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