Kentucky National Guard Memorial | www.kyngmemorial.com
Introduction To date 146 soldiers and airmen have been preliminarily confirmed for inclusion on the memorial. Some 307 suggested and or discovered names still require significant research that may be eventually included on the KYNG Memorial. Sixteen names have been excluded because they did not meet the criteria.
These numbers reflect only Kentucky National Guard members who died while in the line of duty from March 19, 1912 to present.
March 19, 1912 is the date that Kentucky adopted the federal legislation known as the Dick Act. One of the changes it mandated was a name change from Kentucky State Guard to the Kentucky National Guard. The Dick Act mandated that each states guard organization organize, equip and train to U.S. Army standards. It also made the Guard available to the President of the United States in times of war or national emergency in addition to its traditional role in support of the governor as Commander-in-Chief.
The Kentucky Guard has been officially recognized since statehood and Isaac Shelbys signature of the militia act on J une 24 th 1792. No matter the name, its mission to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Kentucky has not changed since Daniel Boone came through the Cumberland Gap. Over the years it has also has been known as the Kentucky National Legion and the Kentucky State Guard.
Unfortunately, military service in support of the Commonwealth or the nation, across Kentucky or around the world is often dangerous and difficult and requires sacrifices by those in uniform and the families they leave behind to serve.
What follows are photos and biographies based on the information gathered so far for those who have been preliminarily confirmed for inclusion on the Kentucky National Guard Memorial.
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Table of Contents Kentucky National Guard Memorial .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Honor Their Sacrifice ................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Biographies of our Fallen.................... i Introduction ................................................. ii Adamkavicius, Clayton L. .......................... 1 Adams, Delmar ........................................... 1 Allers III, William A. .................................. 1 Alley, Willie ................................................ 1 Anness, Elzie E. .......................................... 2 Armstrong, Cecil P...................................... 2 Atkinson, David A. ..................................... 2 Beery, Brock A. .......................................... 2 Bentley, William D. .................................... 3 Bibb, Raymon R.......................................... 3 Bottom Sr., J ohnnie W. ............................... 3 Brown, Harold M. ....................................... 4 Brown, Lanny K.......................................... 5 Brown, Thomas J . ....................................... 5 Bussell, Vernon H. ...................................... 6 Carnes, Nicholas R...................................... 7 Carr, Bertram A. ......................................... 7 Carrico, J oseph R. ....................................... 8 Chappel, Luther M. ..................................... 8 Clemons, Thomas W. .................................. 8 Cloud, Carl W. ............................................ 8 Cloyd, Robert V. ......................................... 9 Collins, David B.......................................... 9 Conder, George C. .................................... 10 Cornn, Opal E. .......................................... 10 Crick, Ancel E. .......................................... 10 Crone, Frank ............................................. 11 Cubert, Clinton W. .................................... 11 Cummins, J ohn L. ..................................... 12 Cundiff, William ....................................... 12 Dean, Oscar ............................................... 13 Deaton, Robert .......................................... 13 Denny, Wallace ......................................... 13 Devine, Ben R. .......................................... 14 Durham, J ames L. ..................................... 14 Foster, Willard E. ...................................... 14 French, Edward T...................................... 15 Gannon, J ames J ........................................ 15 Goodpaster, Roy E. ................................... 15 Hacker, Robert S. ...................................... 15 Hale, Nathaniel G...................................... 16 Hargraves, George M. ............................... 16 Harris J r., Arthur F. ................................... 16 Hawkins, William G. ................................ 17 Hayes, Michael R. ..................................... 17 Heines, Donald J . ...................................... 17 Hehman, Thomas L. .................................. 18 Henderson II, Robert L. ............................ 18 Herd, J ohn D. ............................................ 18 Herman Sr., J ack L.................................... 18 Hite, Harold F. .......................................... 19 Howard, J effrey C. .................................... 19 Hudson, Richard L. ................................... 19 Hughes, J onathan A. ................................. 19 Hughes, Marvin W .................................... 20 Hungate, Wesley D. .................................. 20 Isenberg, Regina L. ................................... 20 iii
J ohnson J r., Alexander E. ......................... 20 J ohnson J r., J eff......................................... 21 J ones, Charles J . ........................................ 21 J ones, Steven E. ........................................ 21 J ones J r., J oseph D. ................................... 21 Keeling, Berchell ...................................... 22 Kehrer, Merlin R. ...................................... 22 Kelly, Lawrence B. ................................... 22 Klingaman, Warren G. .............................. 22 LaFon J r., Harry R. ................................... 23 Langnehs, Bonnie L. ................................. 23 Leech, J oe ................................................. 23 Leonard, Frederick J . ................................ 24 Leonard, Hugh J . ....................................... 24 Leonard J r., Fred C. .................................. 25 Liles, William C ........................................ 25 Maddox, Kenneth G. ................................. 25 Mantell J r., Thomas F. .............................. 25 Mason, William M. ................................... 25 Matero, Christopher A. ............................. 26 May, Martin .............................................. 26 McHenry, J oseph M. ................................. 27 McIlvoy, J oseph R. ................................... 27 McKinney, Donnie P. ............................... 28 McMurry, William A. ............................... 28 Medley, J ohn M. ....................................... 28 Merkel, Lee J . ........................................... 29 Miles, Edwin C. ........................................ 29 Miley, Hugh L. .......................................... 29 Miller, Elmer A. ........................................ 29 Miller, Huston G. ...................................... 30 Million, J oseph B. ..................................... 30 Miracle, Andrew ....................................... 30 Mitchell, Courtney L ................................. 31 Montgomery, Ryan J . ................................ 31 Moore, J ames T. ........................................ 31 Owsley, Estel E. ........................................ 32 Parrott, J ohn E. .......................................... 32 Phillips, Sammie E. ................................... 32 Potter, Darrin K. ........................................ 32 Powell, Glave T. ....................................... 33 Powell, J ames H ........................................ 33 Preston, Everett R. .................................... 33 Ralph, Carl C ............................................ 34 Rogers, Timothy J . .................................... 34 Ross, Richard L. ........................................ 34 Roth Sr., J ames L. ..................................... 34 Rowan, Danny E. ...................................... 35 Rowe, William N. ..................................... 35 Rue, Archibald B. ..................................... 35 Ruiz, Eugene L.......................................... 35 Sallee, Hezakiah F. ................................... 36 Sallee, J ames W. ....................................... 36 Sanders, Roger M...................................... 36 Sawyer, Robert W. .................................... 37 Scanlon J r., J ennings B. ............................ 37 Scott, Grover C ......................................... 38 Sherrill, J ames A. ...................................... 38 Shewmaker, J ohn W. ................................ 38 Sigley J r., Randolph A. ............................. 38 Simon, Vincent D...................................... 38 Simpson, Ronald E.................................... 39 Smith, William L. ..................................... 39 Snowden J r., Lonnie L. ............................. 40 Somerville, Claude D. ............................... 40 Speer, Leslie T. ........................................ 40 Stamper, Larue .......................................... 41 Stanfill, Glenn S. ....................................... 41 iv
Steele, Herbert C. ...................................... 41 Strang, Richard A...................................... 42 Terhune, Yandell....................................... 42 Thompson, J ames R. ................................. 42 Toth, Eric L. .............................................. 43 Tracy Martin A. ........................................ 43 Trisler, Edward V...................................... 43 Turner, Owen W. ...................................... 44 Uhl, Timothy G. ........................................ 44 Van Arsdall, George A. ............................ 44 Vaughan, Manley ...................................... 44 Wallace, Daniel ......................................... 45 Wells, J ohn W. .......................................... 45 White, Delmar ........................................... 46 Williams, Billy J . ...................................... 46 Willis J r., Edward G.................................. 46 Witty, Kenneth .......................................... 47 Wray, J ames A. ......................................... 47 Wright, Walter F. ...................................... 47 Yancar, Vincent D. ................................... 47 Yeast, Willard R........................................ 48 Name Policy .............................................. 49 Glossary .................................................... 50
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Adamkavicius, Clayton L. Captain Clayton Lee Adamkavicius, 43, Louisville, J efferson County was mortally wounded Thursday, April 20, 2006, by small arms fire while investigating an anti-coalition weapons cache discovered near Dihrawud district, Uruzghan Province, Afghanistan. Adamkavicius, a native of California, joined the US Air Force in 1986 serving as an enlisted airman in both Guam and at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas. He left the Air Force after five years. In 1990 he joined the Nevada National Guard as an E4 and later applied for Officer Candidate School and was pinned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992. He relocated to Louisville and joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in 1999, and was assigned to Headquarters Company, 149th Brigade in Louisville. Adamkavicius was on his third operational deployment with the Kentucky Army National Guard. His first deployment was to Eastern Europe in 2003 where he served as Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 123 Armor, in support of Operation J oint Forge at Eagle Base, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina. In a subsequent deployment to Bosnia in 2004, he served with Headquarters Company, 149th Brigade (Louisville). Adamkavicius had been training Afghan soldiers when he was killed. Adams, Delmar Technical Sergeant Delmar Adams, 24, of Hogue, Pulaski County joined Company B oft the 149th Infantry of the Kentucky National Guard as a private in November 1939 and listed his occupation as student. Adams was inducted into federal service with his unit in J anuary 1941. Adams was killed in action on 9 December 1944 on Leyte Island in the Philippines. Adams had been overseas a year before his death. Adams is buried in the Science Hill Cemetery in Pulaski County. Allers III, William A. Staff Sergeant William Alvin Allers III, 28, of Leitchfield, Grayson County, was killed near Al Khalis, Iraq (40 miles north of Baghdad) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 when his armored humvee encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Allers was assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard's 617th Military Police Company, based in Richmond with a detachment in Bowling Green. The 617th MP Company mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in October of 2004 and deployed to Southwest Asia that November. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Allers joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in September of 2003 after serving with the U.S. Army and worked in Leitchfield for an office supply business. Alley, Willie Private Willie Alley, 27, of Barbourville, Knox County, joined Company C of the 149th Infantry in Barbourville on 16 November 1937. He left the Guard to move to another state in August 1938 but returned in September of that same year and served until his unit was federalized for active duty on 17 J anuary 1941. In his civilian life he was a farmer, truck driver and worked in a lumber mill. He died in action in 1944 and is buried at the Pineville Cemetery in Bell County. 1
Anness, Elzie E. Sergeant Elzie E. Anness, 21, of Harrodsburg, Mercer County died on J anuary 27, 1943 at Camp Tanagawa, Osaka, J apan of dysentery while a prisoner of war. Annes joined the Kentucky National Guards Company D in Harrodsburg unit sometime before it was activated in November 1940. He was transferred to Headquarters Company, 192nd Light Tank Battalion while on active duty. His uncle, Staff Sergeant J oe R. Anness J r., also a prisoner of war, survived and returned home. SSG J oe Anness J r. passed away in J uly of in Danville. Elzie Anness was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and was on the Bataan Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan and at Las Pinas where POWs built runways with picks and shovels. He was sent to J apan aboard the Hell Ship Nagato Maru and he was sent to Tanagawa Camp, Osaka, J apan and worked building a dry dock. Anness was aboard the ship from 7 November 1942 until it arrived in Moji, J apan on the 24 th of November 1942. He died on 27 J anuary 1943 at Camp Tanagawa, Osaka, J apan of dysentery. He is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg. Armstrong, Cecil P. Second Lieutenant Cecil P. Armstrong, 25, of Hopkinsville, Christian County died on 20 September 1917 of appendicitis while serving on active duty in Lexington, with the 3rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment. Armstrong joined the Kentucky National Guards Company D of the 3 rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment at the age of 17 in August 1909 and was discharged in October 1909 for being underage. He again enlisted in August 1912 listing his occupation as clerk. By the time he re-enlisted in August 1915 he listed his occupation as rural letter carrier. He accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in Company D in J uly 1916. Atkinson, David A. Technical Sergeant David A. Atkinson 31, of Louisville, J efferson County, died about 8 p.m. Monday 22 J uly 1991 during an airborne training exercise at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach Florida. Atkinson was performing a "high-opening" jump from about 12,500 feet. Atkinson was a member of the 123rd Tactical Airlift Wing Combat Control Team of the Kentucky Air National Guard.
Beery, Brock A. Staff Sergeant Brock A. Beery, 30, of Whitehouse, Tennessee, was killed when his armored vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) near Al Habbaniyah, west of Fallujah in Iraq on March 23, 2006.At the time of the incident Beery was driving a fully-armored 2
light medium tactical vehicle (LMTV), the Armys newest version of the 2 and half ton truck. Beery was assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guards Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor, based in Bowling Green. The unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in March of 2005 and deployed in J uly 2005. Originally from Warsaw, IN, Beery joined the Indiana National Guard on 23 February 1993 as a seventeen year old high school junior. He completed basic training and advanced individualized training at Fort Benning, GA. In May of 1997 he transferred to the Kentucky Army National Guard, joining Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor in Bowling Green. Staff Sgt Beery separated from the Guard and entered the individual ready reserve Feb 22, 2000 then later re- joined the Kentucky Army National Guard on Feb 13, 2001. During his time with the Indiana Army National Guard he performed a Sinai, Egypt deployment for one year. He also deployed with his unit in 2002 to 2003 for a rotation in Bosnia. Bentley, William D. Staff Sergeant William Dean Bentley, 47, of Elizabethtown, Hardin County, died while on active duty for training at Fort Knox on 24 March 1992 resulting from a cardiac arrest while training at the Kentucky Military Academy's Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in the Primary Leadership Development Course on a field problem. Immediate aid was rendered by members of the 475th MASH and Emergency Room Staff member from Ireland Army Hospital also participating in PLDC but they were unable to revive him. Bentley was a member of Battery B, 2/138th Field Artillery in Elizabethtown. Bentley was a native of Knott County. Bentley served on Active Duty with the Army from August 1965 to August 1967. He joined the Kentucky National Guard in February 1975 and served as Howitzer Section Chief and Section Chief with B Battery. His awards and decorations include: National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Kentucky State Active Duty Ribbon, Kentucky Commendation Ribbon with 3 oak leaf clusters and the Kentucky Service Ribbon. In his civilian life, Bentley was a furnace operator for Crucible Steel for 24 years. Bibb, Raymon R. Private Raymon R. Bibb of Warren County died on active duty on 28 J anuary 1919. He was a member of Co A, 3rd Kentucky Infantry Bowling Green Bottom Sr., Johnnie W. Technical Sergeant J ohnnie William Bottom Sr., 26, of Harrodsburg, Mercer County died of malaria on 1 J une 1942 while being held as a prisoner of war in the Philippines serving on federal active duty during World War II. Bottom was one of the first men to join the Kentucky National Guards 38 th Tank Company in J uly 1932 when the unit was moved from Covington and established in Harrodsburg. He left the unit in September 1935 to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) but returned to the unit in J une 1936. Bottoms listed his civilian occupations on his various enlistment documents as farmer and truck driver and after the CCC tour, as a cook. This became his duty in the Tank Company as well. He was married to Anna Mae Spoonamore and had one 3
son, J ohnnie William Bottoms, J r., born in May 1939. The 38th Tank Company was the first Kentucky unit ordered to active duty in Kentucky on November 25, 1940 and was redesignated as Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion at Fort Knox. Bottom was assigned to the Headquarters Company in J anuary 1941. By October 19, 1941 Bottom was back in Fort Polk, Louisiana after his last military leave and visit to his home and family before the unit boarded a train for California and eventually set sail for the Philippines. Little did he know that this would be the last time he would see his wife or his two and a half year old son. Moving under secret orders, Company D arrived in the Philippines by Thanksgiving Day, 1941. War came to them when the J apanese attacked Clark Field just a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Harrodsburg Tankers along with the allied forces fought the J apanese valiantly without reinforcements or resupply until they were ordered to surrender in April 1942. They had delayed the J apanese Army's timetable from 50 days to four months, giving the allies vital time to protect Australia and recover from the attack on Pearl Harbor. Members of the unit either escaped to Corregidor or were in the infamous 90 mile Bataan Death March. However, they were all eventually taken prisoner. Bottom was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March which began for him at Mariveles at the southern tip of Bataan ending at Camp ODonnell. Bottom went out on a work detail to repair bridges to escape the horrible conditions in the camp. He died of malaria on 1 J une 1942 at Calauan Camp #3. Bottom was buried in Calauan's cemetery. Phil Parish, of J anesville, Wisconsins A Company, of the 192 nd Tank Battalion remembered that several days after J ohnnie's burial, a J apanese guard was escorting the POWs as they left for a work detail. As the detail passed the front of the cemetery, the guard ordered the POWs to halt and pointed to J ohnnie's grave. He then called out in English "Attention" and the POWs and the guard saluted. After saluting J ohnnie, the guard and detail continued on their way. Bottoms remains were returned to Kentucky after the war and he now rests next to his wife, in the Richmond Cemetery. His son followed in his footsteps. CW4 (Ret) J ohnnie William Bottoms J r. (1939 2006) served in US Army from 1960 to 1964 and the Kentucky National Guard from 1964 until his military retirement in 1999 with 39 years of service as a Chief Warrant Officer Four.
