WORLD WAR II - Evlyn Marie Hamilton Baum, Nurse

 

Evlyn Marie (Hamilton) Baum, WW II Nurse

We must pause to give credit and thanks to all of the nurses who served so bravely behind the front in aid to the WW II soldiers.

Evlyn M. Hamilton was born in Defiance on February 15, 1913, the oldest child of Edward Earl and Louisa Ann (Schmitt) Hamilton. She attended and graduated from Defiance High School where she was known for her outstanding voice. 

Her family is so blessed to have an autobiographical account of her life which revealed her one big dream -  to be an opera singer. 

Evlyn attended Johns Hopkins School of Nursing from 1934 - 1937. She began work at Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio, in 1939, and then, because she wanted to travel, she took a new job in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood.

While in California, her mother became ill and requested that Evlyn come home. She came back to Toledo Hospital from 1941 - May 1942. The war was on, and Evlyn had that desire to travel and serve, so she joined the 18th General Hospital (a Johns Hopkins Hospital unit) that was to be sent on foreign duty from San Francisco on May 17, 1942.

She was in New Zealand only seven weeks as they were still building the hospital at that time, and there really wasn't much for the nurses to do without space and equipment. Then, she was put on a train with others for a ride to Fiji where she stayed 28 months.

Fiji Hopkins 18th Unit

She wrote that in August 1942, they had ward tents in Fiji as the engineers were still building the hospital building, to be known as Fiji Hopkins. It was a 500-bed hospital that usually held 700 patients; those who were ambulatory were sent to the tents.

One online source stated, "The great skill of the Johns Hopkins doctors and nurses was readily apparent as only eleven patients died during the unit's first year. Battle lines began moving away from Fiji, reducing battle casualties."

During her time in Fiji, Evlyn became quite ill herself with influenza and a kidney infection. She was over a month in the hospital and sick in her quarters for another 12 days at different times.

In June 1944, the Army command felt that the Fiji Hospital was being underutilized, so they redeployed Evlyn's unit to the India - Bombay theater. They left Sept. 16, 1944, to Bombay, India, going by train on a one week journey. They were surprised to learn upon arriving that two other hospitals were already there, the 69th and 20th General Hospitals. Here they were stationed for six months, and the nurses had several weeks of no work. They were ordered to set up in a dilapidated structure and make it ready for patients. In this area, many were treated for disease as well as wounds.

Hospital units in India

Good news came for them on March 22, 1945, when they were assigned to their next rotation - Home!  They embarked out of Calcutta on the General Charles C. Ballou with stops in Singapore, Malaya, Manila and finally San Francisco.

It wasn't long until the Army called Evlyn back into service as RKO Studios wanted six nurses to join various tours around the country to boost the 8th War Loan Drive. She had all her expenses paid as she did radio interviews and 3 stage shows a day, traveling from Ohio to D.C. and on up into the New England states, ending in Maine.

Perhaps her wanderlust was now satisfied, as she separated from the service.

At 32, she was not done learning and teaching. She was head nurse of Obstetrics at Harper Hospital in Detroit and taught several related classes there. She had received a B.S. in nursing in 1951 and then continued her graduate work part-time at Wayne State University. As the nursing program was not yet set up, she signed up for a Master's degree in Sociology.

She had several other hospital assignments before marrying in 1955. Their daughter was born in March 1956, after which Evlyn was critically ill and was hospitalized for five months and had surgeries. Her obstetrician suggested that she not finish her thesis which would have finished her graduate degree. She grew bored on their farm, acting as a business manager as they subdivided the property, playing bridge four times a week, and acting as chairperson for different fund drives, so she decided to become a teacher. She had a strong background in child growth and development and sociology.

In September 1961, she began teaching fifth grade in a low socio-economic school, just the challenge she wanted. She went on to earn a Master's degree in Education from Wayne State University. 

Evlyn Hamilton Baum succumbed to cancer on July 3, 1973, having served her community and her country to her utmost.

Submitted by Jim Hamilton, Nephew of Evlyn

Researched by Wendy Baum, daughter of Evlyn

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Seaman 2 Robert J. Harkey

 

Seaman 2nd Class  

Robert Jay Harkey

Robert Jay Harkey

Robert graduated from Hicksville High School in 1942 and enlisted in the Naval Reserves very soon after. By July 31, 1942, he was starting his training at the Great Lakes Training Center in Chicago.

Born on April 23, he was the son of Harry Jennings and Freda (Dull) Harkey, who lived at 115 West Smith Street in Hicksville. Robert was soon cast into the war.  In September 1942, he reported to Norfolk, Virginia, for his final training before heading overseas.

