Ponca City High School War Memorial Complete

Ponca City High School
War Memorial
94 Ponca City Men Are Listed
Included are:
World War II, Korea and Vietnam
1
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The War Memorial
was sponsored by
Po-Hi Student Council
and the Student Body
of
1946 ~
1947 ~
1948 ~ 1949
Dedicated May 30,1949
3
Table of Contents
Topic
1. America’s Role
2. Stories
3. The War is Over
4. War Memorial Idea
5. Additional Memorials
6. A New Phase
7. Listing of Men and Details
Slide
5
9
38
42
57
69
71
4
America’s Role
America
entered into
World War II
in 1941 while
Franklin
Roosevelt
was
President.
5
America’s Role
Po-Hi alumni
and students
entered the fight
to defend our
shores and to
help free our
allies.
6
America’s Role
Our men fought
gallantly. . .
hardships included
outdated equipment,
little R and R,
sometimes sparse
medical attention.
7
America’s Role
Valiant, true, and brave describe the young
men who joined the war effort.
Many of the soldiers were very young when
they lost their lives.
Sacrifices at home and abroad eventually
brought the War to an end.
8
A Few Stories
About the
Men from Ponca City
9
One Young Man. . .
One Ponca City
man was Corp.
Rex Harris
He was killed in
Normandy, France
10
And another was. . .
Eugene Waugh
Killed in the Battle
of the Belgium
Bulge
Jan. 1, 1945
Purple Heart
Recipient
He was only 20
11
A Teacher. . . Farron Turner
During 1929-1930
and 1932-1936
Mr. Turner taught
English and
Journalism at Po-Hi.
12
A Teacher. . . Farron Turner
A former student recalled “Mr. Turner was very
strict in the classroom.” But on Mr. Turner’s
birthday, Cad Arrendell and friends gave Mr.
Turner a pack of gum as they entered the
classroom door.
13
A Teacher. . . Farron Turner
Usually, Mr. Turner did not allow gum
chewing in his class, but that one day
students were allowed to chew the gum.
As students left after class, Mr. Turner
stood at the door and made sure each
student spit out the gum as they left the
room.
14
A Teacher. . . Farron Turner
After leaving Po-Hi, Mr. Turner went to
Canada and worked as a Captain on a
passenger ship traveling from England to
Canada.
One day, a German submarine attacked the
unarmed vessel near a port in England.
15
A Teacher. . . Farron Turner
The mother of a Ponca City resident was
also a passenger on the ship.
She was traveling back to Ponca City. She
lived with her daughter’s family.
She, along with Mr. Turner, and many other
passengers died that day.
as told by Daisy Johnson, class 1934
16
Wildcat Athletes Sacrifice
Many of the leaders of the
Wildcat football teams are
remembered as heroes of
the gridiron as well as
heroes against tyranny
and oppression.
Sports heroes included in
the names on the bronze
plaques are:
17
Captain Young
A natural leader,
Walter “Waddy” Young,
was captain of the
Wildcat team and an
All-State End in 1934.
Later, he was chosen
as an All-American
End at the University of
Oklahoma.
18
Captain Young
Waddy was also inducted into the National
Collegiate Football Hall of Fame.
Even today, friends remember his sense of humor
and the jokes he played on friends during his
life.
Captain Young, the pilot of a B-29 Superfortress
nicknamed Waddy’s Wagon, was killed in action
during a raid over Tokyo in January of 1945.
19
Charles Mertz
In the class of 1938,
Charles Mertz,
halfback hero on the
winning Wildcat
team, led in the
defeat of Blackwell
during the 1938
football season.
20
Charles Mertz
In December of
1943, Charles
was killed in the
Marshall Islands in
the South Pacific.
21
Tracy Young
During High School, Tracy was co-captain
of the 1939 team and played the guard
position. He was nominated for All-State.
22
Tracy Young
Lieutenant Young was in the infantry and
killed in action in December 1944 in the
Philippines. He was leading his platoon
as they fought a Japanese stronghold.
In Ponca City, the Army Reserve Center on
Hartford is named for Lt. Tracy Young.
Tracy was a cousin to Waddy Young.
23
T/Sgt. Riley Hurst
In 1939, Riley was a
valuable tackle on the
line, especially in the
annual Wildcat and
Blackwell Maroons
game.
