×

Gold Star Family Monument at City Park to put faces to the names of heroes

Photo by Jess Mancini The site of the Gold Star Family Monument at City Park in Parkersburg has been staked. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held 1 p.m. April 16 at the park and will include Herschel “Woody” Williams, a Medal of Honor recipient from West Virginia who spearheads the monument program.

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Committee has announced the service members who will have their images etched into the Parkersburg Gold Star Monument at City Park.

They are:

* Sgt. Richard Bowry, Medal of Honor, Civil War

* Lt. Col. John H. Sbordone, Silver Star, World War II

* Pvt. Gerald E. Sandy, World War II

File Photo The Gold Star Family Memorial at Spencer Landing in Vienna where the dedication included Herschel “Woody” Williams, a Medal of Honor recipient from West Virginia. A groundbreaking will held April 16 at City Park in Parkersburg where organizers have announced the five servicemen whose images will be etched into the memorial.

* Cpl. Noble R. Miller, Silver Star and Purple Heart, World War II

* Frank Vogel, World War II

“It was a long and tedious process. We wish we could have placed everyone who served there, but that wasn’t possible,” monument committee member Bernie Lyons said. “We send our sincere thanks to all who sent in loved ones, and we honor and respect their service and sacrifice.”

A groundbreaking for the monument will be 1 p.m. April 16 at City Park in Parkersburg. The Gold Star site will be located near the World War II monument.

The ceremony is open to everyone.

File Photo Medal of Honor recipient Herschel “Woody” Williams speaks at the dedication of the Gold Star Family Memorial in Vienna. Williams will be the keynote speaker at the April 16 groundbreaking for a monument at City Park in Parkersburg.

Keynote speaker will be Hershel “Woody” Williams of West Virginia, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. Williams has been instrumental in the Gold Star monument initiative.

Following are the stories of those who will appear on the monument.

* In 1861, shortly after the start of the Civil War, Bowry, a Parkersburg native, enlisted in the Union Army. He was assigned to Company B 1st Virginia Cavalry, which later became Company C 1st West Virginia Cavalry.

He was promoted to sergeant in 1864 during his second enlistment. During the Battle of Waynesboro, Va., on March 2, 1865, Bowry was severely wounded in his leg. With the bullet lodged in his boot, he continued the pursuit of the enemy and captured the battle flag of the enemy.

In recognition, Bowry received the Medal of Honor, becoming one of West Virginia’s first recipients.

Sgt. Richard Bowry, Medal of Honor, Civil War

* Sbordone, United States Marine Corps retired, was born and raised in Parkersburg. Sbordone served in four island campaigns, including Iwo Jima.

Sbordone was awarded the Silver Star for action on Saipan. The citation reads: “The president of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to 1st Lt. John H. Sbordone, USMC, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as platoon leader of Company F Second Battalion, 24th Marines, Fourth Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Island, from 15 June to 9 July, 1944.”

On June 19, Sbordone’s platoon was pinned down by at least two hostile tanks firing on and approaching their position. Realizing that the company’s position was precarious and that several Marines were wounded, he bravely exposed himself to the hail of enemy fire to search for a rocket launcher and ammunition. After locating the man with a rocket launcher, Sbordone led him to a position 150 yards in front of the front lines and, “undaunted by heavy hostile artillery and machine gun fire, directed effective fire which forced the tanks to withdraw.”

* Sandy, who lived in Parkersburg, served in World War II with the 80th Division, also called the Blue Ridge Division, 317th Company K, one of Gen. George S. Patton’s 3rd Army’s most dependable divisions.

The division suffered over 15,000 casualties in 277 days of combat. The division landed in France on Utah Beach, on Aug. 8, 1944, taking over the LeMans bridgehead, assisting in closing the Falaise Gap, spearheading the 3rd Army’s attack on Nancy, France, leading the company in an attempt to cross the Moselle River where 189 of the 250 men in the company were casualties.

Lt. Col. John H. Sbordone, Silver Star, World War II

In December 1944, the Blue Ridge Division was called upon to plug the gap at Bastogne. It raced for 36 hours and helped to close that gap and end the Battle of the Bulge. It continued to fight through Germany and liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp on April 11, 1945.

The orders then came to advance to Austria and “keep going until they met the Russian Army.”

* Miller was born in West Virginia and raised mostly in Parkersburg then Belpre. While serving in Italy on Sept. 12, 1943, Miller’s company came under heavy enemy fire.

Miller led a litter squad across terrain under artillery and small arms fire to rescue a wounded man. Reaching a position, he left his squadron under cover and proceeded alone across an open field swept by machine gun fire to find a relatively safe way through for the squad to rescue the soldier.

Miller located the injured man and started to return to his squad, but was severely wounded. Despite pain and weakened condition, he made his way back to his men and informed them of the location of the wounded man and how to get to him.

Pvt. Gerald E. Sandy, World War II

For his actions on that day, Miller received the Silver Star and Purple Heart. He died from the wound on Oct. 1, 1943, in a hospital.

“His heroic devotion to duty transcending all thoughts of personal safety was an inspiring example to his fellow soldiers,” the citation said.

* Vogel, of Parkersburg, a Marine who received the Purple Heart, was chosen to represent the thousands of Gold Star Families from all of America’s conflicts.

The family’s statement reads: “My Father died in Okinawa, on Sugar Loaf Hill, May 14, 1945. He was 26-years old, my mother was 24, my brother was almost 2, my sister was 9-months old and I was 3-years old. Mother was left to raise the three of us on her own. I consider her a hero also for the love and care she provided us. Daddy’s name is on the World War II Monument in City Park, but we, my brother, sister and I would be very honored to have him on the Gold Star Family Memorial Monument. Thank you for all you do to keep the memories of these brave men and women alive.”

Cpl. Noble R. Miller, Silver Star and Purple Heart, World War II

Frank Vogel, World War II

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today