Draft registration

His first assignment was on the battleship, U.S.S. New York, and then he was transferred to the U.S.S. Rowan, a destroyer. On September 9th, the Rowan was helping with the invasion of Italy.

The Rowan

  

It was serving as a fleet escort into the Gulf of Sicily, screening the freighters and transports that followed. Late on September 10th, they headed back to Oran with empty ships.

Sometime after midnight, the Rowan was approached by 4 German boats which the Rowan fired at and chased away. Within five miles, another enemy boat approached which they tried to allay, getting their torpedo guns ready.

One enemy boat got too close and hit the Rowan with a torpedo.

The Rowan exploded and sank in less than a minute, according to reports, taking 202 of 273 men with it. Some were rescued by one of our nearby ships, but Seaman Robert Harkey was not one of the lucky ones.

October 3, 1944

His body was not recovered, and as was customary, he was declared dead a year and a day after he went missing. His date of death on the Navy rolls was September 12, lost at sea, but other sources use the date of the sinking, September 11, 1943.

At the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Rome, Italy, Seaman Robert J. Harkey is listed on the Tablets of the Missing.  A memorial stone listing him and his parents is also present in Six Corners Cemetery, Hicksville Township.

Six Corners Cemetery

Dianne Kline, Researcher

World War II Memorial - PFC William G. Peterson

 

Private First Class

William Guthrie Peterson

A young William Peterson

William was a graduate of Tiffin Twp. High School in 1943. The son of John Manford and Ethel Estella Peterson, he was born on October 28, 1924. When he filled out his draft card, he listed himself as a student with three years of high school.

A few months after graduating, he enlisted in the Army on July 24, 1943. After training at Camp Haan, California; Camp Carson, Colorado and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was deployed overseas on October 20, 1944, as a member of Company G, 398th Infantry in the 100th Division of the Seventh Army.

A farewell dinner was held for him at the home of his parents on July 20, 1943, before he entered the service and left for camp.  The Crescent-News reported that the following attended: 

"Present were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Britton daughters Marilyn and Shirley; Mrs. Jay Kelsey and son, Roland, Toledo; Mr. and Mrs. George Shepard, Montpelier; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Luke and son, Richard, and Miss Mildred Sechler, Edon; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Luke, daughters Josephine, Shirley and Donelda, Bryan; Mrs. Robert White; Miss Delores Hammon, Evansport; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Crites, sons Marvin, Maynard and Lowell Dean; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Crites and son Bernard; Miss Wayva Crites, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Koch, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Theil, Bryan, John W. Peterson and Donna Belle Peterson."

His unit landed in France where infantryman Peterson began his life as a soldier. According to their unit history, their Atlantic crossing was rather rough and the weather in France rainy, cold, muddy, and just miserable that November 1944.  They marched and battled through the Vosqe Mountains, ready to attack the German winter lines. With rough terrain and steep mountains, it was difficult to move forward and to get supplies in.  In December 1944, William Peterson lost his life here.

He was first reported missing and finally as killed in action. The Crescent-News reported on December 7, 1945:

"PFC PETERSON'S DEATH CAUSED BY SHELL BLAST.

Pfc William G. Peterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M Peterson, Rt. 1 Defiance, was killed in action near Alt Schmeitz, France on December 11, 1944, when a mortar shell fell close to the position occupied by his unit.

This information has just been received by his parents through a letter from his commanding officer, forwarded by a buddy who had made in inquiry concerning the manner of the soldier's death.

Pfc Peterson was listed as missing in action for about ten months before official notice of his death by the War Department. The parents recently received the Purple Heart awarded posthumously. The commanding officer's letter stated the Defiance soldier was not seen after the shell blast which cost his life...."

Later, in February 1946, the parents of William learned that he was also receiving the Bronze Star Medal posthumously "for heroic achievement in action, Dec. 11, 1944, in the vicinity of Alt Schmeitz, France."

"When, during the height of a determined counterattack, enemy fire severed the single wire line between the company command post and the rear," the citation relates, "Pvt. Peterson voluntarily left his dugout and began tracing the ruptured line.

Despite the continued hostile artillery fire, he located the break, repaired it, and started back. As a result of Pvt. Peterson's magnificent courage, initiative, and aggressiveness, communications were reinstated, enabling our forces to successfully resist the attackers."

The Crescent-News reported that on September 13, 1948, his body was brought home for burial. On September 16, 1948, his funeral was held, and he was buried in Evansport Cemetery.