Brown, Harold M. Staff Sergeant Harold Milton Brown, 26, Mt. Washington, Bullitt County, was killed on 11 J une 1969 by rocket fire while in a bunker in Chu Lai, Vietnam while serving on federal active duty. Brown was serving with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 82nd Artillery Americal Division at the time of his death. Brown enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guards Battery C, 2-138th Field Artillery in April 1964 and at the time of his enlistment he reported his occupation as laborer at International Harvester in Louisville. He attended field artillery training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma from August 1964 to J anuary 1965 and entered federal active duty with his unit in May 1968 as a Sergeant. 4
Brown was one of seventy-seven members of the 2-138 th that were infused in March of 1969 with the Americal Division at Chu Lai. The Armys Infusion program was established to avoid a heavy reduction in personnel in one unit when the time came for the men to go home. Infusion provided for a slow, steady turnover of personnel. Additionally, in the case of the National Guard, the program helped avoid a heavy loss in one unit from one community in the event the unit was overrun. Staff Sergeant Browns name appears on Panel 22W, Line 17, on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D. C. He is buried in the Kings Church Cemetery in Mount Washington. Brown, Lanny K. Private First Class Lanny Kay Brown, 19, of Windy, Wayne County, died on 15 J uly 1970, by electrocution when he was struck by lightning during annual training with his unit at Fort Knox. He was in active duty for training status. Brown was a member of C Battery, 1st Battalion of the 623rd Field Artillery of Monticello and was standing inside a tent in the unit bivouac area in Training Area 11 at Fort Knox at approximately 8:30 p.m. during a violent thunderstorm when he was electrocuted. Lightening is believed to have struck a nearby tree and traveled through the ground striking Brown. Another soldier was in the tent with him at the time of the incident just a few paces away but was unharmed. The other soldier with him immediately sought help from the next tent and his fellow soldiers the battery executive officer were at his side rendering aid almost immediately and the battalion surgeon was at his side within minutes. Efforts to resuscitate him in the field and at Ireland Army Hospital were not successful. Brown joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in J une 1968 less than a month before his eighteenth birthday. At the time of his enlistment he reported his occupation as farmer and later as a surveyor with the state highway department. Brown was a graduate of Wayne County High School and was married. He attended basic training at Fort Campbell and advanced training at Fort Sill. He was promoted to Private First Class in J une 1969. He was attending only his second Annual Training with the unit. He is buried at Taylors Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Wayne County. A marker in his honor is located near the flag pole at the Monticello Armory. Brown, Thomas J. Sergeant Thomas J . "Tommy" Brown of Madisonville, Hopkins County, age 34, drowned in the Pond River at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, J anuary 23, 1937 while on state active duty in response to the flood of 1937 approximately one half mile west of J ewel City in nine feet of flood water. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion of the 149th Infantry from Madisonville. He is the only known Kentucky National Guardsman who perished on duty during the great flood of 1937. According to newspaper accounts, Brown and Second Lieutenant J ames L. Moore, Assistant Postmaster; Private C. W. Anthony and a civilian, Emmett Ashby, a teacher 5
at Friendship school; were in a boat commandeered from Spring Lake and equipped with an outboard motor. The boats stern came apart from the vibrations from the outboard motor and quickly sank by the stern throwing all four into the nine-foot deep water within seconds. The other three were able to swim to shallow waters. Moore and Anthony were able to complete the sixty foot swim despite wearing regulation military equipment including a military storm coat, gum boots and fully loaded cartridge belts. All three suffered from exposure and shock standing in eighteen inches of water for some fifteen minutes before they were rescued by a second boat. They were treated at a nearby home. Brown was last seen clinging to the boat bow debris as the three swam to shallow water but had sunk from sight by the time the three were standing in the shallower water. Rescuers searched the rest of the day and through the night and were able to eventually recover the boat. The waters continued to rise in the area from nine feet to eighteen feet by the next day complicating efforts to recover his body. His body was recovered a week later at the spot he was lost. The Guardsmen were on a survey mission to assess conditions in Ashbyburg and J ewel City area as the flood advanced into those areas and Ashby was catching a ride to Ashbyburg in hopes of getting closer to his home. Brown was a butcher in civilian life at the Red Front Grocery then on West Center Street in Madisonville and was married and had one son. Browns battalion commander, Oren Coin, wrote a letter to a legislative committee on the widows behalf in December of 1937 seeking some sort of relief for his family. SGT Browns death most likely was the beginning of the push for the states death gratuity for Kentucky National Guardsmen who die on State Active Duty missions. Brown is buried at the East Lawn Cemetery in Hanson, Hopkins County. Bussell, Vernon H. Sergeant Vernon Harold Bussell, 23, of Harrodsburg, Mercer County was lost at sea on 24 October 1944 when an American submarine attacked the unmarked J apanese prisoner transport ship he was being held aboard enroute to Formosa as a prisoner of war on federal active duty. Bussell was born at Wallins Creek, Harlan County and his family later moved to a farm outside of Harrodsburg, Kentucky. When he enlisted in Harrodsburg's 38th Tank Company in March 1940 he reported his occupations as farmer and mechanic. The 38th Tank Company was the first Kentucky unit ordered to active duty in Kentucky on November 25, 1940 and was redesignated as Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion at Fort Knox. Bussell was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 192 nd Tank Battalion in early 1941and eventually would serve in the Headquarters Company of the Provisional Tank Group. Moving under secret orders, Company D arrived in the Philippines by Thanksgiving Day, 1941. War came to them when the J apanese attacked Clark Field just a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the attack on the Philippines, he worked to supply the tanks with ammunition and gasoline. The Harrodsburg Tankers along with the allied forces fought the J apanese valiantly without reinforcements or resupply until they were ordered to surrender in April 1942. They had delayed the J apanese Army's timetable from 50 days to four months, giving the allies vital time to protect Australia and recover from the attack on Pearl Harbor. They were taken prisoner on 11 April 1942. They were trucked to Mariveles where he began the 90 mile Death March eventually ending up at Camp ODonnell. Bussell was able to escape the horrible conditions of the camp and back into Bataan by going out on the scrap metal detail. The 6
POWs would tie together vehicles that were inoperable, and pull them behind an operating vehicle. He was also held in Cabanatuan. Bussell was selected for the Bachrach Garage Detail in Manila. The POWs were held at a garage which had been owned by a Manila cab company. On the detail, the POWs repaired trucks and other vehicles used by the J apanese. On October 11, 1944 the Bachrach Garage Detail was disbanded and they were boarded onto the Arisan Maru. On October 24, 1944, around 5:00 pm, near Shoonan off the coast of China two torpedoes from an American submarine struck amidships. The J apanese guards cut the rope ladders to the holds and closed the hatch covers before abandoning ship leaving the POWs. Some of the POWs managed to climb out of the holds and lowered rope ladders. Most of the POWs survived the attack but died because the J apanese refused to rescue them from the water. The ship eventually broke in two and sank during the night. Sgt. Vernon H. Bussell lost his life on 24 October 1944, when the Arisan Maru was torpedoed in the South China Sea. Of the 1,803 POWs on the ship, only nine survived the sinking. Since he was lost at sea, Sgt. Vernon H. Bussell's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila. Carnes, Nicholas R. Staff Sergeant Nicholas Ray Carnes, 25, of Ludlow, Kenton County, was killed on Sunday, 26 August 2007 by small arms fire during a firefight in the village of Lewanne Bazaar, Paktika Province, Afghanistan while on federal active duty. Carnes was a member of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery in Carrollton and deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in March of 2007. Carnes joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in March of 1999, at the age of 17. He graduated from Dayton High School in 2000, where he played football. His civilian occupation was Riverboat Captain for BB Riverboats in Newport. He was promoted to Sergeant in May of 2003. Carnes was less than a month away from celebrating his first wedding anniversary when he perished. His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Action Badge. In May 2009, the United States Postal Service facility located at 513 6th Avenue in Dayton, Kentucky, was named the Staff Sergeant Nicholas Ray Carnes Post Office. Carnes is buried in Alexandria Cemetery in Alexandria, Campbell County. Carr, Bertram A. Sergeant Bertram Anthony "Sonny" Carr, 26, of Louisville, J efferson County, was killed in Vietnam on 1 J une 1969 near Hamburger Hill, Quant Tri Province, Vietnam while serving with B Battery 2-138th Artillery while on federal active duty. He was originally a member of Service Battery. Carr is honored on Panel 23W, Row 35 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
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Carrico, Joseph R. Technician Fifth Class J oseph Robert Carrico, 21, of Springfield, Washington County, was killed in a friendly fire incident on 14 September 1943 while serving in Italy with the 106th Anti- Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion. Carrico joined C Battery of the Coast Artillery as a Private in December 1940. He listed his civilian occupation as farmer. J ohn E. Parrott of Washington County was also killed in the same incident. Details of the event have not yet been discovered in our research. According to a contemporary news report of their deaths they saw combat in North Africa and participated in the Salerno landing in Italy. Carrico is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Chappel, Luther M. First Sergeant Luther Malcolm Chappel, Worthville, Carroll County, of "C" Battery, 2d Battalion, 138th Field Artillery was killed on J une 19, 1969 at Firebase TOMAHAWK in Vietnam. The firebase was attacked during the early morning hours of J une 19, 1969 in a pouring rain by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers. Sappers infiltrated the base and during the attack threw some 150 satchel charges into the bunkers in addition to firing rocket propelled grenades. The battle went on some two hours before the NVA were forced to retreat. The attack destroyed an ammunition storage area, four of the six M-109 self- propelled howitzers, nine bunkers, the mess hall, dining tent, maintenance building, four ammunition carriers, three 2 1/2-ton trucks, two 3/4-ton trucks, and three jeeps. The Battery had nine men killed; five of them were from Bardstown and the other four were non-Guard replacements from various, non-Kentucky locations. The unit also suffered 37 wounded. A platoon of infantrymen from the 101st Airborne Division was providing perimeter security for the firebase and four of the 101st soldiers were killed and another 13 wounded. Clemons, Thomas W. Staff Sergeant Thomas Wade Turtle Clemons, 37, Falls of Rough, Grayson County, died December 11, 2006 as he was preparing to go on patrol with his team near Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, when he succumbed to a heart attack while on federal active duty. Clemons joined the Kentucky Army Guard in August 2000. Clemons deployed in March 2006 to Iraq with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor. Clemons's unit was providing force protection and security missions for the US Army. He was a native of Leitchfield, KY. He is buried in the Frank Embrey Cemetery, Caneyville, Grayson County. Cloud, Carl W. Private First Class Carl William Cloud, 18, of McWhorter, Laurel County, died on 17 J uly 1955 from an electrical shock when lightning struck a tree he was seeking shelter under during a storm while at Annual Training at Camp Breckinridge. Private Edwin Clyde Miles of London was killed in the same incident. Cloud was a member of Company D, 149th Infantry Regimental Combat Team of London, Kentucky. Cloud enlisted on 31 August 1953 at the age of 17 and had 8
only recently graduated from Hazel Green High School in Laurel County. Cloud is buried in the Pleasant Grove cemetery in Laurel County. Cloyd, Robert V. Private First Class Robert Vernon Bobby Cloyd, 22, of Harrodsburg, Mercer County was lost at sea on 24 October 1944 when an American submarine attacked the unmarked J apanese prisoner transport ship he was being held aboard enroute to Formosa as a prisoner of war on federal active duty. Cloyd enlisted in Harrodsburg's 38th Tank Company in May 1940 and reported his occupations truck driver and mechanic. The 38th Tank Company was the first Kentucky unit ordered to active duty in Kentucky on November 25, 1940 and was redesignated as Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion at Fort Knox. Cloyd was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 192 nd Tank Battalion in J anuary 1941. Moving under secret orders, Company D arrived in the Philippines by Thanksgiving Day, 1941. War came to them when the J apanese attacked Clark Field just a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Harrodsburg Tankers along with the allied forces fought the J apanese valiantly without reinforcements or resupply until they were ordered to surrender in April 1942. They had delayed the J apanese Army's timetable from 50 days to four months, giving the allies vital time to protect Australia and recover from the attack on Pearl Harbor. Cloyd was taken prisoner on 11 April 1942 and trucked to Mariveles where he began the 90 mile Death March eventually ending up at Camp ODonnell and was later held at Cabanatuan. From December, 1942 until April 1944, Cloyd was assigned a work detail for Las Pinas where he worked to build runways with a pick and shovel. He was returned to Cabanatuan until he was again assigned to build runways at Nichols Airfield where he and the other prisoners removed an entire mountain by hand. In October 1944 Cloyd was sent to Manila and boarded the hell ship Arisan Maru bound for Formosa. On October 24, 1944, around 5:00 pm, near Shoonan off the coast of China two torpedoes from an American submarine struck amidships. The J apanese guards cut the rope ladders to the holds and closed the hatch covers before abandoning ship leaving the POWs. Some of the POWs managed to climb out of the holds and lowered rope ladders. Most of the POWs survived the attack but died because the J apanese refused to rescue them from the water. The ship eventually broke in two and sank during the night. Of the 1,803 POWs on the ship, only nine survived the sinking. Since he was lost at sea, Cloyds name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila. Collins, David B. Specialist 4 David B. Collins, 24, of Nelson County was killed on J une 19, 1969 at Firebase Tomahawk near Thua Thien, South Vietnam while on federal active duty with his unit - C Battery of the 2d Battalion, 138th Field Artillery. The firebase was attacked during the early morning hours of J une 19, 1969 in a pouring rain by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers. Sappers infiltrated the base and during the attack threw some 150 satchel charges into the bunkers in addition to firing rocket propelled grenades. The battle went on some two hours before the NVA were forced to retreat. The attack destroyed an 9
ammunition storage area, four of the six M-109 self-propelled howitzers, nine bunkers, the mess hall, dining tent, maintenance building, four ammunition carriers, three 2 1/2-ton trucks, two 3/4- ton trucks, and three jeeps. The Battery had nine men killed; five of them were from Bardstown and the other four were non-Guard replacements from various, non-Kentucky locations. The unit also suffered 37 wounded. A platoon of infantrymen from the 101st Airborne Division was providing perimeter security for the firebase and four of the 101st soldiers were killed and another 13 wounded. His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal; the Purple Heart; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Collins is buried in the Saint J osephs Cemetery in Bardstown. Conder, George C. Captain George C. Conder, 31, of J efferson County perished on J uly 14, 1951 while on federal active duty due to the Korean War with his Kentucky Air National Guard unit, the 165 th Fighter-Bomber Squadron stationed at Godman Army Air Field, Fort Knox. Conder died in a mid- air collision while piloting his F-51D (44-73336) approximately one mile east north east of West Point, Kentucky during a massive flight demonstration near Fort Knox. The pilot of the other aircraft, West Virginia Air National Guardsman 1st LT. Clarence G. Combs of Parkersburg, West Virginia of the 167 th Fighter-Bomber Squadron also perished in the incident. Conder is buried in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville. Cornn, Opal E. Opal E. Corn of Laurel County joined the Kentucky National Guard in August 1939 as a Private in the Troop L of the 123rd Cavalry. The unit converted to Battery D of the 103rd Separate Battalion Coast Artillery (Anti Aircraft) in November 1940. He would have been called to federal active duty with his unit in J anuary 1941. At this time the records of his active duty during World War II have not been located but he is listed as died body not recovered and is presumed to have been in the line of duty. Research is ongoing. Cornn listed his civilian occupation as student. Crick, Ancel E. Private First Class Ancel Edgar Crick, 27, of Mercer County was lost at sea on 24 October 1944 when an American submarine attacked the unmarked J apanese prisoner transport ship he was being held aboard enroute to Formosa as a prisoner of war on federal active duty. Crick joined the Kentucky National Guard in October 1940. Born in Corbin, Whitely County, Crick reported his occupation as mechanic at the time of his enlistment. The 38th Tank Company was the first Kentucky unit ordered to active duty in Kentucky on November 25, 1940 and was redesignated as Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion at Fort Knox. Crick was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 192 nd Tank Battalion in J anuary 1941. 10
Moving under secret orders, Company D arrived in the Philippines by Thanksgiving Day, 1941. War came to them when the J apanese attacked Clark Field just a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Harrodsburg Tankers along with the allied forces fought the J apanese valiantly without reinforcements or resupply until they were ordered to surrender in April 1942. They had delayed the J apanese Army's timetable from 50 days to four months, giving the allies vital time to protect Australia and recover from the attack on Pearl Harbor. Crick worked to supply the tanks of the 192nd Tank Battalion with gasoline and ammunition in the fight against the J apanese. Crick was taken prisoner on 11 April 1942 and trucked to Mariveles where he began the 90 mile Death March eventually ending up at Camp ODonnell and was later held at Cabanatuan. From December, 1942 until April 1944, Cloyd was assigned a work detail for Las Pinas where he worked to build runways with a pick and shovel. He was returned to Cabanatuan until October 1944 Crick was sent to Manila and boarded the hell ship Arisan Maru bound for Formosa. On October 24, 1944, around 5:00 pm, near Shoonan off the coast of China two torpedoes from an American submarine struck amidships. The J apanese guards cut the rope ladders to the holds and closed the hatch covers before abandoning ship leaving the POWs. Some of the POWs managed to climb out of the holds and lowered rope ladders. Most of the POWs survived the attack but died because the J apanese refused to rescue them from the water. The ship eventually broke in two and sank during the night. Of the 1,803 POWs on the ship, only nine survived the sinking. Since he was lost at sea, Cricks name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila. Crone, Frank Private Frank Crone, of Covington, Kenton County, a member of the Kentucky National Guard, was on duty as a guard at the Newport Rolling Mill was being relieved from duty by J ohn Yates of Newport; he was accidentally killed on March 13, 1922. The revolver slipped from Yates' pocket and fell to the ground, discharging and mortally wounding Crone. Cubert, Clinton W. Master Sergeant Clinton Wayne Cubert, 38, of Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, died on April 16, 2006 at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Ky., of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his armored HMMWV during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq, on Sept. 11, 2005. Cubert was assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guards 2113th Transportation Company, based in Paducah, during his deployment. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge Cubert is buried in the Camp Nelson National Cemetery in J essamine County.
