The following men were from or had ties to North Caddo Parish and died in service to our country. Should you know of others, please contact me for inclusion.
BLANCHARD
Fisher, E. C. - Steward's Mate 2C, USNR, WWII
GILLIAM
Shores, Phil Leon (1926-1945) - PFC, USMCR, WWII
Source: State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 15 of 41).
Shreveport Times 29-Jul-1945, Page 28
PFC Shores is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific( Punchbowl), Honolulu, HI.
HOSSTON
West, Jessie (?-1945) - StM1C, USNR, WWII
PFC Shores is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific( Punchbowl), Honolulu, HI.
HOSSTON
West, Jessie (?-1945) - StM1C, USNR, WWII
State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 17 of 41).
He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines.
IDA
Adams, Fletcher Eugene (1921-1944) Capt. USAAC, WWII
He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines.
IDA
Adams, Fletcher Eugene (1921-1944) Capt. USAAC, WWII
Captain Adams was a P-51 pilot and ace shot down over Germany. Though he successfully parachuted, he was captured and killed by German civilians. This is described in the book Bleeding Sky: The Story of Captain Fletcher E Adams and the 357th Fighter Group. by Joey Maddox.
His hometown of Ida hosts the Capt. Fletcher E. Adams 357th Fighter Group Museum. Noted test pilot Chuck Yeager spoke at its dedication ceremony.
Listed among three Ida residents lost within a short period of time.
Listed among three Ida residents lost within a short period of time.
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 29-Mar-1945 Page 2
Captain Adams is interred in Bethsaida Cemetery, Ida, LA.
Giesen, Charles (1920-1944) - Lt, USAAC, WWII
Captain Adams is interred in Bethsaida Cemetery, Ida, LA.
Giesen, Charles (1920-1944) - Lt, USAAC, WWII
His plane was shot down by flak Christmas Eve 1944. Read about his final mission here.
Lt. Giesen is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Shreveport, LA
Harrist, Sidney Teal (1924-1943) FM1C, USMC, WWII
Per his headstone, he was part of the 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.
Source: State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 9 of 41).
He is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Doddridge, AR.
Martin, Ray Houston (1916-1943) Pvt, USA, WWII
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 08-Jun-1943, Page 12
Obituary:
He is buried in Bethsaida Cemetery, Ida, LA.
Mohr, Cecil Rhodes, Jr. (1928-1951) 2nd Lt., USAF, Korea
Awarded:
Source: Korean War Veterans Memorial Honor Roll
Originally reported as missing-in-action....
Baton Rouge State Times 25-Jul-1951, Page 1
....and declared killed-in-action a year later..
Source: Baton Rouge State Times 17-Jul-1952 Page 11-B
Norton, Herschel (1924-1945) - USA, WWII
While a student at Ida High School, Hershel held state-wide office in the 4-H Club and had additionally been active in Future Farmers of America.
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 30-Jul-1941, Page 1-B
Here he's pictured as LSU freshman.
1942 LSU Gumbo (yearbook), Page 620
He is buried in the Munnerlyn Chapel Cemetery, Ida, LA.
Petty, Michael Harris (1949-1971) Sgt, USA, Vietnam
Unit: D TRP, 3RD SQDN, 4TH CAVALRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV
His name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
Death announcement:
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 29-Jan-1971 Page 11-A
Obituary:
New Orleans Times Picayune 30-Jan-1971, Section 1 Page 14
LEWIS
Fortson, Howard Leslie - Pvt, USA, WWI
Included with Oil City fallen heroes at this link.
MOORINGSPORT
Information on the Mooringsport fallen heroes listed below can be found at this link.
Cushman, Stanley - Staff Sgt, USAAC, WWII
Hall, Arlis Ira - Fireman 1C, USN, WWII
Pate, Aubie U. - Pvt, USA, WWI
Tyler, Harry M. - Capt, USAF, WWII, Korea
OIL CITY
Information on the Oil City fallen heroes listed below can be found at this link.
