The stories of fallen heroes are composed of long lists of “All American Boys.” Young men often went from their high school playing fields to the jungles of Vietnam within a few short months. They, like many heroes before them, gave their lives far from the people they loved and the country they served. TheContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Specialist 4 Thomas Michael Struchen”
Tag Archives: tuscarawas county ohio
“Everyone Thinks I Am Crazy”: A UFO Sighting in Tuscarawas County
Sometimes when you are doing research on a subject, you accidently stumble upon the unexpected. This is one of those cases. While researching a fallen hero, and unrelated to his story, I came across a document on a UFO sighting that occurred in New Philadelphia, Ohio in 1968. There was no way I was notContinue reading ““Everyone Thinks I Am Crazy”: A UFO Sighting in Tuscarawas County”
Fallen Heroes: Private Joseph (Joe) Aspinall
Once again I have come across the story of a fallen hero whose family had only recently arrived from abroad. This soldier served a country that his parents had decided offered them, and their children, a better life. Like so many before and after him, this immigrant’s son would be called on to make theContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Joseph (Joe) Aspinall”
Ghost of Hummel Valley: A Tuscarawas Haunting
Nothing captures the imagination more than a good ghost story, and newspapers are always willing to print them to sell papers. The 1922 case of the ghost haunting the Plotner family was covered in several editions of the New Philadelphia paper and carried by newspapers all over Ohio. John Emerson (1789-1838) immigrated with his familyContinue reading “Ghost of Hummel Valley: A Tuscarawas Haunting”
Fallen Heroes: Private Adam Frantz
Typically my fallen heroes stories focus on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in service. In this case I have chosen instead to look at the service of a man who fought for independence during the American Revolutionary War, became one of the earliest American settlers in Tuscarawas County, and yet somehow escaped attention.Continue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Adam Frantz”
Fallen Heroes: Private William Bennet
I am always reminded of just how much military service to the United States is often the gateway to a future for many immigrants to our country. During the early 19th century many Irish immigrants arrived in America seeking a better life and many of them, or their sons, served their new country during theContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private William Bennet”
Fallen Heroes: Staff Sergeant Loren Ray Miller
The story of every fallen hero is a sad one to write, but occasionally I will come across one that seems more so. When I sit down to research each fallen hero I often come across efforts by others to document some aspect of that person’s life, showing me that they have not been completelyContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Staff Sergeant Loren Ray Miller”
Fallen Heroes: Private First Class Thomas Alan Johnson
Bases, roads, hospitals and so much more are essential to the military’s operations and the soldiers responsible for constructing them are often overlooked. Much of their efforts are done under hostile enemy fire and can be just as dangerous as any other soldier’s duty. This is one of those cases. David Johnson (1857-1920), relocated fromContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private First Class Thomas Alan Johnson”
Fallen Heroes: Sergeant Daniel Reed
Some families suffered more losses than others during the American Civil War. In the case of Benjamin Reed (1801-1894) and his second wife Rachel (1829-1926), three sons perished in the war. It is difficult to imagine the scale of their loss. This is the story of one of those sons. Benjamin Reed was born inContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Sergeant Daniel Reed”
Fallen Heroes: Private Fred Heintz
The stress of combat can affect soldiers differently. World War One was notorious for a perceived new ailment called “shell shock”, an ailment we now refer to as post-traumatic stress disorder. Private Fred Heintz (1888-1923) was a different man when he returned from the fields of France, and like many veterans his life would beContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Fred Heintz”
Tuscarawas County Stories 