Veterans of America Honor Guard
We honor all who served our country.
THIS PAGE IS TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN WW-II.
"HE THAT LOSETH THEIR LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT."
They heard our country's call. They went forth and counted not their own life dear, but offered it gladly in humanity's name -- for God and for the right.
It is our duty to be proud of them.
The greatest war in the history of the world closed August 14, 1945, when the warring nations laid down their arms. The Germans, Japanese, and all their allies lay prostrate, defeated. They who knew no mercy and had violated every law of humanity and civilization,
THEY BEGGED FOR MERCY.
THE VICTORY WAS OURS!
While history may overlook many of the brave deeds of our gallent men and women, their memory will ever live in the hearts and minds of freedom loving people of this great nation. The heart of every true American, must needs throb with wonderous pride as they read the names and deeds and view the faces of the immortal American Heros portrayed within these pages.
For those who died in the service and others who are now gone, the honor and glory is theirs. For those who offered all and still live,
MAY THE GLORY FOREVER RING.
On this page are a few of those who served in WW-II. They are symbolic of all who served in all branches of service. Today's status of some of the following is not known to me. Most listings were taken from a book of Oklahomans who served in WW-II, published in 1946. If you know of one living, point them to this page.
The WW-II veterans that remain are now seniors in the autumn of their lives. Let us keep their memory in our minds at the rising and setting of the sun, to never forget their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their comrades, who remained behind in graves in European soil and in the oceans deep.
Ed Worthington, a POW of the Japanese for 3 1/2 years, helped build the death road and the Bridge over the River Kwai as slave labor. Ed knows what is like to lose your freedom. Ed said before he died, "No one is ever gone as long as someone has memories of them". See Ed's page the in memorial pages section.
Decorations: Asiatic-Pacific Medal, Pre-Pearl Harbor Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, American Defense Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Presidential Citation w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 6 Overseas Stripes.
Read Ellens letter to the school children at Laura's Veterans for a Change
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William Russell was killed in action Nov. 10, 1943.
KILLED IN ACTION ON THE USS EVANS OFF THE COAST OF OKINAWA.
Hamilton Horton Potter enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 2 August 1935. He was present at Pearl Harbor serving aboard the destroyer USS Phelps on 7 December 1941. Hamilton H. Potter was killed in action on 11 May 1945 by a Japanese "kamakazi" attack on his ship, the destroyer USS Evans, 40 miles off the NW coast of Okinawa. His ship was attacked by over 100 enemy planes during that battle and, as a result, the USS Evans received the Presidential Unit Citation and he received the Purple Heart (posthumously).
Seaman Fred Hayes Potter (1911-1981) served 2 enlistments in the US Navy and
numerous deployments in the US Merchant Marine service during WWII. During one cruise on the ship Nickleliner, his ship was torpedoed by a German submarine in the Gulf of Mexico. Swimming through burning oil, he was rescued and survived the war.
Fred H. Potter enlisted in the USN in 1927, at age 16. He enlisted again in July 1940, attended 'boot camp' at San Diego NTC and was assigned as an instructor to the USN Signal School in Los Angeles, CA. He enlisted in the U.S. Maritime Service for periodic service from 1938 through 1945.
His awards and decorations included the Atlantic War Zone Medal, Merchant Marine Emblem, Merchant Marine Combat Bar, Pacific War Zone Medal, Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
Thanks be to men like Seaman Fred Hayes Potter. We do live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. God Bless America
See Fred Potter's Memorial Page at:
Chief Potters awards and decorations included the American Area Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, American Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, with 2 stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Chief Potter died of a massive heart attack at age 42 and is buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery at Point Loma, San Diego, CA.
Warrant Officer 4 - Benjamin Harrison "Harry" Vaughn, USN 1892 - 1968 After growing up in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, "Harry" Vaughn enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1917. Serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Salem during WW-ONE. The ship was credited with sinking 2 German submarines. "Harry" Vaughn served on a 3-man gun crew (5 inch gun) that was credited with sinking one of these submarines. After WW-ONE, he was assigned to the USS Langley, America's first aircraft carrier. In 1923, he served aboard the battleship USS Arizona for a total of 8 years, and made 2 tours around the world. In 1936 to 1938, he served aboard the battleship USS Colorado. With the outbreak of WWII, "Harry" Vaughn served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Philadelphia which patrolled the North Atlantic and participated in support of the Normandy invasion. "Harry" Vaughn retired from the U.S. Navy in 1947 with 30 years of service and was elected Mayor of Poteau, LeFlore County, Oklahoma. This was one great Seaman.
