OH Archives - Avenue of Flags

Claude G. Johnson

Canfield, OH

U.S. Army – Korea

During the Korean War, wiremen were essential. Phones were the most secure way to communicate because the enemy could intercept radio transmissions, but not phone conversations. Wiremen were the soldiers responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining the phone networks among various headquarters, outposts, and sometimes forward observers.

In addition to laying wire, they installed telephones and switchboards, operated the switchboards, kept the communications equipment working properly, and recovered the wire whenever possible. It was a challenging and dangerous job.

After being drafted in July, 1952, Claude Johnson completed basic training, then went to Fort Riley, Kansas, to be trained by the 10th Infantry Division as a wireman. He served with an artillery unit, which can involve the hazardous job of running wire from the artillery pieces to forward observers.

Claude was awarded the Korean Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.

National Defense Service Medal

Korean Service Medal

United Nations Service Medal

Born: 18 March 1932, Detroit Michigan
Entered Military Service: 14 July 1952
Released from active service: 13 April 1954
Died: 27 September 1985

George Ralph Wallace

Warren, Ohio

U.S. Marine Corps – early 1960s

George Wallace joined the Marine Corps on 19 October 1960. He served as an auto mechanic at the United States Navy Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia. He was discharged on 16 October 1964.

After leaving the service, George worked as a Manufacturing Engineer at Wean Engineering in Warren, Ohio, then at Millright Services in Niles, Ohio. He was a member of the American Society of Engineers.

Good Conduct Medal

Born: 23 December 1942, New Castle, PA
Married: 11 February 1967
Family: 1 daughter, 2 grandsons
Died: 10 February 1997, Youngstown, Ohio

Jerry Lee Reed

Reed, Jerry Lee

Youngstown, Ohio

U.S. Army – Youngstown, Ohio

Jerry Lee Reed was born on 7 December 1928 in Youngstown, Ohio. After joining the army on 29 September 1948 in Youngstown, he was assigned to the 421st Medical Collecting Company as a Medical Aidman.

Jerry was honorably discharged at Oliver General Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, on 3 april 1950, a little less than three months before North Korea invaded the South on 25 June 1950.

This is all we know about Jerry Lee Reed. We would appreciate any additional information you can give us.

Nick Libeg

Brookfield

U.S. Army – World War II

Pre-military experience can open non-combat opportunities for infantry soldiers. Nick Libeg had taken typing and shorthand before being drafted in 1940, so he was made a clerk typist in the 45th Division at Camp Barkeley, Texas. One of his major jobs was to do the paperwork for courts martial. He had plenty to do. When the 45th Division went on maneuvers in Louisiana, Mardi Gras drew hundreds of men AWOL. The captain in charge of the courts martial was so pleased with Nick’s work that he recommended him for Officers Candidate School.

Commissioned at Fort Benning’s OCS, Nick served as a basic training officer at Camp Rucker, Alabama. His experience at running Libby’s Tavern in Masury gave him another opportunity, though not one that made his life easier. The jobs of mess officer and officers’ club manager were added to his other duties.

But it wasn’t Nick’s objective to avoid danger. He wanted to be a pilot, so he transferred to the Army Air Corps. Maybe the lack of appropriate pre-military experience kept this chance from being so successful.

“I loved flying,” he said, “but I crashed two planes. After the second accident, my trainer asked whose side I was on in the war.”

So he became a bombardier and navigator in a B-24 flying out of England. Enemy fire made the work dangerous, but their most frightening incident occurred because of a problem within their own plane. Their twelve 500-lb impact-triggered bombs were held in place by solenoid-activated clips at their nose and tail. The bottom two of a stack of three failed, but the clip on the front of the top bomb released, tipping it nose down onto the one below. One wrong move would have detonated it. With air temperature at 20 below zero, Nick crawled along an 18 inch wide walkway over the open bomb bay doors and released the bombs with a screw driver.

“We were pretty close to heaven at that time,” Nick said.

Their reward for completing the required 30 missions was another not-so-great opportunity: assignment to the South Pacific. Fortunately, the war in the Pacific ended before they got there.

Nick was able to go back to managing Libby’s Tavern, raise a family, and pursue a successful career in real estate. He served in many community organizations, including the Farrell Lions Club, the Wolves Club, the American Legion, VFW Post 8860, the Optimist Club in Brookfield, and the Shenango Valley Board of Realtors.

For a longer narrative of Nick’s life, go to his life story at America’s Cemetery.

Robert J. Gessner

Youngstown, Ohio

U.S. Army – Between Wars (late 1940s)

Robert Joseph Gessner joined the Army on 12 October 1948 in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended the Sheet Metal Work school at the Ordnance School in Atlanta, Georgia. He was honorably discharged on 16 February at the Transportation School in Fort Eustis, Virginia.

After his military service, he worked as a bricklayer apprentice for Russell Pfaff Construction in Youngstown.

Robert was interred in the Avenue of 444 Flags during the ossuary dedication on Veterans Day, November 11, 2012.

He was born in McKeesport, PA, on 25 May 1930.

This is all we know about Robert. We would appreciate any information about him that you could supply (see below).

Sykes Clarence Earl

Sykes, Clarence Earl

Grove City, Ohio

U.S. Army – Post-Korean War

The army has help many people overcome early-life setbacks. Clarence Sykes left school after the seventh grade. On 21 March 1955, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the army. A little over a year later, he completed a GED (General Educational Development) course, thus earning the equivalent of a high school diploma. That was at age 18, about the time he probably would have graduated had he stayed in school.

The GED program was instituted during World War II not as a recruiting tool, but as a program to help to those who were leaving military service. Many soldiers had enlisted while in high school. When their service was coming to an end, they were faced with the problem of re-entering civilian life without the diploma required for enrolling in college. The military developed the GED to overcome this obstacle. There was, at that time, no equivalent program outside the military. That only came after the military program proved to be successful.

Since World War II, a high school diploma has become a requirement for enlistment. At times, when there weren’t enough high school graduates willing to serve, the military made exceptions to allow young people to enlist without a high school diploma if they were willing to complete the GED program while they served their country. It was revived in 2008 when it became to fill shortages caused by the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. However, the program was suspended in 2010 when that problem dissipated.

Clarence served pretty close to home. He was assigned as a General Warehouseman at the U.S. Army Garrison, Lordstown Military Reservation, Warren, Ohio. That was Nike Missile Site CL-69 for the defense of Cleveland and nearby cities.

Nikes were ground-to-air missiles that were widely deployed throughout the United States and in other countries.

Clarence was discharged from active duty on 26 March 1958. His home of record at that time was Grove City, Ohio.

If you know more about Clarence Sykes and/or the Lordstown Military Reservation, please contact the webmaster.