Allborty, Jake - Cpl, USA, WWII
Estess, John D. - Pvt, USA, WWI
Greer, William Arthur "Billy", Jr. - Pharmacist's Mate 2C, USN
Land, Garland Victor - Sgt, USAAC, WWII *
Maloney, William Plez "Willie", Jr. - PFC, USA, WWII
Milford, Roger William - Sgt, USAAC, WWII
Moore, Noah - PFC, USA, WWII
Nichols, James Kelly - Electrician's Mate 3C, USNR, WWII
Peters, Clarence Jr. - Tech Sgt, USA, WWII
Smith, Daulton - Sgt, USA, WWII
Southerland, William Walter - PFC, USA, WWII, Silver Star
Wilson, Herve - Sgt, USMC, WWII, Silver Star
Wilson, Jennings B. - Pvt, USA, WWI
Wise, William James - Seaman 2C, USN, WWII
*From Homer; his wife the former Anita Gaynell Cantley was from OC and remained there during war
RODESSA
Cox, Marshall Edward, Jr. - Radioman 3C, USNR, WWII
He was a member of the crew of the submarine USS Swordfish (SS-193), declared lost on 15-Feb-1945 after being missing for over a month. The was likely destroyed either by depth charge or mine while carrying out a covert mission to photograph the island of Okinawa for its upcoming invasion.
Source: U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls 1938-1949)
State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 5 of 41).
His name appears among the Courts Of The Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii; and he is also recognized by a memorial stone was placed in the Vivian (LA) Cemetery.
Reddix, Mister, Jr. (1948-1969) - PFC, USA, Vietnam
PFC Reddix is the sole former resident of north Caddo Parish whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
Shreveport Times 25-Feb-1969, Page 10A
Shreveport Times 30-May-1969, Page 9A
He is buried in Paradise Cemetery, Hosston, LA.
Stewart, Tommy Lane (1948-1968), PFC, USMC, Vietnam
Member of A Co, 1st Bn, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Per Wikipedia, the 1/9 was nicknamed the "Walking Dead" due to its high casualty rate.
Though a Rodessa native and Herndon High graduate, he is listed as a Washington, DC resident on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Shreveport Times 16-Feb-1968, Page 1.
Note he is incorrectly identified as being in the army in the newspaper article. PFC Stewart is buried in Antioch Cemetery in Rodessa.
Tyson Herschel A. (1900-1945) Tec5, USA, WWII
Shreveport Times 09-Mar-1945, Page 8
Co. C, 329th Engineer Bn., 104th Division.
Source: U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead 1939-1945
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 28-Mar-1945 Page 9
Shreveport Times 11-Mar-1945, Page 34
He is buried in Slaughter Cemetery, Caddo Parish, LA.
TREES CITY
Rood, William Robert (1923?-1944), Private, USA, WWII, Philippines
A Trees City resident who attended Vivian High School, Private Rood was the son of Oscar Hudson and Claud Alice Rood. He joined the U. S. Army in the summer before Pearl Harbor.
Shreveport Times 10-mar-1943, Page 5
Per Wikipedia:
Details of the incident can be found at this link.
Private Rood is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines
VIVIAN
Holland, Thomas Jefferson (19?-1942) S1C, USN, WWII, Pacific
Shreveport Times 05-May-1942, Page 1
The son of Mrs. Ola Orchid Holland, S1C died aboard the fuel ship USS Neches (AO-5) on 23-Jan-1942.
World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties 1941-1945
World War II Day-By-Day Blogspot
S1C Holland is memorialized in the Courts Of The Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI.
Markham, William Franklin, Jr. (1921-1944), 2nd Lt, USAAF, WWII, Europe, KIA
A Vivian High School graduate, Lt. Markham died while serving as co-pilot of B-24H #42-64497, 740th Bomber Squadron, 455th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
The crew was declared "Missing In Action" when their plane, flying out of San Giovanni, Italy, lost at least one of its engines and collided with B-24 #41-29296 just west of Tremiti Island and crashed in the Adriatic Sea.
Source: Findagrave Memorial Page for 1st Lt. James F. Pidcock (pilot of #42-64497)
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 06-May-1944, Page 2
Arkansas Gazette 25-Apr-1944, Page 2
Draft Registration:
U. S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men (1940-1947), Page 563
Headstone application:
U. S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, (1925-1963), Page 3416
Lt. Markham is buried in Vivian (LA) Cemetery.
