At 18 and in wake of Pearl Harbor, Marshall Dalrymple was eager to join fight
(Editor’s note: Staff writer Shae Dalrymple is the granddaughter of Marshall Dalrymple, the World War II veteran profiled in this story.)
By SHAE DALRYMPLE Staff writer WINTERSVILLE — Marshall Dalrymple, 90, spent more than two years fighting in the Pacific campaign during World War II. Like most young men in America at the time, he was eager to fight in the wake of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Dalrymple was 18 when he joined the Army in February 1943. “Everybody started joining on account of the Japanese,” he recalled. “After basic training you’re supposed to go home for 10 days. I never went home one day. I was never home one day the whole time that I was in the war.” Dalrymple said he knew that he wanted to operate radar from the start. The Army had only been using the new technology, radio-based detection systems, since 1941, but radar played a huge role in the war and proved to be an asset to the Allied forces throughout the Pacific campaign. After learning radar at basic training at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, Dalrymple boarded a ship for the Northern Mariana island of Saipan, but a series of storms forced them to turn back. A couple of weeks later, they tried again and completed the 13-day journey across more than 3,000 miles of rough Pacific ocean. Only the Navy or Marines were permitted on deck in the open air — Army men were confined to the bottom section in hot, cramped quarters where there was little or no air circulation. “We weren’t worried about fighting the enemy. We were just so happy to get out of them damn ships,” Dalrymple remembered. Fighting the enemy quickly became a concern when they arrived, though. “The bullets were going over us by the hundreds Shae Dalrymple of thousands all the time. We had to get down in the MANY MEDALS EARNED — Marshall Dalrymple displays some of the medals he earned fighting the Japanese in the mud,” he said. “On the very first day, some guys Pacific campaign during World War II, including a Meritorious Unit Award Medal and a Battle Bronze Star. He operSee DALRYMPLE Page 2 ➪ ated radar in the Army on the Northern Mariana Island of Saipan.
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2014 VETERANS DAY SALUTE
TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 2014
Dalrymple Continued from Page 1 couldn’t stand that noise and all. They just lost their minds. They didn’t know who they were or where they were or what they were doing there. It was so much noise. Some guys just couldn’t take that. It was hard to take. I understand that.” A seven-man team was required to operate the 100-foot radar tower that Dalrymple was in charge of. At least two men had to remain on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “If the Japanese happened to capture our tower, I had to get rid of the cathode ray tube. They didn’t know much about radar, but if they took that then they could make their own. They were behind us when it came to radar,” he noted.
The CRT was a component of the radar system used to accelerate and deflect the electron beams onto the screen to create images. The radar tower was assembled and positioned by Dalrymple and his men on a hill near Mount Tapochau. Located in the center of Saipan, the mountain marked the highest elevation on the island, which made it an ideal spot for radar. There was an airstrip nearby that the Army Air Force needed in order for its massive B-29 bombers to reach mainland Japan. To the north were ridges, cliffs and hundreds of caves hidden in the terrain, often occupied by the enemy. “They would only come out of the caves at night. If we went up there to find them, they’d kill us first because they were back in those caves, and they could see us coming. But we couldn’t
see them,” Dalrymple said. “I went down in this cave below where our tower was positioned, and there were two or three Japanese down there. I got scared, and they got scared, and I came back out in a hurry. We filled the hole in so they couldn’t breathe or come back out that entrance.” Dalrymple avoided the caves as much as possible during his time on the island after that experience, but others ventured too close. “We was on this hill, and the Japanese in the caves were only about a mile from us, maybe. And if you went up there, they’d kill you. One day these three Navy guys came up with all kinds of guns and things. They wanted to look for souvenirs. I told them ‘If you go up there, you’ll never come back. They will kill you.’ I said ‘You won’t come back. They can see you.’ So they went up
there anyway. “You know what? None of them ever came back. They all got killed. Later on we found out that the Japanese had caught them and cut them up into pieces. “They were looking for souvenirs; everyone was always looking for souvenirs to take back. A lot of guys got killed like that,” he recalled. The Americans expected about 15,000 enemy soldiers on Saipan. What they found was more than 33,000, hunkered in jungles and caves with the home field advantage and an ideology that valued death above surrender. “They were mean. If you wounded one, and he’s laying there, and he asked you to help him, you couldn’t help him because he’d kill you. They were like that. They’d never surrender, just kill you. A lot of them knew English. But you had to be careful. When one of them would yell ‘Help me, help me’ in English we knew not to go over there, because they’d kill you,” Dalrymple said. “When they were back in those caves and we’d be shooting at them, if one of them was hurt or wounded they’d pull him back in the caves. That way we never knew how many were gone. They didn’t want us to know.” The Battle of Saipan began on June 15, 1944, and raged until July 9, 1944. At least 30,000 Japanese troops died in the course of that month, and on July 7 the remaining 3,000 made a final suicidal banzai charge. Ultimately, 2,949 Americans were killed and 10,464 were wounded, out of 71,000 who landed. “There were more than 2,000 killed in the first day. We had to go in and help bury the bodies. I probably helped bury See DALRYMPLE Page 7 ➪
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Bryan and Mavromatis: Sons of Steubenville in a brutal war 2014 VETERANS DAY SALUTE
By DAVE GOSSETT Staff writer
