https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/13/341/Dibble_Text0210.pdf dce75e58f755b9874162340fe5ee1112 PDF Text Text The bronze plaque at Hastings High School is a tribute to 31 former students who died while serving in World War II. A stone memorial and bronze plaqu ]ue has rested al the south er end of Johnson Field near Hastir — ’High J:-U tings School for 65 year., _____ o :ars, bearing the names of 31 service men who died while serving in World War II. Some names are still common in the area, others not so much. So, who were these for mer Hastings High School students? A few had earned college degrees; others were still pursuing a college educa tion. A couple had not graduated from high school, preferring instead to enlist and fight for their country. Several of them still worked on their families’ farms. Two were employed at Kroger stores, one at Woolworth’s, another at a bakery. Some worked in fac tories, one worked at nearby the state fish hatchery that has become a city park. Many were married, leav ing behind young widows, some of whom they had married shortly before their departures. A couple had fa thered children they would never see. One was his par ents’ only child. Charles Casey, just,t H ig the was the youngest among wood 31 men. Harold Norw .... and Cleo Card were among ly of the oldest, at 34. Many the men were 21 yearss old or younger. Following ing is a brief biography of each man, developed from sources lilistcd at the end. Corp. Richard A. Bab cock was born Sept. 8, 1923, to Ray and Luella (Talmage) Babcock. He at tended Burroughs School ... in iship. He Johnstown Towns 1' mily farm worked on the fami before joining the Army, Babcock was a military po- liceman in the infantry until mia Aug. 30, 1945, in Dearhis death Nov. 29, 1945, at born. n. He was 18 years y old. age 22. He was killed in ac- Christy iwling hristy is buried at Dot lion in France and remained Cer smetery. Staff Sgt. Orville Cooley buried there. Sgt. Sgt Cleo E. Card was was born in 1923 to Mr. 1 He born Dec - 1 L >910, the son Mrs. JStephen J. Cooley. F ** roseph and Clarissa gradut of Josepi uated from Hastin' ngs (Dudley) ~y) Card. C He attended High School in 1942 and ai Macomber mber School. He was was working ;at the Krog roger employed ■—d at t Hastings Ma 1anu- store in Ionia before joi lining facturing mg prior p to joining tg the the Army. Ht He served with ' Army. He H was in Company the 79th Divis ision, ' Army, : , 7th M, 411th ith Infantry Regiment Cooley >ley was about 21 year years of the: 9th Army Arm) a: as a ma- old when he was killed zat chine gunner. g' Cardd was 34 the Battle of the Bulge in when he he died Feb. 27, 1945, France. Jan. 8, 1945. He is in Germany from wounds buried in Ri liverside Cemereceived in battle. He is bur- tery, Hasting' ings. lhapeile Cemeied in Henri-Chapelle Fit First Lt. 4. Bernard D. tery, near Liege, „ge,. Belgium. „ Davis was born around Fireman 2nd id Class Char- 1919, the son of Mr. and les A. Casey was born April Mrs. Henry Henn Davis. He grew 22, 1927, to Winifred and up in Baltimore Township uauip Alice (Johncock) Casey,’. He and graduated from Hastir"" stings attended Hinds School t High School in 1937. Da )avis then Hastings High School served in the Army .Air through 10th grade. He left Corps and was about 23 school to join the Navy,. Ca- years old when he died in a sey died Feb. 21, 1945,. dur< plane crash in Panama May ing the Battle of Iwo ' Jima. 5, 1942. He was buried at sea. Staff Sgt. William “Bill” Pfc. George H. 1 Cash- DeCou was born about 1924 more was born Nov. 22, to Clair and Hazel DeCou. 