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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.

Filed Under: by Joe Zentis, Grove City, Home Town, Korean War, OH, Tribute, Veterans Interred in the Avenue, War

Leonard Maro Smith

Leonard Maro Smith, first veteran to be interred in the Avenue of 444 Flags Cremation Garden.

Smith, Leonard

Smith, Leonard Maro

US Marine Corps, World War II Pacific

The most enduring image of World War II is the raising of the flag on the top of Mt. Suribachi. Leonard Smith, a young Marine who had fought through the invasion of Iwo Jima, was on the mountain when that flag was raised.

That wasn’t his first battle. He arrived in the Pacific area as a rifleman with the 4th Marine Division, the first division to go directly into combat from the United States. That was the battle on the twin islands of Roi-Namur in the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands, from 1 February to 14 February 1944. From there, they continued on to fight on Saipan from 15 June to 9 July, then on Tinian from 25 July to 1 August. The battle of Iwo Jima lasted from 19 February t0 16 March, 1945.

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

smith_thanksgiving

Filed Under: Tribute, Veterans Interred in the Avenue, War, World War II

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.

Filed Under: Home Town, OH, Tribute, Veterans Interred in the Avenue, Youngstown

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

National Defense Service Medal

Korean Service Medal

Korean Service Medal

United Nations 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

Filed Under: Canfield, Home Town, Korean War, OH, Tribute, Veterans Interred in the Avenue, War

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).

Filed Under: Home Town, OH, Tribute, Veterans Interred in the Avenue, Youngstown

James Howley Briggs

James H. Briggs - 1963-65James Howley Briggs

Brooklyn, New York
US Army – Vietnam Era – Europe

James Howley Briggs was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 27, 1940. After joining the army on January 4, 1963, he was assigned to the Signal Corps and trained as a switchboard operator.

He served in the Allied Forces Central Command in Fontainebleu, France. He received an honorable discharge, early release upon return from overseas service on December 17, 1965.

James was the son of James H. Briggs, Sr. and Ruth L. Briggs. After leaving the army, he worked at Bloomingdale’s Department Store. He liked to travel, and enjoyed being a special uncle to all his nieces and nephews.

SP4 Briggs was interred in the Avenue of 444 Flags during the ossuary dedication on Veterans Day, November 11, 2012.

 

Fontainebleau

Allied Forces Central Europe Headquarters in the Palace of Fontainebleu, France, at the time James Briggs was assigned there.

 

Filed Under: Tribute, Veterans Interred in the Avenue

CWO James A. Bailey

James H. Bailey alternativeJames Bailey

Grove City
US Navy – World War II
US Army – Korea, Vietnam

James A. Bailey of Grove City wasn’t satisfied with one military career. He actually served three.

He was just 17 when he joined the Navy, becoming the fifth of the Grove City Bailey brothers to serve in World War II. In Korea, he served in the Army as a paratrooper. After that, he went to helicopter flight school and served three tours as a pilot in Vietnam…. Read more >

Filed Under: Grove City, Home Town, Killed in Action, PA, Tribute, Vietnam Era, Vietnam Memorial, War

Dr. David Wood

Hermitage, PA
U.S. Navy – Desert Storm era

Dr. David Wood is one of the five sons of Sharon pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Wood. All five are physicians; four of them served in the United States Armed Forces.

When the Vietnam War was in full swing, sons Benjamin and Michael were in Canada – not to avoid the draft, but to attend medical school. While they were there, their draft numbers came up, so when they returned, they went into the army, but as doctors rather than privates.

Benjamin served a year in Long Binh, Vietnam, and completed his two-year obligation at Fort Bragg.

When Michael graduated from medical school in 1970, he went into a program called the Berry Plan, in which he could defer military service until he completed specialty training. He finished orthopedic surgery training at the Mayo Clinic in 1975 and served two years in the army in Heldelberg as an orthopedic surgeon.

John got his medical degree from the University of Virginia. The Air Force paid for two years of his medical school, so he served two years as an ophthalmologist at Wilford Hall in San Antonio.

David graduated from high school in 1977, a year after his father passed away.

“I grew up in a time when people didn’t talk about the military,” David said.

So seeking help from the armed forces to get through medical school wasn’t the first thing that crossed his mind. But it was the second thing.

“We had sort of sticker shock,” he said. When my brother went to medical school in Edmunton, tuition was $500 per year. When Arthur was in Penn State, tuition was $5,000. Six years later my first year’s tuition was $11,000.”

As his brother John had done, David applied for military scholarship programs. He was accepted into the Navy’s program, which paid for four years of medical school. That obligated him to serve four years on active duty, but he was able to defer that until he completed specialist training in ophthalmology.