Riley, a member of
the infantry, was killed
in action July 5, 1944,
in France.
24
T/Sgt. Riley Hurst
Hurst was the
recipient of a Purple
Heart, signifying
valor shown in
combat.
25
Other Football Heroes
Wildcat End,
Charles Foster
was killed in
action and buried
at sea in 1944.
26
Other Football Heroes
Another football
captain in 1939,
Lieutenant
Warren Dailey,
was killed in a
B-29 bombing raid
over Manchuria in
1944.
27
Other Football Heroes
Outstanding
football guard
Cadet J. Lee
Forney was
killed in an
airplane crash at
West Point, New
York in 1944.
28
Three Po-Hi Coaches
Served Our Country
Delbert Carlile served in the Navy as an
Athletic Specialist. He returned to
coaching after his time in the military.
29
Coaches. . .
Melvin Clodfelter also
served in World
War II. Later, he
was the wrestling
coach at Po-Hi.
PONCAN, Oct. 17, 1945
30
Earl Sullins
Lieutenant Earl
Sullins served in
the Air Corps for 3
years and
returned to
coaching at Po-Hi
after the War.
31
Earl Sullins
Po-Hi coach, Earl
Sullins taught or
coached 66 of the
71 servicemen who
are listed on the
WW II plaque.
32
Earl Sullins
Even late in Coach
Sullins’ life, he could
recall the young
people and their
accomplishments in
school and their adult
lives.
33
Po-Hi Service Flag
The stars
represent
the 46 men
from Ponca
City killed
as of 1945.
34
The Flag has the
number 1444 in
the center. This
represents the
men serving in
the War from the
high school.
35
During a 2003 interview, Coach Sullins
summarized the soldiers and athletes as
“the greatest generation. . . who gave their
last full measure of devotion for America.
And. . . I hope it may never happen again.”
36
This is a listing
of the men
killed in World
War II
37
Mr. Homer Anderson, Principal
The 1945-1946
years marked
the return of the
students and
faculty who had
been in the
armed forces.
38
Mr. Anderson, Principal
Some men needed to enroll in high
school again in order to graduate
and get ready to attend college.
39
Mr. Anderson, Principal
After the war, according to Mr. Anderson,
Po-Hi students generously supported
the Victory Bond Drive as a way to
honor the 70 students and alumni and 1
teacher who had lost their lives.
1946 CatTale
40
Mr. Charles Howell
Superintendent Howell led
Ponca City Schools in the
transition of
“Schools at War”
to
“Schools of Peace”
Life began to return to
normal.
1946 CatTale
41
War Memorial Idea
In 1946, Po-Hi Student Council officers, led
by Don Meyer, began an effort to pay
lasting tribute to the 71 men who lost their
lives during World War II.
42
A Plan Was Created
In 1946 the Student Council began selling
Collier magazine subscriptions to raise
funds.
43
A Plan Was Created
A large bronze plaque listing the names of
the 71 Gold Star Servicemen was to be the
focal point of the Memorial.
44
A Plan Was Created
Also to be honored
were the 1,515
former Po-Hi
students who served
in the Armed Forces
during World War II.
45
Magazine Sales
After several years of fundraising, the
students were still $13,000 short of their
goal.
Mr. Homer Anderson, the principal of Po-Hi,
suggested approaching Lew Wentz for a
loan. Council representatives met with
Mr. Wentz.
46
Magazine Sales
He agreed and the
loan was to be
paid back with 2%
interest. But,
before Mr. Wentz
died, he “forgave
the interest” and
considered the
loan “paid in full.”
47
Magazine Sales
Construction began with Mr. M. D.
Timberlake serving as the architect for the
Memorial on the front lawn of the high
school.
48
May 30, 1949
On a solemn spring day, family and friends
paid respect to the Gold Star Servicemen
listed on the plaque.
49
May 30, 1949
Dr. A. H. Long directed the school band in
“America”
“Battle Hymn of the Republic” and
“America the Beautiful”
50
May 30, 1949
Principal Homer
Anderson gave a
speech titled
“Lest We Forget.”
51
May 30, 1949
1936 Student Council President, James
McNeese, Jr. gave a speech entitled “They
Also Served.”
The 1949 President of the Student Council,
Louis Levy, led the Dedication of the
Memorial.
52
May 30, 1949
Students read aloud the 71 Gold Star
names.
The ceremony ended with presentation of
