-

The News, March 9, 1945
PFC. FRANCIS E. VALENTINE, native of Rocky Ridge and resident of Thurmont, died in France on February 24 of wounds sustained in action, his wife, Mrs. Viola Frances Valentine, Thurmont, was formally notified Thursday evening by the War Department.
Mrs. Valentine was advised that she will be given further information in a letter to follow from the War Department. Father of two small children, Pfc. Valentine was employed at the Bethlehem Fairfield Ship Yards in Baltimore prior to his induction last year. He went overseas the latter part of last November and was reported in combat two months ago.
Pfc. Valentine is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Valentine, Rocky Ridge. His wife was the former Viola Frances Lawrence, near Taneytown.
Besides his wife, parents and two young children, Pfc. Valentine is survived by two brothers, Luther and Wilbur Valentine, and tow sisters, Mrs. Catherine Summers and Mrs. Louis Dewees, all of Thurmont.

The News, March 24, 1945
T/5 DOMINIC D. VARANO, 22, husband of Mrs. Betty Marie Baumgardner Varano, 307 West Fifth street, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Baumgardner, Jr., was killed in action in Belgium on March 10, the War Department notified his wife Friday afternoon.
A former employee of the Ox Fibre Brush Company here, T/5 Varano is said to be the first employee of that firm reported killed in action.
A son of Nicholas Varano, Kulpmont, Pa., T/5 Varano was employed here for several years before entering Army service on February 2, 1943. He trained at Camp Swift, Texas, and had been overseas for sixteen months. He was with Combat Engineers of the First Army.
His wife had received letters regularly from him, the last being dated February 23. He had been in combat frequently since the invasion of Europe last June.
Besides his wife and father, T/5 Varano is survived by a young son, Robert Daniel, not quite two years of age; seven sisters and five brothers.

The News, 1943
PVT. NORMAN M. WACHTER, who recently arrived in North Africa, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wachter, 319 East Second street. He has been in the Army since April 22, 1943. His wife resides at 355 West Patrick street.
The News, May 22, 1944
Shortly after writing letters home to his wife, Mrs. Anna May Baker Wachter, 355 West Patrick street, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wachter, 319 East Second street, Pvt. Norman W. Wachter was killed in action May 3, in Italy, presumably on the Anzio beachhead where he had been stationed.
Word of his death reached his wife by telegram from the War Department Sunday night. Pvt. Wachter had been in Italy since January and it was on the twentyfourth day of that month that he celebrated his twentyfourth birthday. On May 3 he wrote home that he was spending a few hours at a rest camp and it is supposed that he then returned to action on the beachhead. In the Army since April 22, 1943, Pvt. Wachter was with an infantry outfit that went to Africa last fall.
The soldier had numerous friends in Frederick, where, after attending Frederick High School, he was employed for some years at the G. L. Baking Company. He left there to work at the BethlehemFairfield shipyards in Baltimore for about a year before he entered the Army.
Besides his wife and parents, Pvt. Wachter is survived by the following sisters and brothers: Mrs. Helen Johnson, Sykesville; Mrs. Dorothy Fritz and Mrs. Ethel Heffner, both of Frederick; Meredith and Merhle Wachter, near Pearl; and Bruce Wachter, Kemptown. His paternal grandfather, Newton E. Wachter, of Frederick, also survives.