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Cummins, John L. Private First Class J ohn Lewis Cummins, 23, of Mercer County was lost at sea on 24 October 1944 when an American submarine attacked the unmarked J apanese prisoner transport ship he was being held aboard enroute to Formosa as a prisoner of war on federal active duty. Cummins joined the Kentucky National Guard before they were activated. The 38th Tank Company was the first Kentucky unit ordered to active duty in Kentucky on November 25, 1940 and was redesignated as Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion at Fort Knox. Cummins was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 192 nd Tank Battalion in J anuary 1941. Moving under secret orders, Company D arrived in the Philippines by Thanksgiving Day, 1941. War came to them when the J apanese attacked Clark Field just a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Harrodsburg Tankers along with the allied forces fought the J apanese valiantly without reinforcements or resupply until they were ordered to surrender in April 1942. They had delayed the J apanese Army's timetable from 50 days to four months, giving the allies vital time to protect Australia and recover from the attack on Pearl Harbor. Cummins worked to supply the tanks of the 192nd Tank Battalion with gasoline and ammunition in the fight against the J apanese. He was taken prisoner on 11 April 1942 and moved in trucks to Mariveles. He survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O' Donnell where he went on a work detail to repair bridges. He was then sent to Cabanatuan and later to Bilibid Prison. In October 1944 Cummins was sent to Manila and boarded the hell ship Arisan Maru bound for Formosa. On October 24, 1944, around 5:00 pm, near Shoonan off the coast of China two torpedoes from an American submarine struck amidships. The J apanese guards cut the rope ladders to the holds and closed the hatch covers before abandoning ship leaving the POWs. Some of the POWs managed to climb out of the holds and lowered rope ladders. Most of the POWs survived the attack but died because the J apanese refused to rescue them from the water. The ship eventually broke in two and sank during the night. Of the 1,803 POWs on the ship, only nine survived the sinking. Since he was lost at sea, Cummins name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila. Cundiff, William Private William Cundiff, 25, of Rowan County died of wounds in France on 14 October 1918. Cundiff had previously served with Company M, 2nd Kentucky Infantry and the 149 Infantry He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Romagne, France
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Dean, Oscar Sergeant Oscar Dean, 23, Mercer County joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before it was activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1941 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan where he died of dysentery on 20 October 42. His remains were later returned to Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville.
Deaton, Robert Private Robert Deaton, 19 of Knox County a member of Company G, 149th Infantry Barbourville, KY, was accidentally killed at the corner of Powell and Brighton streets in Covington on December 24, 1921 while on state active duty during steel strikes at Newport. While he and SGT Charles Black were on duty, SGT Black became suddenly ill and about to fall and in recovering his balance his right arm knocked Deaton's revolver from his holster. The revolver fell to the street discharging the cartridge. The bullet struck the right side of corporal Deatons neck. He was rushed to the hospital but bled to death on the way. Colonel Denhardt, commanding the troops made an investigation and pronounced the killing accidental. Denny, Wallace Staff Sergeant Wallace Denny, 23, of Mercer County died of diphtheria & malaria in the early morning hours of 22 J uly 1942 at Camp Cabanatuan #1 in the Philippines as a prisoner of war on federal active duty. Denny, born in South Carolina, enlisted in Harrodsburg's 38th Tank Company in April 1939 and reported his occupations as farmer. The 38th Tank Company was the first Kentucky unit ordered to active duty in Kentucky on November 25, 1940 and was redesignated as Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion at Fort Knox. Moving under secret orders, Company D arrived in the Philippines by Thanksgiving Day, 1941. War came to them when the J apanese attacked Clark Field just a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Harrodsburg Tankers along with the allied forces fought the J apanese valiantly without reinforcements or resupply until they were ordered to surrender in April 1942. They had delayed the J apanese Army's timetable from 50 days to four months, giving the allies vital time to protect Australia and recover from the attack on Pearl Harbor. Deny was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and trucked to Mariveles where he began the 90 mile Death March eventually ending up at Camp ODonnell and was later held at Cabanatuan #1 where he died of diphtheria & malaria on 22 J uly 1942 at approximately 4 a.m. He is burred in the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines
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Devine, Ben R. Sergeant Ben R. Bud Devine, 23, of Mercer County died of dysentery on 19 May 1942 at Camp O'Donnell, Philippines as a prisoner of war on federal active duty. Devine enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard and listed his occupation as farmer. The 38th Tank Company was the first Kentucky unit ordered to active duty in Kentucky on November 25, 1940 and was redesignated as Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion at Fort Knox. Moving under secret orders, Company D arrived in the Philippines by Thanksgiving Day, 1941. War came to them when the J apanese attacked Clark Field just a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Harrodsburg Tankers along with the allied forces fought the J apanese valiantly without reinforcements or resupply until they were ordered to surrender in April 1942. They had delayed the J apanese Army's timetable from 50 days to four months, giving the allies vital time to protect Australia and recover from the attack on Pearl Harbor. Devine was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and trucked to Mariveles where he began the 90 mile Death March eventually ending up at Camp ODonnell where he died of scurvy & malaria on 19 May 1942. He is burred in the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines Durham, James L. J ames Lee Durham of Bowling Green, Warren County, joined Service Company of the 149th Infantry of the Kentucky National Guard in April 1939. Private First Class Durham was inducted into federal active duty with his unit in J anuary 1941.He listed his civilian occupation as student likely owing to his having just completed high school. On active duty during World War II, Durham was promoted to Second Lieutenant and served with Company B of the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division. He was killed on D-Day, J une 6, 1944 in Normandy, France by friendly fire and is believed to be buried in Kentucky. Foster, Willard E. Private Willard Emmal Foster, 18, of Mercer, County joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before they were activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1941 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan #1. He died of dysentery on 1 J une 1942. He is buried at the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines
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French, Edward T. Sergeant Edward Theodore French, 24 of Mercer County joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit, along with his brother Morgan, some time before they were activated in November 1940. He was injured by shrapnel from J apanese bombing and was in a field hospital on Bataan. In an attempt to prevent the American guns on Corregidor and Ft. Drum from firing on their artillery, the J apanese placed their guns among the buildings of the hospital. When a shell fired from Ft. Drum fell short and hit the hospital, Edward, along with 24 other soldiers, was killed on 22 April 1942 as a result of friendly fire. He was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received during combat. French is buried at the Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. Gannon, James J. Private J ames Gannon of Springfield, Washington County joined the Kentucky National Guard's Troop I of the 123d Cavalry in May 1940. The unit was redesignated Battery C, 106th Coast Artillery, (AA) in November 1940 and he was inducted into federal service with his unit in J anuary 1941. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He listed his civilian occupation as farmer. He is buried in the New Albany Indiana National Cemetery and listed as J ames J Gannon. (Research is ongoing) Goodpaster, Roy E. Private Roy Edward Goodpaster, 25, of Mercer County enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit just five days before they were activated in November 1940 and was trained as a tank driver. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan #1. He was put on three Hell Ships, Oryoku Maru, Enoura Maru and Brazil Maru. The first two were sunk before the third finally took him to Moji, J apan where he was held at Fukuoka #4 and the Moji Hospital. He later died of injuries he sustained during the sinking of the first two Hell Ships he was on. Hacker, Robert S. Major Robert Stephen Hacker, 36, of Ashland, Boyd County, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 201st Engineer Battalion of the Kentucky Army National Guard, in Ashland died of injuries received in a vehicle accident while on active duty in the Esmeraldas Province of the South American nation of Ecuador J uly 8 1998 just three days before he was scheduled to return home to Ashland. The accident occurred about 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday when the vehicle he was a passenger in ran off the road. There was also a member of the US Army and an Ecuadorian Army officer in the vehicle at the time of the accident. A member of the Kentucky Army National Guard for 18 years and a veteran of numerous overseas deployments to Latin America and the Caribbean, Hacker arrived in Ecuador 29 April as part of the command element for Nuevos Horizontes (New Horizons), the Kentucky National Guards humanitarian relief mission there. More than 1,300 soldiers and airmen were participating in the 15
five-month relief mission to build four schools, a preschool and three clinics. Guardsmen also provided medical care, hospital and logistical support and site security. Hacker was the operations officer for the task force, supervising the fielding of troops and overseeing the numerous projects. Hacker is survived by his wife and son. He was a member of the South Ashland Methodist Church. A school was dedicated in his honor on April 3, 2000, in the Esmeraldas Province of Ecuador. A street adjacent to the Richmond Armory was named Robert Hacker Way in his honor. Hacker was a native of Madison County and is buried in the Richmond Cemetery there. Hale, Nathaniel G. Lieutenant Nathaniel Gibson Hale, 24, of Murray, Calloway County died of an accidental gunshot wound on J anuary 13, 1917 while on federal active duty with his unit near El Paso, Texas during the Punitive Expedition. Hale was a member of Murrays L Company, Third Kentucky Infantry and at the time of his death was in his tent at the regimental camp, Camp Owen Bierne, some two miles from Fort Bliss, near El Paso. He was part of the Kentucky National Guard contingent called to federal duty to patrol a sixty mile stretch of the border between Fort Bliss and Fort Hancock during the Punitive Expedition. Hale joined the Kentucky National Guard as a private on J une 22, 1912. He was promoted to Sergeant and First Sergeant and elected 1LT on J uly 10, 1914. Hale is buried in the Murray City Cemetery in Calloway County. Hargraves, George M. Private George M. Hargraves, 20, of J efferson County died of Pneumonia on 17 February 1917 while serving with Company G of the 1 st Kentucky Infantry on active duty during the punitive expedition at Fort Bliss, Texas. He enlisted 23 J une 1916 and listed his occupation as box maker. He was a native of Kansas City, Missouri but had moved to Louisville when he joined. It is believed that his mother was a native of Edmonton County and was living there when he was buried at the Good Spring Baptist Church Cemetery. Harris Jr., Arthur F. First Lieutenant Arthur Franklin Harris J r., 26, of Louisville, J efferson County died of accidental injuries on 6 Aug 1918 while serving in France. Harris joined the Kentucky National Guards Company D, 1 st Battalion, First Kentucky Infantry in April 1914 at the age of 24. Harris served on the Mexican border from September 1916 to March 1917. He served as a mechanic and Supply Sergeant until he accepted a commission in November 1917. During his active duty he served with the 341 st Machine Gun Battalion and was stationed at Camp Fusnton, Kansas and Camp Mills, New York before going overseas with the American Expeditionary Force in J une 1918. He died just a month later in August 1918 at Base Hospital 18 due to accidental injuries. He was buried at Cemetery #6 at Bazoilles-sur-Meuse Vosges, France.