STEUBENVILLE — George Mavromatis and Abe Bryan were true sons of Steubenville who were ready to fight for the country when it was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. Mavromatis was 23 years old and Bryan was 17 and they were best friends when they traveled to Florida in November 1942 to enlist in the Marine Corps. “I was only 17 years old and my parents wanted me to wait. Kids I went to school with wanted to join immediately after Pearl Harbor. So I forged my parents’ signatures to the permission papers. I think the recruiter knew that but they were looking for Marines,” recalled Bryan in a November 2010 Herald-Star interview. “Growing up in Steubenville, George ‘Runt’ Mavromatis was a few years older than me and he was always my hero because of his athletic abilities. We always looked out for each other and we remained very close. Enlisting in the Marines was a privilege. I always felt I was privileged to defend my country. After the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor I felt an obligation to defend my country,” Bryan, the son of Lebanese immigrants, stated. Mavromatis’ parents were immigrants from England and Greece. “When we enlisted we knew we were going to fight for our country. But we had no idea what war was really like. My opinion of war changed after each invasion. You grow up fast. You have time for a lot of introspection,” commented Bryan, who died in February 2011. Bryan and Mavromatis would participate in several World War II battles in the South Pacific before preparing for what has been described as the most brutal battle of the war on the small island of Iwo Jima. Bryan had already received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his actions during the battle of Saipan. He would win a second Purple Heart and Bronze Star during the 38-day fight to secure the four and a half mile long island of Iwo Jima. “Our first operation was in the Marshall Islands. It wasn’t as bad there as far as deaths and casualties compared to our later campaigns. From there we were sent to the 4th Marine rest base in Maui where we received more recruits and were brought up to par. Then we left for Saipan which was a very costly battle. The memories from Saipan still remain strong with me. We were on a patrol and were hit. Only my platoon leader and myself survived, but I had been shot. I was the radio man so I radioed back for help and then destroyed my radio so the enemy couldn’t get it,” cited Bryan. “The battalion commander sent three medi-
Contributed
BROTHERS IN ARMS — A 1945 photo of Abe Bryan, left, and George Mavromatis in their Marine Corps uniforms. The two best friends enlisted in the Marines in 1942, fought in the South Pacific and survived to return to Steubenville. um tanks and they came right at me. I had no idea what was going on until a guy in one of the tanks opened his turret and told me to lay still. They drove right over me, opened the escape hatch on the bottom and pulled me up into the tank. I was sent back to Pearl Harbor where I recovered and then returned to the 3rd battalion, 25th regiment. “We were then assigned to the invasion of Iwo Jima where I was in the first wave. There was very little resistance for the first wave. But after the third wave was sent ashore, all hell broke loose. It was a very smart military move by the Japanese. They were dug into solid rock and the only time we saw them was when they came out to shoot at us. “I was one of four runners assigned to Lt. Col. Justice ‘Jumpin Joe’ Chambers, the battalion commander. I was the radio man for Chambers who would later receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima. He was wounded and I kept a pressure bandage on him until medics could get to him,” said Bryan. “When you were in an infantry battalion you often felt it was just a matter of time before you got hit, before you were injured or killed,” he said. According to his personal diary shared by the Mavromatis family, January 1945 found Mavromatis aboard the U.S.S. Newberry, “a troop transport ship lying at anchor in the Port of Kahalui, Maui, Hawaii.” “I wonder what this New Year holds in store for me? Yes, I really wonder,” Mavromatis would
write on Jan. 1. Jan. 4 — “Scuttlebutt has it that we are leaving Pearl Harbor on the sixth for division maneuvers. Weather today was perfect.” Jan. 7 — “We are still on maneuvers. We arrived off the island of Maui at about 3 a.m. We were awakened at 4 a.m. as HHour was set for 8:30 a.m. We went over the side at 8 a.m. and hit the beach at 8:55 a.m. The weather is perfect and the sea is calm.” Jan. 13 — “One year ago today we left the states to come overseas. In the one year we have been over here, we have been in three invasions. Not bad for ‘boots.’” In his Jan. 23 diary entry Mavromatis wrote, “scuttlebutt still has it that we leave on the 28th. I sure hope so. I’m sick of this stalling around.” And on Jan. 27 Mavromatis wrote a lengthy entry noting the ship had got under way at 8 a.m.. “It took us about an hour to clear the harbor as it is full of ships of all sizes. We headed for the open sea as soon as the convoy formed. There are 19 transports in our convoy. We are being escorted by destroyers. We will probably pick up the rest of the convoy and escort ships later on. At 3 p.m. today we were told where we are going. It didn’t come as a surprise to me as I sort of expected to go there. At last we are on our way to IWO JIMA!” By Jan. 29 Mavromatis and the Marines on the transport ship were being told about their next invasion. “Had school today on the island of Iwo Jima itself. They told us how many Japanese troops we
will meet and how the island is fortified. They look like a pretty tough assignment this time. Everybody’s morale is pretty high. “Today makes our 39th day aboard this floating garbage wagon. I certainly will be glad to get back on dry ground again, even if we have to chase the Japanese off Iwo Jima to do it! We have gone over charts and maps of Iwo Jima so many times already I feel as though I was born on that island,” Mavromatis wrote on Feb. 8. The next several days for the Marines was spent anchored off the island of Saipan where the troops conducted more maneuvers. “We left Saipan today at 2:30 p.m. Next stop Iwo Jima! Our carrier force is up ahead of us and they raided Iwo Jima today. Our B-29s also gave Japan itself a good working over today,” Mavromatis noted on Feb. 16. “Today is D-1 Day. Drew our ammunition and checked over all my gear today. Everything is ship shape and we are ready to go. Our B-29s raided Iwo Jima again today so we should be able to get ashore without too much trouble. (I hope),” was the Feb. 18 diary entry. Mavromatis wrote on Feb. 19 about landing with the third assault wave. “Were nearly blown out of the water twice on the way in. The beach is littered with wounded and dead men. The Japanese really pounded this beach with mortars and heavy artillery. This beach is living hell. Spent the night in a shell hole. Shells are landing near us all night long,” related Mavromatis. The next day he was placed in charge of his platoon. “The Japanese are still shelling hell out of us. Many of the men are cracking up. Our battle ships and planes are bombing and shelling the Japanese all the time. Abie is all right and I thank God for watching over Abie and me,” said Mavromatis. On Feb. 21 Mavromatis continued to note the constant shelling. “Things are still hot as hell on Iwo Jima. The Japanese are shelling us day and night. We can’t seem to locate their guns.
TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 2014
Men are taking a terrific beating from the enemy artillery. Our company is all shot to hell. If they could only locate those Japanese artillery pieces we could do a lot better. Abie is OK and is doing a mighty fine job. “We are still pinned down by that Japanese artillery. If only our planes could spot them we could blast them out with flame throwers and TNT. The men are taking an awful pounding from those guns.This is by far the toughest beach we have ever had to take. I hope I never have to go through this again,” Mavromatis wrote on Feb. 22. Feb. 23 — “All night long the Japanese blasted us with their mortars and artillery pieces. If they don’t soon knock out those guns we won’t have any men left at all. Nothing it seems can save us but God almighty. Almost got hit again today but the Lord is still protecting me.” Mavromatis referred to his best friend again on Feb. 24 and wrote, “Abie is still going strong and knocking hell out of the enemy! “Abie and I got separated today during a heavy shelling by the Japanese. I guess his company has moved further up. I sure hope nothing happens to that little guy,” wrote Mavromatis on Feb. 25. Mavromatis’ Feb. 26 diary writings referred to the constant shelling by the Japanese and included a comment about his brothers. “We have had an air raid every night since we landed on this island. Boy if I come out of this battle OK I think I’ll be the happiest guy in the world. So much has happened that I could never put it in writing. I only hope Mike and Johnny never have to go through anything like this.” “Still haven’t had any word from Abie. I wonder where the hell he is?,” Mavromatis said in his Feb. 28 entry. March 2 — “This is by far the toughest battle in the history of the Marine Corps. No word about Abie yet. I wonder where that little character is? He certainly is a brave little guy.” On March 4 Mavromatis continued to worry about his friend and wrote, “If only I could get some word about Abie I’d sure feel better. Boy I hope nothing happens to him.” His written worries continued on March 5 when Mavromatis wished, “Abie would get some kind of word to me so that I would know he is OK. He sure is doing a bang up job!” And again in his March 6 diary entry Mavromatis expressed concern. “No word from Abie yet. Boy I’m sure worried about him. I hope he is OK.” On March 9 Mavromatis reported good news. “Today was my lucky day. I found Abie again. Thank God he is all right. He’s a real Marine if there ever one was. He gave me a swell wrist watch for a present. Abie said he thinks we might secure this island in about four more days. I sure hope he is right.” By March 13 Mavromatis was thinking about home and food noting in his diary, “I hope to heck we get off this place pretty soon. Wrote a few letters to the folks back home today. Sure would like to see mom! My men are suffering from lack of sleep and food. I’d eat anything right now. Oh what I would give for a plate of spaghetti.” And on March 15 Mavromatis wrote,
“Today we dedicated our cemetery. We have around 1,700 dead in it already and the island isn’t even secured yet. This certainly has been a bloody and costly affair. Some of the sights I have seen will never be seen by me again even if I live to be a thousand years old. I hope our next invasion isn’t anyway near as horrible as this one is. Some good pals of mine are buried here on Iwo. Let’s hope they haven’t died in vain.” According to the official Navy Department Library website, the 36day assault on Iwo Jima resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. An estimated 18,844 Japanese solidiers died during the battle. Only 216 Japanese soldiers were captured. It was also during the battle of Iwo Jima that Bryan was hit in the face and head by shrapnel. “I was sent back to the aid station and Runt Mavromatis was with the Pioneers nearby. An aid station during a battle was a lot of confusion. A lot of people were brought in with different wounds. But Runt saw me and took control. He got me right in and made sure I was treated immediately,” Bryan later explained. “It was just like finding a million dollars when I saw Abie was OK,” said Mavromatis on March 17. According to Anna Mavromatis, her husband stole a Jeep to transport Bryan to the medical ship. “I always teased Abe about George saving his life but I also told him he paid my husband back all these years. They were like brothers. They were always there for each other. And Abe was the person who introduced me to George. Even though they followed different paths in life they remained very close,” Anna Mavromatis stated. “George told me Abe was the toughest Marine he ever met. He wasn’t a big man but he was tough,” added Ann Mavromatis. Iwo Jima was declared secured on March 16 and Mavromatis and his platoon had boarded a transport ship to return to Hawaii on March 18. March 29 found Mavromatis enjoying a clear day and a calm sea as he received news from his commanding officer. “The C.O. called me to his office and told me he was recommending me for the Silver Star medal for my good work on Iwo. He also told me that he had sent in my name for a spot commission to second lieutenant.” The final diary entry by Mavromatis came on April 8, “In time of danger some people panic while others find courage they never knew they had! “My service experience was great from the standpoint of maturity, discipline, receiving the G.I. Bill benefits that allowed me to build my house and obtain a college education. The Marines were and still are a big part of my life. The discipline and philosophy I learned in the Marines were good for me in my coaching career and business,” Bryan said. After receiving his degree from the University of Miami in Ohio, Bryan would build a lasting reputation as head football coach and later as an administrator at Steubenville High School. Mavromatis joined the Steubenville Police Department where he rose through the ranks to become police chief. (Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)