Rhonda Casler, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Olen R. Vincent

 

Private First Class

Olen Ray Vincent

Born on June 28, 1920, in Hillsdale, Michigan, to Rev. Carl Austin and Amanda (Stover) Vincent, Olen moved frequently during his lifetime. His father, a pastor of the United Brethren Church, had many different parishes during his career, including at Sherwood and Hicksville, Ohio in the 1940s.

Olen graduated from Monclova High School and then went on to Huntington College, graduating in 1942, with majors in music and mathematics. He earned his teaching license and began to prepare for a career in education.

Before he could step into a classroom, though, duty called.

His parents had a Sherwood address when he registered for the draft in July 1941, but Olen was residing in Huntington, going to school and working at Crites Bakery. After graduation, he enlisted in Toledo on July 25, 1942, joining the Army. After training around the United States, he left for overseas in late July or August 1944.

Insignia for the 379th Infantry
Regiment. Ad Finem - To the End

Private Vincent was part of the 379th Infantry Regiment, 95th Division of General Patton's 3rd Army. In France, he arrived in time to take part in the Battle of Metz, a heavily fortified city in France, in December 1944. It was here that he earned a Silver Star which was awarded posthumously.

The Republican, a newspaper from Wauseon, Ohio, reported the award on July 12, 1945:

"Rev and Mrs. Carl A. Vincent, Delta, received the Silver Star, July 6th, posthumously awarded their son, PFC Olen R. Vincent.  The citation reads in part:

'For gallantry in action against the enemy on 10 December 1944, when his comrades were pinned to the ground by fierce machine gun from an enemy bunker, Private First Class Vincent leaped into a shell hole and opened fire with his automatic rifle, forcing the enemy to shut the apertures.

Before the Germans could close the door, PFC Vincent rushed the fortification, hurling grenades which wounded four of the frantic garrison. By the time his comrades reached the bunker, PFC Vincent had elicited the surrender of ten Germans. His bold and gallant actions reflect lasting honor on him and on the military service."

The infantry who fought in Metz were given the nickname, "The Ironmen of Metz."

On March 4, 1945, the day of PFC Olen Vincent's death, the 379th were at the Rhine River near the south on the flank of the 29th Corps. Their mission was to reduce enemy resistance near the Adolph Hitler Bridge. They were only partially successful because the German rear guards put up such a determined defense. Olen was hurt here and was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, and he was declared a battle casualty.

In an unknown newspaper, this obituary and memorial appeared:

"Olen Ray Vincent only son of Rev. and Mrs. Carl Vincent, Delta, was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, Hillsdale County, June 28, 1920, and was reported by the War Department killed in action in Germany, March 4, 1945. age 24 years, 8 months, and 4 days.

When nine months old, he moved with his parents to the James I. Post farm near Hillsdale, Michigan. It was while living there, Mr. and Mrs. Post learned to love Olen and cared for him as they would a child of their own.

When he was four years old, he moved with his parents to a farm near Frontier, Michigan and lived there ten years, where he also attended a country school known as the East Maple Grove and there completed his grade school work.

The conference stationed Rev. Vincent at Hicksville, Ohio and they remained there one year and then were sent to Monclova, Ohio, where Olen graduated from high school. He then decided he wanted to enter college, willing to work his way through as much as possible. It was through the kindness and financial help of Mr. and Mrs. Post that he was able to graduate from Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana, in June 1942.  He had his teachers' license and was ready for teaching school, but was inducted into the army and left for camp on his father's birthday August 8, 1942.

He trained at Camp Swift, Texas, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Camp Polk, Louisiana, and Los Angeles, California and left for overseas the last of July or forepart of August 1944, from Indiantown Gap, Pa."

Another newspaper article, source unknown, wrote this about PFC Vincent:

"He was a very quiet disposition, never complaining of his lot. He was converted at the age of 13 at the West Woodbridge U.B. Church ...and at the time of his death was a member of the Traill Chapel U.B. Church in Delta, Ohio.

He was known to have received medals, among them the expert rifleman's badge, rating second in his company, the Good Conduct ribbon, combat infantryman's badge. and his name had been turned in for the silver star a short time before his death.

He leaves to mourn, his parents..., sister Leona, fiancée Miss Marjorie Brokaw of Muncie, Indiana; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Stover, Montpelier, O.; friends, Mr. and Mrs. James I Post, Hillsdale; uncles, aunts and a host of other relatives and friends..."

The same day he died, another local man from Defiance, Arthur E. Ury, also made the ultimate sacrifice, marking a solemn moment for their shared community.

PFC Olen Ray Vincent was laid to rest at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Holland.  PFC Vincent also received the Purple Heart posthumously.