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Hawkins, William G. Master Sergeant William G. Hawkins, 41, of Crestwood, Oldham County perished on 6 February 1992 in Evansville, Indiana when a Kentucky Air National Guard Lockheed C-130B crashed during a training flight. At 9:53 a.m., February 6, 1992, a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130B military transport plane crashed at the site of a hotel and restaurant complex, located at U.S. Highway 41 and Lynch Road, less than one mile south of the Evansville Dress Regional Airport while performing routine pilot proficiency exercises. The crew consisted of an experienced instructor pilot, two co-pilots, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster. The crash and resulting fire killed all five crew members and 11 civilians on the ground nine in the hotel and two in the adjacent restaurant. In addition to those who died at the scene, one of the emergency responders, an Evansville Police Officer, died February 24, as a result of injuries he sustained working at the crash site. The other members of the Kentucky Air National Guard crew killed in the crash were: Capt Warren J . Klingaman, MSgt. J ohn M. Medley, Major Richard A. Strang and 2nd Lt. Vincent D. Yancar. The civilian casualties in the incident were: Darrel D. Arnold; Charles R. Berqwitz; Robert A. Hayes; David W. Horton; Ronnie E. Keown; Matthew J . Prasek; Thomas R. Ruby; J ohn R. Stallings; Harry M. Tenbarge; Matthew Phipps; Lynette Scott and J ames Gibson, J r. Hayes, Michael R. Specialist Michael Ray Hayes, 29, of Morgantown, Butler County, was killed and four others were wounded on Tuesday, J une 14, 2005 near Baghdad, Iraq when insurgents fired on their armored Humvee with a rocket-propelled grenade. The Kentucky Soldiers were providing security around a suspected improvised explosive device near Baghdad when the attack occurred. The wounded Soldiers were treated for minor injuries and returned to duty. Hayes' Humvee was fully equipped with armor plate and bulletproof glass, and Hayes was wearing a Kevlar vest. Hayes was assigned to the Bowling Green detachment of the 617th Military Police Company, based in Richmond, Ky. His unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in October of 2004 and deployed to Southwest Asia that November 2004. Heines, Donald J. Sergeant First Class Donald J oseph Heines, 24, of Louisville, J efferson County, died on 17 August 1955. Heines developed a mild case of ivy poisoning during the last few days of annual training at Camp Breckinridge (10-24 J uly 1955). After annual training he developed an infection and which lead to kidney disease which caused his death. The Department of the Army ruled that his initial injury was incurred in the line of duty and his death was a result of his injury and therefore in the line of duty. Heines was a member of the Medical Detachment of the 138th Field Artillery Battalion in Louisville. He had served as a medical technician in the detachment and was serving as the detachment sergeant at the time of his death. Heines joined the Kentucky 17
Army National Guard in November 1947. In civilian life Heines was an engraver for the Balfour Company in Louisville. Hehman, Thomas L. Thomas Louis Hehman, 27 of Campbell County enlisted as a private in Troop F of the 123d Cavalry of the Kentucky National Guard in J anuary 1938. He was promoted to Private First Class in February 1939 and promoted to corporal in November of that same year. His unit transitioned to Battery C of the 103 rd Coast Artillery Battalion (AA) in J anuary 1941. He was inducted into federal active duty in February 1941. While on active duty, Hehman was promoted to First Lieutenant. Hehman, 27, was killed in action on September 22, 1944 while serving with the Coast Artillery near Villa il Fango, Italy. Hehman records show he attended college for one year and listed his civilian occupation as steelworker and later a salesman before he went on active duty. Henderson II, Robert L. First Lieutenant Robert Lewis. Henderson, II, 33, of Alvaton, Warren County, died April 17, 2004 in, Diwaniyah, Iraq, when his convoy tried to avoid an overturned trailer and came under small arms attack. Henderson, though mortally wounded, continued to drive his vehicle and lead the convoy out of the ambush and repositioned his vehicle so that the other soldiers in the vehicle could return fire before he collapsed. 1st Lt. Henderson was assigned to the Army National Guard's Detachment 1, 2123rd Transportation Company, Owensboro, Ky. Herd, John D. Second Lieutenant J ohn Daugh Herd, 30, of Booneville, Owsley County died of Typhoid Fever at Camp Perry, Ohio on August 22, 1913. Dr. Herd was a member of Company I of the 2 nd
Kentucky Infantry Regiment. Dr. Herd was attending a national shooting competition at Camp Perry and was ill when he arrived on August 14 th . Dr. Herd joined what was then known as the Kentucky State Guard in J une of 1910 and was promoted to corporal and later first sergeant and in February 1912 elected second lieutenant of his company. Dr. Herd was an expert rifle shot and though ill he still competed and made third place on the Kentucky Guard state team for 1913 held at a range in Earlington, Hopkins County. The winners boarded a train to travel to Camp Perry for the national shooting competition where he succumbed to his illness. He was a dentist in civilian life. He believed to be buried at a cemetery in the community of Travellers Rest in Owsley County. Herman Sr., Jack L. Sergeant First Class J ack Lee Herman of Louisville, J efferson County, died of a heart attack during annual training with the Kentucky Army National Guard at Fort Pickett, VA on 31 J uly 1981. He was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 149th Separate Armor Brigade. His full-time job was as a technician employee of Field Maintenance Shop number 8 in Louisville as a track vehicle mechanic. He started in the technician program 1 April 1956. Prior to coming to 18
the Guard he served in the Army from December 1953 to December 1955 with some 15 months of service in Germany as a track vehicle mechanic. He is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville 451-5630 Section 35 Lot 395-C. Hite, Harold F. Private Harold Frank Hite, 18, of Warren County died on 4 February 1917 of pneumonia at the Fort Bliss hospital while on Federal Duty during the Mexican Border Campaign serving with Company A, Third Regiment. Howard, Jeffrey C. Private First Class J effery Clinton Howard of Muhlenberg County died on 16 April 1978 while training with his unit, the 307th Maintenance Company Central City, at Ft. Campbell. Howard walked behind the truck, which had been parked on a gradual incline and rolled backwards some 4 feet and pinned him between a tree and the trailer of the truck. (Inactive Duty for Training status). He was born in Daviess County. Reportedly retrieved his gas mask from the cab of the truck to put it on as a part of training and unknowingly released the hand brake before he walked behind the truck.
Hudson, Richard L. Second Lieutenant Richard Lloyd Hudson of J efferson County perished on 30 October 1957 near Vevay, Indiana when the Kentucky Air National Guard F-86A Sabre J et he was piloting crashed during a routine Air Defense Command scramble. According to General Order Number 56 dated 15 November 1957, he was serving on Active Duty with the U. S. Air Force. He enlisted in the Kentucky Air National Guard in August 1953. He entered cadet training in November 1955 and received his commission and wings on 28 March 1957. Hughes, Jonathan A. Sergeant J onathan Adam Hughes, 21, of Lebanon, Marion County, was killed on Saturday, March 19, 2005 in Iraq when his armored HMMWV vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) during an escort patrol for a convoy enroute to Baghdad International Airport. At the time of his death, Hughes was assigned to Bravo Battery 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery, based in Campbellsville, KY. He joined the Guard in May 2001 when he was 17. His unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in November and deployed to Southwest Asia in J anuary 2005.
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Hughes, Marvin W Marvin W. Hughes of Marion, Crittenden County enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard's Company I of the 149th Infantry in October 1936. He was promoted to Private First Class in J anuary 1939 and Corporal by December 1940. He listed his civilian occupation as farming. Hughes was inducted into federal service with his unit in J anuary 1941. While on active duty, Hughes was promoted to First Lieutenant and was killed in action on December 12, 1944 in France and is buried in the Mapleview Cemetery in Marion.
Hungate, Wesley D. Private First Class Wesley Davis Hungate, 23, of Mercer County, enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before the unit was activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell where he died on 16 May 1942 of dysentery. His remains were later returned to Camp Nelson National Cemetery near Nicholasville
Isenberg, Regina L. Staff Sergeant Regina L. Isenberg of Bowling Green, Warren County, was killed in a military vehicle accident on Tuesday, 10 April 1990 on the Western Kentucky Parkway near Leitchfield in Grayson County. She was assigned to Headquarters, State Area Command (STARC) Kentucky Army National Guard. She was transporting an M-60 engine from the Ford Regional Training Site (WHFRTC) to the Combined Support Maintenance Shop (CSMS) in Frankfort in an engineer dump truck on rain slick roads. She was a Technician Material Control and Accounting Specialist at the Unit Training Equipment Site (UTES 2) in Greenville. Isenberg graduated from Warren Central High School in 1978 and joined the 2123d Transportation Company (Heavy Truck), Kentucky Army National Guard in Bowling Green in February 1981. She also served in Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade. Her awards included Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (ARCOTR) and the Kentucky Service Ribbon. She also had a brother who served in the Kentucky National Guard. Johnson Jr., Al exander E. Alexander Edward J ohnson J r. of Louisville, J efferson County, joined Headquarters Company of the 149th Infantry of the Kentucky National Guard September 13, 1939 and had risen to the rank of Corporal by December 1940 when he was transferred to the Antitank Company of the 149th Infantry. He was inducted into federal active duty with his unit in J anuary 1941. He was killed on December 23, 1942 while serving with 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Div and is buried in the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage Tunisia. J ohnson listed his civilian occupation as clerk and later as an insurance agent. 20
Johnson Jr., Jeff J eff J ohnson J r. of London, Laurel County, enlisted in Troop E, 123d Cavalry of the Kentucky National Guard in J uly 1940. By December 1941 he had risen to the rank of Corporal when his unit transitioned from Cavalry to Battery D of the 103rd Coast Artillery (AA). He was inducted into federal active duty with his unit in February 1941. By November 1942 he was a sergeant in Battery D. At some point during his active duty service he was promoted to first lieutenant and was serving with 536th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion. He died of wounds on 27 J uly 1944 and is buried in the Florence American Cemetery in Florence Italy. His awards include the Silver Star and Purple Heart. His documents show he had one year of college and listed his civilian occupation as mechanic.
Jones, Charles J. Sergeant First Class Charles J ason J ones of Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, 29, died Sept. 20, 2006 at Camp Liberty in Baghdad of non- combat related causes. J ones was assigned as a medic to the 149th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters. The unit, comprised of 50 soldiers, deployed to Iraq earlier this year and has teams stationed throughout Iraq. J ones joined the Kentucky National Guard in 1993 at 17 years old and graduated from South Laurel High School in London, Ky. in 1994. Prior to deploying to Iraq, J ones was a full-time Kentucky National Guard soldier stationed in Frankfort, Ky. J ones was a seasoned veteran, with previous deployments in 2002 to Germany and Bosnia. He also deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004.A resident of Lawrenceburg, J ones was a decorated soldier, holding the Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal. Jones, Steven E. Private Steven E. J ones of DeMossville, Pendleton County, died on 29 April 1984 while training with his unit, Company C, 201st Engineer Battalion in Cynthiana. J ones was killed after an accident near the armory when the unit was training on erecting and using gin poles. J ones was struck by the pole when the rigging failed and he was unable to escape the falling pole. He was given immediate aid by members of the 475th Combat Support Hospital who were at the armory and transported to the hospital but he perished from his injuries a short time later (IDT status). J ones had just joined the unit on 2 March of 1984 and was training with the unit until he got orders sending him to basic and advanced training as a Combat Engineer. Jones Jr., Joseph D. J oseph D. J ones J r. of Barbourville, Knox County joined Company C of the 149th Infantry of the Kentucky National Guard in February 1938. His initial enlistment listed his date of birth as 1919. However, his later military documents all list his birth as 1921. He may well have enlisted under 21
age. He was promoted to Private First Class in November 1939. He was a high school graduate and listed his civilian occupation as carpenter. He was inducted into federal service with his unit in J anuary 1941. At some point while on active duty he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was serving in the Army Air Corps with the 75th Bomber Squadron, 42nd Bomber Group, Medium. He was lost on J anuary 24, 1944 and is listed on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal. Keeling, Berchell Technical Sergeant Berchell Keeling, 19, of Mercer County enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard some time before the unit was activated in November 1940. Keeling, Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion, died on 1 J uly 1942 at Camp Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines of dysentery.
Kehrer, Merlin R. On March 30, 1951, Capt. Merlin R. Kehrer, 29, of Louisville, J efferson County, perished in the crash of his F-51 near Leesburg, Va., while he was returning to Louisville from Bolling AFB, D.C. He was a member of the Kentucky Air National Guard.
Kell y, Lawrence B. First Lieutenant Lawrence Bertrand Kelly of Louisville, J efferson County, died in Korea while serving on active duty flying an F-80 with the 80th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 8 FTR Bomb Group. He was declared missing on 16 December 1951 and his status was changed from MIA to KIA on 31 December 1953.
Klingaman, Warren G. Captain Warren G. Klingaman, 29, of Louisville, J efferson County, perished on 6 February 1992 in Evansville, Indiana when a Kentucky Air National Guard Lockheed C-130B crashed during a training flight. At 9:53 a.m., February 6, 1992, a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130B military transport plane crashed at the site of a hotel and restaurant complex, located at U.S. Highway 41 and Lynch Road, less than one mile south of the Evansville Dress Regional Airport while performing routine pilot proficiency exercises. The crew consisted of 22
an experienced instructor pilot, two co-pilots, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster. The crash and resulting fire killed all five crew members and 11 civilians on the ground nine in the hotel and two in the adjacent restaurant. In addition to those who died at the scene, one of the emergency responders, an Evansville Police Officer, died February 24, as a result of injuries he sustained working at the crash site. The other members of the Kentucky Air National Guard crew killed in the crash were: MSgt. William G. Hawkins, MSgt. J ohn M. Medley, Major Richard A. Strang and 2nd Lt. Vincent D. Yancar. The civilian casualties in the incident were: Darrel D. Arnold; Charles R. Berqwitz; Robert A. Hayes; David W. Horton; Ronnie E. Keown; Matthew J . Prasek; Thomas R. Ruby; J ohn R. Stallings; Harry M. Tenbarge; Matthew Phipps; Lynette Scott and J ames Gibson, J r.
LaFon Jr., Harry R. Second Lieutenant Harry Ricker LaFon, J r. of Mercer County, born in Virginia, joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before they were activated in November 1940. He arrived at Fort Knox as a Private but quickly rose to Sergeant. After the Camp Polk maneuvers he resigned from the army and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell Cabanatuan. He was later sent to the Davao Penal Colony on the Island of Mindanao to work on a labor detail. He was put on board the Tateishi Maru for Manila. They were then transferred to the Shinyo Maru. The U.S.S Paddle attacked the unmarked prisoner transport off the west coast of Mindanao and he was lost when it sank on 7 September 1944. Langnehs, Bonnie L. First Lieutenant Bonnie L. Langnehs, 23, of Louisville, J efferson County died on J une 9, 1944 in France while serving with the Company C of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Langnehs joined Battery F of the 138th Field Artillery of the Kentucky National Guard in October 1940 as a private. He was inducted into federal active duty with his unit in December 1940. In October 1941 was relieved from active duty and returned to state status and was assigned to the state detachment of the active National Guard of Kentucky. At some point he returned to federal active duty with the Army Air Corps. He listed his civilian occupation as laborer. His awards and decorations include a Purple Heart. Leech, Joe Captain J oe Leech, 59, of Sedalia, Graves County, died 1 October 1945 while on federal active duty during World War II at the Kennedy General Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, of carcinoma of the stomach. Leech served on active duty from October 1917 to December 1918 at Camp Taylor as a Sergeant with the 159 th Depot Brigade, Quartermaster Corps at Camp Taylor, Louisville. Leech joined the 23
Kentucky National Guards Company L, 149 th Infantry, Mayfield, in February 1922 as a second lieutenant when it was formed. He was 36 and entered under an age waiver. Leech listed his civilian occupation as a farmer. Leech was promoted to Captain and made commander of Company L in August 1928. A letter of resignation by Leech to leave the Kentucky Guard due to business reasons in December 1933 was found in file but Leech was still serving as the company commander in August 1934 when an efficiency board found that Captain Leech has improved the efficiency of his company to a great degree during the past year in spite of serious handicap in the inadequacy and unfitness of armory at his home station and hostility of certain elements of the civilian population there. The mentioned hostility may refer to a robbery at the armory about a year before where weapons, clothing and equipment were stolen. Four arrests were apparently made and some property recovered but no record of the details or outcome has been found. In his report to the Adjutant General he stated that he was dealing with some very bad characters that are considered dangerous by local civil authorities and asked that a revolver be issued to him. There is no record showing if a weapon was indeed issued to him. When Company L was called to federal active duty on J anuary 17, 1941 Leech was the commander and continued in that role when they moved to Camp Shelby on federal active duty. He was part of the Louisiana Maneuvers serving as an umpire. The Louisiana Maneuvers were a series of military exercises held all over Northern and Western-Central Louisiana, in August and September 1941. The exercise was designed to evaluate US troop training, logistics, doctrine, and commanders. The Louisiana maneuvers involved half a million men, separated into 19 Army Divisions, taking place over 3400 square miles. Around 400,000 troops were divided into two equal armies of two made-up countries. Leech apparently became ill during this time and was hospitalized in New Orleans for a time. When he returned to duty he was sent to the Columbus, Mississippi Army Air Base to serve as the administrative officer. Leech had undergone an operation on his stomach a few weeks before his death and never fully recovered. He was home on leave but his condition worsened and he was admitted to the hospital in Memphis where he died. One of Captain Leechs lasts requests to his family, according to newspaper accounts, was to be buried in his Army uniform. Leonard, Frederick J. Master Sergeant Frederick J . Leonard of Campbell County died on 1 October 1945 of non combat related causes while serving with the Army in World War II. Research is ongoing.