Wellsburg veteran, POW honored for his efforts 2014 VETERANS DAY SALUTE
TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 2014
By WARREN SCOTT Staff writer WELLSBURG — World War II veteran Ed Jackfert of Wellsburg survived three and a half years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp and has recorded atrocities committed there and to the thousands of American and Filippino troops who were forced to walk the Bataan Death March in three books and through a museum at the Brooke County Public Library. So he may surprise some when he says he harbors no animosity against the Japanese. Jackfert, who was honored on Aug. 15 for his military service and his efforts to establish and expand the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum at the library, said younger generations must learn lessons from past wars. “We’ve got to educate the young people that war is not the way to settle disputes,” he said. Jackfert recalled visiting Japan in 2010 to accept a formal apology from Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Tetsuro Fukuyama, chief of staff for Prime Minister Naoto Kan, for inhumane treatment of the POWs. Of about 24,000 who were captured, 11,107 died at the hands of their captors or from disease, dehydration or starvation, he noted. But during his visit to Japan, Jackfert also spoke to about 100 students at International Christian University in Tokyo, who said they weren’t aware of atrocities committed in the war and wanted to learn about them. Jackfert said today’s Japanese can’t help what was done in the past. But he said Japan can follow the example of Germany, where an organization known as Remembrance, Responsibility
By WARREN SCOTT Staff writer
Warren Scott
GUEST OF HONOR — World War II veteran Ed Jackfert, a former prisoner of war, was presented by Wellsburg Mayor Sue Simonetti, right, a resolution by Wellsburg Council declaring Aug. 15 Edward Jackfert Day in acknowledgment of his efforts to preserve the memories of POWs captured during World War II while defending the Philippine Islands against Japanese invasion. To Jackfert’s left is his wife, Henrietta, who helped him to establish the first exhibit that grew into the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum at the Brooke County Public Library. and Future has secured contributions from German industries to help Allied service members who were forced to work in POW camps in Germany. Jackfert, who worked in POW camps in Kawasaki and Mindanao, said it troubled him and other POWs to know they were being forced to work for Japan’s war effort, against their fellow troops. He added major Japanese industries of today benefited from the forced labor of the POWs. Jackfert spoke of “seeing horrible things” during his captivity. He noted it was common for unmarked POW camps to be attacked by Allied forces. One night his camp was bombed, 23 POWs were killed and the following day, he and others were ordered to collect the “pieces of
flesh” that remained, he said. At a surprise program held at Wellsburg First Christian Church, Mayor Sue Simonetti presented a resolution from Wellsburg Council declaring Aug. 15 as Edward Jackfert Day. It noted Jackfert was serving as an infantryman in the Army Air Corps, a forerunner of the Air Force, and among Allied troops who struggled for five months to ward off Japanese invasion of the Philippine Islands of Bataan and Corregidor when they were captured. Jackfert said the troops were poorly trained and equipped and military leaders were willing to sacrifice them in order to focus on fighting in Europe. But he believes their efforts ultimately helped to pre-
vent the Japanese from invading Australia. Following his liberation from the POW camp by Allied forces, Jackfert returned home and earned a degree in economics from Bethany College. A letter of appreciation from U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and presented by Mary Jo Guidi, his aide, noted Jackfert became a criminal investigator for the Internal Revenue Service soon after his graduation from Bethany in 1949 and served the agency until his retirement in 1977. He specialized in organized crime and corruption of public officials and was cited many times by U.S. Justice Department officials for his work. Guidi also presented to Jackfert a U.S. flag that was flown over the
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Americans and more than 10,000 Filipinos died from disease, starvation or dehydration or were killed when they attempted to get water or fell behind. The Jackferts compiled maps, photos and written accounts from POWs for the museum’s first display, which was housed in a cherry wood cabinet provided by the Friends of the Brooke County Library. Jackfert and others — including Wallace’s husband, George, who became editor of the ADBC’s newsletter — solicited additional contributions, including photos and written accounts, from POWs throughout the U.S. It has since become the largest repository of such items, and Wallace and others hope one day to display all of them in a separate building. Also on hand to pay tribute to Jackfert was Greg Cheeks, acting vice president of the newly formed Northern Panhandle chapter of the Vietnam Vetarans Association, who thanked him for his service. With tears in his eyes, Cheeks said, “The 16 million who served in World War II made it possible for us to be here today.” Jane Kraina, the museum’s former coordinator, said, “Brooke County should be very proud to have this museum in their midst.” Jackfert came to the program believing it was an observance of the anniversary of V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day. Among many friends and family members on hand for the occasion were Jennifer Jackfert, wife of Jackfert’s late son Kent, and daughters Jody and Janice.
