It is not uncommon for multiple sons to serve their country in a time of need and sacrifice. One local family provided three sons for service during the Second World War, but only two of their sons would survive the conflict. This is the story of that fallen son. The West family was living inContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Harold Dean West”
Tag Archives: local history
Fallen Heroes: Private Christian Blickensderfer, Jr.
Imagine my surprise to discover a Tuscarawas County hero who was from my small hometown of Lititz, Pennsylvania! Typical fallen heroes’ stories focus on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in service. In this case I have chosen to once again look at the service of another Tuscarawas County hero who fought for ourContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Christian Blickensderfer, Jr.”
Fallen Heroes: Sergeant Robert J. Wherley
Patriotism and the desire for service are often driving forces when one makes the decision to serve their country. That service often begins at a time of peace, but is punctuated by the ultimate sacrifice in a subsequent conflict. This fallen hero, determined to serve his country as the Second World War ended, is oneContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Sergeant Robert J. Wherley”
“To Avoid Ridicule From Others”: 1961 Gnadenhutten UFO
Having gone through a number of the Project Blue Book files available online, I decided instead to look at local UFO sightings that have been reported to groups dedicated to documenting such occurrences. The following account of an encounter from 1961 was reported to one of these organizations by an anonymous individual I will callContinue reading ““To Avoid Ridicule From Others”: 1961 Gnadenhutten UFO”
Fallen Heroes: Corporal Arthur T. Friley
Many imagine that only men from the Navy or Coast Guard saw duty on the numerous patrol boats that operated in the rivers of South Vietnam. The Army, however, also played a part in what they referred to as “riverine” operations. The story of this fallen hero is one example of that type of service.Continue reading “Fallen Heroes: Corporal Arthur T. Friley”
Fallen Heroes: Private Frederick F. Bukey
When a soldier goes off to war, they recognize that there is always the possibility that they may never return home. Some of those soldiers may survive the battlefield only to be captured by the enemy and sent away to a far-off prison-of-war camp. If they were lucky they returned home, but not in theContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Frederick F. Bukey”
Fallen Heroes: Corporal Walter J. Weigand
Some fallen heroes never see a battlefield. Their lives are lost during training, transportation, illness and any number of other ways. Regardless of how, or when they lose their lives in the service of their country, their willingness to sacrifice should never be forgotten. Magnus Weigand (1804-aft. 1883), with his wife and son, stepped offContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Corporal Walter J. Weigand”
Fallen Heroes: Seaman 2nd Class Walter Proeger
The subject of this profile was a Tuscarawas County resident for only a few years before making the ultimate sacrifice to his country. The branch of service in which he served is not often associated with war, but during World War Two it’s members played a pivotal role in the war effort. Conrad Proeger (1844-1896)Continue reading “Fallen Heroes: Seaman 2nd Class Walter Proeger”
“Evaluated as Unknown”: A UFO Sighting in Carrollton
I thought I would pay another visit to the Project Blue Book files to see if any other local UFO sightings were investigated by the United States Air Force. The following is one such sighting from neighboring Carroll County in July 1956. The young doctor and his wife were entertaining their two young nieces atContinue reading ““Evaluated as Unknown”: A UFO Sighting in Carrollton”
Fallen Heroes: Private Jerry J. Page
When it is difficult for me to find historical information on a fallen hero, as it was in this case, I am motivated even more to tell their story. Most of the individuals featured in this series died young, before they could live active and well documented lives. Nonetheless, their family history, service and sacrificeContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Jerry J. Page”
Tuscarawas County Stories 