Leonard, Hugh J. Private Hugh J . Leonard, 28, of Mercer County, enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before they were activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942. He survived the Bataan Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan and Davao, Mindanao. He was on three Hell Ships, Interisland Steamer, Transport 86 and Shinyo Maru. The U.S.S. Paddle attacked the unmarked prisoner transport off the west coast of Mindanao and he was lost when it sank on 7 September 1944.
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Leonard Jr., Fred C. Private Fred C. Leonard, J r., 23, of Mercer County, Headquarters Company, 192nd Light Tank Battalion joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit sometime before it was activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942. Leonard died on 28 J uly 1942 at Camp Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines of cerebral malaria.
Liles, William C First Sergeant William C. Liles, 32, of Ohio County, of Company H, 3rd Kentucky Infantry of Hartford, Ohio County, Kentucky died on February 20, 1917 after a three week illness with pneumonia at the Fort Bliss base hospital #2 while on active federal duty near El Paso. Liles joined Company H when it was formed in 1906. Liles listed his occupation as farmer. Liles was buried at the Mount Herman Methodist Church in No Creek, Ohio County.
Maddox, Kenneth G. First Lieutenant Kenneth G. Maddox of J efferson County joined the 38th Division's 138th Field Artillery in 1941. He was later assigned to the 28th Division. Following the Normandy invasion, his unit went to the front lines in France in 1944. By October, Maddox was in Germany. Employed on daily missions in the fall and winter campaigns, Maddox's troops moved to Luxembourg in November. Maddox was fatally wounded while commanding an anti-tank crew defending Clervaux, Luxembourg, December 18 during the Battle of the Bulge. He died Christmas Day in a German field hospital.
Mantell Jr., Thomas F. Captain Thomas F. Mantell J r., 25, of Louisville, J efferson County was killed in an aircraft accident on J anuary 7, 1948, while on training flight with three other P-51D Mustangs. Mantell was directed by flight tower at Godman Field to pursue an unidentified flying object. While in pursuit of object, he died in a plane crash near Franklin, Simpson County, Kentucky. He was also born in Franklin, Kentucky. CPT Mantell was the first flight casualty of the Kentucky Air National Guard. Mason, William M. Private William McKinley Mason of Livermore, McLean County died on 30 October 1918 while serving in the Army during World War I. Mason joined the Kentucky National Guards Company C of 3 rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment in February 1915 and served with his unit on the border during the Punitive Expedition. He was discharged due to a medical disability in J uly 25
1916. Mason enlisted again with Company C of 3 rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment in J uly 1917 after their return from border duty. At that time he listed his civilian occupation as laborer. At Camp Shelby, Mississippi he was assigned to Company K of the 7 th Infantry. He took part in the 2 nd Battle of Marne and the Argonne. He served overseas from J une 1918 until his death in October 1918. Mason was born in Oakland City, Indiana. He is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France. Matero, Christopher A. Technical Sergeant Christopher A. Matero, 31, of Indiana, a Combat controller for the 123d Special Tactics Flight of the Kentucky Air National Guard perished when a U.S. Air Force MC-130H crashed during a training flight in Puerto Rico 7 AUG 2002. Matero was training in Title 32 Status at the time of the incident. Pope Air Force Base near Fayetteville North Carolina named a road in honor of Matero and on April 18 2008 opened the new Combat Control School at No. 1 Matero Drive. Matero had served as an instructor at Combat Control School. Technical Sergeant Martin A. Tracy, of the 123d Special Tactics Flight also died in the same crash. Matero is buried in the St. Denis Cemetery in J unction, New York.
May, Martin Chief Warrant Officer 4 Martin May of Owensboro, Daviess County, died of a heart attack at Fort Hood, Texas at Annual Training on 14 March 1975. May, a technician and shop chief of the Owensboro Organizational Maintenance Shop (OMS) was a World War II veteran serving with the 3855th Quarter Master Company serving in the United States and Europe. He enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard's Company I, 149th Infantry in Owensboro in October 1946 and continued to serve with the unit as it transition to the Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Company of the 201st Engineer Battalion (C). He was promoted to Master Sergeant in August 1953 and became a Warrant Officer in J une 1954. May served in Korea from September 1951 to December 1952 and later with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 2nd Medium Tank Battalion of the 123rd Armor when the Owensboro's unit designation changed again. He served on Active Duty with his unit during the Berlin Crisis from October 1961 to August 1962. May was awarded the Legion of Merit posthumously. His other awards decorations include; World War II Victory Medal, Korean 26
Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Kentucky Commendation Ribbon, Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, Kentucky State Active Duty Ribbon and 30 Year Faithful Service Plaque. McHenry, Joseph M. Staff Sergeant J oseph Maurice McHenry of Owensboro, Daviess County, died on 22 J uly 1977 in a 1/4 Ton jeep accident during a convoy from Fort Hood, Texas to Home Station for the CSC, 2-123d Armor in Owensboro. McHenry and PFC Danny Rowan were traveling eastbound on Interstate 30 near Mt Vernon, in Franklin County Texas at approximately 1:10 p.m. local time when the left rear tire blew out causing the vehicle to go out of control. The two occupants were thrown from the vehicle. McHenry died a short time later from his injuries and Rowan, driving at the time of the accident, died at the scene. They had departed Ft Hood at 0600 to provide road guard and convoy control. McHenry served on active duty with the US Army from J uly 1968 to J uly 1970 with HHC 2-509th Infantry in Germany and from J uly 1970 until September 1970 in the US Army Reserve. He went back on active duty with the Army from September 1970 to September 1974 serving with A Troop of the 1-17th Cavalry. McHenry joined the Kentucky National Guard in November 1974 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant on 1 J uly 1977. McHenry's awards and decorations include Parachute Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Infantry Badge and the Good Conduct Medal. He was an employee of the Owensboro Brick and Tile Company. McIlvoy, Joseph R. Private First Class J oseph R. McIlvoy, Mackville, Washington County, of "C" Battery, 2d Battalion, 138th Field Artillery was killed on J une 19, 1969 at Firebase TOMAHAWK in Vietnam. The firebase was attacked during the early morning hours of J une 19, 1969 in a pouring rain by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers. Sappers infiltrated the base and during the attack threw some 150 satchel charges into the bunkers in addition to firing rocket propelled grenades. The battle went on some two hours before the NVA were forced to retreat. The attack destroyed an ammunition storage area, four of the six M-109 self-propelled howitzers, nine bunkers, the mess hall, dining tent, maintenance building, four ammunition carriers, three 2 1/2-ton trucks, two 3/4-ton trucks, and three jeeps. The Battery had nine men killed; five of them were from Bardstown and the other four were non-Guard replacements from various, non-Kentucky locations. The unit also suffered 37 wounded. A platoon of infantrymen from the 101st Airborne Division was providing perimeter security for the firebase and four of the 101st soldiers were killed and another 13 wounded.
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McKinney, Donnie P. Specialist 4 Donnie Paul McKinney of Marion, Crittenden County, died on J uly 26, 1986 when he was struck by lightning during training at Fort Campbell. McKinney was serving with A Company, 1st Battalion, 123rd Armor. Several other members of the unit were wounded in the same incident.
McMurry, William A. Sergeant First Class William Arnold McMurry, 40, of Lexington, Fayette County, died on Saturday, October 20, 1979 from a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at Ireland Army Hospital, Fort Knox, Kentucky. McMurry was a Chemical NCO with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade in Lexington. In his civilian career, he was a dispatcher for W. T. Congleton concrete company. At the time of his death, McMurry had 15 years and one month of service in the KYNG. His awards and decorations include the Armed Forces Reserve Medal; The Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; the Kentucky Service Ribbon with Bronze Cluster and the Kentucky National Guard Commendation Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. Medley, John M. Master Sergeant J ohn M. Medley, 38, of Louisville, J efferson County, perished on 6 February 1992 in Evansville, Indiana when a Kentucky Air National Guard Lockheed C-130B crashed during a training flight. Medley was employed by Kroger. At 9:53 a.m., February 6, 1992, a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130B military transport plane crashed at the site of a hotel and restaurant complex, located at U.S. Highway 41 and Lynch Road, less than one mile south of the Evansville Dress Regional Airport while performing routine pilot proficiency exercises. The crew consisted of an experienced instructor pilot, two co-pilots, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster. The crash and resulting fire killed all five crew members and 11 civilians on the ground nine in the hotel and two in the adjacent restaurant. In addition to those who died at the scene, one of the emergency responders, an Evansville Police Officer, died February 24, as a result of injuries he sustained working at the crash site. The other members of the Kentucky Air National Guard crew killed in the crash were: MSgt. William G. Hawkins, Capt Warren J . Klingaman, Maj Richard A. Strang and 2nd Lt. Vincent D. Yancar. The civilian casualties in the incident were: Darrel D. Arnold; Charles R. Berqwitz; Robert A. Hayes; David W. Horton; Ronnie E. Keown; Matthew J . Prasek; Thomas R. Ruby; J ohn R. Stallings; Harry M. Tenbarge; Matthew Phipps; Lynette Scott and J ames Gibson, J r. 28
Merkel, Lee J. Lieutenant Colonel Lee J . Merkel, 37, of J efferson County perished on 31 J anuary 1956 when the F-51 aircraft he was piloting crashed ten miles north of Bedford, Indiana. Merkel had previously served as wing commander, air technician and first base detachment commander as well as commander of the 123d Fighter Interceptor Group.
Miles, Edwin C. Private Edwin Eddie Clyde Miles, 17, of London, Laurel County, died on 17 J uly 1955 from an electrical shock when lightning struck a tree he was seeking shelter under during a storm while at Annual Training at Camp Breckinridge. Private First Class Carl William Cloud also of Laurel County was killed in the same incident. Miles was a member of Company D, 149th Infantry Regimental Combat Team of London, Kentucky. Miles enlisted on 19 J uly 1954 and had been in the Guard one day shy of a year when he was killed. Miles was still a junior attending Hazel Green High School in Laurel County. Miles is buried in the Swiss Colony Cemetery in London, KY. Miley, Hugh L. Sergeant Hugh L Miley, 26, of Louisville, J efferson County died on 26 October 1918 in a railroad collision in France while serving with Headquarters Co., 138th Field Artillery. Miley enlisted in Company D of the 1 st Kentucky Infantry in February of 1911 but left the unit in J anuary 1912. He listed his occupation as clerk with the J . M. Robinson and Norton & Co. He returned to the unit in April 1912 listing his profession as scholar and discharged April 1915. He returned to the unit again in J uly 1915 rising to the rank of Sergeant. He was called to federal active duty with his unit and served on the border during the Punitive Expedition. In September 1917 he transferred to the Headquarters Company of the 1 st Kentucky which later became Headquarters Company of the 138 th Field Artillery Regiment, 38 th Division where he started again as a private and rose to the rank of Sergeant in J anuary 1918. He served overseas with the 138 th from October 6, 1918 until his death just twenty days later in a railroad collision. Miley was born in Marion County. He is buried at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery -- Fere-en- Tardenois, France. His father, William H. Miley was a preacher and living in Davidson, North Carolina at the time of his death. He had been the pastor of the Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church from J anuary 1900 till November 1912. Miller, Elmer A. Private Elmer A. Miller, 24, of Lancaster, Garrard County died on 30 October 1918 of cerebro spinal meningitis while on Active Duty during World War I at Camp Taylor near Louisville serving with the 159th Depot Brigade. Before World War I he served with the Kentucky National Guards Company D of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry Regiment and 29
deployed with them to the border during the Punitive Expedition. Miller was inducted into federal service in Stanford on 26 Aug 1918. He was a native of Fond du Lac Wisconsin and is buried in the Buffalo Springs Cemetery in Stanford, Lincoln County. Miller, Huston G. Private Huston George Miller, Louisville, J efferson County, enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard on 16 November 1923 and served in Service Battery of the Field Artillery until his enlistment was up in December 1929. During World War II, Miller served in the US Navy from 15 Oct 1942 to 17 March 1945. Miller returned to the Kentucky Army National Guard enlisting on 29 J ul 1947 with Battery A of the 138th Field Artillery. Miller attended annual training with his unit beginning3 Aug 1947. He was serving KP duty in the mess hall and suffered a severe heat stroke on 6 Aug 1947 while working on a dishwashing machine. He was transported to the Fort Knox hospital where he perished. Million, Joseph B. Staff Sergeant J oseph Baxter Million, 26, of Mercer County, enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit at some time before they were activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942. He survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan #1, Batangas and Palawan Island. He died on 14 December 44 when he was burned to death during the Palawan Island Massacre along with his fellow Harrodsburg tanker Private Willard R. Yeast. POWs were sent to Palawan Island beginning in August 1942 to build an airfield. In October 1944, due to increasing sightings of allied aircraft and air raids the prisoners were allowed to construct shelters for protection. The J apanese expected an American invasion of Palawan and on December 14, 1944 the POWs were ordered into the air raid shelters and J apanese soldiers doused the wooden shelters with buckets of gasoline and set them afire with torches and grenades. They shot, bayoneted or clubbed to death nearly all POWs who were able to escape the burning shelters. The search and killing of fire survivors continued until dark. Some of the wounded were buried alive in mass graves. Of the 150 American POWs held in the Palawan prison camp on that day only 11 survived the ordeal. The victims remains were later returned to J efferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. Miracle, Andrew Private Andrew Miracle, 23, of Colman, Bell County died 29 September 1918 of lobar pneumonia while overseas on federal active duty during World War I. Miracle joined Kentucky National Guards Company H, 2 nd Kentucky Infantry in J une 1915 and was discharged for a disability in August 1916. He deployed with his unit to the border during the punitive expedition J une 1916 to February 1917. He was inducted into active federal service again in May 1918 and was assigned to the 28 th Company, 7 th Training Battalion, 159 th Depot Brigade at Camp Taylor until J une 1918. Transferred to Company A, 114 th Engineers until his death. Miracle arrived overseas August 22, 1918. At the time of his 1915 enlistment he reported his civilian occupation 30
as farmer. Miracle also served on the border during the Punitive Expedition with is unit. He is buried in the Turner Cemetery #03 in Bell County. Mitchell, Courtney L Courtney Leland Mitchell, 27, of Louisville, J efferson County died while serving on active duty during World War II. At the time of his death he was a First Lieutenant serving with the Army Air Corps 31st Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy. Mitchell joined Battery F, 138 th
Field Artillery of the Kentucky National Guard in J anuary 1938. At that time he listed his civilian occupation as truck driver. At the time he was inducted into active federal service with his unit in J anuary 1941, he had been promoted to Sergeant. In Special Orders No 43 dated 8 November 1941 SGT Mitchell was relieved from the active military service and returned to state status and control and assigned to the state detachment of the active national guard of Kentucky effective 9 November 1941. There is no indication of why. However special orders No 249 of the Headquarters of the Fifth Service Command Services and Supply at Fort Hayes, Columbus Ohio dated 8 October 1942 ordered Private Courtney L. Mitchell to report to the Reception Center at Ft Thomas Kentucky by 22 October 1942 again there is no indication of why. Montgomery, Ryan J. Sergeant Ryan J ay Montgomery, 22, of Greensburg, Green County, was killed on Sunday, J uly 3, 2005 in Iraq when his up-armored HUMVEE encountered an improvised explosive device while returning from a convoy escort mission near Baghdad. At the time of his death, Montgomery was assigned to Bravo Battery 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery, based in Campbellsville, Ky. His unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in November and deployed to Southwest Asia in J anuary 2005. Montgomery graduated from Green County High School and joined the military in September 2000 during his senior year of high school. Moore, James T. Sergeant J ames T. Moore, Bardstown, Nelson County, of "C" Battery, 2d Battalion, 138th Field Artillery was killed on J une 19, 1969 at Firebase TOMAHAWK in Vietnam. The firebase was attacked during the early morning hours of J une 19, 1969 in a pouring rain by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers. Sappers infiltrated the base and during the attack threw some 150 satchel charges into the bunkers in addition to firing rocket propelled grenades. The battle went on some two hours before the NVA were forced to retreat. The attack destroyed an ammunition storage area, four of the six M-109 self-propelled howitzers, nine bunkers, the mess hall, dining tent, maintenance building, four ammunition carriers, three 2 1/2-ton trucks, two 3/4-ton trucks, and three jeeps. The Battery had nine men killed; five of them were from Bardstown and the other four were non-Guard replacements from various, non- Kentucky locations. The unit also suffered 37 wounded. A platoon of infantrymen from the 101st Airborne Division was providing perimeter security for the firebase and four of the 101st soldiers were killed and another 13 wounded. 31
Owsley, Estel E. Capt. Estel E. Owsley, 32, of Middlesboro, Bell County, Company H. Second Kentucky Regiment of Middlesboro died at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 1917 of pneumonia at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on federal active duty. He took ill at Fort Thomas on Monday after the trip from El Paso to Kentucky as the unit returned from duty on the border during the Punitive Expedition. His unit was in the process of mustering out of federal duty and would have been home in another week. Owsley was a native of Rose Hill in Lee County Virginia. Owsley is buried in the Middlesboro Cemetery.