Meadows, Sammie K. (1917-1945) SSgt, USA, WWII
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 02-Apr-1945 Page 2
Shreveport Times 18-Mar-1945, Page 13
Sgt. Meadows is buried in Forest Park East Cemetery, Shreveport, LA
Mosley, William Paul "Willie" (1919-1943) Pvt, USA, WWII, Pacific, KIA, Silver Star
The son of Mrs. Rosie L. Mosley of Vivian, Private Mosley was a member of the 17th Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division. He died 29-May-1943 in the Battle of Attu, on the westernmost of the Aleutian Islands.
Baton Rouge State Times 28-Jun-1943, Page 3-A
Action that day described per Wikipedia:
"The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor, when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island on 29 May, after a suicidal Japanese bayonet charge.During its first fight of the war, 600 soldiers of the division were killed, while killing 2,351 Japanese and taking 28 prisoners."
Private Mosley received the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in action.
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 19-Aug-1943, Page 14
U. S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963, Page 2847
He is buried in the Bethsaida Cemetery in Ida.
Rife, John R. - Lt, USA, WWII
Appears to be from Missouri, though wife Georgine was Vivian resident at time of his death.
Upchurch, Jody Jasper (1913- 1945), Pvt, US Army, Europe, WWII
Private Upchurch was the son of Robert Lee and Ada Rhea Upchurch and the husband of Eunice Evelyn Vines Upchurch.
Alexandria (LA) Town Talk 26-May-1945 Page 4
He was a member of the 349th Infantry, 88th Division; and died 16-Apr-1945 in Italy. Here is film of the 349th in action.
Private Upchurch is buried in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Via Cassia, Italy.
ZYLKS
Zylks, John Walter (1923-1944), Seaman 2C, USNR, WWII
Shreveport Times 29-Aug-1943, Page 8-A
State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 18 of 43).
Seaman Zylks served on the USS John Penn. Barely six weeks after the date of this muster roll, the ship was sunk 13-Aug-1943 by Japanese attack.
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls 1941-1946
Seaman Zylks is memorialized in the Tablets Of The Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines.
Lt. Giesen is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Shreveport, LA
Harrist, Sidney Teal (1924-1943) FM1C, USMC, WWII
Per his headstone, he was part of the 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.
Source: State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 9 of 41).
He is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Doddridge, AR.
Martin, Ray Houston (1916-1943) Pvt, USA, WWII
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 08-Jun-1943, Page 12
Obituary:
He is buried in Bethsaida Cemetery, Ida, LA.
Mohr, Cecil Rhodes, Jr. (1928-1951) 2nd Lt., USAF, Korea
Second Lieutenant Mohr was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On July 11, 1951, while on a combat mission, his aircraft received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire. He took evasive action, but the aircraft crashed into a hill and exploded. His remains were not recovered.
Air Medal, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Source: Korean War Veterans Memorial Honor Roll
Originally reported as missing-in-action....
Baton Rouge State Times 25-Jul-1951, Page 1
....and declared killed-in-action a year later..
Though his remains were never recovered, he is memorialized at the
Korean War Memorial and also at the Honolulu Memorial - Courts of the Missing.
Norton, Herschel (1924-1945) - USA, WWII
While a student at Ida High School, Hershel held state-wide office in the 4-H Club and had additionally been active in Future Farmers of America.
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 30-Jul-1941, Page 1-B
Here he's pictured as LSU freshman.
1942 LSU Gumbo (yearbook), Page 620
He is buried in the Munnerlyn Chapel Cemetery, Ida, LA.
Petty, Michael Harris (1949-1971) Sgt, USA, Vietnam
Unit: D TRP, 3RD SQDN, 4TH CAVALRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV
His name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
Death announcement:
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 29-Jan-1971 Page 11-A
Obituary:
New Orleans Times Picayune 30-Jan-1971, Section 1 Page 14
Per the obituary, it appears he was originally interred in his home town of record, Des Allemands, LA; though he is buried in Bethsaida Cemetery, Ida, LA along with parents Crit, Jr. and Lillie Petty.