the wreath, a military salute with a firing
squad, and “Taps.”
53
WW II Casualties
In 1942, 3 men died
In 1943, 12 casualties
35
30
25
20
We lost 33 men in
1944
15
10
5
In 1945, 18 men with
Po-Hi ties were killed
0
1942
1943
1944
1945
The year several of our Po-Hi men died is not known.
54
Adults Assisting with the Memorial
Mr. Homer Anderson
Mr. Charles Howell
Coach Earl Sullins
Lew H. Wentz
Faculty, staff, and families of the
servicemen
55
Even after WW II alumni and students
again answered the call to defend our
freedoms.
56
Memorials Added
In 1953, Po-Hi students again honored
alumni and students who lost their
lives between World War II and the
Korean War.
Nine Po-Hi men are listed.
57
Vietnam Era
In 1976 the last bronze plaque was
dedicated to the servicemen who gave
their lives in service of their country
between 1953-1976.
Fourteen men are listed.
58
Today, as we remember the 95 Ponca City
High School men, it reminds us of the cost
of our freedom.
We must never forget the heroes who have
been lost from Ponca City and our country.
59
Richard Lee Parker
A 1980 Po-Hi graduate, Richard Lee Parker,
was killed during training at Vance Air
Force Base in Enid.
He had recently graduated from the Air Force
Academy.
60
Student Council Again…..
The Student Council has taken the lead to
preserve the Po-Hi War Memorial.
Now, fifty years after the first dedication,
alumni and students joined together in
2003, to raise money to restore the War
Memorial.
61
The Student Council donated the proceeds
to the restoration fund.
62
Students sold luminaries to honor military
personnel and friends.
63
Student Council officers led the
Veterans Day Service in 2003
Aaron Wright and Brittany Gilliam spoke at this service.
64
Ty Owens, an
alumni of the class
of 1983, had just
returned from Kuwait
and Iraq and he
spoke that evening.
65
Owens and 3
alumni of 2003,
Ben Garrison,
Nick McKee and
Zach Lewis,
participated in
the flag folding
ceremony.
66
“Taps” was played as the flag was lowered….
67
Alumni and students participated
in this service as well.
68
The 2004 Veterans Day Service
69
Students Represent All Branches
Ponca City High School
continues to remember
the brave military personnel
who lost their lives…
and our veterans who have
served our country.
70
The Korean War Plaque was
dedicated to the men who
died between 1948 – 1953.
Their names are listed.
Korean Plaque 1948-1953
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Alva Lynn Beshears
Paul E. Denney
William Alan Galasso
Paul M. Hoot
Clarence Hoskins, Jr.
Chester Jack Kinzie
Horace H. Porter, Jr.
Rondel Dean Vanwey
William H. Vanwey
72
The Vietnam War Plaque
was dedicated to the
men who died between
1953 – 1976. Their names
are listed.
Ron Privett, US Air Force
Vietnam plaque 1953-1976
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Edgar A. Campbell
Lewis E. Cox
James H. Fowler
Jack C. Harney
James R. Isbell
James Johnson, Jr.
Prentice D. LeClair
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Bill Lindsey
Neal Thomas Officer
Vern Lee Pray
William D. Reynolds
Frederick E. Rouse
Dewey Dwight Smith
Ellis Winn
74
Ron Privett, US Air Force
Po-Hi men who served
our country during WWII
The last year to attend Po-Hi is indicated
by the year below the man’s name.
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First Leiut. Glenn L.
Banks, 1938
Army Air Corps, 4/42
Killed in Action
France 6/17/44
2 Air Medals
3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Gunner’s
Medal
Purple Heart
77
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Pfc. Melvin M. Beard,
1942
Infantry, 1943
Killed in action
7/11/44
Saipan, (Guam)
Purple Heart
78
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S/Sgt. Rufus H. Biby,
1939
Army Air Corps, 8/10/40
Killed in action 11/19/44
Germany
Purple Heart, Citation
of Honor from Gen. H.H.
Arnold
Air Medal
Presidential Unit
Citation
79
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T/Sgt. Robert D. Biby,
1935
Army Engineers,
5/26/42
Killed in accident,
1/6/45
Burma, India
80
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T/Sgt. Robert E.