Then he served four years with the Navy in Corpus Christi, Texas.

“I was of that generation that looked down upon the military,” he said, “but I saw it as a great opportunity to advance my skills as surgeon. I also got a deep respect for why we have a military, why we need a military, and how it works. My experience was very positive. I saw that the military made people better.”

Filed Under: Hermitage, Home Town, PA, Tribute, War, War on Terror Era

Brandon Wentling

Hermitage, PA
Pennsylvania National Guard – War on Terror Era

“I thought it would be best to serve my country and do something special,” he said. “My dad was in the military for 25 years. My family has served forty or fifty years total. They’ve all served overseas.”

So Sgt. Brandon Wentling joined the Pennsylvania National Guard on July 23, 2003.

Sgt. Wentling sees a lot of benefits in serving in the Guard.

“You can get your schooling with one hundred percent tuition paid,” he said. “You’re not away from your family and you still get to play army.”

For the First Battalion 107th Artillery stationed at the National Guard Armory in Hermitage, “playing army” is serious business. To be prepared for deployment anywhere in the world, they must train constantly to operate some very large guns.

“I’ve trained on the Paladin, the triple seven, and the one-one-niner,” Sgt. Wentling said.

The Paladin is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on tracks, like a tank. It can zip along at 35 miles per hour, stop and fire accurately within 30 seconds at targets ten miles away, then take off again. It can fire a maximum of six rounds per minute, sustained three rounds per minute. Operating it requires precise teamwork among its crew of six. The M777 howitzer is a similar 155mm weapon, but towed rather than self-propelled. The smaller, lighter M119 105mm howitzer can be transported by helicopter and even air dropped via parachute.

All of these systems depend on sophisticated electronics for accuracy.

“We train one weekend a month, usually Saturday and Sunday, but sometimes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” Sgt. Wentling said. “In the summer, we have two weeks of annual training. We must get must get certified before going out to shoot live rounds. Everybody has to work together in order to shoot safely.”

Sgt. Wentling was deployed for one year in Taji Iraq, about 20 miles from Bagdad. He also volunteers his time helping people returning from deployment.

“I help them with their paperwork and such,” he said.

When asked about the greatest benefit of serving in the National Guard, Sgt. Wentling answered without hesitation: “Pride and honor.”

When not serving with the Guard, Sgt. Wentling is a heavy equipment operator with Waste Management.

Filed Under: Hermitage, Home Town, PA, Tribute, War, War on Terror Era

David Wallace

Sharpsville, PA
U.S. Army – War on Terror

Some high school graduates know exactly what they want to do. David Wallace didn’t. Through the summer after graduating from Sharpsville in 2002, he was exploring his options. Maybe technical school. Maybe the U.S. Marines.

“He came home one Friday,” said his mother, Carol Wallace McKay, “and said he was leaving on Monday. He had joined the Marines.”

David and a friend, Mike Kulka, had decided to sign up on the Marine Corps “buddy program,” through which friends go through boot camp together. That didn’t work out, because they didn’t go in at the same time.

Once he joined, Carol said, David knew he had found his calling. “He became very dedicated,” she said. “It was wonderful for him.”

Sgt. Wallace served two tours of duty in Iraq – from September, 2004, to April, 2005, and from July, 2007, to January, 2008. On November 5, 2008, he left for his final tour in Afghanistan.

There, as a combat engineer with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, part of his job was to locate Improvised Explosive Devices, and to mark or destroy them. He not only did that himself; he also built a training facility to teach others how to do it.

But regardless of how much one knows about IEDs, there always remains the unpredictable element that makes them so dangerous. On January 27, 2009, while Sgt. Wallace was off duty, others from his unit were having problems with their IED sweeper. After he fixed it for them, he voluntarily went out with them in search of IEDs. One exploded, killing him and another Marine, Sgt. Trevor J. Johnson of Forsyth, Montana.

Sgt. Wallace was the first Mercer County soldier to die in Afghanistan in the global war on terror. Besides his mother and his brother Steven, Sgt. Wallace left behind his wife Erica, from Jacksonville, North Carolina, five-year old stepson Landon, and two-year-old daughter Brooklyn.

He also left behind what his mother calls his life-long friends: the community of Sharpsville, PA. “Sharpsville has supported us before and after his death,” Carol said.

The community erected a monument to him in Riverside Cemetery, named a bridge after him, and wrote many personal tributes to him on a Facebook page, “In honor of Sgt. David Wallace.”

For his valor, Sgt. Wallace was awarded a Bronze Star, but that probably means less than the honors given to him by those who knew him personally.

Filed Under: Home Town, PA, Sharpsville, Tribute, War, War on Terror Era

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