Memorial Day is an annual holiday to honor those who died while serving in the United States military.
Over 400,000 Americans perished in defense of their country during World War II. Glenville State College lost 23.
Thanks to the generosity of Brigadier General Vorley M. Rexroad ‘38, United States Air Force (Retired) and his wife Ruth Cutlip Rexroad, Glenville State College has a memorial to those 23 individuals.
The memorial sits on Clark Hall Lawn, near the Science Hall. A ceremony and unveiling of the memorial took place on September 21, 1995.
The plaque reads:
Over 292,000 Americans died in defense of their country during World War II. Glenville State College lost 23 students whose names are engraved on this memorial.
|
Name |
Theatre of Action |
Date of Death |
|
1st. Lt. Elmer R. Cawthon, Jr. |
De Ridder, Louisiana |
April, 1943 |
|
Lt. (jg) August George Kafer |
South Pacific |
December, 1943 |
|
Tech. St. Irvin F. Conley |
France |
August, 1944 |
|
Pfc. Kermit C. Fisher |
Italy |
September, 1944 |
|
Pvt. Orlan O. Hatfield |
France |
September, 1944 |
|
Pfc. Samual N. Riddle |
Belgium |
September, 1944 |
|
Taylor B. Keith, Tech 5th Grade |
Normandy, France |
August, 1944 |
|
Pfc. Harold P. Cottle |
France |
October, 1944 |
|
G. H. VanDevender, Tech 5th Grade |
France |
May, 1945 |
|
Pvt. William S. Lloyd |
Belgium |
December, 1944 |
|
Pfc. Edna McQuain |
New Guinea |
February, 1945 |
|
2nd Lt. Garnett O. Nelson |
Germany |
May, 1944 |
|
Pvt. Howard K. Soper |
Belgium |
January, 1945 |
|
Pfc. Samuel T. Wilson |
Burma |
February, 1945 |
|
Lt. Robert R. Fidler |
Parris Island |
August, 1943 |
|
Pvt. Joseph Frances Riley |
South Pacific |
September, 1942 |
|
Capt. Kenneth D. Boggs |
North Africa |
March, 1943 |
|
1st Lt. Kenneth S. Starcher |
Southern China |
May, 1944 |
|
Pfc. James K. Kendall |
Kentucky |
January, 1944 |
|
Pfc. Gilbert E. Boone |
Philippines |
May, 1943 |
|
Lt. (jg) Woodrow C. Radcliffe |
Atlantic Ocean |
May, 1943 |
|
Captain Robert T. Hauman |
Alabama |
September, 1945 |
|
Lt. David B. Skidmore |
Germany |
April, 1945 |
At the dedication ceremony, Rexroad explained, “We the living, must pay homage and remembrance. I order that the names of the 23 heroes remain forever engraved in the archives of time. This dedication is made in hopes that whenever GSC students, their family members, and the general public travel this walkway, 23 heroes will be remembered for their supreme sacrifices.”
Rexroad was named GSC’s Alumnus of the Year in 1993. He passed away in 2002. In 2003, the General Vorley Mike & Ruth Cutlip Rexroad Scholarship was created. It is awarded to students from Webster County who show academic promise and financial need.