The News, December 14, 1942
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ALBERT R. WALCH, 38, was reported today as the first Frederick man missing in action in the big North African campaign which opened several weeks ago.
The information came in the form of a telegram from the Adjutant General's office to Private Walch's brother and nearest relative, R. Carl Walch, who also resides in this city. The telegram said:
"The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your brother, Private First Class Albert R. Walch, infantry, has this date been reported missing in action in northwest Africa since November 8. Additional information will be sent you when received."
Walch, who would be 39 in January, is the son of the late mr. and Mrs. Thankmar Walch, of Frederick. A bachelor, he had been residing on West Patrick street following the death of his mother and was employed by Charles R. Anders, plasterer. His brother is his only close relative.
Records of local Draft Board One showed that Walch was inducted into the Army as a draftee February 12, 1941. For some time he was stationed with the First Armored Division at Fort Knox, Ky.
His brother said he had not heard from him since a letter was received in July indicating that Private Walch was stationed in Ireland. Apparently he went from the British Isles to North Africa as the campaign got under way. November 8, from which date he is reported missing, was the day the invasion of North Africa was launched.
The News, November 15, 1943
Missing since the North African invasion began a year ago, Pfc. Albert R. Walch, 38, of Frederick, has been finally listed as dead by the War Department, according to word received here by his brother, R. Carl Walch.
In a letter signed by Major General J. A. Ulio, the Adjutant General, the brother is informed that all possible efforts have failed to locate Pfc. Walch, of the infantry, who was reported missing in action on November 8, 1942.
"He was aboard a vessel which was sunk in the action incident to landing of our forces on the northern coast of Africa," the letter says.
After reviewing all reports, records and circumstances relating to the disappearance of the Frederick soldier, an official finding of death has been made, the letter states.
The information served only to confirm the belief of Pfc. Walch's brother, who said soon after he was notified that his brother was missing that he thought the soldier had been lost during the first stages of the invasion of North Africa.
Walch was the first Frederick casualty of the north African campaign, which later developed into the push into Italy. The presumed dated of death, the War Department letter states, is November 8, the day the invasion began. Walch was employed by a local plasterer. He was a bachelor and resided at the corner of Patrick and Jefferson streets before entering the army as a draftee February 12, 1941. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thankmar Walch, his brother, Carl, is his only close relative.
The News, January 4, 1944
The Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to Pfc. Albert R. Walch, this city, who has been missing since the day the North African invasion started in November, 1942, and has been finally listed as dead by the War Department.
A letter announcing the award was received by his brother, R. Carl Walch, this city, from Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who said Pfc. Walch had "sacrificed his life in defense of his country." At the same time, the Purple Heart was received by Mr. Walch..

The News, September 1, 1944
PFC. ROBERT WALTERS was reported today to have died of wounds in France. Wounded on DDay, Pfc Walters died two days later, yet it was not until Thursday evening that his wife, Mrs. Betty Handley Walters, 497 East Church street, received a telegram from the War Department telling her of his death. All the information that she had previously was an official telegram received about July 10 saying that he had been slightly wounded on June 6, and that a letter would follow. No letter ever came.
Pfc. Walters would have been 24 on September 17. It will be seven years in November since he entered the Army, joining the cavalry. Before going overseas he had been stationed at Fort Myer, Va., in Indiana, Georgia and Florida. While he was at Camp Atterbury, Ind., he held the rank of Staff sergeant and was assigned to training draftees but he gave up his stripes in order to try out for the paratroops. He was rejected, however, and returned to the cavalry, which was mechanized about the time the war broke out, and was still with his outfit at the time of his death, as far as his family knows. There were no local men serving with him, as far as is known, and it was believed doubtful that the details of his death will be learned.
Besides his wife, daughter of Mrs. Laura V. Williams, Washington county, and the late Charles R. Handley, whom he married in January, 1942, Pfc. Walters is survived by his father, Earl Walters, of Baltimore; his mother, Mrs. Margaret E. Walters, of Washington; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Nora Walters, 311 East Patrick street, with whom he made his home; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Simmons, North Market street; one brother, Pvt. William Walters, Camp Forrest, Tenn.; three sisters, Miss Grace Walters, 311 East Patrick street; Mrs. Donald King, Waynesboro, Pa.; and Mrs. Robert Evans, Baltimore, and one niece.