Capitol in his honor. In 1984 Jackfert joined the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, a national POW organization, and served twice as its commander. In 2002 he and his wife, Henrietta, approached Mary Kay Wallace, director of the Brooke County Public Library, and the library’s board about donating several materials related to the experience of POWs from the Philippine Islands, particularly those in the Bataan Death March. About 72,000 American and Filipino troops captured at Bataan were forced to walk 65 miles in grueling heat to a railroad station where they were loaded onto boxcars to the (Scott can be contactCamp O’Donnell prison ed at wscott@heraldcamp. At least 600 staronline.com.)
Brooke Veteran of Year Bill Schwertfeger reflects on service
WELLSBURG — As he was presented the Brooke County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation’s Veteran of the Year award, World War II veteran Bill Schwertfeger said it was tough for him to relate the many aspects of his military experience in one short acceptance speech. But he briefly touched on many of them as he spoke to those attending the group’s annual dinner dance held in May at the Wellsburg Banquet Hall. “There are a lot of faces to combat.
It’s scary, it’s boring, it’s cold and it’s red. I can’t say too much about that,” said Schwertfeger, alluding to the death of a fellow soldier and West Virginian, Henry Smelts, from sniper fire. The 90-year-old Schwertfeger admitted that while serving the Army in efforts to free Italy of Nazi forces, he was more than a little scared and homesick, though he had enlisted eagerly, just a few months after his high school graduation. He recalled observing B-52 bomber planes destroy a former monastery used as a mountaintop base by Ger-
Warren Scott
HONORING SERVICE — Bill Schwertfeger, center, was presented the Brooke County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation’s Veteran of the Year award during the group’s annual dinner May 10 at the Wellsburg Banquet Hall. To his left is Ryan Weld, the group’s president; and to his right, U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-Wheeling, who served as guest speaker.
man troops while serving in the Battle of Monte Cassino and a barrage of attacks from infantry, tanks and airplanes that led to the ultimate liberation of Rome. But Schwertfeger also related the tediousness of marching through the country over snow-covered mountainous terrain and with Mother’s Day on his mind, the concern his mother must have experienced during his two-year absence. “I’m sure she woke up in the morning and went to bed at night wondering if she was going to get that telegram from the War Department,”
he said. Schwertfeger also spoke of the peace walking the streets of his hometown of Follansbee on the morning he returned from the war. Ryan Weld, the foundation’s president, said Schwertfeger was chosen for the honor both for his service in the military and to his community following the war. He noted Schwertfeger received the Bronze Star for rescuing a fallen soldier and later served his community as a Follansbee councilman and See SCHWERTFEGER Page 6 ➪
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By WARREN SCOTT Staff writer WELLSBURG — As many scanned the West Virginia Vietnam Veterans Mobile Wall for the names of loved ones who were killed, prisoners of war or missing in action, state Sen. Robert “Rocky” Fitzsimmons, D-Wheeling, reflected on the speech he’d prepared for a service held to mark its arrival at Wellsburg’s Central Park. The wall’s visit was timed to coincide with the city’s weeklong Independence Day celebration. Fitzsimmons, who serves on the state Legislature’s veterans affairs committee, said the wall helps “to pay tribute to the 732 West Virginians who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.” He said the state had the highest number or casualties per capita in the Vietnam War, and many West Virginians continue to make sacrifices as they serve in the U.S. military. Fitzsimmons said with conflicts boiling in various parts of the world today, it’s important for Americans to remember and pray for our servicemen and women. “No matter what our positions on policy may be, we have to support our troops through our thoughts and our prayers,” he said. In addition to the 732 who died while serving in the war, the wall bears the names of 17 who were prisoners of war or declared missing in action. Established in 2013 by the West Virginia State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America in Nemours, W.Va., the wall is similar in design to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. But it differs in that it bears the names of West Virginians only. Leaders of the council said their goal is to take the wall throughout the state for people unable to view the monument in Washington or mobile replicas that travel throughout the U.S. It will be on display through Wednesday, and visitors may create etchings from the wall using materials supplied by the council. Greg Cheeks of Wellsburg said when he learned of the wall through the Internet, he set out to raise the money needed to bring it to Brooke County. “After six months of planning, it finally came together,” he said after it was assembled by members of the Patriot
Vietnam Wall replica stirs memories, patriotism 2014 VETERANS DAY SALUTE
TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 2014
Warren Scott
WALL ARRIVES — A service was held to mark the arrival in Wellsburg of the West Virginia Vietnam Veterans Mobile Wall, which bears the names of West Virginians who were killed, prisoners of war or declared missing in action during the war. The wall was displayed at Central Park in conjunction with the city’s weeklong Independence Day celebration. Among those participating were, from left: state Del. Phil Diserio, D-Brooke; state Sen. Jack Yost, D-Wellsburg; state Sen. Robert “Rocky” Fitzsimmons, D-Wheeling; Johnny Leonard, Brooke High School band director; the Rev. Rudy McAllister of Mount Olivet Baptist Church, an Air Force Reservist; Toni Taylor, Cindy Mott, chief financial supporter of the wall’s visit; Lindsay Six, Brooke High School band member; Greg Cheeks, coordinator of the local visit; Mayor Sue Simonetti and Bruce Hunter of the Wellsburg 4th of July Committee.