1924. He was orpha laned as a He graduated from Hastings child and raisedi by his High School in 1941 and grandparents, Edwin and soon joined the Army Air Minnie Smith. He attended Corps. DeCou died at age- 20 school in Assyria Township. in an aircraft accident Mar irch Cashmore worked at Kel- 3, 1944, near nea San Borlogg; Company in Battle nadino, Calif. uii. He is buried j. Cemetery r> ■in Creel :k before joining the ini 1Riverside Marines,, where he was in Has astings. the 4th Mlarine e Division,i, 1st First Lt. James P. Dibble Amp! ihibious Corps, Mari nine was born Nov. 3, 1921, the Raide ier Unit. Cashr tmore died son of James E. and Estelle just 1944 near Ivvo M. Dibble. He graduated in ln August Jima- He was killed in ac- 1939 and wor irked at Schultz l'on ar|d *s buried at a ceme- Bakery iin Chicago before tery 'n Bedford. joining ththe Army Air Corps, Lewis Castle was born He was aa fighter pilot in the Feb. 23, 1921, in Orangev- First Figi ghter Group. Dibble,. ille to Frank and Flossie 21, diedJ 5Sept. 9, 1943, when (Lectka) Castle. He gradu his plane was shot down ated from Hastings High overr Italy. He H is buried in School in 1939. Cer Mt. Hope Cemetery in MidWilliam A. Chris' iristy was dleville. /ille. born Oct. 16, 1926. Pfc. Robert C. Gardner 16. Raised by his foster mother, Nellie was born Dec. 30, 1923, to Clcmence, he gradua jaretha Gardudated in Roy and Margaretha 1944 ar*d soon joined ’ J the ■’ ner. He had worked at UnArmy Air Corps. Christy ion Stamp ar and Pump Comwas given a medical dis- pany in Battle Battle Creek and left charge £and' was considered a high school durir during his junior veteran when he died of ane- year to join the ZArmy. Gard- ner died in Germany , atl age 21 after an unknown explosion occurred in a building he was in Feb. 22, 1945. He is buried at Striker Cemetery ini Maple Grove Township. Second Lt. Martin Haw thorne was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hawthorne. He gr; graduated from Hastings Highh School in 1940 and then served as produce p man ager for the Has astings Kroger store before; joining ‘ the Air Force as a fighter pilot. He died Jan. 22, 1944, when his ' plane was shot down near New Guinea. He is buried in Rock Island National Ceme tery in Rock Island, Ill. Second Lt. Robert H. Hem Ilenney was born Jan. 19, 1919, the only child of Fred and Lusena (Nichols) Hen ney. He grew up in Carlton Center and graduated from Hastings High School in 1937. He went on to Michi gan State University, where he earned a degree in agri culture economics in 1942, beforei joining the Army. He was kil illed in action Jan. 29, 19^ 944, in Cassino, Italy. He is buried at Riverside Ceme tery in Hastings. Pvt. Ernest M. Howell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Howell. He graduated in 1943 and worked on the family farm before joinjng Army. Howell was __ ___ he was killed in ac19 when tion April /; 25, 1945, in Luzon, Philippines. Philippin He is buried at nati m the me national cemetery in New Albany, Alban’ Ind. Pfc. Merrill E. Isham was born Dec. 20, 1917, to Howard and Sarah (Ham mond) Isham. He attended Barney Mills School and then Hastings High School, graduating in 1935. He was employed at Ralston Purina and Weston Biscuit Company in Battle Creek before joining the Army. Isham worked in ordnance and was about 28 years old when he died of malaria May 14, 1945, at Camp Atterbury, Ind. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Baltimore Township. �Staff Sgt. Frank R. G. H. McPharlin McPharIir graduated He is buried at the Freeport Charles VanDenberg. He atHigh* tended Hastings High “Bob” Kelly was born in from Hastings High ' School Cemetery. 1916, the son of Frank and in !