William Bustos served in the U.S. Army for 25 years in the Military Police. He served in World War II and Korea. He was a great man and a good soldier. William is buried in Fort Logan National Cementry, Denver, Colorado. He was 88 when he died.
William was an MP in Galveston guarding the prisoners from Germany and was there when the town had the explosion from ammonium nitrate aboard a ship that devastated the town of Texas City.
William was the type that when he talked you listened. He was big but a gentle and caring man and father. He never judged a person by their color. All who knew him loved him. While living with me his daughter he had many kids who thought of him as their grandfather. Even though he has been gone for two years I still miss him he was a one of a kind father and a man that I was proud to be his daughter.
This Memorial was requested by Nona Stevens, daughter of William Bustos
Wallace Leonard Pierson was born May 24, 1917 - passed on June 13, 1989.
United States Navy WW-II Served May 13, 1944 to November 28, 1945
F1c - Fireman First Class
Served on USS J. Franklin Bell - Attack Transport
Served on USS LCT GR 38
Richard L. Edgar - United States Navy - World War-II
Also served in the United States Marine Corp - Korean War
Fred R. Edgar - United States Army - World War-II
William H. Edgar - United States Marine Corp - World War-II
Noris L. Johnston - United States Army - World War-II
Kenneth W. Todd - United States Air Force - World War-II
Keith W. Todd - United States Air Force - World War-II
William H. Edgar - United States Marine Corp - World War-II
Virgil Randolph(Dick)Lewis was born August 24, 1919
He ws killed June 21, 1944 at Normandy when his truck hit an unexploded shell on the beach.
Memorial requested by Virgil's niece Peggy Batchelor Hamlett
mailto:dadhaml@dallas.net
KILLED ON IWO JIMA - MARCH 9, 1945
Benjamin Champlin Moffatt, Jr. was born on October 30, 1920, originally from Hattiesburg, MS, later raised in Natchez, MS. orphanage, retrieved by father to Charlotte, NC, sent to military school, enlisted at age of 17, shown 18 by father, son of Benjamin Champlin and Mary Clark Moffatt, Sr. Name change by father prior to Ben, Sr.'s death from Moffett to Moffatt.
He received the Purple Heart. He died March 9, 1945 in Iwo Jima, interred in Arlington Cemetery April 14, 1948. Removed from Iwo Jima by the government three years after the battle due to the lack of space for burials on the small island and relocated to Arlington, VA-National Cemetery. His burial site is Section 12, grave site 5272.
He was in the 27th division of Marine Corps. His brother was Ralph Edward Moffett of Greenville, MS, died 9-2-1994, served in the Navy.
Benjamin Champlin Moffatt. He enlisted into the Marines via his father documenting his age to be 18, he was 17 yrs.old.
He served one complete duty and then reenlisted at the time of the war. Not long after reenlisting and being ranked as a Platoon Sergeant, Ben and his troops were sent to Iwo Jima. He died in battle. His serial number was 258741.
He still has surviving sisters, Helen, Margaret, and Owena.
Unfortunately, I have no details of how he died or details of the battles. If that information can be determined by anyone, I would appreciate the information for my Family Tree history and my own knowledge as well.
Ben was married right around his reenlistment, the only information concerning his wife is that her name was Irma and that they had a daughter named Betty Moffett. I would certainly like more info if by chance someone has it available to return to me.
Email to Jennifer Moffett Jones
S/Sgt John O. Glenfield, 78 Infantry Div (Lighting Div), Survived the Battle of the Bulge. Entered Service through the Maine National Guard before Pearl Harbor. Arrived home from Europe in 1945. Died a noble warrior in 1990 at age 84.
1st Lt. Walter Joseph "Lucky" Madson Jr. - U.S. Army Air Corps WW-II B-17
Bomber pilot HQ & HQ Squadron 313 Bomb Wing - 500 hours flying time - 200
hours on four (4) engine aircraft!
Lt. Madson passed away on Thursday January 07, 1999. He was born in Elk
River MN. on September 10, 1923 to Martha V. Richardson and Walter Joseph
Madson Sr. Lucky entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in March 1945 and served
in the military for two years as a B-17 Bomber pilot.