The News, October 25, 1944
PVT. LEO H. WARD, was announced missing in action by a War Department telegram received by his family last night. His buddy, Pvt. Woodrow W. Smith, had been reported missing in action in France September 14.
Pvts. Ward and Smith have been buddies since both were inducted January 26, 1944 at Fort George G. Meade. The remained in the same company through basic training at Camp Blanding, Fla., and sailed overseas fighting together in July. Their wives journeyed to New York together to visit the soldiers just before they sailed.
The News, November 6, 1944
Pvt. Leo H. Ward, 28, recently reported missing in action since September 20, has been killed in France, his wife, Mrs. Ruth Willard Ward, Middletown, has been informed by the War Department. He is the third Middletown soldier to be killed in action in France.
Pvt. Ward, who was a son of Mrs. Louise Ward, Hagerstown, had been in the Army less than a year, having been inducted into the service on January 24 last. He received his basic training at Fort Blanding, Fla., and was then granted a 17day furlough, which he spent here with his wife and young son. At the completion of his leave he reported to Fort George G. Meade and from there was transferred to New York, where he embarked for overseas in July. It was not long after he arrived overseas before he was sent into combat duty. Prior to his induction, he was employed as a mechanic by the Model Garage.
Besides his wife and threeyearold son, Harry Leo, Pvt. Ward is survived by his mother, one brother, john Ward, serving with the Army overseas, and two sisters, Miss Ada Ward, Hagerstown, and Mrs. Nellie Williams, York, Pa. The last word received from her husband by Mrs. Ward was a letter dated September 20, in which he stated that he had gotten his first mail from home only a day or two prior to that time. Included in his mail were 30 letters from his wife.

The News, July 3, 1944
PFC. CHARLES R. WATERS, son of Mrs. Luna B. Waters, of Knoxville, Route 1, has been killed in action in France.
Pfc. Waters was first reported missing and later came a report from the War Department that he was dead. His death was said to have occurred during June somewhere in France. He mother resides near Sandy Hook and his father is deceased, it was reported. It could not be learned whether there were other survivors.

PFC ALBERT D. WATKINS

The News, September 3, 1942
SERGEANT DALLAS WATKINS, son of V. T. Watkins, Monrovia, has completed primary pilot training at Ryan School of Aeronautics, Hemet, California, and will be transferred in the near future to a basic training school where he expects to become a flight officer and receive his wings in January. Sergeant Watkins enlisted in the Air Corps in January, 1940, going immediately to Hickham Field, Hawaii, where he was stationed on December 7, but was not wounded in the attack.
The News, May 1, 1944
Missing in the North African theater of war since April 20, Flight Officer Dallas D. Watkins, formerly of Monrovia, was last heard from when he was here in the States the latter part of March. A telegram from the War Department received Sunday morning informed his sister, Mrs. George D. Blumenauer, 246 East fifth street, that he is missing. Another sister, Mrs. Edward Schade, also resides in Frederick on North Market street.
By coincidence, word that both Flight Officer Watkins and a friend of his, Tech. Sgt. Charles W. Andrews, of Monrovia, were missing on the same day and in the same theater of action, arrived here on the same day. Officer Watkins is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. V. T. Watkins, of Monrovia, and was at Pearl Harbor during the Jap attack there. He enlisted in the Air Corps in January, 1940, and was graduated from the Roswell Army Flying School, Roswell, N. M., receiving the wings of a pilot and the rating of flight officer, equivalent to that of second lieutenant. He was graduated from Frederick High School.
The News, May 19, 1944
Flight Officer Dallas D. Watkins, 24, who was reported missing, is now reported as dead. A telegram officially declaring him dead was received yesterday by Mrs. George D. Blumenauer, 246 West Fifth street, sister of Officer Watkins. Mrs. Blumenauer was notified that he was aboard a transport which was sunk in the Mediterranean.
The Ward Department death notification indicated that a letter would follow, giving any further information which has been secured.
Officer Watkins was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Vernon T. Watkins, of Monrovia, and was graduated from Frederick High School. He enlisted in the Air Corps in 1940 and was at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack there. He was last in this county in March and no word was received from him after that time.
He is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Blumenauer, Mrs. Edward Schade, also of this city; Mrs. Morton Behrend and Mrs. Alice Umberger, both of Silver Spring; one brother, Ray Watkins, who is in the Army and stationed in Oklahoma.

