WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - 2nd Lt Charles Lowell Stuckman

 

2nd Lieutenant Charles Lowell Stuckman

Born in Hicksville, Defiance County, on February 17, 1922, Charles was the son of Tellis Stuckman and Vera A. (Pollock) Stuckman. A 1940 graduate of Hicksville High School, he went by the name of "Lowell," in those days, and he was quite active in many different activities.

On April 20, 1942, Charles enlisted into the Army Air Force at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then he was sent to Nashville for training. Further training occurred at Maxwell Field, Alabama where he stayed until February 1943. He was assigned to the 67th Flying Training Detachment at Union City, Tennessee, and then at Courtland, Alabama, until May 1943. On November 10, 1943, he was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska, and further assigned to the 790th Bomb Squadron, then to the 67th Bomb Group at Wendover Field, a unit that was preparing to go overseas.

Charles flew the ferry route to England, Trinidad, Brazil, Morocco and Wales and then to the 467th base at Rackheath, Norfolk, England. 

His first mission on his B-24 Liberator was on April 10, 1944, to Bourges, France. 

His second and last mission on April 11, 1944, was to Oschersleben,, Germany. Coming home from the mission and flying low over England, the B-24's control cables snapped, and the bomber crashed near Stalham, England, where he perished.

Charles had reached the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and was awarded

the Purple Heart.

 

                                        Liberator B-24, four engine bomber, widely used in WW II

On August 23, 1943, Charles married Betty Blythe Altman when he was 21, who was left a widow with no children. Her name was mentioned in some obituaries, but not the one below.

The Sherwood Chronicle - July 22, 1948, page 1: 

"RITES TO BE HELD FRIDAY FOR LT. CHARLES STUCKMAN

Private services will be conducted tomorrow (Friday) afternoon from the Perkins and Reeb Funeral Home in Hicksville, for Lt. Charles L. Stuckman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tellis Stuckman, who was killed in a plane crash on April 11, 1944, over England following a mission over Germany 

The remains arrived in Hicksville yesterday.

Rev. Donald Mumma will preside at the rites, with public graveside ceremonies to be performed by the American Legion and VFW posts.

Lt. Stuckman was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stuckman of near Sherwood, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pollock, Ney.  Other survivors in addition to the parents include a twin brother, Loren, and two sisters, Mrs. Marjorie Griffith and Mrs. Gerald McCartney, all of Hicksville."

Graveside rites were held at the Forest Home Cemetery in HIcksville.

Mary Williams, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Sgt. Robert H. Maugel

 

Sergeant Robert Harold Maugel

Born in the Farmer area in Defiance County on February 22, 1919, Robert grew up with his parents, Donald W. and Esther D. (Cook) Maugel and his three siblings: Edwin Earl, Marvin D. and Doris Jane.

Robert graduated from Farmer High School in 1941 and went to work at the Handle Factory in Bryan, registering for the draft on June 30, 1942. He enlisted into the Army on February 18, 1943, at Toledo. 

He trained at Camp Perry; Camp Swift, Texas; Shreveport, Louisiana; and San Luis Obispo in California. He took a furlough back home to marry Kuba Karnes from Edgerton on June 26, 1944.

The Edgerton Earth, June 29, 1944

In August, 1944, Kuba Maugel traveled to California with her friend, Miss Rosemary Cape, to visit her husband who was then at San Luis Obispo. 

Robert, who was promoted to Sergeant posthumously, was a part of the 60th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division, "Old Reliable."  In early December, he wrote home to his parents that he was on the battlefield for five days and when writing, had been sent back for a five-day rest. They were in Camp Elsenborn, Belgium, from November 14, 1944, as a place for training in the forest and rough terrain, along with road marches for conditioning. The unit was getting ready to pave the way into Germany.

"The training got them into the right spirit. Early December, the feeling of the 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment was fresh, rested, over-strength and high in morale."

The 60th Infantry Regiment was marched through Belgium with the intent to penetrate the German border. They were involved in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, a battle that saw the loss of 55,000 total American casualties, as compared to 28,000 German.