Boring, 1938
Army Air Corps,
5/19/42
Killed in Action,
3/6/44 over New
Guinea
Distinguished Flying
Cross
Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
81
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RDM 2/c James E.
Braden, Jr., 1943
Navy, 7/20/43
Killed in action 4/45
South Pacific
82
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Lt. Ralph Byers
Army Air Corps,
11/1/42
Killed in action
3/13/45
Germany
Air Medal with one
Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
83
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First Lieut. Ralph O.
Constant, 1941
Marine Corps, 6/23/42
Killed in Action, Luzon,
3/2/45
2 Air Medals
Southwest Pacific
Asiatic Medal
 3 Battle Stars
Philippine Liberation
Ribbon
 2 Battle Stars
Purple Heart
84
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Pvt. Ernest E. Corey,
1940
Army Air Corps,
7/24/40
Presumed dead
5/8/44, Philippine
Islands
Purple Heart
Presidential Citation
85
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Coxswain Philip E.
Cox, 1940
Navy, 1/28/42
Killed in Action
10/9/43
U.S.S. Buck, Tyrrhenian
Sea
Purple Heart
86
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Lieut. Warren D.
Dailey, 1940
Army Air Corps,
5/3/42
Missing since 12/21/44
Lead Plane on
mission over Mukden
Manchuria
87
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Pfc. Howard P.
DeBoard, 1941
Wounded and died
from results of
wounds, 12/24/44
Luxembourg
Purple Heart
88
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Pfc. Basil C. Dunn, Jr.,
1942
Infantry, 3/31/43
Died 2/4/45 from
results of wounds
received in action
Purple Heart
89
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Sgt. Frank L. Dunn, 1942
European Theater,
England, Germany,
France
Killed in action 3/7/45,
France
Combat Infantryman's
Badge
Purple Heart
90
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Lieut. Edward K.
Dwyer, 1937
Army Air Force,
1/26/42
Killed in accident,
4/9/43
Stuttgart, Arkansas
91
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Pfc. Lester A.
Eberhard, 1942
Army, 3/2/43
Killed in Accident,
5/13/45
E.T.O. Ribbon
3 Battle Stars
Presidential Citation
Combat Infantry
Badge
Purple Heart
92
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Pfc. Kenneth G.
Erwin, 1940
Coast Artillery,
1/31/41
Served at Corregidor
Died in prison camp,
7/1/43
Philippine Islands
93
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Cadet J. Lee Forney,
1941
West Point First
Classman
Army Air Corps,
4/15/42
Plane crash 8/19/44
Ramsey, New Jersey
94
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Charles L. Foster S2/c,
1943
Navy, 2/21/44
Died and buried at
sea near Admiralty
Islands, 7/25/44
95
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Second Lieut. Joseph
N. Gillert, Jr., 1941
Army Air Corps, 2/43
Killed in accident
7/5/44
Strother Field Winfield,
Kansas
96
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First Lieut. George R.
Godschalk, Jr., 1935
Air Corps, 9/42
Killed in accident,
8/16/44 over North
Sea
Air Medal
Oak Leaf Cluster
97
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Pfc. Lawson
Goodner, 1940
Infantry, 3/43
Killed in action,
10/8/44, Germany
Purple Heart
98
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Lieut. John Lionel
Grapes, 1937
Army Air Forces,
9/8/42
Killed in Action
Germany, 12/23/44
Air Medal
Purple Heart
99
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Cpl. Rex A. Harris,
1940
Combat Engineers,
11/42
Wounded and died
from results of
wounds, 7/7/44
Normandy, France
Purple Heart
100
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Pvt. Bethuel T. Hasz,
1929
Infantry, 4/14/44
Killed in action
France
1/7/45
Purple Heart
101
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Lieut. Paul F. Hawkins,
1935
Army Air Corps, 9/1/40
Plane Crash, 5/20/42
near Greenfield,
Indiana
1st Ponca Citian killed
in World War II Armed
Forces
102
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First Lieut. V. Lee Hurd,
1940
Killed in action,
9/24/44, India
Pre-Pearl Harbor
European Theater
Caribbean Ribbons
103