The News, February 23, 1945
STAFF SGT. ERNEST FLOYD WILES Is Killed In Action
Word of the death of her son, Staff Sgt. Wiles, on a mission over Austria on February 8 was received from the War Department Thursday by Mrs. Milton Warfield, Adamstown, Route l. S/Sgt. Wiles received his wings as an aerial gunner last summer and had been overseas since October.
The last his family had heard from him he had been on 12 B17 missions over the continent. Entering the service March 13, 1943, he trained at Denver, Col., Miami Beach, Fla., in Arizona and Nebraska and at Camp Dyersburg, Tenn. He spent a week's furlough here in September.
Aged 23, S/Sgt. Wiles was engaged to marry Miss Nellie Whitter, Middletown. He had attended school in Frederick and been employed by the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore. Before he left for service he boarded at the home of Mrs. John Esworthy 16 East South street.
Relatives said today that the last letter received from S/Sgt. Wiles was dated January 7. At that time he was well and busy with his Air Corps assignments.
Son of Mrs. Warfield and the late Oscar Wiles, he is survived, besides his mother, by four brothers, Pvt. Allen Wiles, Camp Blanding, Fla., Earl C. and Richard E., this city, and Paul O. Wiles, Adamstown.
The News, June 9, 1945 Visits Grave of Cousin in Italy
T/5 Merle Zeigler, Middletown, recently visited an American military cemetery in southern Italy where he was able to locate the grave of his cousin, S/Sgt. Ernest F. Wiles, according to word received by the deceased flyer's mother, Mrs. Milton Warfield, Adamstown, Route 1.
It has been learned from S/Sgt. Wiles' commanding officer that the young member of the Fifteenth Air Force died February 8 over Austria when the oxygen mask he was wearing for flying at high altitude failed to work. Other members of the crew rendered aid but failed to save the local airman's life, the officer indicated.
Following her son's death, Mrs. Warfield received pictures of S/Sgt. Wiles and his companions from one of the flyers, and in return wrote him a number of letters, all of which have returned to her, she said, with the information that this young man is now missing.
The News, December 3, 1948
The remains of S/Sgt Ernest F. Wiles, who was killed over Austria on February 9, 1945, will arrive in Frederick this afternoon and will be taken to the funeral home in Middletown from where funeral will be held Sunday afternoon with rites in the Middletown Lutheran church at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. William E. Fox. Military services will be provided by Company A, Maryland National Guard, and interment will be made in Middletown Lutheran cemetery, in charge of Gladhill Company.
Stg. Wiles was a son of Mrs. Oneida Warfield, Adamstown, and the late Oscar Wiles, near Middletown. He was 22 years of age at the time of his death. He attended school in Middletown and at the time of his induction in March, 1943, was employed by the Glenn L. Martin plant in Baltimore. He received training in Denver, Miami Beach, Arizona, Nebraska and Tennessee, and obtained his wings as an aerial gunner in the summer of 1944. He went overseas in October of the same year and flew 12 B17 missions over Europe.
Surviving are his mother and four brothers, Richard E., Allen and Earl Wiles, Frederick and Paul O. Wiles, Adamstown.