The Hurtgenwald was a rough, wooded and hilly terrain; it was difficult to get supplies in and the use of vehicles was restricted because of the narrow, muddy roads. The Germans had the forest ready with many defensive measures - mines, pillboxes, traps and bunkers. The Americans called it the "Green Hell" or "The Death Machine." Cold, rain, snow, along with frostbite, trenchfoot, and bodies everywhere created an unbelievable environment for our soldiers.

The heat of the battle was December 10-12, 1944, right before the Battle of the Bulge which started Dec. 16. Our American commanders decided to send in one army division at a time, which ate up U.S. soldiers quickly. It was criticized as an unwise approach that cost us many men. Sgt. Maugel was in the midst of this when he was hit by a machine gun bullet in the thorax. His hospital admission record stated that he was brought to the hospital with this wound where he died.

First Robert was listed as Missing in Action near Dickrich, Luxembourg, but later he was confirmed as Killed in Action in Belgium. In the January 10, 1945, Crescent-News:

"ROBERT MAUGEL FALLS IN BATTLE

Farmer Township Corporal 54th Victim of War from County

Farmer, Jan. 10 - Corp. Robert H. Maugel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Maugel, has been killed in battle in Belgium, according to word received by his parents, two miles northwest of Farmer.

Corp Maugel, the 54th war victim from Defiance county, previously had been listed as missing in action. No details of his death were contained in the War Department telegram.

Corp. Maugel was employed in Bryan at the time of his induction and was sent to service through the Bryan draft board. He had been overseas for several months.

He leaves his wife, the former Kuba Karnes of Edgerton; his parents; two brothers, Edwin in the Navy somewhere in the Pacific, and Marvin, at home; a sister, June, at home and a grandmother, Mrs. Laura Maugel, Farmer.

Memorial services are to be held from St. Patrick Catholic church in Edgerton, Thursday morning."

Sergeant Robert Maugel was interred in Henri-Chappelle, Arrondisement de Verners, Liege, Belgium.  A memorial marker was also placed in Farmer Cemetery.

Farmer Cemetery

Dan Hasch, Researcher

Sidenote:  His brother, Ed Maugel, was serving on the USS Haynesworth in the Pacific.

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - 1st Lt. Edward Carl Winkle

 

First Lieutenant

Edward Carl Winkle

Edward C. Winkle

   Known as "Red" to his friends and family,    Edward  Winkle was the son of Moses and Mary Ellen  (Rayle) Winkle (died 1939). Born June 7, 1918, in  Belmore (near Leipsic), Putnam County, Ohio, he was a graduate of Leipsic High School and Tiffin Business College.

By the time of his draft registration at age 22,  he lived at 223 Jackson Avenue, Defiance, where he worked at the City Loan and Guaranty Company on Clinton Street.  With gray eyes and red hair, he was about 5'8" tall and 150 pounds.

He enlisted in the Army on February 4, 1942, at Camp Perry near Port Clinton, trained at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Fort Benning, Georgia and Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

In June of 1942, Corporal Edward Winkle and his brother were both home on furlough when they had a frightening auto accident as reported in the Findlay Republican Courier on June 25, 1942:

"WINKLE BROTHERS HURT ON FURLOUGH

Corporals Wilbur and Edward Winkle in Defiance Hospital After Wreck

Continental, June 24 - 

Corp. Wilbur Dale Winkle of Ft. Jackson, S.C. and Corp. Edward Winkle of Fort McClellan, Ala. were injured when the car in which they were occupants with Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Myer, and Miss Hazel Moog, of Leipsic, went out of control on state route 15 south of Rice at 8 o'clock Wednesday evening."

The Winkle brothers were taken to Defiance Hospital in the R.A. Walls and Sons ambulance. Edward was reported as unconscious on admittance to the hospital. Extent of their injuries has not been determined.

Other members of the group escaped with cuts and bruises. The car was extensively damaged. No cause was given for loss of control.