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T/Sgt. Riley D. Hurst,
1940
Infantry, 4/42
Killed in action,
7/7/44 France
Purple Heart
104
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Ensign George M.
Jacques, Jr., 1939
Navy Air Corps Pilot
August, 1941
Plane crash, 10/19/42
over Pacific Ocean
105
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First Lieut. James B.
Kuhns, 1936
Army Air Corps, 2/41
Killed in action,
4/13/44
Near Budapest,
Hungary
Purple Heart
106
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Pfc. Robert W. Lessert,
Jr. 1930
Infantry, 12/11/42
Killed in action,
11/4/44, France
Purple Heart
107
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Glen G. Lockwood,
Mo.M.M.2/c, 1941
Navy Submarine,
12/1/42
Killed in Action
7/12/44
President’s Citation
Submarine Combat
Insignia
2 Silver Stars
108
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Capt. Ralph E.
Lowther, 1935
Army Air Corps,
6/1/41
Died 7/4/44 Plane
Crash
Isle of Man (Between
London, England and
France)
109
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Capt. Charles F.
Martin, III, 1934
Marines, 5/20/41
Aleutian and Pacific
campaigns
Killed in Accident
11/14/43
Dallas, Texas
110
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Second Lieut. Porter
W. Masters, 1940
Army Air Corps, 1942
Plane Crash 12/13/43
Over Atlantic on last
training flight
Westover Field,
Massachusetts
111
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Lieut. Charles R. Mertz,
1940
Army Air Corps, 8/9/42
Missing, 12/19/43
Marshall Islands
Declared Dead
1/24/46
112
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Lieut. Arthur D. Mills,
1935
Army Air Corps, 8/42
Plane crash 12/14/44
Moore Field near
Mission, Texas
113
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Alvia Minor, 1940
Enlisted in Navy the
day of the Pearl
Harbor Attack
Received Training at
San Diego
Reported Missing
6/17/42
114
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F/O Johnnie W.
Mundell, 1941
Army Air Corps, 2/43
Plane Crash 8/19/44
near Tonapah,
Nevada
115
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Pfc. Billie Nelson, 1932
U.S. Infantry, 4/44
Killed in action
4/6/45
Germany
Purple Heart
116
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Lieut. Robert J. Nespor
Jr., 1938
Army Air Corps, 7/19/41
Killed in action, 8/1/43
Middle East
Air Medal
Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
Distinguished Flying
Cross
117
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Pfc. Frank C.
Nonnamaker, 1942
Infantry, 5/43
Killed in Action
1/19/45, France
118
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Pvt. Elmer J. Novak,
1935
Paratrooper, 3/14/44
Killed in Jeep accident
Austria
7/7/45
119
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Willis W. Porter,
C.Mo.M.M., 1935
Navy
Submarine Division, 2/36
Killed in Action
U.S.S. Shark
Pacific
11/25/44
Submarine Combat
Insignia
3 Gold Stars
120
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Lieut. Herbert O.
Powell, Jr., 1937
Army Intelligence
Branch, 1942
Killed in Action
2/12/44
Italy
121
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S/Sgt. Harold Ramsey,
1940
Infantry, 7/5/40
Killed in action
7/20/43
Normandy, (France)
Purple Heart
3 Bronze Stars (medal
of valor)
122
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P/C Doyle Duane
Reed, 1943
Army, 12/18/43
Killed in Action
Luzon Islands
(Philippines)
5/9/45
123
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Elvis Reynolds
Paratrooper, 6/43
Killed in action,
3/14/45
Germany
Purple Heart
124
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Capt. Benny F. Riggs,
1936
Army Air Corps, 7/41
Killed in Action,
1/19/43 over
Mediterranean Sea
125
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Sgt. Jack Z. Roby,
1941
Army Air Corps,
1/11/43
Killed in accident,
2/28/44
Fortaleza, Brazil
Citation of Honor
from General Arnold
126
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Samuel Rollins, S1/c
1942
Navy, 3/13/43
Killed in action
11/24/43
U.S.S. Liscombe Bay
Gilbert Islands
Purple Heart
127



