solomon Islands. Along with them was mentioned Glenn Crawford.

Guy Herman Slusser was born in Ottawa, Putnam County, Ohio, on November 25, 1927. But by the 1930 Census, the family had moved into Richland Twp., Defiance County, and by 1940 into Defiance City.

His parents, Ira Clarence and Elizabeth (Stengel) Slusser and their children, Arlena, Eunice, PFC Gale B. who was stationed in England, Ira S, and Oris E. Slusser lived on Grover Street. Guy was their youngest living son and a confirmand of St. John Lutheran Church on Wayne Avenue, Defiance.

When he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, he was living at 520 Grover Street, Defiance and working for the American Steel Package Company here. He was 5'4" and 133 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, with a ruddy complexion. (As a sidenote, the American Steel Package Co. won two Army/Navy E Awards, given to American industries that exceeded military expectations.)

Guy married Isadora Louise Miller, daughter of Arthur O. and Esther (Orthwein) Miller on April 13, 1942, at St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance. She also enlisted in the Army as a WAC, served in the Signal Corps and was recognized for her work in Military Intelligence, G-2. She stayed on the job the day her husband was killed.

Guy was home on a furlough when they married, as noted on their marriage certificate.

PFC Slusser was in the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Known as the "Buckeye Division," as it originated in Ohio.

Their insignia was a red circle on a cream circle, based on the Ohio flag. The soldiers called it the "fried egg patrol."

The 37th sailed from San Francisco, California on May 28, 1942 and landed in the Fiji Islands for more training. The Crescent-News on July 11, 1942, had a segment of a letter from PFC Slusser while aboard the ship:

"'You needn't worry about me because I am just fine, and we are in very little danger.' PFC Slusser, who is with the 37th Division at an unannounced location, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Slusser, 517 Grove Street. He said he 'was a little seasick the first few days on our way here,but enjoyed the trip after that. The old Pacific sure looks pretty both day and night. The water is a dark blue color with lots of flying fish jumping out of the water all the time.'"

The 37th Division saw action during the New Georgia campaign in the Solomon Islands which lasted from July 2, 1943 to August 5, 1943. The Battle of Munda Point 

took place during this time. A vital airbase was located on the island's southwest tip. The campaign was called "Operation Toenails."

The Marine 1st Raider Battalion, with two battalions from the U.S. Army's 37th Infantry Division, landed on the island's northwestern shore on July 5, 1943.  A rugged, jungle terrain met them, along with a savage Japanese resistance. Tropical heat, diseases and exhaustion took their toll, along with endless banzai * attacks that left many Japanese dead and the Americans tired and shaken.

(*Banzai attacks were large swarm attacks of Japanese, usually considered a suicide charge, with the battle cry, "Banzai!")

After some rest and resupply, a new attack began July 25 with the 43rd Division with support from the 25th and 37th Division and some Stuart Tanks manned by Marines.

PFC Slusser was killed on July 28, 1943, while driving to move the enemy out. The Japanese soldiers finally fell back on July 29.

Two men of the 37th Division received the Medal of Honor during this campaign, and they were Navajo Code Talkers who were with the Marines. PFC Guy Slusser received the Purple Heart posthumously, delivered to his parents.

On August 25, 1943, the Crescent-News reported

"Pfc Guy H. Slusser, 25-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira C. Slusser, Grover Street, was killed in action with the Japanese at Munda, July 28.

Word of this Defiance man, a member of the 37th division, was received this morning in a telegram from the adjutant general, Washington.

'The secretary of war desires that I tender his deep sympathy to you in the loss of your son, Private First Class Guy H. Slusser. Report states that he was killed in action on July 28 in southwest Pacific area. Letter follows.'

The father said that a letter received from his son earlier had informed him that he was at Munda. Private Slusser entered the service in January of 1940 and trained at Camp Shelby, Miss.

Besides his parents, he is survived by his wife, the former Isadora Miller of Hamler; two sisters, Mrs. Jack Moses, Cuyahoga Falls, and Mrs. J. Frederick Poetzinger, Defiance; and three brothers, Pfc Gale B. Slusser stationed in England; Ira S. Slusser and Oris E. Slusser, both of Defiance."

Riverside Cemetery

The July 12th, 1948 Crescent-News reported that PFC Slusser's body had arrived from overseas and a funeral was held in the Smith Brothers Funeral Home with Rev. O.G. Hebestreit, St. John Lutheran minister, officiating.

The Amvets conducted the services with pallbearers: John Seither, Joe Murphy, Barney Schultz, Jack VanVlerah, Dick Westrick, and Sam Morgan; color bearers - John and Louis Buchholz; color guards - Robert Bates and Don Arends; firing squad - Herbert Rohrbaugh, John Fessel, Bernard and Paul Dodson, Donald Peffley, Harry Barker, Sam Laurence and Darwood Swary; officer of the day - James Kenning; flag folded by Sgt. Russel Dempsey; flag presented by -Captain Forrest (Bob) Welch; honor squad - Lt. Richard Wohn with ten National Guardsmen; Jeep and Caisson driver - Vincent Williamson, and bugler - Floyd McFeeters.

Fred Poetzinger sang with Mrs. John Desgrange, accompaniest.  

It was truly a large military funeral.

Sidenote: PFC Slusser's wife, Isadora, remarried in 1949, and continued to be very patriotic her whole life. According to her obituary, she was a member of the American Legion and "continually flew a flag at her home thru peace or war."  She appeared with the American Legion Band "and once put on her old army uniform and marched with a high school band for a Memorial Day parade. Isadora (William) Bradford  passed away in 2004 in Waterville, Ohio at the age of 87.