Wilbur and (Edward) Winkle, both corporals with the armed forces, were spending a furlough at the Moses Winkle home near Leipsic. They were granted permission by the commanding officers to spend their furlough home together."

Apparently, Edward recovered and went back into his training, while on another furlough, he married Hazel Moog of Ney on September 9, 1943. She was the daughter of Port and Margaret (Walsh) Moog. They married in the Bethel Evangelical Church in Leipsic with the bride's sister, Iris Donze, of Ney, as maid of honor. Hazel was a graduate of Ney High School and was employed at the Automatic Screw Company. By September 22, after a 15 day leave, he went back to Fort Benning, Georgia, with his bride accompanying him. (Crescent-News, September 16, 1943.)

Insignia for the 79th Infantry Division
The Cross of Lorraine

Insignia for the 314th Regiment,
Falcon with 3 fleur-de-lis 
Motto: Fortitude and Courage

          

On June 2, 1944, Lt. Winkle landed overseas in as part of the 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division. They went into France, chasing the German enemy back and liberating some of the towns along the way.  In July, they liberated Cherbourg and went on to liberate Paris after which the Germans were in full retreat.

The 314th in the foxholes

On October 1st, 1944, the day 1st Lt. Edward Winkle was killed in action, the 79th division was advancing through a forest in France on roads that had to be constructed as they went, all under fire and in knee-deep mud, as stated in the division's history: 

"One rainy, miserable day we got a call to clear a minefield. The first 100 yards of so-called road were clear. Then we came to a knocked-out jeep, two dead medics, victims of a Regal mine. Bouncing Bettys (5 mines together full of schrapnel) were all around. We started clearing the quagmire - and somebody stepped on a Betty. There were five casualties in the space of seconds. The rest of us gave them first aid and carried them out on makeshift litters."(The 313th, 314th, and 315th regiments were involved.) We cannot be sure this was the incident that caused Lt. Winkle's death, but it is a likely choice.

A Bouncing Betty

The Defiance Crescent-News reported on October 23, 1944:

"LT E. C. WINKLE KILLED IN ACTION

Former City Loan Employee Leaves Wife, Sister in Defiance

1st Lt. Edward C. (Red) Winkle, 26, former employee of the City Loan and Guaranty Co. here, was killed in action in France Oct. 1, according to a telegram received Saturday by his wife, the former Hazel Moog, of Ney.

Lieut. Winkle, a native of Belmore, joined the City Loan staff here June 10, 1939. He was inducted Feb. 4, 1942, and received his training at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort McClellan, Ala., and Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Miss.

He was sent overseas last May, arriving in England June 2. He did not participate in the D-Day invasion, but entered France shortly after. He was in the infantry.

He leaves his wife Hazel, 311 Wayne Ave.; his father, Moses Winkler, Belmore; two brothers, Sgt. Wilbur, somewhere in France, and Orville, Belmore, and five sisters, Mrs. Mildred Fenstermaker, 311 Wayne Ave; Mrs. Lulu Warren, Leipsic; Mrs. Violet Thuman, Belmore; Mrs. Orpha Dillon, Findlay, and Miss Edna, at home."

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial Park near St. Avoid, Lorraine, France.

1st Lieutenant Edward "Red" Winkle was buried in France, and a memorial service was held for him at the Bethel Evangelical Church on March 15, 1945. He received a Purple Heart posthumously.

Rhonda Casler, Researcher

Side Note

:

Hazel Moog Winkle remarried to Major Daniel H. Forbes Jr. in March of 1948 in Ney, about three months before he died at the age of 27 while testing an experimental plane called the "Flying Wing." The plane exploded during a flight cut at the Muroe Air Force Base in California on June 5, killing all five crew members. Major Forbes had been in the Army seven years in the Africa, Sicily and the Pacific campaigns. He also studied photography and was a member of Elliot Roosevelt's photographers squadron in Tunisia, Algeria, India and Egypt, and he took the first pictures of Japan from the air. 