- 1930. ,'v,n He flew fit lew with the Second Lt. Cleon L. School before transferring to Gladys (Beck) Kelly. He British Royal Air Force. Smith was born June 15, Nashville High School from 8-----duated in 1940. graduated from Hastings Pvt. Harold W. Norwood 1919, the son of Ernest and which he gradt He graduated graduated He He worked worked for Kellogg High School in 1933 and was was born born Dec. Dec. 14, 14, 1909, 1909, the the Sopha Smith. He 1 worked as a lineman before son of Russell ell and and Franc Frances from Hastings stings High High School School Company Company ”Battle " Creek bejoining the Army Air ’ Corps ~ (Germain) ’ Norwood. He in 1937 and then went on to fore joinii joining the Army. He as an armorer-gunner. Kelly graduated in 1927 and was MSU to earn an engineering was a plate platoon commander in died when his plane Company E, 361st Infantry, ne was employed at Eaton Manu- degree in 1942 before join- Comp shot down near Derben, )erben, facturing before joining the ing the Army Air Force. VanI VanDenberg died Oct. 11, Germany, Jan. 14, 1945. He Army’s Third Infantry Divi- Smith died Dec. 1, 1943, in 1944, in Italy, due to a morwas 21 years old. sion. sion. Norwood Norwood died died in in an airplane accident in tar fire attack. He is buried Pvt. Neil L. Kidder was March 1944 near Cisterna, Idaho. in Wilcox Cemetery, Maple born Jan. 22, 1923, to Mr. Italy, killed in action in the Corp. Donald L. Solo- Grove and Mrs. Clem Kidder. He Battk Battle of Anzio. He is buried mon was born Aug. 14, Machinists Mate 2nd Class attended Dunham School in in North Cemetery, Hickory 1914, 14, to Mr. and Mrs. Char- Morton F. Young, the son of Maple Grove Township “ '> as a Corners les Solomon. les He Solomon. was in theHeJohn was in andthe Edna John Young, and Edna was . . . warfare child. He worked for WilWilPfc. Robert Reid was chemical service in born about 1924. He was recox-Rich in Battle Creek be- born Oct. 16, 1922, to Wil- the Army. Solomon died of ported missing in action May fore joining the Army. He liam liam and and Alta Alta (Callihan) (Callihan) cerebral cerebral malaria malaria at at age age 28 28 27,1945, while serving in the was in the 36th Armored Reid. Reid. He He attended attended Starr Starr while while in in aa prison prison camp camp in in U.S. Navy. Regiment, ”3rd' Division, ' ’'1,1st 1st School before5 joining the Taralic, Japan, June 1, 1942. Sources: Hastings High Army. Kidder, 21, died ied in Army. Army. He He served served in in the the He isHe buried is buried in Portland. in Portland. School yearbooks and France July 17, 1944,, of 131st 131st Infantry Infantry itry Re Regiment Regiment of of Technician 5th Class De- graduation graduation programs; p"'°' Hastwounds received in battle, title. the 33rd Division ivisior until his Forest Snyder Jr. was bom ings Banner; — Barry County He is buried in Wilcox death at age 22. Reid was May 28, 1921, the son of Veterans of the World War Cemetery in Maple Grove killed in action March 24, DeForest and Hazel (Bar- // II Era (2002); A Collection Township. 1945, near 'Luzon, Philip------ num) Snyder. Philip °-yder. He graduated of Memories — Personal Technician 4th Class Es- pines. He is bun buried tu ,in Hast- in i?-rv 1940 nom from Hastings High Stories from World War II tie V. King was born in ings Township Ceme Cemetery. School and was working as Veterans of Ionia County 1917, the son of Rev. and Second Lt. Frai Frank W. an assistant manager at the (2008); U.S. National Park Mrs. Fred W. King. He Rogers was born Aug. j 4, Woolworth store in San San- Service; and the National graduated from Hastings ngs 1919, the son of 1Mr. and dusky, Ohio, before joining Archives. High School in 1934 andJ at- Mrs. Frank Roge Rogers. He grew the Army. Snyder, 23, died Compiled by Kathy Mautended college for one year, up in Dowling and It later Sept. 10, 1944, near Cr Or- rer, copy editor. He was in the Army’s 11th graduated from Hasti Hastings leans, France, of" wounds reInfantry Regiment, 5thh In- High School in 1937. He ceived after the tl vehicle he fantry Division before his earned a bachelor of science was in was blowni up. He is death at age 28. King was degree from Western Michi- buried at Hastings: Township ' killed in action Jan. 25, gan University before join- Cemetery. 