Vi

Kim Bercaw, Researcher

WORLD WAR II - Pvt. Richard L. Beerbower

 

Private Richard Lowell Beerbower

A 1943 Farmer High School graduate, Richard Beerbower was popular in his drama endeavors and was a star basketball player who also participated in baseball. 

The son of Roy C. and Inez A. (Staup) Beerbower, Richard lost his father in 1928 when the he was about five years old.  His mother then married Clarence Beerbower, Roy's brother, in 1930, so it was Clarence who supported Richard throughout his life. 

Richard was born on October 21, 1925, and at 18, he filled out his draft registration. He had graduated and was employed at the Bard Manufacturing Company.

Richard traveled to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, to formally enlist in the Army on March 14, 1944. He was assigned to the 411th Infantry, Company I in the 103rd Infantry Division, known as the "Cactus Division."  Their motto, "Paratus Fevire" was "Ready to Strike."

The 411th, an intelligence reconnaissance unit moved through Europe, typically with the 409th and 410th as part of the 103rd Division.  In mid-November, 1944, the regiment received its first combat order from Headquarters. They had arrived in Marseilles, France, in late October, and had spent time settling in and creating a base of operations.

The 411th in France

Their order was to move out with the other two regiments who were to create cover fire while the 411th passed through them to meet the Germans.

Under heavy fire with artillery and machine guns, the Germans drove them back into the woods at Docelles, near Epinal. Their orders then were to seize and hold the high ground near the Moselle River, southwest of St. Die, France. They led an attack and met heavy resistance from the Germans. It was here that Private Richard Beerbower met his death on November 16, 1944.

In the December 18th, 1944, edition of the Crescent-News, on page 1, his passing was announced:

"FARMER YOUTH 50TH FATALITY

Pvt. Richard Beerbower, 19, Killed, Presumably in France

Pvt. Richard Beerbower, 19, an infantryman, was killed in action on November 16, presumably in France, his mother, Mrs. Inez Beerbower of Farmer was notified officially by the War Department in a message received Saturday evening.

Pvt. Beerbower became the 50th Defiance County man to lose his life in World War II.

Pvt. Beerbower entered the service March 22, 1944, going to Fort Benjamin Harrison. He was then transferred to Camp Wolters, Texas, and was home on furlough in August. He returned to Camp Maxie, Texas, then went to Camp Howze, and embarked from New York.  He was at sea on his 19th birthday last October 21. His last letter to his mother was dated November 1 from Marseille, France.

Pvt. Beerbower was a member of an intelligence reconnaissance unit.

Besides his mother, he leaves his stepfather, Clarence Beerbower; a brother, Robert, at home; and his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Buehrer, near Hicksville.  

He has five cousins in service: Francis Husted, three years in Navy; Roger T. Husted at Great Lakes; Jack Staup in Navy, all of Hicksville; Vernard Heisler Farmer, now in Italy, and Ellen Beerbower, Farmer, Nurses Cadet in training in Fort Wayne hospital.

Private Beerbower was the president of the Farmer high school class of 1943, a star on the basketball team for four years and also was a member of the Farmer high baseball team."

Private Richard L. Beerbower was buried in the Epinal American Cemetery in France.

A memorial plaque was placed in memoriam in the Farmer Cemetery.

 

Robert Carpenter, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Paul L. Folk

 

PFC Paul Lemuel Folk

Paul lived on Spencerville Street in Hicksville, Ohio, with his parents, Riley R. and Goldie Marie (Houser) Folk. 

Born on December 1, 1921, in HIcksville, Paul was a graduate of Hicksville High School in 1939. He married Freida Mae Peter and joined the National Guard after graduation, assigned to Company A, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Army Infantry Division.

Kent Miller, local historian, wrote in his biography of Paul featured in the Hicksville News-Tribune:

"(Folk) was with the 37th when it was federalized in September of 1940 and traveled with the unit to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, for training. He made Corporal in August of 1941 and was promoted to Sergeant in 

January 1942. 

As the 37th was nearing the end of training 

and preparing for deployment overseas, he was accepted into

Officer Candidate School. He attended classes at Fort Benning, Georgia and, upon completion of the course, was made a Second Lieutenant. He was placed in the finance branch and remained at Fort Benning to serve.

For some unknown reason, he signed his commission and returned to Hicksville. In January 1944, he reenlisted in the Army and trained as a paratrooper at Camp Blanding, Florida and Fort Meade, Maryland.  In August of that year, Folk was sent to Europe as a replacement paratrooper and was then assigned to the 11th Airborne Division as a Private First Class.

By late November 1944, PFC Folk was again moved, this time to Company E, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On December 4th, the 9th received orders to leave for Eschweiler to relieve the 1st Division along the edge of the Huertgen Forest. 