Associated Press
NEARLY COMPLETE — Vietnam War veteran Greg Cheeks of Wellsburg was called upon to install the last piece of a monument bearing the names of West Virginia veterans who died while serving in the war. Cheeks worked to raise funds to bring the West Virginia Vietnam Veterans Mobile Wall to Wellsburg during the city’s week-long Independence Day celebration this year. Guard Riders and other volunteers. The motorcycle group joined members of Red Knights West Virginia Chapter VI, the firefighters motorcycle group; 150th Army Aviation Battalion Company C of the West Virginia National Guard; and local law enforcement in escorting the wall from Weirton to the park. As it passed the Follansbee American Legion Post on state Route 2, members of the Ohio Valley Veterans
Memorial Square fired their rifles to deliver a military salute. Jim Bissett, a Red Knights member from Weirton and Vietnam War veteran, said, “I feel it’s an honor that we were asked to escort it.” “I’m glad my name is not on it,” he added, as his wife, Judy, noted their daughter was 5 months old when he saw her for the first time. When several volunteers finished assembling the wall, Cheeks
remarked, “God, that looks pretty. I just hope I can hold it together tonight.” Cheeks, who served the Army in Thailand during the war, said there are names of classmates on the wall but to speak of them “is tough.” Brooke County Commissioners Tim Ennis, who turned out with fellow commissioner Jim Andreozzi to welcome the group, said a cousin, James Lester Ennis, was killed in the war.
to support the troops.” The Rev. Rudy McAllister, pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church and a member of the 911th Wing of the Air Force Reserve, said the wall’s visit was an opportunity to give all Vietnam War veterans the respect they should have received when they returned home. “These guys are overdue for the respect and the honor that (now) is given to them,” McAllister, who served in Operations Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Iraqi Freedom. McAllister offered opening and closing prayers for the service. Also participating were the Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad, Toni Taylor, who performed the national anthem; and Brooke High School band director Johnny Leonard and his student, Lindsay Six, who played taps. Alan Brown, a Vietnam War veteran from Wellsburg, said his uncle, Rodney Craft, a Marine who was among the first Brooke County casualties in the war. “He was actually 6 months younger than me. We were more like brothers than uncle and nephew. I was in boot camp when he was killed by a booby trap,” Brown said. Retired teacher Carol Churchman noted another casualty was Joe Funk II. She knew Funk’s mother Dorothy, who was then a librarian at Wellsburg Middle School; and father, Joe Funk I. She said of the Funks, who now are deceased, “That was their only son, and I know that hurt them deeply. But they were very patriotic and kept his name alive.” Churchman said Dorothy Funk wrote poems that expressed both her love for her son and spirit of patriotism. In addition to Ennis, Craft and Funk, the Brooke County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation has identified the following Brooke County veterans killed during the war: David W. Beeman, Dennis Bucklew, Mark D. Cool, Harold C. Dawson Jr., Robert V. Durbin, Richard E. Gillies Jr., Paul S. Goggin, Thomas C. Jones Jr., Harry E. Lauck, Robert L. Lazear, Robert B. Mossgrove, John D. Olenick, Joseph Perito, Raymond P. Salzarulo Jr. and Ray O. Simons Jr.
Andreozzi recalled coming head to head with opposition against the war as a teen. “I got in some trouble because I wore my father’s Army uniform (worn by him during the Korean War) to school,” he said, adding it resulted in his being sent home from school. “My dad told me he was proud of me. He said it would have been easy to to with the antiwar sentiment,’ he said. (Scott can be contact“Nobody was for the ed at wscott@heraldwar, but I just wanted staronline.com.)
Schwertfeger Continued from Page 5 commander of the Follansbee American Legion Post. Schwertfeger also had a 32-year career in education, teaching at schools in Colliers, Hooverson Heights and Steubenville and serving as principal at Wintersville Elementary School and as instructional supervisor for the Jefferson County Board of Education. Schwertfeger thanked foundation members for honoring him with the award, adding it couldn’t have been easy to select a recipient among deserving veterans submitted by community members. Weld noted it was the first year the group invited nominations from the community and he and others were pleased with the response.