Scott Lantow, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Sgt. Charles M. Frantz

 

Sergeant Charles Meredith Frantz

Charles was born in Galata, Toole County, Montana to Charles Elwood and Trella Minnie (Springer) Frantz on December 1, 1920. By the 1930 census, the famiiy had moved to Montgomery County, Ohio with Charles 9, and his siblings, Bessie (Burdessa), 12, and Waldo H., 15.

By the 1940 census, Charles' parents were divorced, and his mother resided in Hicksville, and was lodging with a widow from Van Wert at the time of the census. On October 26, 1944, she remarried to Lyman T. Winn and lived at Route 1, Hicksville. Sgt Frantz attended Hicksville High School.

Charles, the youngest son, enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1942 and was assigned by October 7 to the 90th Bomb Group, 334th Bomb Squadron, Eighth Air Force, the "Mighty Eighty."

On July 17, 1942, Charles married Frances Mary Courtney in Fort Wayne, Indiana. At that time, his residence was Dayton.

The insignia of the 334th Squadron
A hooded figure of Doom, dropping
a yellow aerial bomb between two red
lightning flashes.

Charles was transferred to the 95th Bomb Squad H

in England where they were based just north of London. He was trained as a top turret gunner/ flight engineer on a B-17 ordered to fly over and drop bombs on Germany. Nicknamed "Situation

Normal," his B-17 42-29943 was shot down by enemy aircraft near Haseluenne, Germany and crashed near Barnsdorf on March 6, 1944.

It was the first day of a series of daylight bomb raids over Germany. Out of the ten crewmembers on his plane, five were able to parachute out and they

became German prisoners of war. The other five,

including Sgt. Frantz, never made it out of the plane.

He was killed in action. (Info thanks to Kay Fradl)

"Situation Normal" B-17, shot down over Germany - Sgt. Frantz's plane

The Journal-Herald, Dayton, reported on June 1, 1949, on page 11:

"2 Dayton Air Force Men On Casualty List

Listed in casualty reports Friday were the names of Lt. Herman F. Ridenour...and Sgt. Charles M. Frantz, 23, husband of Mrs. Mary F. Frantz, 150 N. Kilmer St., missing in action in the European area since March 6.

...Sgt. Frantz, a flight engineer on a B-17 in England, was on his fifth mission over Europe when reported missing in action, his wife said Friday. A native of Montana, he had lived in Dayton for a number of years.

The sergeant entered the service on Nov. 9, 1942, and received his training at bases in North Carolina and Texas before going overseas last December. His father, Charles Moore, lives on Brown St"

Sgt. Charles M. Franz died March 6, 1944, in Oldenburg, Germany, Landkreiss Vorpommern-Graifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

His body was brought home and buried in Hillgrove Cemetery, Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio. C.A.Brough applied for a marble military stone on July 15, 1949.

Sgt. Charles M. Frantz also received the Purple Heart and the European Theater Ribbon.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Staff Sergeant Walter J. Ricica

 Staff Sergeant 

Walter Joseph Ricica

The Ricica parents were immigrants from Czechloslovakia. They rented and farmed several places around the area, but they were in Fulton County when their third son, Walter Joseph Ricica was born.  John and E. Francis (Kubrick) Ricica would have seven children by the time the census taker came around in 1940 - Floyd, Walter, Stephen, George, Louis, Theresa and Marcellus.

Before John's enlistment, John and his brothers, Floyd and later, Steven, helped on their family farm. Walter eventually acquired a job at the Defiance Machine Works before enlisting.  His parents had lived in Adams Township but moved to Highland Township by this time.

On the 8th or 9th of January 1942, he enlisted at Camp Perry. As a member of the 145th Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, he was on a ship, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge by late 1943 -44,

heading for the islands near the Philippines.

From The Sons of Liberty Museum website:

"On January 9, 1945, the Buckeyes (another name for the 37th Division as it was dominated by Ohio men) came ashore on D-day at Lingayen Gulf and spearheaded MacArthur's return to Manila."  The 37th raced inland to Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg, but they met fierce resistance from the Japanese and didn't arrive at their goal until Jan. 31, 1945.  This is the period of time when Sgt. Ricica was killed - on January 26, 1945.  His hospital report indicated that he had a compound fracture of the pelvis with no nerve or artery involvement.  He was 27 and it was a mortal wound.

On Luzon

His parents were informed of his death on February 17, 1945. An article about SSgt Walter Ricica tells us of his heroism in battle, found in the Crescent-News published on March 15, 1946.

"BRONZE STAR AWARD REVEALS HEROISM THAT COST LIFE OF DEFIANCE SOLDIER

Heroism of a Defiance soldier, Sgt. Walter J. Ricica, costing his life in the Philippines, has just been revealed in the citation accompanying the posthumous award of the bronze star to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ricica of Route 6.

Former employee of the Defiance Machine Works, Sgt. Ricica entered the Army Jan. 8, 1942, went overseas in October 1944, and was killed in action Jan. 26, 1945.

The parent recently went to Camp Perry where they receive the bronze star medal. The citation read:

'For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy at Luzon, Philippine islands on 26 January 1945.  

When the advance of the second battalion of an infantry regiment was threatened with delay because of the action of a *Timm gun in its sector, Sergeant Ricica and Privates Staleny and Holappa, left their covered positions and ran across an open road to observe the hostile weapon.

As they advanced, an exploding shell struck nearby and mortally wounded them. Their disregard for the safety of their lives exemplified the spirit of courage and self-sacrifice which led to the ultimate successful conclusion of the operation.'"

*A Timm gun is a submachine gun.

Sergeant Ricica also received the Purple Heart.

His official place of death was Pampanga Province, Central Luzon, Philippines. He was buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila. A photo of his cross was not available, but a certificate commemorating his burial had this appropriate quotation:

"Time will not dim the story of their deeds."

Dianne Kline, Researcher