Parrott, John E. Sergeant J ohn Edward Parrott, 23, of Springfield, Washington County was killed on 14 September 1943 in Italy during World War II in a friendly fire incident. He was serving with Battery C of the 106 th Coast Artillery Anti Aircraft. Parrott joined Battery C of the 1065 th Separate Battalion Coast Artillery as a private in December 1940. At the time of his enlistment he listed farming as his civilian occupation. T/Sgt J oseph R. Carrico of Washington County was also killed in the same incident. Details of the event have not yet been discovered in our research. According to a contemporary news report of their deaths they saw combat in North Africa and participated in the Salerno landing in Italy. Parrott is buried in Saint Dominics Cemetery in Springfield. Phillips, Sammie E. Private First Class Sammie E. Phillips of Vine Grove, Hardin County, was killed on Monday, September 10, 2007 when his vehicle overturned while conducting a traffic control mission on a highway near Rustamiyah, Iraq. Phillips, 19, was assigned to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, based in Carlisle, Ky. Phillips joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in 2006 and deployed with his unit in August 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a 2006 graduate of North Hardin High School.
Potter, Darrin K. Sergeant Darrin K. Potter, 24, of Louisville, J efferson, County, was killed in Iraq on 29 September 2003. Potter was a member of a military police team in a four-vehicle convoy responding to reports of a mortar attack outside of Baghdad near Abu Ghraib Prison, in Iraq. Potter was a member of the 223rd Military Police Company serving with the 800th Military Police Brigade in Iraq. It was the Kentucky Guard's first combat-related death since the Vietnam War. 32
Powell, Glave T. Sergeant Glave Thomas Powell of Harrodsburg, Mercer County, died on J anuary 12, 1975 in an auto accident returning home from training. Powell enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard's Service Battery 2/138th FA BN on 25 J une 1970. Drill was dismissed early on the day of his death due to hazardous driving conditions. Powell left the armory and died in a single car accident on Parkers Mill Road returning home from drill and his death is therefore in the line of duty. Powell had previous military service with the US Air Force from J uly 1966 to J anuary 1970. HIs awards and decorations include: Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal and the Kentucky Service Ribbon. Powell perished in the same accident as his comrade Private First Class Timothy George Uhl. In his civilian life he was an employee of the Harrodsburg City Water Department. Powell, James H Private J ames H. Powell, 20, of Lexington, Fayette County was killed in action on 28 J uly 1918 at the Battle of Chateau Thierry, France. He enlisted in the Kentucky National Guards Company C, 2nd Kentucky Infantry in April 1917 where he served until J uly. He listed his civilian occupation as laborer and meat cutter for B. F. Perry. He listed a prior attempt to enlist in 1916 at Ft. Thomas but he was rejected due to being underweight. Powell is listed on the roster of Company I on the border with the Punitive Expedition J une 1916 to February 1917. He was then transferred to Company M of the 2 nd Kentucky in J uly 1917 which transitioned to Company M of the 149 th Infantry where he served until May 1918. He was part of the Camp Shelby Mississippi replacement draft with the 7 th Company, 1 st Infantry Training Regiment until J uly 1918. He was then assigned to Company K of the 165 th Infantry where he served until his death. Powell arrived overseas in J une of 1918. He may be buried in the Lexington National Cemetery in Fayette County. Preston, Everett R. Second Lieutenant Everett R. Preston, 25, of Mercer County, joined the Harrodsburg National Guard at some time before the unit was activated in November 1940. During his time on Bataan, Everett was assigned to C and A Companies. He was wounded on 2 February 1942 in an engagement against the J apanese and received the Purple Heart. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942. He survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan and Bilibid Prison. He was put aboard the Erie Maru for Davao on Mindanao. He was again put on board a Hell Ship, the Yashu Maru and taken to Cebu to Manila on the Singoto Maru back to Bilibid Prison. He was put on another Hell Ship, the Oryoku Maru bound for Takao, Formosa. The ship was attacked by Navy planes seventeen times before sunset and six bombs hit the ship. The next day the Navy resumed the attack. The POWs were finally swam ashore near Olongapa, Subic Bay, Luzon as the Navy planes realized it was a prisoner transport and stopped the attack. They surviving prisoners were moved by train to Manila and put aboard the Enoura Maru bound for Formosa. The ship was bombed and sunk by American planes on J anuary 13, 1945, while it was still docked. Two days later, he boarded the Brazil Maru enroute to Moji, J apan. By the time he arrived and was sent to Fukuoka Camp #1-D for work in the Onoda Coal Mine. He died of Acute 33
Enteritis on April 21, 1945. His remains were returned to J efferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis after the war. Ralph, Carl C First Sergeant Carl C. Ralph of Ohio County died during World War II. Research is ongoing.
Rogers, Timothy J. Private First Class Timothy J . Rogers, age 19, of Corbin, Whitley County, passed away on J uly 27, 2009, as the result of a traffic accident while on the way home from annual training. He was a member of Co. B, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry.
Ross, Richard L. Captain Richard Lee Ross, 32, of Prospect, J efferson County, died on 1 October 1950 in an aircraft accident near West Point Kentucky during a training flight. He was a member of the 165th Fighter Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard.
Roth Sr., James L. Technical Sergeant J ames Lawrence Roth of Louisville, J efferson County, a member of the 123d Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, died of a heart attack on 14 J une 1989 at work at the Air Base. Immediate aid was given but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was a full-time technician and NCOIC of the machine shop at the base at the time of his death. Roth joined the Kentucky Air National Guard in J une 1973 following active duty with the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Marine Corps in J uly 1966 as a private and was promoted to Sergeant before he left the Marine Corps in J uly 1970 as an aircraft structural mechanic. His awards and decorations include: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Air Crew Insignia, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Air Medal with two devices. 34
Rowan, Danny E. Private First Class Danny Edwin Rowan of Hartford, Ohio County, Died on 22 J uly 1977 in a 1/4 Ton jeep accident during a convoy from Fort Hood, Texas to Home Station for the CSC, 2- 123d Armor in Owensboro. Rowan and SSG J oseph M. McHenry were traveling eastbound on Interstate 30 near Mt Vernon, in Franklin County Texas at approximately 1:10 p.m. local time when the left rear tire blew out causing the vehicle to go out of control. Rowan, who was driving at the time of the accident, died at the scene and McHenry died a short time later from his injuries. Both were thrown from the vehicle during the accident. They had departed Ft Hood at 0600 to provide road guard and convoy control. Rowan served on active duty with the US Navy from J uly 1963 to J uly 1967 and in the US Navy Reserve from J uly of 1967 until J uly of 1969. Rowan joined the Kentucky National Guard in March 1977 as a Private First Class. Rowan's awards and decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Rowan worked for Crescent Mines in Central City. Rowe, William N. First Lieutenant William Neil Rowe, 23, of Louisville, J efferson County died on J anuary 27, 1945 at Luzon, Philippines. Rowe enlisted in Battery A of the 138 th Field Artillery in October 1939. He was still attending high school at the time. His records show he served with Company G from August 1938 to September 1938 and again with Company H or N from August 1939 to September 1939. He was promoted to Corporal in August 1940 and inducted into federal service with his unit in J anuary 1941. Research is continuing. Rue, Archibald B. Second Lieutenant Archibald B. Arch Rue, 29, of Mercer County, joined the Harrodsburg National Guard with his brother Edwin some time before the unit was activated in November 1941. He was taken prisoner on April 9, 1941. He survived the Death March and was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. He was sent to Bilibid Prison as and eventually put on board the Oryoku Maru for transport to J apan. The ship was attacked by Navy planes seventeen times before sunset and six bombs hit the ship. The next day the Navy resumed the attack. The POWs were finally swam ashore near Olongapa, Subic Bay, Luzon as the Navy planes realized it was a prisoner transport and stopped the attack. They surviving prisoners were moved by train to Manila and put aboard the Enoura Maru bound for Formosa. The ship was bombed and sunk by American planes on J anuary 13, 1945, while it was still docked. Two days later, he boarded the Brazil Maru enroute to Moji, J apan. By the time he arrived and was sent to Fukuoka Camp #22 but soon was ill. He died of Acute Enteritis on April 21, 1945. After the war, at the request of his family, his remains were returned to the United States and buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Ruiz, Eugene L. First Lieutenant Eugene Louis Ruiz, 28, of Louisville, J efferson County, died when his aircraft was shot down in Korea on J uly 2, 1951 on federal active duty. Ruiz was the first combat casualty of the Kentucky Air National Guard. Ruiz was the pilot of an F-51D Mustang 35
fighter (#44-73842) with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. While on a combat mission, his aircraft caught fire and crashed 15 miles west of Chorwon, Korea. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Ruizs award and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Sallee, Hezakiah F. Sergeant Hezakiah Franklin "Heze" Sallee, 23, of Mercer County, enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit with his brother J ames at some point before the unit was activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan. He was put aboard the Hell Ship Clyde Maru and sent to J apan in August 1943. He was sent to Fukuoka #17 where he worked in a coal mine. He died on 6 J une 1944 from a fractured skull he received in a coal mine accident.
Sallee, James W. Private J ames William Sallee, 28, of Mercer County joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit with his brother Heze some time before the unit was activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. He was put on the Hell Ship Arisan Maru and died on 24 October 1944 when the ship was sunk.
Sanders, Roger M. Captain Roger Moss Sanders, 31, of Louisville, J efferson county died on 14 Sep 1971 when the RF-101 Voodoo he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff. He was able to eject but did not survive his injuries from the incident. Sanders was taking off simultaneously with another aircraft as part of a night refueling exercise. The other aircraft landed safely in Indiana. Sanders was born in Shreveport Louisiana and moved to Frankfort graduating from the Frankfort High School in Frankfort, Kentucky. Sanders attended the University of Kentucky graduating 36
with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering in 1962. While at UK he spent two years in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He also attended one year of law school. Sanders reported his civilian occupation as bridge design engineer and later as a manager with Bell Telephone Company. Sanders enlisted in the Kentucky Air National Guard in J anuary of 1964 as photo helper rising to the rank of Airman 3 rd Class before he accepted a commission as an officer in February 1965. Sanders served on federal active duty with his unit during the Pueblo Crisis from J an 1968 J une 1969 which included duty in Korea from J anuary through April of 1969. At the time of his death he was a Captain and a pilot in the 165 th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Medal and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Sanders is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville Sawyer, Robert W. Capt Robert Wychwood Buz Sawyer, 30, of Nashville, Tennessee was killed after ejecting from his disabled RF-101C Voodoo (aircraft #56-010) near Kansas City, Missouri on 5 August 1968. According to newspaper accounts his parachute did not deploy sufficiently to arrest his fall due to his altitude when he ejected. Sawyer likely stayed at the controls of his disabled aircraft to steer it away from populated areas before ejecting. Early accounts suggested a midair collision with a private aircraft but those reports were not substantiated at the time. Sawyer was on a local reconnaissance training flight when the incident occurred. He was a member of the 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the Kentucky Air National Guard on federal duty at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base during the Pueblo Crisis. Sawyer was born in Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada. He received his commission as an officer through the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Buffalo where he earned his Bachelor degree in economics in 1959. Sawyer went on active duty with the Air Force in J uly 1957 and after pilot training served with the 328 th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Richard-Gebaur Air Force Base and the 317 th Fighter interceptor squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska until August 1966 when he left active duty. Sawyer joined the Kentucky Air National Guard in J uly 1967 and was a pilot with American Airlines at the time he was called to federal active duty during the Pueblo Crisis. He is buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York. Scanlon Jr., Jennings B. Sergeant J ennings Bryan Scanlon J r., 20, of Mercer County, Headquarters Company, 192nd Light Tank Battalion was taken prisoner on 9 April 1941 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan #1 Nueva Ecija, Philippines where he died of dysentery on 8 J une 1942.
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Scott, Grover C Sergeant Grover C. Scott, 23, of Fayette County died on the border during the punitive Expedition of pneumonia at the Fort Bliss hospital on 22 J anuary 1917. He was serving on federal active duty near El Paso, Texas with Co C 2 KY Inf during the Punitive Expidetion. He enlisted in his unit in J anuary 1912. Sherrill, James A. Sergeant J ames Alexander Sherrill, 27, of Ekron, Meade County, was killed Sunday April 3, 2005, in Bayji, Iraq, when his armored medium truck encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Sherrill was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2113th Transportation Company, Paducah, Ky. This unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in December 2004 and deployed to Southwest Asia in J anuary 2005. Shewmaker, John W. Captain J ohn William Shewmaker of Harrodsburg, Mercer County, was a pilot with the 165th Fighter Squadron for several years and went to Korea with the 111th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and was killed while flying an escort mission over North Korea on a bombing raid on 23 October 1951. He was classified missing in action until the end of 1953. The Kentucky Air National Guard base was named Shewmaker Air National Guard Base in his honor on 17 February 1959 with a public ceremony in J une 1960. The name was ordered changed in 1976 with the new designation of Standiford Field (ANG). Sigley Jr., Randolph A. Sergeant Randolph Alonzo Sigley, J r., 28, of Richmond, Madison County, was found dead in his quarters on 18 April 2010 at the Bagram Afghanistan airbase where he was serving with the Kentucky Army National Guard's 2123rd Transportation Company. A member of the Kentucky Army National Guard since 2006, Sigley also had a previous tour of duty in Afghanistan during his service with the Marine Corps (2000-2004).