LEWIS
Fortson, Howard Leslie - Pvt, USA, WWI
Included with Oil City fallen heroes at this link.
MOORINGSPORT
Information on the Mooringsport fallen heroes listed below can be found at this link.
Cushman, Stanley - Staff Sgt, USAAC, WWII
Hall, Arlis Ira - Fireman 1C, USN, WWII
Pate, Aubie U. - Pvt, USA, WWI
Tyler, Harry M. - Capt, USAF, WWII, Korea
OIL CITY
Information on the Oil City fallen heroes listed below can be found at this link.
Allborty, Jake - Cpl, USA, WWII
Estess, John D. - Pvt, USA, WWI
Greer, William Arthur "Billy", Jr. - Pharmacist's Mate 2C, USN
Land, Garland Victor - Sgt, USAAC, WWII *
Maloney, William Plez "Willie", Jr. - PFC, USA, WWII
Milford, Roger William - Sgt, USAAC, WWII
Moore, Noah - PFC, USA, WWII
Nichols, James Kelly - Electrician's Mate 3C, USNR, WWII
Peters, Clarence Jr. - Tech Sgt, USA, WWII
Smith, Daulton - Sgt, USA, WWII
Southerland, William Walter - PFC, USA, WWII, Silver Star
Wilson, Herve - Sgt, USMC, WWII, Silver Star
Wilson, Jennings B. - Pvt, USA, WWI
Wise, William James - Seaman 2C, USN, WWII
*From Homer; his wife the former Anita Gaynell Cantley was from OC and remained there during war
RODESSA
Cox, Marshall Edward, Jr. - Radioman 3C, USNR, WWII
He was a member of the crew of the submarine USS Swordfish (SS-193), declared lost on 15-Feb-1945 after being missing for over a month. The was likely destroyed either by depth charge or mine while carrying out a covert mission to photograph the island of Okinawa for its upcoming invasion.
Source: U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls 1938-1949)
State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 5 of 41).
His name appears among the Courts Of The Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii; and he is also recognized by a memorial stone was placed in the Vivian (LA) Cemetery.
Reddix, Mister, Jr. (1948-1969) - PFC, USA, Vietnam
PFC Reddix is the sole former resident of north Caddo Parish whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
Shreveport Times 25-Feb-1969, Page 10A
Shreveport Times 30-May-1969, Page 9A
He is buried in Paradise Cemetery, Hosston, LA.
Stewart, Tommy Lane (1948-1968), PFC, USMC, Vietnam
Member of A Co, 1st Bn, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Per Wikipedia, the 1/9 was nicknamed the "Walking Dead" due to its high casualty rate.
Though a Rodessa native and Herndon High graduate, he is listed as a Washington, DC resident on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Shreveport Times 16-Feb-1968, Page 1.
Note he is incorrectly identified as being in the army in the newspaper article. PFC Stewart is buried in Antioch Cemetery in Rodessa.
Tyson Herschel A. (1900-1945) Tec5, USA, WWII
Shreveport Times 09-Mar-1945, Page 8
Co. C, 329th Engineer Bn., 104th Division.
Source: U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead 1939-1945
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 28-Mar-1945 Page 9
Shreveport Times 11-Mar-1945, Page 34
He is buried in Slaughter Cemetery, Caddo Parish, LA.
TREES CITY
Rood, William Robert (1923?-1944), Private, USA, WWII, Philippines
A Trees City resident who attended Vivian High School, Private Rood was the son of Oscar Hudson and Claud Alice Rood. He joined the U. S. Army in the summer before Pearl Harbor.
Shreveport Times 10-mar-1943, Page 5
Already a prisoner-of-war in the Philippines, he died in the sinking of POW transport ship Arisan Maru on 24-Oct-1944. The Arisan Maru was one of Japan's hell ships, so called because of the deplorable conditions intense crowding so that the men couldn't sit down. Provisions were a cup of rice and canteen of dirty water twice a day, while sanitary conditions were virtually non-existent. The unmarked ship was sunk by the USS Shark (SS-314), itself a casualty that day.