Of Schwertfeger’s recognition, Weld said, “it’s great to honor one of America’s Greatest Generation who is from Brooke County.” The Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad also presented Schwertfeger a plaque — handmade by Doug Lilly, the group’s leader — and delivered to him a salute, which he returned. As guest speaker, U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-Wheeling, praised Schwertfeger and others who volunteered to serve in World War II, then returned to work with others in developing such innovations as interstate highways and the space program. McKinley said the U.S. must support its military veterans, both those serving abroad and those who have
returned home. He spoke out against cuts to the military, saying troops continue to work to root out AlQaeda forces in the Middle East while tyranny and terrorism arise in Egypt and Nigeria. McKinley said government leaders also must ensure all veterans have access to government-supported medical services and receive help in finding jobs. “We can’t do enough for our veterans. They make it so we can sleep at night,” he said. In closing, Weld encouraged everyone to visit the Brooke County Veterans Memorial Park, which overlooks the paddle boat pond at Brooke Hills Park. (Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)
Warren Scott
SPECIAL RECOGNITION — Bill Schwertfeger of Follansbee, the Brooke County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation’s Veteran of the Year, appeared in the Follansbee Community Days Parade in a car driven by his son, Mark.
TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 2014
2014 VETERANS DAY SALUTE
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Shae Dalrymple
Shae Dalrymple
THEN AND NOW — World War II Army veteran Marshall Dalrymple, 90, shared a photo of himself at the age of 19 alongside two Japanese skulls on the island of Saipan. “They were laying all over the hill by the hundreds, right after the battle. There were so many that it took days to bury them all,” he said.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS — World War II Army veteran Marshall Dalrymple, front right, returned from the Pacific campaign on Christmas Eve 1945, just in time to celebrate the holiday with his family. Pictured with him in 1946 were his brothers, front from left, Fred and Ted, and parents Beulah (McCollough) and Stanley Dalrymple of Wintersville.
Dalrymple Continued from Page 2 about 25 to 30,” he recounted. “The smell of a dead person ... if it touches you at all you’ll never get that smell out of your clothes. You just had to get rid of them. There’s nothing worse than that smell.” Dalrymple remembers his closest call during the battle. “Me and this guy Smitty were sitting there at about 1 o’clock eating bananas, which grew all over the island. I said ‘Look at them bombers coming up right there.’ They were coming from low over the ocean, which ours were never allowed to do because of the waves. There were about six of them. The first airplane was coming straight through the air toward us, and I said ‘Oh my God, they’re Japanese bombers, and they’re bombing us.’ “With radar you could pick someone up 300 miles away using radio waves. But radio waves don’t bend; they can only go straight. When they would come from so low like that we couldn’t pick them up, because the earth is round. They started to get smart and fly low like that. “So I grabbed Smitty and threw him down with me into
this ditch that was around us. It was about four feet high and full of water. All of a sudden we could feel their ammunition about an inch above our heads. “I knew if they dropped a bomb we would be blown up into a million pieces. They shot bullets at us, but they didn’t drop a bomb because it was more important for them to hit the B-29s than to aim for just us radar. “When they did drop a bomb closer to the airstrip, it killed around 200 or 300. It was such a big explosion that the island shook. We thought the island would sink. I told Smitty to stay down in the ditch, because if you look at it, the explosion is so hot it will burn your face and hands. So we had to wait there for about half an hour. It was bad. “When we got out he said ‘I’m so glad you saved my life.’ And I said ‘I saved my life, too, remember,’” Dalrymple said. At one point in Saipan when the Japanese began approaching the radar tower at night, Dalrymple requested help from the Marines, and together they planned an ambush. “We could hear these Japanese outside, that’s how close
By WARREN SCOTT Staff writer
would be dead,” Beatty said. Beatty said to serve in the 89th Military Airlift Wing, enlisted Air Force personnel had to be at least a staff sergeant and officers had to be at least a captain. Chosen for their outstanding efficiency reports, evaluations that were done at least yearly of all Air Force personnel, “it was a select group,” he said. Beatty said the FBI “run a thorough background investigation of you so they knew everyone was cleared for top secret business.” He said such checks were done not only before they were accepted into the wing, but every six months afterward. While serving, he heard of a wing member who, after having a brush with the law while off-duty, was immediately thrown out. For Beatty, serving in the Contributed 89th Military Airlift Wing was A LOVE OF FLYING — Brooke County native and Air Force veteran Bob Beatty, seen with his wife Ann, stands before a P-51 Mustang World War II aircraft he got the opportunity to fly while living in The Vil- part of a very satisfying lages, Fla. As a member of the 89th Military Airlift Wing, Beatty was involved in transporting a vice pres- career of more than 40 years with the Air Force. ident and other top national leaders. “It was a great honor to fly with that outfit,” he said. While vice president, But Bradley received high gress from their homes and Beatty said his interest in Agnew was accused of income marks from Beatty. return them to Washington so the Air Force was inspired by tax evasion and other crimes “He was very congenial. He they could vote on a bill he the Buzz Sawyer, Steve allegedly committed when he talked like he was one of the wanted passed. Canyon and Terry and the was governor of Maryland and troops. That really impressed Beatty said he didn’t Pirate comic strips he read as which he denied. Beatty said it