Simon, Vincent D. Second Lieutenant Vincent Simon, age 30, of Glasgow, Barren County, died on 15 September 1984 at Fort Knox, Kentucky in the line of duty 38
while on inactive duty for training (IDT). He was a member of Battery C, 1-623rd Field Artillery based in Monticello. He died from injuries he received when the military vehicle, an M-151 1/4 ton "J eep" he was operating was involved in an accident. He was a graduate of Western Kentucky University and was a Civil Engineer in his civilian life with J . N. Gray Construction Company in Glasgow. He joined the US Army in 1972 after high school and rose to the rank of Specialist 5 before leaving the Army and joining the Kentucky Army National Guard in December 1975. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He graduated the Boone Raiders course in 1983 and graduated from the Kentucky Military Academy's Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 8 J uly 1984, just a few weeks before his death. His awards and decorations include: National Defense Service Medal; Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development with 3 device; Army Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; Kentucky Commendation Medal and Kentucky Service Medal. Simpson, Ronald E. Specialist 4 Ronald E. Simpson, Bardstown, Nelson County, of "C" Battery, 2d Battalion, 138th Field Artillery was killed on J une 19, 1969 at Firebase TOMAHAWK in Vietnam. The firebase was attacked during the early morning hours of J une 19, 1969 in a pouring rain by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers. Sappers infiltrated the base and during the attack threw some 150 satchel charges into the bunkers in addition to firing rocket propelled grenades. The battle went on some two hours before the NVA were forced to retreat. The attack destroyed an ammunition storage area, four of the six M-109 self- propelled howitzers, nine bunkers, the mess hall, dining tent, maintenance building, four ammunition carriers, three 2 1/2-ton trucks, two 3/4-ton trucks, and three jeeps. The Battery had nine men killed; five of them were from Bardstown and the other four were non-Guard replacements from various, non-Kentucky locations. The unit also suffered 37 wounded. A platoon of infantrymen from the 101st Airborne Division was providing perimeter security for the firebase and four of the 101st soldiers were killed and another 13 wounded. Smith, William L. Lieutenant Colonel William Leo Smith of Louisville, J efferson County, died on 27 November 1968 in an aircraft accident when the UH-1 Helicopter he was a passenger on crashed off the coast of Kangnung, Korea in the Sea of J apan while he was on extended active duty. Smith joined the Kentucky Army National Guard's Battery C of the 138th Field Artillery Battalion in Louisville in February 1949. He left the Guard in J anuary 1954 as a Private. Apparently after a break in service of an undetermined time he returned to the Kentucky Army National Guard and the Field Artillery as an officer and eventually went onto federal active duty. Kentucky Special Orders Number 111 separated him from the Army National Guard effective 27 November 1968, his presumed date of death, from an extra TOE position. Weather was probably a factor in the crash with flying conditions at the time described as marginal with a heavy cloud cover from 700' to 9,000'. An AP story at the time states that the aircraft was returning from a routine "service mission" that afternoon. Dropped off radar at approx 4 p.m. The aircraft, assigned to the 6th Aviation Platoon, I Corps, US Army, was returning to its base at Kangnung, located approximately 100 miles east of Seoul. Search and rescue operations failed to locate the missing 39
aircraft and were called off on December 4. He is listed as having died of non-hostile causes. His death occurred while the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery (Louisville, Bardstown, Elizabethtown, and Carrollton) was serving in Vietnam. It is unknown if his deployment was in any way associated with the 2nd, 138th. Snowden Jr., Lonnie L. First Lieutenant Lonnie Lawrence Snowden J r. of Louisville, J efferson County died in a plane crash on October 5, 1945. He is listed as body not recovered. Snowden enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard in J uly 1940 joining Headquarters Company of the 149 th Infantry. His records show that he had attended one year of college. At the time of his death, Snowden was serving with the 869th Bombardment Squadron, 497th Bombardment Group, 73rd Bombardment Wing. Unofficial documentation places Snowden as copilot on a Boeing B-29A Super fortress, 44- 61663, "The Fickle Finger of Fate" piloted by Capt. Dick Fate. The aircraft took off on October 5, 1945 from Saipan for Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands on its way home to the States after the end of World War II. Conflicting reports have been found citing an oil leak or a failed engine that caused their decision to return to Saipan where they crashed on Kobler Field, Northern Mariana Islands, during a typhoon or strong cross winds. In addition to the crew lost on the aircraft there were 9 passengers. Research is ongoing. Somerville, Claude D. Claude D. Somerville, 19, of Portland, Tennessee took ill on 7 March 1917 and was admitted to the Louisville city hospital where he perished on 25 March 1917 from surgical complications. He apparently became ill with measles and later developed pneumonia while still on federal active duty. He somewhat recovered from the pneumonia only to became ill from emphysema which led to an acute dilation of the heart due to general septicemia an infection of the blood. He enlisted in Company M of the Third Regiment of the Kentucky National Guard in Franklin, Kentucky on 13 October 1916. Portland is only 11 miles from Franklin. He died shortly after returning from federal active duty on the Mexican Border during the Punitive Expedition. He was laid to rest in the Somerville Cemetery in Robertson County, Tennessee. Speer, Leslie T. Second Lieutenant Leslie Thomas Speer, 22, of J effersontown, J efferson County was killed in action on 6 February 1945 in Rovereto Italy serving as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces 447th Bombardment Squadron, 321st Bombardment Group, Medium, 57th Bombardment Wing aboard a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber . When he perished Speer was copilot on a mission against the Crema Rail Bridge in northern Italy. His aircraft, 43-36240, named the May Be was severely damaged by heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire (flak). The pilot, Capt Earl H. Remmel and Copilot Speer were able to control the aircraft long enough for 5 crew members to bail out, before the plane inverted and 40
crashed into a hill at the North End of Lake Garda near Rovereto. The five crew members were captured as German Prisoners Of War, and eventually freed. He is buried in Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy and has an in memory of stone in the J effersontown Cemetery. His awards and decorations included the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart. Speer joined the Kentucky National Guards Headquarters Company of the 149th Infantry in J uly 1940. At that time he listed his civilian occupation as laborer. Stamper, Larue CW2 Larue Stamper of J ackson, Breathitt County died of a heart attack on 26 February 1982 while on the advance detachment for annual training in Meridian, Mississippi enroute to Camp Shelby. He was a member of the 207th Engineer Company. Stamper joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in May 1954 serving until September 1954. He joined the US Army in March 1955 until March 1957. He then was transferred to the US Army Reserve Control Group till November 1958 when he returned to the Kentucky Army National Guard until November 1965. He returned to the Kentucky Army National Guard in October 1973 serving to May 1979 as First Sergeant. He then became a Warrant Officer rising to Chief Warrant Officer Two at the time of his death. HIs awards and decorations included the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Kentucky Service Ribbon; Kentucky Commendation Ribbon and the Kentucky State Active Duty Ribbon. Stanfill, Glenn S. Sergeant Glenn Scott Stanfill of Perry County sustained fatal injuries when the HUMMWV (M998) he was driving was struck by a tractor- trailer on the Hal Rogers Parkway just East of Manchester, Kentucky on 12 March 2004. SGT Stanfill was in route to the East Kentucky Training Site EKTS-A (Artemus) with B Company 206th Engineer Battalion Hazard, Kentucky Army National Guard as part of a Battalion Field Training Exercise (FTX).
Steele, Herbert C. Private Herbert C. Steele, 23, of Mercer County of Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion died on 13 J une 1942 at Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines of dysentery. Steele enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit at some time before they were activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March.
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Strang, Richard A. Major Richard Allen Strang, 39, of Floyds Knobs, Floyd County, Indiana perished on 6 February 1992 in Evansville, Indiana when a Kentucky Air National Guard Lockheed C-130B crashed during a training flight. At 9:53 a.m., February 6, 1992, a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130B military transport plane crashed at the site of a hotel and restaurant complex, located at U.S. Highway 41 and Lynch Road, less than one mile south of the Evansville Dress Regional Airport while performing routine pilot proficiency exercises. The crew consisted of an experienced instructor pilot, two co-pilots, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster. The crash and resulting fire killed all five crew members and 11 civilians on the ground nine in the hotel and two in the adjacent restaurant. In addition to those who died at the scene, one of the emergency responders, an Evansville Police Officer, died February 24, as a result of injuries he sustained working at the crash site. He was a pilot for United Parcel Service and a member of the International Pilots Association. He left the Air Force in J uly 1990 and joined the Guard in December 1990. He is buried at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Tyner, Indiana The other members of the Kentucky Air National Guard crew killed in the crash were: MSgt William G. Hawkins, Capt Warren J . Klingaman, MSgt. J ohn M. Medley, and 2nd Lt. Vincent D. Yancar. The civilian casualties in the incident were: Darrel D. Arnold; Charles R. Berqwitz; Robert A. Hayes; David W. Horton; Ronnie E. Keown; Matthew J . Prasek; Thomas R. Ruby; J ohn R. Stallings; Harry M. Tenbarge; Matthew Phipps; Lynette Scott and J ames Gibson, J r. Terhune, Yandell First Sergeant Yandell Terhune, 22, of Mercer County enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time prior to the activation in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan #1. He died of dysentery on 12 J uly 1942 at Cabanatuan #1 Nueva Ecija, Philippines.
Thompson, James R. Lieutenant Colonel J ames Robert Thompson, 44, Louisville, J efferson County, died on 24 May 1976 while at annual training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi of a heart attack. A native of Marion County, Thompson was found dead in his quarters. Efforts to resuscitate him were not successful. Thompson was a veteran of the Korean War serving from Dec 1951 to Aug 1952 as a Private First Class with Service Battery of the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion. Thompson first enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard in February 1949. He accepted a commission as an officer in the 623rd in J uly of 1955. He also served in the 4th 42
Howitzer Bn, the 5th Target Acquisition Battery and the HHB of the XXIII Corps Artillery. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; Kentucky State Active Duty Ribbon, Kentucky Service Ribbon and the Kentucky 20 Years Service Plaque. His military papers list his birth date as 24 J une 1931. Thompson is buried at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery in Louisville in section 17.
Toth, Eric L. Sergeant Eric Lee Toth, 21 of Edmonton, Metcalfe County, was killed on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 in Iraq when his HUMVEE encountered a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while returning from an escort patrol for a convoy along the main supply route in Baghdad. Toth joined the National Guard in May 2001. He was assigned to Alpha Battery 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery, based in Tompkinsville, Ky. This unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in November and deployed to Southwest Asia in J anuary 2005. Toth was a 2001 graduate of Metcalfe County High School. Tracy Martin A. Technical Sergeant Martin A. Tracy, 33, of Louisville, J efferson County, a Combat controller for the 123d Special Tactics Flight of the Kentucky Air National Guard perished when a U.S. Air Force MC- 130H crashed during a training flight in Puerto Rico 7 AUG 2002.
Trisler, Edward V. Corporal Edward Vivion Trisler, 21, of Mercer County, of Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time prior to the activation in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp ODonnell and Cabanatuan #1. He died of dysentery at Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija, Philippines on December 23, 1942.
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Turner, Owen W. First Lieutenant Owen W. Turner, 29, of Pleasure Ridge, J efferson County died when his burning plane crashed near Piedmont, Alabama on 28 J anuary 1957 some sixty miles west of Atlanta. Turner was flying a T-28 from the Naval Air Station at Atlanta for a navigational proficiency flight to Standiford Field. Turner decided to return to Atlanta because of worsening weather conditions in his flight path. Turner joined the KyANG in 1948 and was a member of the 165th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Uhl, Timothy G. Private First Class Timothy George Uhl of Lexington, Fayette County, died on J anuary 12, 1975 in an auto accident returning home from training. Uhl enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard's Service Battery 2/138th FA BN on 19 Dec 1974. Drill was dismissed early on only his second ever day of drill due to hazardous driving conditions. Uhl left the armory and died in a single car accident on Parkers Mill Road returning home from drill and his death is therefore in the line of duty. Uhl, a native of California, had previous military service with the US Air Force from J uly 1965 to J anuary 1969. Uhl perished in the same accident as his comrade Sergeant Glave Thomas Powell.
Van Arsdall, George A. First Lieutenant George A. J immy Van Arsdall, 32, of Mercer County, Headquarters Company, 192nd Light Tank Battalion died on 12 J anuary 1945 when the "Hell Ship" Enoura Maru was sunk. Van Arsdale joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before the activation in November 1940. In early 1941, he was transferred to Headquarters Company. He was taken prisoner on 11 April 1942 and put on trucks to Mariveles. He survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. He was later taken to Bilibid Prison and put onboard the Oryoku Maru for transport to J apan. Enroute the ship was attacked by Navy planes seventeen times before sunset and six bombs hit the ship. The next day the Navy resumed the attack. The POWs swam ashore near Olongapa, Subic Bay, Luzon as the Navy planes realized it was a prisoner transport and stopped the attack. They surviving prisoners were moved by train to Manila and put aboard the Enoura Maru bound for Formosa. The ship was bombed and sunk by American planes on J anuary 12, 1945, while it was still docked. He died during the attack and subsequent sinking. After the war the remains of the American soldiers who died in the sinking of the Enoura Maru were exhumed and reburied in the Punch Bowl in Hawaii. Vaughan, Manley Private Manley Vaughan of Lawrence County, Troop C, 53rd Machine Gun Squadron, Cavalry, Louisa, Kentucky, was killed near Borderland W. Va., on May 25, 1921. Kentucky National Guard soldiers from Louisa, Morehead and London were on state active duty from May 14, to 44
J une 4, 1921 along the Kentucky West Virginia Border in connection with a coal strike in the Tug River District. At approximately 10 p.m. on May 25, 1921, a West Virginal State Policeman reported some sixty shots fired on the Kentucky shore of the Tug River below Nolan West Virginia. LT. Fred See of the Kentucky National Guard was stationed nearby in Pike County and asked by the West Virginia State Police to reconnoiter and try to end the disruption. There was a coal strike in progress in the area and martial law was in effect and the shots were apparently fired across the river in the direction of the Big Splint mining camp in West Virginia where the United Mine Workers union had erected a tent camp to house the striking miners. Lieutenant See and seven men, including Vaughn, set out to investigate. They crossed the river at Borderland into West Virginia due to heavy rains making roads nearly impassable, he planned to follow the railroad track and cross back to the Kentucky side below Nolan to get to the site of the disturbance. At Nolan he was joined by an unknown number of West Virginia State Police and they proceeded down the track. Hearing a group of men coming up the track, Lieutenant See and his men advanced and stopped four men. When ordered to put up their hands, two men cooperated. Soldiers were searching the individuals for weapons when Vaughan and a West Virginia State Police Officer Charles M. Kackley were shot in the head from behind. Both were killed. One of the union miners in the group escaped in the darkness but was recaptured the next day. Wallace, Daniel Sergeant Daniel Wallace, 27 of Dry Ridge, Grant County, Kentucky was killed on Friday, October 31, 2008 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces while conducting a route clearing mission to remove improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in West Paktika Province, Afghanistan. Wallace was a member of Company C, 201st Engineer Battalion based in Cynthiana and serving with Company B from Olive Hill in Afghanistan. Wallace was serving as a gunner on a Mine- Resistant, Armor-Protected vehicle (MRAP) when they came under small-arms fire mortally wounding Wallace. The 201st mobilized in March 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan in May 2008. Wallace enlisted in the KYNG in May of 2006. Wells, John W. Private J ohn W. Wells, 21, of Henderson, Henderson County died on 9 October 1918 while on active duty serving with Company A of the 116 th Engineers, 2nd Engineer Regiment, 2nd Division during World War I. Wells joined the Kentucky National Guards Company B, 1 st
Battalion of the 3 rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment in December 1915 and served as a cook. Wells was born in Beaver Dam and at the time of his enlistment reported his occupation as carriage trimmer. His unit transitioned to Company 2 of the Training Battalion of the 149 th Infantry where he served until October 1917. He then transferred to Company D of the 149 th Infantry on May 1918. He was part of the Camp Shelby replacement Draft until J uly 1918 when he was assigned to Company A of the 116 th Engineers. Wells is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France. 45
White, Delmar Staff Sergeant Delmar White, Lexington, Fayette County, was killed on Sunday, September 2, 2007 by an improvised explosive device while on a convoy escort mission in Baghdad, Iraq. White, 37, was assigned to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, based in Carlisle, Ky. White was a corrections officer with Lexington Fayette Urban County Government and deployed with his unit in August 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in 1998. Williams, Bill y J. Major Billy J oe Williams, 40, of Marion, Crittenden County, died from enemy fire in the line of duty on 6 May 1970 in Vietnam. He began his tour in Vietnam on 5 August 1969 with Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) Advance Team 3. His name is on the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the US Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Williams had a long and varied military career beginning in the Navy from April 1946 to February 1948 as a fireman second class. Williams attended Washington University in St. Louis and was a member of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) from September 1948 to May 1949. Williams left college after his first year and lived with family in Ashland where he enlisted in Company G of the 149th Infantry in August 1949 and served until J uly 1950 when he left the unit due to a change in residence to Detroit. When he enlisted he listed his civilian occupation as railroad switchman. At some point Williams moved to Marion and served the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a Truck Master from Mar 1951 to May 1952. He was promoted to sergeant and served with D Company, 7th Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California. Williams returned to the Kentucky Guard enlisting in Battery C, 640th Field Artillery Observation Battalion in Marion from J une 1955 to November 1956 serving as a Radar Chief when he accepted a commission as a second lieutenant. During this time Williams founded and operated Williams Department Store in Marion. First Lieutenant Williams was ordered to active duty with his unit, Marions D Company, 3d Medium Tank Battalion (Patton), 123d Armor on 1 October 1961 during the Berlin Crisis serving at Fort Knox. Williams decided to remain on active duty at the end of the tour in August 1962 and was assigned to a slot in the state headquarters of the Kentucky Guard while he was on active duty. Williams was promoted to Captain in November 1963 and Major in November 1968 while on extended active duty. Willis Jr., Edward G Private Edward George Willis J r., 24, of Mercer County, Headquarters Company, 192nd Light Tank Battalion died on 3 J uly 1942 at Camp Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines of dysentery. Private Edward George Willis enlisted in the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before it was activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942 and survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan.
