Article Contributed on: 5/25/2009 1:24:25 AM
Over the 150 years that Golden has stood, there are certain Goldenites who have stood tallest, having made the ultimate sacrifice in time of war. They have fought on the soil of America and other nations, on the sea and in the air, and their sacrifice has helped secure and preserve the freedom of the people of Colorado, the United States, and of other nations. Most never returned to Golden, many never returned to America, and some never even received a proper burial. They served in the mountains of New Mexico and Italy, on the farmlands of Missouri and France, aboard ships at Pearl Harbor and Midway, aboard planes over Normandy, Korea and Vietnam, in the cities of Manila and Baghdad, and they have fallen in three different centuries. They are all heroes of Golden's history, and in Golden's special anniversary year it is well to remember these special citizens. Here are their names, in the order in which they departed, and in the wars in which they served:
CIVIL WAR (UNION)
James A. Dawson
Daniel Miffitt
WORLD WAR I
Lyman Fred Lovely
David Williams
Arthur Bengson
Albert Edward Shepherd
Charles Vere Neely
Harry E. Brown
Sylvester Spieles
Gustave Hilbert Ternstrom
WORLD WAR II
Allen Arthur Davis
Clarence Johanas Norby Jr.
Eveart L. Ostrander
Ross Gailon Van Hooser
Irwin D. Blankenship
Robert H. Blankenship
Hubert Marvin Bussert
Benjamin Presnall Wood
John A. Farrington
Robert Charles Eggleston
James Stough Miller
David Henry Helps Jr.
Donald Darrel Jerred
Cyrus Otho Coyle
Billy W. Spieles
Melvin Wallace Evans
Ralph E. Keeler
Marcus Lyndon Ostlee
Max O. Beaty
Lorenzo Sherman Harris
Charles Albert Jaycox
Donald E. Goodrich
Charles Raymond Pyle
Walter Ernest Ramstetter
Melvin C. Steele
KOREAN WAR
Edward Rolland Francis
VIETNAM WAR
Michael Charles Odell
Michael Walter Warren
Thomas Hansford Williams
Raymond Vincent Stolpa
Jerry Len Phillips
Ronald Dean Layton
Michael Gregory Scherf
John Paul Wright
Norman Douglas Peery
IRAQ WAR
Henry Cecil Risner
1st Lieutenant Dawson is remembered upon the south tablet of the Colorado Volunteers memorial in front of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, and Private Miffitt is remembered upon the north tablet. Machinist's Mate 2nd Class is buried at sea aboard the USS
F-! in the Pacific off San Pedro, California. Private Shepherd and Staff Sergeant Helps, who died at the invasion of Normandy, are buried in the Golden Cemetery. Private Neely is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France. Fireman 3rd Class Davis, who died at Pearl Harbor, as well as Captain Evans, are buried at the Punch Bowl cemetery at Honolulu, and Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Norby who died at the Battle of Midway and is buried at sea aboard the USS
Yorktown is also remembered there. Private Jaycox and Private 1st Class Pyle are buried at the Manila American Cemetery in the Phillippines, and Captain Farrington, Captain Keeler, Seaman 1st Class Ostlee who remains buried at sea aboard the USS
Hull off the China coast in the Phillippine Sea, Torpedoman's Mate 3rd Class Eggleston, and Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Van Hooser are also remembered there. Private Wood is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery at St. James, France, and Staff Sergeant Blankenship is also remembered there. Private 1st Class Steele of the 10th Mountain Division is buried at the Florence American Cemetery at Florence, Italy, and Private 1st Class Risner also of the 10th Mountain Division of more recent time is buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. Private Ramstetter is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten. Remembered upon the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, 1st Lieutenant Layton is upon panel 27W, line 011; Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Odell is upon panel 22E, line 058; Corporal Peery is upon panel 11W, line 018; Staff Sergeant Phillips is upon panel 39W, line 035; Sergeant Scherf is upon panel 23W, line 058; Sergeant Stolpa is upon panel 45W, line 045; Private 1st Class Warren is upon panel 40E, line 034; Private 1st Class Williams is upon panel 43E, line 039; and Warrant Officer Wright is upon panel 16W, line 001.
To see Golden's Honor Roll online, go to http://goldenlandmarks.com/honorroll/ .