The News, July 31, 1944
PFC. JAMES E "JACK" WILES, son of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Wiles, 510 North Market street, was reported killed in action. He formerly resided with Mr. and Mrs. Ira J. Hartman, 907 North Market street. He was killed on July 2.
The News, August 2, 1944
PFC. Jack Wiles, son of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Wiles, 150 North Market street, and nephew of Mrs. Ella Mercer, 907 North Market street, with whom he resided, was reported killed in action July 2 somewhere in France, according to a War Department notification delivered to his family over the weekend. Pfc. Wiles' last letter home was dated July 1, the day before his death, and stated that he was in an Army rest camp. Apparently he returned to his infantry unit shortly after the message was written.
The young soldier, who observed his nineteenth birthday May 25, entered service August 25, 1943 and after taking training at Camp Gruber, Okla., and Camp Phillips, Kans., went overseas, landing in England sometime in April. According to information contained in his letters, he reached France about June 8 and participated in a number of battles there before meeting his death.
Pfc. Wiles was widely known and wellliked in Frederick, where he was graduated from the high school in 1941 and employed as a clerk at Carmack's Grocery.
The News, May 19, 1948
The body of Pfc. James Edward "Jack" Wiles, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Wiles, of Frederick who was killed in France on July 2, 1944, will arrive in Frederick on Friday afternoon.
Pfc. Wiles lost his life while serving with an infantry unit of the 79th Division. He entered service in August of 1943 and had participated in a number of battles. A graduate of Frederick High School in 1941, he had been employed at Carmack's Grocery before entering service.
Besides his parents survivors include an aunt, Mrs. Ella Mercer, 907 North Market street, with whom he made his home; two brothers, Richard and Allard Wiles, and one sister, Miss Barbara Wiles, all of Frederick.
Upon arrival in Frederick the remains will be taken to the funeral home, 106 East Church street. Funeral arrangements will be announced. M. R. Etchison and Son, funeral director.

The News, March 10, 1945
STAFF SGT. GILMOUR M. WILL, JR., of Brunswick and a native of Harrisonburg, Va., was killed in action in the battle for Cologne on February 23, his parents were advised Friday by the War Department.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilmour M. Will, Sr., 501 Brunswick street, Brunswick, siad they received a letter from him dated February 22, in which he said he was in charge of a fiveman sniper hunting squad.
An infantryman, he was attached to the 104th Division, which led the attack on Cologne. Sgt. Will apparently died in the opening action of the attack on Cologne.
A graduate of Harrisonburg High School, Sgt. Will moved to Brunwick with his parents in 1939. Prior to entering service he was connected with restaurants in Washington and Richmond. He was 26 years of age.
He entered Army service on September 16, 1941 and went overseas nine months ago. He had been in Germany since last October.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, Yeoman 3/c Raymond Will, U. S. N., and a sister, Mrs. Charles Shewbridge. Brunswick.

PFC LEROY T. WILSON

The News, March 29, 1944
PVT. NORMAN WINDSOR, son of William Windsor, of Urbana, is seriously ill as the result of a fractured skull sustained in the South Pacific, the War Department notified relatives late Tuesday. No other information was supplied.
Pvt. Windsor, relatives said, is stationed in New Guinea and a letter was just received from him yesterday dated March 3. He had been in this country until around the first of the year, when his Army unit was shipped to the South Pacific and he arrived in New Guinea, it was said, about February 2. He has been in service more than two and a half years.
The News, March 31, 1944
Pfc. Norman Windsor, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Windsor, of Urbana, died on March 25 as the result of a fractured skull sustained in the South Pacific area. Word of the local soldier's death was received Thursday in a telegram from the War Department. It gave no further information, but added that a letter would follow.
Pfc. Windsor, it is understood, had been stationed in New Guinea, a letter dated march 3 just having been received here. It is likewise understood that he arrived at his Pacific base early in February, having been in service more than two and a half years. Relatives had been notified on Tuesday that Pfc. Windsor was seriously ill as the result of his injuries but no further word was received until yesterday's wire advising of his death. The injury resulting in his death was believed sustained on March 22.
The News, June 27, 1948
The funeral of Pfc. Norman L. Windsor, who died in New Guinea March 25, 1944, took place from the funeral home, 106 East Church street, Sunday afternoon at two o'clock. Rev. J. W. Briscoe officiated. The pallbearers were John Plunkard, Donald Plunkard, John Poole, Mark Poole, Marshall Brandenburg and Upton Brandenburg. The funeral was largely attended. Interment was made in Mt. Olivet cemetery. M. R. Etchison and Son, funeral directors.
The News, May 29, 1948
War Casualties Being Returned
The remains of four local men are among the 4,459 American war casualties being returned to the United States from Manila aboard the U.S. Army Transport Lieut. George W.G. Boyce, the Department of the Army announced today. The arrival will be announced by the San Francisco Port of Embarkation : Pfc. Norman Windsor died in the Philippines as a result of a fractured skull.