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Witty, Kenneth Private Kenneth Witty, 18, of Hopkinsville, Christian County, died while on federal active duty of Typhoid Pneumonia at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on 15 J uly 1916. He was part of the Kentucky National Guard contingent called to federal duty to patrol a sixty mile stretch of the border between Fort Bliss and Fort Hancock during the Punitive Expedition. He enlisted in Company D, 1st Battalion of the 3rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment on 21 J une 1916 and listed his civilian occupation at that time as a clerk. Wittys body was accompanied home by Second Lieutenant Cecil Armstrong of Company D. He was laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery in Hopkinsville. Armstrong himself died from an illness while on active duty with his unit in Lexington on 20 September 1917. Wray, James A. SGT J ames Allen Wray, 27, Nelson County, formerly Battery C 2-138th Artillery, was killed on 2 J uly 1969 in Vietnam while serving with Battery B, 1st Bn 40th Artillery, 108th Art Group.
Wright, Walter F. Lieutenant Colonel Walter Franklin Wright of J efferson County died at Camp Shelby, MS while on active duty during World War II with the 38 th Division on 20 J anuary 1942 of heart failure. Research is ongoing.
Yancar, Vincent D. Lieutenant Vincent D. Yancar, 25, of Louisville, J efferson County, perished on 6 February 1992 in Evansville, Indiana when a Kentucky Air National Guard Lockheed C-130B crashed during a training flight. At 9:53 a.m., February 6, 1992, a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130B military transport plane crashed at the site of a hotel and restaurant complex, located at U.S. Highway 41 and Lynch Road, less than one mile south of the Evansville Dress Regional Airport while performing routine pilot proficiency exercises. The crew consisted of an experienced instructor pilot, two co-pilots, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster. The crash and resulting fire killed all five crew members and 11 civilians on the 47
ground nine in the hotel and two in the adjacent restaurant. In addition to those who died at the scene, one of the emergency responders, an Evansville Police Officer, died February 24, as a result of injuries he sustained working at the crash site. Yancar is buried at the Serenity Gardens Memorial Park in Largo, Florida. The other members of the Kentucky Air National Guard crew killed in the crash were: MSgt William G. Hawkins, Capt Warren J . Klingaman, MSgt. J ohn M. Medley, and Maj Richard A. Strang. The civilian casualties in the incident were: Darrel D. Arnold; Charles R. Berqwitz; Robert A. Hayes; David W. Horton; Ronnie E. Keown; Matthew J . Prasek; Thomas R. Ruby; J ohn R. Stallings; Harry M. Tenbarge; Matthew Phipps; Lynette Scott and J ames Gibson, J r. Yeast, Willard R. Private Willard R. Yeast, 29, of Mercer County joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before they were activated in November 1940. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1941. He survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan, Batangas and Palawan Island. He died on 14 December 1944 when he was burned to death during the Palawan Island Massacre along with his fellow Harrodsburg tanker Staff Sergeant J oseph B. Million. POWs were sent to Palawan Island beginning in August 1942 to build an airfield. In October 1944, due to increasing sightings of allied aircraft and air raids the prisoners were allowed to construct shelters for protection. The J apanese expected an American invasion of Palawan and on December 14, 1944 the POWs were ordered into the air raid shelters and J apanese soldiers doused the wooden shelters with buckets of gasoline and set them afire with torches and grenades. They shot, bayoneted or clubbed to death nearly all POWs who were able to escape the burning shelters. The search and killing of fire survivors continued until dark. Some of the wounded were buried alive in mass graves. Of the 150 American POWs held in the Palawan prison camp on that day only 11 survived the ordeal. The victims remains were later returned to J efferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.
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Name Policy Official Policy for Inclusion of Names on the Kentucky National Guard Memorial
It is the intent of the Board of Directors to include on the memorial the names of those who have perished in the line of duty in performance of their military duties with the Kentucky National Guard from March 1912 to present in any duty status.
Those whose name may be included on the Memorial: Any member of the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard who died on Title 32 status such as annual training, drill or Technician duty status in performance of their military duties. Any member of the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard who died on State Active Duty status in performance of their military duties. Any member of the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard who was mobilized directly from the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard to Title 10 Active Duty and who died while in that status in performance of their military duties. Technicians who are members of the Kentucky National Guard who die while in Technician duty status in performance of their military duties. Any member of the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard who died, within one year, of injuries sustained in performance of their military duties on Title 32 Duty, State Active Duty or Title 10 Active Duty. The death must be considered in the line of duty and must have been in performance of their military duties. For those who do not have the appropriate documentation, every effort will be made to assist them in locating sources for the information needed to make a determination. Newspaper accounts may be acceptable in some circumstances if no other military documentation can be found.
All information regarding the inclusion of an individual on the memorial will be verified by the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc to the extent possible. The Board of directors will have final approval of all names to be placed on the Memorial. Decisions may be reconsidered at the boards discretion particularly if new documentation becomes available.
Revised 24 J une 2010
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Glossary Bataan Death March The Battle of Bataan ended on April 9, 1942, when U.S. forces surrendered to the J apanese and 12,000 Americans became prisoners of war. Prisoners were held for three days and nights with no food or water before beginning a 25 mile march across the Bataan Peninsula to Balanga. From there they were marched north to Camp ODonnell. The march lasted from 9-23 April. The prisoners were given little food or water, and the J apanese guards shot or bayoneted any who fell, attempted escape, or stopped to drink at a roadside puddle. The J apanese guards killed between 7,000 and 10,000 men on the Death March. HMMWV High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle Punitive Expedition the Kentucky National Guard was called to federal active duty to patrol a sixty mile stretch of the border between Fort Bliss and Fort Hancock Texas during the Mexican Expedition or Punitive Expedition from J une 1916 to February 1917. The federal action was a result of Mexican revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa attack on the town of Columbus, New Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. The Kentucky Troops would be again called to federal active duty for World War I just a few months later in 1917.
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Index by County Anderson County Cubert, Clinton W. ................................ 11 J ones, Charles J . .................................... 21 Barren County Simon, Vincent D.................................. 38 Bell County Miracle, Andrew ................................... 30 Owsley, Estel E. .................................... 31 Boyd County Hacker, Robert S. .................................. 15 Breathitt County Stamper, Larue ...................................... 41 Bullitt County Brown, Harold M. ................................... 4 Butler County Hayes, Michael R. ................................. 17 Calloway County Hale, Nathaniel G.................................. 16 Campbell County Hehman, Thomas L. .............................. 18 Leonard, Frederick J . ............................ 24 Carroll County Chappel, Luther M. ................................. 8 Christian County Armstrong, Cecil P.................................. 2 Witty, Kenneth ...................................... 47 Crittenden County Hughes, Marvin W. ............................... 20 McKinney, Donnie P. ........................... 27 Williams, Billy J . .................................. 46 Daviess County May, Martin .......................................... 26 McHenry, J oseph M. ............................. 27 Fayette County McMurry, William A. ........................... 28 Powell, J ames H. ................................... 33 Scott, Grover C. .................................... 38 Uhl, Timothy ......................................... 44 White, Delmar ....................................... 46 Garrard County Miller, Elmer A. .................................... 29 Grant County Wallace, Daniel ..................................... 45 Graves County Leech, J oe ............................................. 23 Grayson County Allers III, William A. .............................. 1 Clemons, Thomas W. .............................. 8 Green County Montgomery, Ryan J . ............................ 31 Hardin County Bentley, William D. ................................ 3 Phillips, Sammie E. ............................... 32 Henderson County Wells, J ohn ............................................ 45 Hopkins County Brown, Thomas J . ................................... 5 Indiana Floyds Knobs - Strang, Richard A. ....... 42 Matero, Christopher A. ......................... 26 J efferson County Adamkavicius, Clayton L. ...................... 1 Atkinson, David A. ................................. 2 Carr, Bertram A. ..................................... 7 Conder, George C. ................................ 10 Hargraves, George M. ........................... 16 Harris J r. Arthur F. ................................ 16 Heines, Donald J . .................................. 17 Herman Sr., J ack L................................ 18 Hudson, Richard L. ............................... 19 J ohnson J r., Alexander E. ..................... 20 Kehrer, Merlin R. .................................. 22 Kelly, Lawrence B. ............................... 22 Klingaman, Warren G. .......................... 22 Langnehs, Bonnie L. ............................. 23 Maddox, Kenneth G. ............................. 25 Mantell J r., Thomas F. .......................... 25 Medley, J ohn M. ................................... 28 Merkel, Lee J . ....................................... 28 Miley, Hugh L. ...................................... 29 Miller, Huston G. .................................. 29 Mitchell, Courtney L. ............................ 30 Potter, Darrin K. .................................... 32 Ross, Richard L. .................................... 34 Roth Sr., J ames L. ................................. 34 Rowe, William N. ................................. 35 Ruiz, Eugene L...................................... 35 Sanders, Roger M.................................. 36 Smith, William L. ................................. 39 Snowden J r., Lonnie L. ......................... 40
Speer, Leslie T. ..................................... 40 Thompson, J ames R. ............................. 42 Tracy, Martin A. ................................... 43 Turner, Owen W. .................................. 44 Wright, Walter F. .................................. 47 Yancar, Vincent D. ............................... 47 Kenton County Carnes, Nicholas R.................................. 7 Crone, Frank ......................................... 11 Knox County Alley, Willie ............................................ 1 Deaton, Robert ...................................... 13 J ones J r., J oseph D. ............................... 21 Laurel County Cloud, Carl W. ........................................ 8 Cornn, Opal E. ...................................... 10 J ohnson J r., J eff..................................... 21 Miles, Edwin C. .................................... 29 Lawrence County Vaughan, Manley .................................. 45 Madison County Sigley J r., Randolph A. ......................... 38 Marion County Hughes, J onathan A. ............................. 19 McLean County Mason, William M. ............................... 25 Meade County Sherrill, J ames A. .................................. 38 Mercer County Anness, Elzie E. ...................................... 2 Bottoms Sr., J ohnnie W .......................... 3 Bussell, Vernon H. .................................. 6 Cloyd, Robert V. ..................................... 9 Crick, Ancel E. ...................................... 10 Cummins, J ohn L. ................................. 12 Dean, Oscar ........................................... 13 Denny, Wallace ..................................... 13 Devine, Ben R. ...................................... 14 Foster, Willard E. .................................. 14 French, Edward T.................................. 15 Goodpaster, Roy E. ............................... 15 Hungate, Wesley D. .............................. 20 Keeling, Berchell .................................. 22 Lafon J r., Harry R. ................................ 23 Leonard J r., Fred C. .............................. 25 Leonard, Hugh J . ................................... 24 Million, J oseph B. ................................. 30 Powell, Glave T. ................................... 32 Preston, Everett R. ................................ 33 Rue, Archibald B. ................................. 35 Sallee, Hezakiah F. ............................... 36 Sallee, J ames W. ................................... 36 Scanlon J r., J ennings B. ........................ 37 Shewmaker, J ohn W. ............................ 38 Steele, Herbert C. .................................. 41 Terhune, Yandell................................... 42 Trisler, Edward V.................................. 43 Van Arsdall, George A. ........................ 44 Willis J r., Edward G.............................. 46 Yeast, Willard R.................................... 48 Metcalfe County Toth, Eric L. .......................................... 43 Muhlenberg County Howard, J effrey C. ................................ 19 Nelson County Collins, David B...................................... 9 Moore, J ames T. .................................... 31 Simpson, Ronald E................................ 39 Wray, J ames A. ..................................... 47 Ohio County Liles, William C. ................................... 25 Ralph, Carl C. ....................................... 33 Rowan, Danny E. .................................. 34 Oldham County Hawkins, William G. ............................ 17 Owsley County Herd, J ohn D. ........................................ 18 Pendleton County J ones, Steven E. .................................... 21 Perry County Stanfill, Glenn S. ................................... 41 Pulaski County Adams, Delmar ....................................... 1 Rowan County Cundiff, William ................................... 12 Tennessee Nashville - Sawyer, Robert W. ............. 37 Portland - Somerville, Claude ............... 40 Whitehouse - Beery, Brock A. ................ 2 Warren County Bibb, Raymon R...................................... 3 Durham, J ames L. ................................. 14
Henderson II, Robert L. ........................ 18 Hite, Harold F. ...................................... 19 Isenberg, Regina L. ............................... 20 Washington County Carrico, J oseph R. ................................... 8 Gannon, J ames J .................................... 15 McIlvoy, J oseph R. ............................... 27 Parrott, J ohn E. ...................................... 32 Wayne County Brown, Lanny K...................................... 5 Whitley County Rogers, Timothy J . ................................ 34
For More Information:
Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc. PO Box 5466 Frankfort, KY 40602-5466 info@kyngmemorial.com