Per Wikipedia:
"No POWs were killed by the torpedo strikes and nearly all were able to leave the ship's holds but the Japanese did not rescue any of the POWs that day. Only nine of the prisoners aboard survived the event."
Details of the incident can be found at this link.
Private Rood is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines
VIVIAN
Holland, Thomas Jefferson (19?-1942) S1C, USN, WWII, Pacific
Shreveport Times 05-May-1942, Page 1
The son of Mrs. Ola Orchid Holland, S1C died aboard the fuel ship USS Neches (AO-5) on 23-Jan-1942.
World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties 1941-1945
"At 3.19 AM 70 miles Southwest of Kauai, Hawaii, Japanese submarine I-72 sinks US Oiler USS Neches with 3 torpedoes (57 killed). USS Neches is en route to refuel Task Force 11 (including aircraft carrier USS Lexington) which left Oahu yesterday to bomb Wake Island. Task Force 11 cannot reach Wake without fuel and returns to Pearl Harbor."
World War II Day-By-Day Blogspot
S1C Holland is memorialized in the Courts Of The Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI.
Markham, William Franklin, Jr. (1921-1944), 2nd Lt, USAAF, WWII, Europe, KIA
A Vivian High School graduate, Lt. Markham died while serving as co-pilot of B-24H #42-64497, 740th Bomber Squadron, 455th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
The crew was declared "Missing In Action" when their plane, flying out of San Giovanni, Italy, lost at least one of its engines and collided with B-24 #41-29296 just west of Tremiti Island and crashed in the Adriatic Sea.
Source: Findagrave Memorial Page for 1st Lt. James F. Pidcock (pilot of #42-64497)
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 06-May-1944, Page 2
Arkansas Gazette 25-Apr-1944, Page 2
Draft Registration:
U. S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men (1940-1947), Page 563
Headstone application:
U. S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, (1925-1963), Page 3416
Lt. Markham is buried in Vivian (LA) Cemetery.
Meadows, Sammie K. (1917-1945) SSgt, USA, WWII
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 02-Apr-1945 Page 2
Shreveport Times 18-Mar-1945, Page 13
Sgt. Meadows is buried in Forest Park East Cemetery, Shreveport, LA
Mosley, William Paul "Willie" (1919-1943) Pvt, USA, WWII, Pacific, KIA, Silver Star
The son of Mrs. Rosie L. Mosley of Vivian, Private Mosley was a member of the 17th Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division. He died 29-May-1943 in the Battle of Attu, on the westernmost of the Aleutian Islands.
Baton Rouge State Times 28-Jun-1943, Page 3-A
Action that day described per Wikipedia:
"The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor, when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island on 29 May, after a suicidal Japanese bayonet charge.During its first fight of the war, 600 soldiers of the division were killed, while killing 2,351 Japanese and taking 28 prisoners."
Private Mosley received the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in action.
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 19-Aug-1943, Page 14
U. S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963, Page 2847
He is buried in the Bethsaida Cemetery in Ida.
Rife, John R. - Lt, USA, WWII
Appears to be from Missouri, though wife Georgine was Vivian resident at time of his death.
Upchurch, Jody Jasper (1913- 1945), Pvt, US Army, Europe, WWII
Private Upchurch was the son of Robert Lee and Ada Rhea Upchurch and the husband of Eunice Evelyn Vines Upchurch.
Alexandria (LA) Town Talk 26-May-1945 Page 4
He was a member of the 349th Infantry, 88th Division; and died 16-Apr-1945 in Italy. Here is film of the 349th in action.
Private Upchurch is buried in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Via Cassia, Italy.
ZYLKS
Zylks, John Walter (1923-1944), Seaman 2C, USNR, WWII
Shreveport Times 29-Aug-1943, Page 8-A
State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Louisiana, 1946 (Go to image 18 of 43).
Seaman Zylks served on the USS John Penn. Barely six weeks after the date of this muster roll, the ship was sunk 13-Aug-1943 by Japanese attack.
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls 1941-1946
Seaman Zylks is memorialized in the Tablets Of The Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines.