The Division moved out on December 5th with the command post situated at Bergrath, Germany. By the evening of December 7th, the unit was in place west of the Knozendorf-Ehta-Schlikch-Merode area.

On December 10th, 1944, the 39th Infantry Regiment was to attack east from the vicinity of Jungersdorf along a rail line which paralleled a highway. Their objective was to capture the town of D'Horn. The Regiment began to move forward at 3:15 P.M. Fighting was fierce, and while the town was secured by nightfall, Folk was seriously injured during the advance.

PFC Paul Folk was evacuated to a field hospital and later transported to the 40th General Hospital. His right foot was amputated to stem the spread of gangrene, but on December 22, 1944, Folk died of his wounds. Official cause of death was listed as gas gangrene, and he was buried in an Allied Cemetery, Solers, France. In September of 1948, Folk was reinterred at Epinal American Cemetery at Epinal, Lorraine, France." 

Kent Miller, The Hicksville-Tribune

Crescent-News, Jan. 12, 1945

Private First Class Paul L. Folk was awarded the Purple Heart, European Theater Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Good Conduct Medal.

Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Lorraine, France

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Thanks to Kent Miller, Researcher

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Corporal/Tec5 Virgil W. Schubert

 

Corporal/Technician 5

Virgil Walter Schubert

Tec5 Virgil Walter Schubert was born in Defiance County, Ohio, on February 14, 1918.

The Valentine's Day baby's parents were Bertie Casper and Edna Grace (Durham) Schubert. In the 1920 Census, Virgil was listed as 1 year old at the family residence in Richland Township, Defiance County.  His mother was born in Defiance County, Ohio, while his father was from Tennessee.

Born in 1918, Virgil was the oldest child in his family which also included siblings Dorothy, Eunice, Herman, Wilbur, Mary Ilene, Alvin C, Martha (died 1935 at 1 yr) and an infant, Harold (born and died in 1941).

In the 1940 Census, Virgil was 22 years old and living with his parents In Putnam County, along with six siblings and his paternal grandmother, Susan Schubert. He had graduated from high school and gave his occupation as farmer.

Virgil registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. At 5'8" and 150 pounds, he had brown hair and gray eyes. On March 7, 1941, he enlisted into the Army at Toledo, Ohio.

Virgil was sent first to England and Scotland, and then he moved on to North Africa, especially Tunisia, where he was attached to the British 8th Army. The North African campaign began on 10 June 1940 and lasted until 13 May 1943. The British took the lead, but the Americans joined in the Allied effort. In April 1943, a major Allied air force effort (Operation Flax) had cut off Axis supplies to North Africa. The U.S. Army surrounded the defenders at Enfidaville, ending the Axis effort in North Africa. It was during this fighting that Virgil was killed. He was admitted to the Army Hospital in Tunisia on April 23, 1943, with battle wounds after being shot; he died there at 25 years old.

The front page of the Crescent-News carried this story on June 8, 1943:

"War Department Letter Reveals Virgil Schubert Killed April 23

Mr. and Mrs. Bertie C. Schubert of route 2, Continental, have received from the Adjutant General of the Army, a letter officially confirming the death of their son, Cpl Virgil W. Schubert, 25, 'killed in action in defense of his country,' on April 23, 1943, in the North African area.

Date and place of burial are not yet known, because 'these reports are brief due to the very nature of warfare,' the letter states, adding that additional information will be sent immediately upon receipt.

Corporal Schubert was born in South Richland township, Defiance county, Feb. 14, 1918. He was graduated from Oakwood High School in 1936. He was superintendent of the Highland Presbyterian Sunday school in 1938-1939, after which he taught a Sunday school class continually until beginning military service.

He engaged in farming with his father until he was inducted into the U.S. Army at Toledo on March 7, 1941. He had his preliminary training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and was transferred to the First Infantry Division at Fort Devens, Mass. in June 1941. He became private first class before going overseas.

Arriving in England Aug. 12, 1942, he was stationed in England and Scotland until he took part in the landing in North Africa on Nov.6, 1942. He spent the winter from December to April 15 on the battlefields of southern Tunisia, part of the time attached to the British Eighth Army.  

He was a platoon messenger for 18 months. He was made corporal, 5th grade technician, in charge of company mail on Jan. 18, 1943.

Besides his parents, he leaves three sisters, Dorothy, Eunice, and Mary, and three brothers, Lester, Wilbur and Alvin; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Durham, Continental, and paternal grandmother, Susan Schubert."

Crescent-News, June 14, 1948

Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio

Mary Williams, Researcher