Remembering Our Veterans
World War II
Lawrence Countians Fought In Every
War Of Our Nation’s History
Submitted by Peggy A. Wells
When the “War to End Wars” closed in 1918, the sands of
time were already shifting toward another world conflict – World
War II – which would involve the Axis Powers – Germany, Italy and
Japan – in a totalitarian drive for territory on three continents
and bring them up against the major Allied Powers of United
States, Great Britain, Soviet Union, China and Free French
Forces. This, indeed, became a worldwide conflict covering nearly
all of Europe, the deserts of Africa, jungles of the South Pacific
Islands and Southeast Asia, the mountains of Central Asia, and
every sea.
With Germany and
Italy in control of continental Europe and driving into North
Africa, and with Japan occupying parts of China, the United States
began its first peacetime draft in 1940, training men with
outdated and make-believe equipment while waiting for U. S.
industry to convert to making more war material than was already
being exported to Great Britain.
Then, on Dec. 7,
1941, Jap bombs hit Pearl Harbor and within two days America was
at war with the Axis nations. Before that conflict ended in Aug.
1945, over 5,000 Lawrence Countians went to war with 150 later
killed.
To some the war
lasted six years. Ironton’s Howitzer Co. of the Ohio National
Guard, commanded by Capt. Sam B. Cooke, left in 1939-40 for what
was termed federal service but which was actually preparation for
war.
A Lawrence County man, Lt.
Dow Markin, was killed in action and received the Distinguished
Service Cross for heroic action against a German tank. Many local
women served as WACS, WAVES, nurses and ambulance corpsmen. One,
Lt. Betty O’Leary, died during the war.
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