me,” he said. encounter any danger while a boy. surprised him when Agnew Army Chief of Staff serving, which he credited to “I thought, man, that’s was convicted of tax evasion William Westmoreland also his being in the wing’s 99th something I want to do,” Beatbecause of his professional proved to be down-to-earth, Squadron, which operated in ty said. and courteous manner toward often joking with the crew, the U.S., Puerto Rico and After retiring, Beatty the flight crew. Beatty recalled. Panama. The 98th Squadron “As far as I was concerned, Asked if he was ever nerv- flew most of the overseas mis- returned to Brooke County, where he served in the Civil he was a super gentleman and ous about serving such highsions, he said. Air Patrol, a volunteer auxila very nice person,” he said. ranking officials, Beatty said But he and other crew iary of the Air Force involved Beatty said he remembers he wasn’t. members were well aware of Kissinger less fondly because “A lot of the people we the potential for danger. In the with search and rescue efforts, disaster relief and he was known to keep the hauled around are just like event the plane was hijacked other emergency missions as crew waiting unnecessarily, you and I. They just had an by terrorists,the crew was including one cold night at opportunity to serve at a high- given a code to signal person- well as working to spark the interest of youth in aerospace New York’s LaGuardia Airport er level,” he said. nel to block the plane so it technology. while he spoke with actress Beatty said his crew had to couldn’t take off. He said of his service in the Marlo Thomas, whom he was be prepared to fly on short Once that was done, he and dating at the time. notice. He said on one occaother crew members knew the Air Force, “It was very inter“He was just a pain in the sion Nixon called for the wing hijackers “either would haggle esting and I enjoyed every bit of it.” but,” Beatty said. to collect members of Conit out (with officials) or we
they were. Then all of a sudden the fighting started, and there were bullets everywhere. “The next morning I went out and there were all these Japanese bodies everywhere. These Japanese were 6 feet tall or more. Usually they’re around 5 feet tall, but these guys were huge. The head of the Marine outfit said these were special Japanese, an elite unit that required them to be 6 feet tall to join. “You know what surprised me when I saw all those bodies? “They were teenagers the same as me. Most of the people that do the fighting are teenagers. They’re just kids. “I didn’t really realize that at the time, but I think about it now. Kids. The generals and high ranking officers — you know they aren’t about to get close to that fighting. They stay out on the ships. Very few of them ever get hit. “Can you imagine those were only kids laying there? But they were 6 feet tall, and they were kids just like we were. We didn’t realize it like that. We’re fighting kids against kids. That’s what it
was. “Of course, that’s the way all wars are. That’s the way war is.” When the battle ended, the Japanese committed suicide by the hundreds. Many jumped from what are now notoriously referred to as Banzai Cliff and Suicide Hill on Saipan. “There were some Japanese women and children left there. They went to this one place about 500 feet high and had to jump. The army made them all jump, even the little kids. And if they didn’t jump, the army would shoot them,” Dalrymple said. In early August 1945, American B-29s flown from Tinian, a tiny island next to Saipan, dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Within the first two months of the bombings, almost 246,000 Japanese people were killed. By Aug. 15, Japan surrendered, effectively ending the war. Dalrymple was honorably discharged in December 1945. He arrived home in Wintersville on Christmas Eve, emaciated from sea sickness that lasted the whole two-week
journey back. He later joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Steubenville, where he reached the rank of sergeant first class. He was honorably discharged from the Reserves on Jan. 30, 1953. Back home, Dalrymple married and raised two sons, Kirk and Rodney, with his wife Donna, who died in 2005. He worked as a salesman for LaBelle Candy Co. in Steubenville for 32 years. Marshall Dalrymple wasn’t the only member of his family to serve his country. His father, Stanley, fought in the trenches in Europe during World War I, and his two brothers were both Marines. His older brother, Ted, fought at Iwo Jima, and his younger brother, Fred, fought in the Korean War. All four of them were fortunate enough to survive combat and live out the rest of their lives at home in America. Fred Dalrymple, now 84, lives in Florida and usually visits Marshall at least once a year.
Brooke native involved in flying vice president, others
LOUISE — Retired Air Force veteran Bob Beatty, a Brooke County native, was involved in flying a vice president and several other national leaders to various destinations while serving in the Air Force’s 89th Military Airlift Wing. Based at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, the wing includes the aircraft and crew responsible for flying the president under the designation Air Force One, as well as those charged with transporting the vice president and other top federal officials under the call sign Air Force Two. Beatty, who is from the community of Louise near Wellsburg and now lives in The Villages, Fla., served as a onboard flight mechanic for the wing from 1967 to 1972. The assignment led to his encountering Spiro Agnew, the first vice president under Richard Nixon; Henry Kissinger, who was national security advisor for Nixon and future Secretary of State; Secretary of State Melvin Laird, Five-Star Army General Omar Bradley and others. Beatty recalled an officer who served with him carried a book in which he collected autographs from the various distinguished passengers. “Boy, I wish I’d done that. I imagine that thing is worth a lot,” he said. Beatty recalled flying various cabinet members and advisors for Nixon to San Clemente, a Spanish-style California mansion that was his home away from the White House; and other destinations. He acknowledged a few later were convicted for their part in the Watergate scandal.
(Dalrymple can be contacted at sdalrymple@heraldstaronline.com)