1949, near Lippersche leid, ing the Marines as a pilot. Second Lt. Duane D. Luxembourg. He is buried P~;—. 25, died in an air- Stamm was the son of Mr. ' J in ’ Rogers, Luxembourg American plane accident ac Feb.. 2, 1945, and Mrs. L. D. Stamm. The Cemetery. near Mt. Whitney, Calif. He 1943 graduate joined the Pvt. Hubert McCal is buried in Riverside lubert L. McCalGuard in the ide Ceme- Army National Na lum was born in 1911 to tery, Hastings. 32nd “Re Red Arrow” Division. Donald “Dan” and Rosa M. Lt. Howard A. Shellingtiling- He died in a fplane crash. McCallum. He attended ton was born Oct. 3,, 1923, Sgt. Merl Merle G. Tasker Brush Ridge School and to to Emmett Emmett and and Mary Mary was was born born June 13, 1913, to •raduated from from Hastings Hastings Shellington. Mrs. (Oliver Tasker. graduated Shellington. He He attended attended Mr. and Mrs. HighhSchool School in in 1928. 1928. He He Ryan Ryan School School and and later later He He sgrew up in Assyria worked on the. family farm graduated graduated from from Hastings Hastings Township Towr and graduated and built and operated his High High School School in in 1941. 1941. He He from from Hastings He High School own sawmill before >efore joining was working :as a tool and in 1933. He was employed the Army. He was in the die dieapprentice apprentice before joining at the state fish hatchery in Company B, 103rd Combat the the Army Army Air Air Corps. irps. Hastings before joining the Battalion of Replacement Shellington was a fighter ‘ „ sr pi- Army. Tasker was killed in Engineers when /hen he was lol with the 2nd Bombardjmbard- action near New Guinea < Jan. killed in action when he was ment S Squadron H, 22nd 1, 1943, at age 29. He is about 33 years old. McCal- Bomban ardment Group H. He buried in Riverside Rivers Cemelum died Dec. 9, 1944, in died at age 21 when his tery, Hastings. Second Lt. Wesley R. ic was shot down June France. He is buried juried in Riv- plane tch VanDenberg, was born Aug. erside Cemetery, Hastings. Has tings. 25,1! 1945, near Maros, Dutc and Mrs. ia). 27, 1922, to Mr. 1 Major Michael1 “Mickey” Eastt 1Indies (now Indonesia � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: Killed in Action Description An account of the resource Typically pilots rotated home after their 50th mission. James took off for his 49th mission on Septemebr 9, 1943, and never returned. He was shot down on a straffing run near the town of Padula, Italy. Initially there was much confusion amongst the other P-38 pilots, and it was thought James survivied and may have been taken prisoner. Ultimately it was discovered that James had been shot down and then killed by German soldiers. James was ultiamtely brought home and buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville, Michigan. See information on his gravesite at <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40312090/james-p-dibble" target="_blank" title="James P. Dibble's Gravesite" rel="noreferrer noopener">FindAGrave.com</a>. See reports, documents and letters around James' missing in action status and then the determination that he was killed in action. Included are letters from the Army to his wife Maxine and parents, newspaper clippings and local memorials. Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photocopy of the newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Excerpt from The Reminder listing names of former Hastings High School students who died in World War II Subject The topic of the resource Hastings, Michigan. War Memorials. Description An account of the resource Excerpt from The Reminder listing names of former Hastings High School students who died in World War II. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 5/17/2014 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022