YB-49 Flying Wing jet, 1948

When he came back to the United States , he was assigned to the atomic bomb project at Bikini, as a photographer. Several weeks before the crash, he was called to duty with the flight test section, as he was also a pilot.

Forbes Air Force Base was dedicated to him in July 1948; it was located in Topeka, Kansas. His widow and her sister, Mr. and Mrs. Holice Donze of Ney, Mrs. Margaret Moog, Mrs. Ethel Marchel, and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Meyers of Defiance attended.

Another marriage has not been found conclusively.  Maybe a friend or relative would know.

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - S/Sgt. Jennings C. Greuter

 

Staff Sergeant Jennings Closson Greuter

His name is the last one on the monument, out of order alphabetically. Thanks to the work of Wimm and Nadine Jacobs, keepers of Greuter's grave in Belgium, Kent Miller, World War II historian from Hicksville,, and Tanya Brunner of the Defiance County Veterans Office, this lost soldier was found. His name was engraved on the stone in 2011. in 2000 and before the monument was erected, no evidence could be found of a Defiance County connection with Greuter, but later, with more resources available, it became obvious that he was a native son.

Sources name both Paulding County (draft card) and Defiance County as his birthplace on April 5, 1923.

His parents, Elmer and Pearl Greuter, definitely lived in Defiance, at 840 Perry Street, in 1930, when the Federal Census was taken.  Elmer was a truck driver for a poultry farm and Jennings, 7, was the oldest son.  By 1940, they had moved to Jackson Township in Paulding County. Jennings, 17, worked on a farm, and he was surrounded by eight siblings, with the last, Jannett, being three years old.

On June 30, 1942, Jennings filled out his draft registration. Later, in February 1943, he travelled to Toledo to enlist in the U. S. Army Air Force. He was single with a grammar school education, and his skill was as a mechanic, repairing motor vehicles. Pvt. Greuter was assigned to the 338th Bomber Squad, 96th Bomber Group (Heavy), and trained as a tail gunner.

At some point, perhaps on a furlough, he married Alies (Alice) Stark, daughter of Joseph and Grace (Caspers) Stark. She lived in Hicksville while he was away, and gave birth to a son, Lawrence, in November 1944. He was never to meet his father who died May 12, 1944.

The bomber crew, SSgt Jenning Greuter, in the back row at the far right. He is with his
B-17 flight crew, part of the 338th Bomber Squadron of the 96th Bomber Group.

"The flight left Frankfort, Germany, on May 12, 1944 on Greuter's mission. The target that day was the oil refineries at Brux, Czechoslovakia. The 8th Army Air Corp took heavy losses that day to both enemy planes and flak.

Greuter's plane was hit and went into a spin. According to the Missing Air Crew Report #5359, Greuter was last heard from inside the plane when he cried out over the interphone, wondering, 'What has happened?' in the first spin.

He did not make it out of the plane and went down with the aircraft. Six of the men were killed in action; four of the men were captured and served as prisoners of war. (Greuter was KIA.)

Any remains that were recovered were buried in the Community Cemetery at Usingen/Tanus in the southwest corner in a common grave on May 13, 1944. The bodies were later exhumed and put into the American military cemetery in Belgium."

Kent Miller

Because of this Belgian couple, Sgt Jennings Greuter, was honored rightfully in his hometown. As they commented in a Crescent-News article on October 17, 2016:

"The name of Staff Sergeant Jennings C. Greuter listed on the memorial is very important to us. It is a form of recognition for an achievement that has been delivered and should never be forgotten...

This generation gave their lives for our freedom and should never be forgotten" they said. "Passing on this information to future generations is very important to us."

His son, Lawrence (Larry) was able to attend the dedication of his father's name on the monument.

Sgt. Greuter received both the Purple Heart and the Army Air Medal.

Researchers - Robert Carpenter, Kent Miller, and Tanya Brunner

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Private Robert E. Worden

 

Private Robert Elton Worden

Robert Worden's life was spent back and forth across state lines, between Scipio Township, Allen County, Indiana, and Hicksville, Ohio.  He was born to Henry Leroy and Edna Cecelia (Zuber) Worden in Scipio Township on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1921. 