In September of 1945 he met and married his devoted wife of 53 years, Dora Lou Hayhurst. He is survived by his wife; daughters, Vicki Sharon of Phoenix, Jonnie Lou Martin of Orlando; his son Michael Madson of Rogers Arkansas; seven grandchildren and one great grand child. He is also survived by his sisters, Beverly Thacker of California, Theresa Beavers of Texas, Loraine Matula of Indiana, and was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James McSherry.
Services were held on Saturday January 09, 1999 at 2:30 PM at John M. Ireland
Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was at Moore City Cemetery with full military
honors by Boyd Fallwell.
Sgt. Ulric Coke Clark was Killed in August 1944 near Mortaigne, France.
A death has occurred and everything is changed by this event. We're painfully aware that life can never be the same again, that yesterday is over, those relationships once rich have ended. But there is another way to look upon this truth... If life went on the same without the presence of Harry we could only conclude that the life we celebrate made no contribution, filled no space, meant nothing. The fact that Harry left behind a place that cannot be filled is a high tribute to him. Life can be the same after a trinket has been lost, but never the loss of a treasure.
Troy B. Stiffler, of Scotch Plains, New York died Nov.24, 1999 at age 75. He was a participant in the Omaha Beach assault of the D-Day invasion with the U.S.Army in W.W.II. He grew up near Seminole, Ok. Upon disembarking the troop ship in New York harbor, he and a buddy decided to just once walk the Boardwalk before returning to Oklahoma - he met a girl there married her and stayed. They were married 54 yrs. He was a truly honorable man. His passing is but one more of a breed of men who offered all for freedom. Submitted by Kim Dale wdawkhlw@kanokla.net (K Dallas Dale)
Fred Lowell Deal, age 87, U.S. Navy WW-II MMSN, Motor Mechanic, Services 1430 hrs. Wednesday January 5, 2000 at Mercer Adams Funeral Home in Bethany Oklahoma. Chaplain Boyd Fallwell officiating service. Full military honors follow at Bethany Cemetery by Veterans of America Honor Guard. Fred passed away suddenly Wednesday, December 22, 1999 at Norman Regional Hospital. He was born May 9 1912 in Custer County, Oklahoma to James Lee and Elizabeth Clements Deal. He grew up on a farm on the Custer-Caddo county line southwest of Hydro, Oklahoma and attended Pleasant Ridge School. After his marriage to Frances Amelia Pigg he farmed in the area for several years. He served in the US Navy during World War II and later worked in the aircraft industry in Wichita, Kansas and Seattle, Washington. He was retired from Western Electric in Oklahoma City and was an avid gardener and fisherman. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and his 9 brothers and 2 sisters. Three sons and one daughter survive him. They and their spouses are: Lowell and Phyllis Deal, Bethany, Oklahoma; Carroll and Carol Sue Deal, Mobile, Alabama; Arva and Larry Howard, Baja Norte, Mexico; Walter and Margie Deal, Summerville, South Carolina. He leaves 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, numerous relatives and friends and a caring staff at the Norman Veterans Center.
25 COMBAT MISSIONS GERMANY
BORN 1920 IN ALABAMA - DIED 1987 IN MICHIGAN
UNCLE OF TOMMY.BOBO@USA.NET (TOMMY BOBO)
NEW CALEDONIA, NEW BRITTAIN, OKINAWA, PELELIN
(SILVER STAR- PURPLE HEART)
BORN 1923 ALABAMA - DIED 1996 MISISSIPPI
UNCLE OF TOMMY.BOBO@USA.NET (TOMMY BOBO)
I am sorry to have to inform you that another of our WW II veterans has passed on. On march 1, 2001 my grandfather, Robert G Taft died of a heart attack. He served in WW II in the Navy on the USS Rigel. Im not sure of his service dates, but he did serve for 2 years. Please post his name with his fellow veterans who have also passed on. thank you
Jeremy Taft e-mail jjtct1@yahoo.com
United States Army 169th Infantry 43rd Division - WW-II
PFC Robert W. Grady - United States Army 169th Infantry 43rd Division - WW-II was born December 23, 1913 in Clarksburg West Virginia. He died April 8, 1945 guarding a bridge in Luzon, Philippines. A hand grenade hit the foxhole he was in and he was killed instantly. He was given a Christian burial with Military Honors in the United States Army Cemetery in Luzon. Several years later after the war, he was brought back to the states and buried at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg, Ohio. He earned the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Infantrymans Badge.
Memorial requested by his daughter Roberta Cook
Click here to send Roberta Email
Click here for PFC Robert W. Grady memorial page
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