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" Every man's life ends the same way ! " It is only the details of how he lived,
and how he died,
that distinguish one man from another !
Ernest Hemingway
All weblinks within this document are " BRIGHT BLUE "
INCLUDING:
Wednesday,
" September 24, 2025 "
( Originally created in May, 2018 )
The following list was created in the memory of the brave men and women from " Johnson County " that " Gave Their All " for their State and Country during World War II. Soldiers, Sailors and Merchant Mariners, are all included on this listing.There are personal " Online Memorials " for each of these honored men and women that were created for them by using the " Find A Grave Website ". On the " Majority " of the online memorials you will see a small biography for each soldier which may include:
Parent's, Grandparent's & Sibling's Names,
where & when they were born,
where they grew up,
when & where they enlisted in the service,
the military unit they were part of,
" AND "
where and how they actually died during the war !If you see one without a biography, picture, or you have more information on them please send me an Email at russpickde@comcast.net - ( or by clicking here )
I'll update their records as quickly as possible .....
Johnson County had a total of:
" 16 "
Soldiers, Sailors & Merchant Mariners who
" Gave Their All "
during World War II !
Information was used from the following link for the " Army & Air Force "
Click below for Archive Reports :
"Multiple" links at the National Archives
at National Archives for this report:
were used for the " Navy & Coast Guard " for this report.
Also please note: The records show these men and women as either enlisting, being originally from, or having strong ties to Johnson County.
On some of the records you will note that the "Cemetery/Memorial" column shows "unknown". If you know where any of these men or women are interred please let me know by sending me an "email - (by clicking here)" and I'll insure that the information is noted for their record.
Whether a soldier or sailor was " Killed In Action ", " Missing In Action ",
" Died of Wounds ", or even died in the " Line Of Duty " ......
They are all
" HEROES "
in my book and deserve all the recognition they can get !!
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John Dowdy ~ Tim Cook ~ Jeff Hall
For their great help locating burials
" and " record updates For Soldiers & Sailors
" Nationwide ! "
AM = Awarded the " Air Medal " ~ ( Meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. )
AM+ = Awarded " Multiple Air Medals " ~ ( Noted as Oak Leaf Clusters attached to " First " Air Medal. )
BS = Awarded the " Bronze Star " ~ ( 4th highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service )
BS+ = Awarded multiple " Bronze Stars " ~ ( Noted as Oak Leaf Cluster attached to " First " Bronze Star. )
DFC = Awarded the " Distinguished Flying Cross " ~ ( Awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. )
DSC = Awarded the " Distinguished Service Cross " ~ ( 2nd highest award for extreme gallantry and risk of life. )
DSM = Awarded the " Distinguished Service Medal " ~ ( Awarded for Exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States. )
FDC = Awarded the " Croix de Guerre " ~ ( Awarded by France for those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism. )
LOM = Awarded the " Legion Of Merit " ~ ( Awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. )
MM = Awarded the " Mariner's Medal " ~ ( Awarded to the Merchant Marines for being wounded or killed in action )
MM* = Awarded the " Mariner's Combat Bar " ~ ( Awarded to Merchant Mariners who have been in combat action )
MM** = Awarded the " Mariner's Combat Bar Star " ~ ( Combat Star's awarded to those who are forced to abandon ship when attacked )
MDS = Awarded the " Mariner's Distinguished Service Medal " ~ ( Awarded for " Heroism Beyond the Call of Duty ". )
MOH = Awarded the " Medal Of Honor " ~ ( Highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. )
NC = Awarded the " Navy Cross " ~ ( 2nd highest military decoration for valor that may be awarded to a member of the Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard. )
PH = Awarded the " Purple Heart " ~ ( Awarded for being wounded in action. )
PH+ = Awarded " Multiple Purple Hearts " ~ ( Noted as Oak Leaf Clusters attached to " First " Purple Heart. )
POW = Awarded the " Prisoner Of War Medal " ~ ( Awarded for serving as a Prisoner of the enemy. )
PUC = Awarded a " Presidential Unit Citation " ~ ( Awarded to a unit for heroism or extraordinary achievement. )
SM = Awarded the " Soldier's Medal " ~ ( Awarded for distinguished heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy )
SS = Awarded the " Silver Star " ~ ( 3rd highest award, awarded for gallantry in action )
Other Medals
Such as Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, American Defense Service Medals, etc. " Are Not " included in this listing.
= Photo of person shown on online memorial
= Photo of tombstone or listing shown on online memorial
N/A ~ ( in any field ) = not applicable
" Family Link Included " = Parent, Spouse, or Child linked in " Online Memorial ".
An " * " Shown behind a soldier or sailor's name = ( Biography created by Russ Pickett )
I add these to take " responsibility " for the soldier / sailors " bio " on their records .....
( " Not " in any way to give " myself " some kind of " personal credit or glory " for my work ..... It's an honor to be able do this ! )
Cenotaph = A memorial stone only, remains not recovered or possibly interred somewhere unknown.
Those Included: = Died during the war ~ " December 7, 1941 " through " September 2, 1945 ".