 

He lived on Dixon Avenue in Hicksville village .at the time he applied for his draft card, and he held a job at the Auburn Rubber Company. At the time, he was 5'8" and 125 pounds.

In October 1942, he travelled to Toledo to enlist in the U.S. Army. Robert became part of the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Army Division, 3rd Battalion. After training in Indiana, off he went overseas to England and then the next stop, Normandy.

The hedgerows of Normandy

The attack on Normandy began on June 6, 1944. Private Worden's unit, the 22nd Infantry, assaulted on Utah Beach, landing in small crafts, ready to attack on the 8th.  On July 11, 1944, the Third Battalion was preparing to attack the village of Ozeville/Azeville.

An attempt was made to seize Cresberq and Azeville, but the attack was repulsed with heavy losses in the 1st and 2nd Battalion... The third Battalion was brought inland to attack Azeville. They moved up in preparation to attack, but enemy artillery and mortar fire caused a large number of casualties, and the strength of all five battalions was appreciably reduced. These were the conditions when Private Robert Worden lost his life on July 11, 1944.

"ROBERT WORDEN IS KILLED JULY 11

Hicksville Man Participates in Invasion, Loses Life in Normandy

Hicksville, Aug. 10 - Pvt. Robert E. Worden, 23, was killed in action on July 11 in Normandy as a member of the invasion forces, according to the War Department notification that had been received today by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Worden, Dixon Avenue.

He was the 36th from Defiance County to lose his life in service of his country.

In addition to his parents, Private Worden leaves two brothers, Charles and Calvin Worden, Hicksville; and three sisters, Mrs. Florence Trostell, St. Joe, Ind, Mrs. Rose Betz, Grabill, Ind., and Miss Garnet Worden, at home.

Private Worden was inducted from Defiance Oct 12, 1942, while employed at the Wayne Knitting Mills, Fort Wayne. He went to Camp Atterbury, Ind. and later trained in the 22nd Infantry, 3rd Battalion in Tennessee. He went overseas last January, received further training in England and then participated in the invasion.

He was born in Springfield township, Allen County, Indiana, and came to Hicksville with his parents where he grew to manhood."

Defiance Crescent-News, August 10, 1944, page 1

Pvt. Worden was originally buried in France at Sainte Mere, Eglise Cemetery, and it was 1948 before his body was returned from France. 

He travelled home on the U.S. Army transport, the Greenville Victory, to New York City.  From there he was brought home with a military escort to be buried at Scipio Cemetery in Indiana.

Scipio Cemetery, Indiana

In the Defiance Crescent-News on July 15, 1948, pg. 1:

"PVT WORDEN'S RITES SUNDAY

Hicksville Soldier's Body Will Arrive Friday From Europe

Hicksville, July 15 - The body of Pvt. Robert E. Worden, who lost his life July 11, 1944, while serving in the European Theater will arrive in Hicksville on the B & O Friday at 9:19 a.m.

It will be taken to the Perkins and Reeb funeral home where services will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m.  Rev Cleo Roth, Ev. Brethren minister, will officiate and gravesite rites will be conducted at Scipio Cemetery by Edward C. Smart post, American Legion and the VFW.

Pvt Worden was awarded the Silver Star posthumously, for gallantry in action.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Worden, 311 Dixon Street. He also leaves two brothers, Charles and Calvin Worden, Hicksville, and three sisters: Mrs. Florence Trostel, Butler, Ind., Mrs. Rose Betts, Harlan, Ind., and Garnet Worden, at home.

He was born December 24, 1921 in Scipio tp., Allen county, Indiana. He was graduated from Harlan high school and then was employed in Auburn and Ft. Wayne.

He was inducted into service Oct. 25, 1942, going to Camp Atterbury. He went overseas in January 1944 and was in England before entering combat service in the continent."

He also received the Purple Heart and the World War II Victory Medal.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

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