Ensign Joe H.
Roquemore, 1942
Navy Air Corps Pilot,
7/1/42
Died of pnenomia,
10/12/44 onboard the
Yorktown, Oakland,
California
128




Pvt. William H.
Rutledge, 1942
Infantry, 4/29/43
Killed in accident,
4/30/44
Camp Maxey, Texas
129





Howard Leon Sallee,
A/C, 1943
Navy, 3/1/44
St. Mary Pre-flight
College, California
Student Commander
8th Battalion
Killed in Accident,
6/26/45
130




T/Sgt. George L.
Sifferd, 1940
Army Air Corps,
12/22/41
Missing—11/2/43 over
Wiener Neustadt,
Austria
Listed as officially
dead 12/3/44
131




Lieut. (jg) Donald R.
Sills, 1938
Naval Air Corps, 8/42
Killed in action 4/1/44
Palau Islands
132




Sgt. Louis Simmons,
1935
77th Field Artillery, 5/35
Killed in action
1/19/45
Lellig, Luxembourg
133




Pvt. Bernard Simpson,
1940
Infantry, 3/2/43
Killed in torpedoing of
troop ship, 12/25/44
between England
and France
Purple Heart
134





Ralph Lowell Smith,
M.M.1/c. 1937
Navy, 2/37
Japanese Prison
Camp 4, Philippines
Killed in Action off
China Coast 10/44
Purple Heart
135





T/3 Stacy E. Stevens,
1937
Medical Detachment,
12/21/42
Killed in action 1/17/44
France
Purple Heart
136





Lieut. Farron E. Turner,
Instructor, Ponca City
Senior High School
English and Journalism,
1929-30; 1932-36
U.S. Naval Reserve,
7/1/42
Killed in action, 1/3/44
U.S.S. Turner on convoy
duty, Atlantic
137






Pvt. Eugene L.
Waugh, 1944
11th Armored Division,
2/15/44
Killed in action,1/1/45
Bastogne District
Battle of the Belgium
Bulge
Purple Heart
138




SoMH 3/c Harold E.
Wiley, 1942
Navy, 7/43
Injured in England
Died 2/43 at Naval
Hospital, Brooklyn,
New York
139





Sgt. Ralph A. Wittmer,
1936
Army, 10/7/42
Persian Gulf Service
Command
Died 3/11/45
Tehran, Iran
140





Lieut. Tracy W. Young,
1940
Infantry, April, 1943
Killed in action
12/44
Levte, Philippine
Island
141

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





Captain Walter R.
Young, 1935
Army Air Corps,1/1/41
Killed in Action,
Choshi, Japan, 1/9/45
Pre-Pearl Harbor
Air Medal
5 Oak Leaf Clusters
European
Pacific Theatre
142
“America The Beautiful”
on Memorial Dedication Program Cover in 1949
O beautiful for heroes proved
in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
and mercy more than life.
143
Thank You to the following
The Po-Hi Student Council
The Ponca City Board of Education
Ponca City News articles
The Poncan Newspaper
The Cat Tale Annual
The alumni and friends of Ponca City
High School
Pioneer Technology Center students
and staff
144
Additional Information
If you have additional information to
supplement this presentation, please
contact:
Karen Hunter--khunter54@cableone.net
145