( Some others have been included that died close to the war's end possibly from wounds or illiness )
Last Name, First Name, Middle Name ( or Initial ) Notes |
Rank |
Branch of Service ~ ~ ~ Information ( If Available ) |
~ ~ ~ Cause of Passing ~ ~ ~ Date Of Passing ~ ~ ~ Information ( If Available ) |
Memorial |
Memorial Click " Below " |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carson, Virgil Blaine
~ ~ ~ Virgil was " 20 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
First Class |
Glider Infantry ~ ~ ~ 82nd Airborne Division " Click Above ! " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action ~ ~ ~ October 2, 1944 |
American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Netherlands ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph |
For Online Memorial |
Christensen, Elmer Emil
~ ~ ~ Elmer was " 23 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! ~ ~ ~ He was " 1 " of " 1,177 " that perished on the " U.S.S. Arizona " ! |
Mate 2nd Class |
( BB-39 ) " Click Above ! " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ U.S. Navy |
" City / Town Unknown " ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action ~ ~ ~ December 7, 1941 ~ ~ ~ Pearl Harbor " Attack " " Click Above ! " |
Memorial ~ ~ ~ Honolulu, Hawaii ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph |
For Online Memorial |
Claypool, Archie Porter *
~ ~ ~ Archie was " 39 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
1st Class |
( AE-1 ) " Click Above ! " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ U.S. Navy |
" City / Town Unknown " ~ ~ ~ Line Of Duty ~ ~ ~ January 15, 1944 |
National Cemetery ~ ~ ~ San Bruno, California |
For Online Memorial |
Copps, Calvin Wesley *
~ ~ ~ Calvin was " 22 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! ~ ~ ~ The " 9 " crewman that perished with him are " Linked " on his record ! |
Sergeant ~ ~ ~ Ball Turret Gunner |
# 42-94750 ~ ~ ~ 830th Bomber Squadron ~ ~ ~ 485th Bomber Group ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army Air Force |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action ~ ~ ~ January 20, 1945 |
American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Italy ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph |
For Online Memorial |
Deen, Cecil Lloyd
~ ~ ~ Cecil was " 29 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
Special Service Regiment ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
" City / Town Unknown " ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action ~ ~ ~ December 6, 1943 |
American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Italy |
For Online Memorial | |
Eldridge, George William
~ ~ ~ George was " 19 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! ~ ~ ~ The " 9 " crewman that perished with him are " Linked " on his record ! |
First Class ~ ~ ~ Gunner |
# 42-5325 ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army Air Force |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ Line Of Duty ~ ~ ~ January 24, 1945 |
Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Kaycee, Wyoming |
For Online Memorial |
Foster, Fred M.
~ ~ ~ Fred was " 50 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
Tank Destroyer Battalion ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
" City / Town Unknown " ~ ~ ~ " Died " Of Wounds ~ ~ ~ October 5, 1944 |
American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Belgium |
For Online Memorial | |
Hart, Albert McCabe
~ ~ ~ Albert was " 28 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! ~ ~ ~ The " 16 " others that perished with him are " Linked " on his record ! |
Lieutenant ~ ~ ~ " Chaplain " |
Artillery Corps ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ Line Of Duty ~ ~ ~ July 16, 1942 |
Memorial Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Honolulu, Hawaii |
For Online Memorial |
Kepler, Vincent Arthur *
~ ~ ~ Vincent was " 25 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! ~ ~ ~ The " 6 " crewman that perished with him are " Linked " on his record ! |
Lieutenant ~ ~ ~ Bombardier |
# 42-31870 ~ ~ ~ 49th Bomber Squadron ~ ~ ~ 2nd Bomber Group ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army Air Force |
" City / Town Unknown " ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action ~ ~ ~ February 24, 1944 |
National Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Arlington, Virginia |
For Online Memorial |
Madsen, Arnold
~ ~ ~ Arnold was " 23 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
" City / Town Unknown " ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action ~ ~ ~ February 11, 1945 |
Grove Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Buffalo, Wyoming |
For Online Memorial | ||
McBride, Sam Anderson
~ ~ ~ Sam was " 24 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! ~ ~ ~ He was " 1 " of appx. " 3, 700 " U.S. Soldiers / Sailors that perished during the 24 day battle of " Saipan " ! |
Lieutenant |
Infantry Regiment ~ ~ ~ 27th Infantry Division " Click Above ! " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ " Died " Of Wounds ~ ~ ~ June 24, 1944 ~ ~ ~ Battle of " Saipan " " Click Above " |
Grove Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Buffalo, Wyoming |
For Online Memorial |
Norval, Richard Morgan
~ ~ ~ Richard was " 21 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! ~ ~ ~ He was " 1 " of appx. " 12,500 " U.S. Soldiers / Sailors that perished at " Okinawa " ! First Class Marine Regiment ~ ~ ~ 1st Marine Division " Click Above ! " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Marine Corps Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action ~ ~ ~ May 14, 1945 ~ ~ ~ Battle of " Okinawa " " Click Above ! " Grove Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Buffalo, Wyoming For Online Memorial | |||||
Peck, George DeLisle
~ ~ ~ George was " 22 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
Sergeant | Air Force |
" City / Town Unknown " ~ ~ ~ Line Of Duty ~ ~ ~ October 8, 1944 |
Memorial Park ~ ~ ~ Whittier, California |
For Online Memorial |
Smee, Robert Wilson
~ ~ ~ Robert was " 28 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
Infantry Regiment ~ ~ ~ 3rd Infantry Division " Click Above ! " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action ~ ~ ~ May 30, 1944 ~ ~ ~ Battle of " Anzio " " Click Above " |
Grove Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Buffalo, Wyoming |
For Online Memorial | |
Still, James Oliver, Jr.
~ ~ ~ James was " 19 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
Infantry Regiment ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action ~ ~ ~ September 27, 1944 |
Grove Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Buffalo, Wyoming |
For Online Memorial | |
Taylor, Charles E.
~ ~ ~ Charles was " 23 Years Old " when he Gave His All ! |
Infantry Regiment ~ ~ ~ 35th Infantry Division " Click Above ! " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Army |
Johnson County, Wyoming ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action ~ ~ ~ October 2, 1944 |
Grove Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Buffalo, Wyoming |
For Online Memorial |
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Email any questions or comments to:
( russpickde@comcast.net )