PFC LESTER WINEBRENNER

The News, September 9, 1944
PVT. HARRY E. WOLFE died of heart thrombosis in Italy on August 25, his wife, Mrs. Thelma E. Wolfe, of Mt. Airy, was informed Friday by the War Department. In a letter, dated August 24, he had reported feeling fine.
Pvt. Wolfe was the son of Mrs. Claudia J. Wolfe, of Ijamsville, and several sisters also survive. Before entering the service on September 25, 1943, Pvt. Wolfe was a crane operator for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Brunswick. He trained at Camp Lee, Va., and Camp Croft, S.C. before going overseas last April. He had been in Italy about four months.
In recent letters to his wife and mother, Pvt. Wolfe told of the stirring sight as he and other Americans entered Rome. He had given no indication that he was ill. All of his letters reported him in good health, his relatives said. He was with the 350th Infantry and was thought to be in the vicinity of Florence at the time of his sudden death.

The News, July 28, 1942
CADET CHARLES T. WRIGHT, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Wright, Doubs, is now stationed at the U. S. Navy Pre Flight School at Athens, Ga. He is 21 and a graduate of Frederick High School. He is in Battalion One, Company B, Platoon 2 and lives at Rutherford Hall at the University of Georgia. He is a brother of Carroll A. Wright who is a messenger and mail carrier at the U. S. Embassy in London.
The News, January 18, 1943
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Wright, Doubs, have three sons in the service. Cpl. Carroll A. Wright, of the Marines, was stationed at the American embassy in London for a year and a half. He has returned to this country. Herbert C. Wright has enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was recently transferred from Tennessee to Arkansas, where he is attending the Officers Training school. He has had four years in the Army and four years in the Marine Corps in foreign service. Aviation Cadet Charles T. Wright, known to his friends as "Kayo," is stationed at the U. S. Naval Air Training Center, Pensacola, Fla. Upon completion of this course, he will receive his Navy "Wings of Gold" with the designation of Naval Aviator, and will be commissioned as Ensign in the Naval Reserve or a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve.
The News, October 25, 1943
Second Lieut. Charles T. Wright, U.S.M.C.R., 23 yearold son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Wright, near Doubs, is presumed lost by the Navy Department in the dive of a fast combat into fathomless waters about four miles off the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean, his parents were informed Saturday night. The dive occurred Saturday morning, they were notified in a telegram which promised written information would follow.
Recently stationed at Santa Barbara, Calif., Lieut. Wright has been training to fly new combat planes. His parents presumed that he was flying solo when the accident occurred.
The Navy Department telegram indicated that the depth of the water is too great to expect recovery of the body. One of four brothers in service, Lieut. Wright trained as a Naval Aviation Cadet at the Navy Preflight School, Athens, Ga., after enlisting in June, 1942. He later transferred to Pensacola, Fla, and completed his training at Miami. His request for transfer to the Marine Corps was granted at the completion of his training.
A graduate of Frederick High School in June, 1937, Lieut. Wright was employed with the American Ice Company in Bethesda prior to his enlistment.
Brothers of the victim include Sgt. Carroll A. Wright, U. S. M. C., formerly attached to the U. S. Embassy in London and now assigned in Washington; Herbert C. Wright, Army Air Corps, rank unknown; and Horace Wright, who enlisted two weeks ago in the Maritime Service and is now in training at Sheepshead Bay, N.Y. Cary Wright, former well known local amateur pugilist is also a brother of Lieut. Wright, who was one of thirteen children.