Of the 405,000 American soldiers who died in World War II, 26 were Sons of Wesleyan. Among those 26, only six were graduates – the others had their education disrupted by the war.
The plaque was meant to honor them, and to help future generations to remember them. As far as I know it may still be in Atkinson Chapel somewhere, but there have been renovations since that time and since 2009, that place has stood vacant. I can’t remember ever seeing it — or maybe I just was not very observant. However, 70 years later it has inspired me to remember (and learn about) these men.
This Memorial Day, I would like to take the opportunity to honor them once more. I will focus on those who were graduates, but the honor and appreciation extends to all of them.
John Francis Elkins ’29
He was a graduate of WV Wesleyan College and taught school in Logan County for 14 years. Although he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, there are memorials in multiple cemeteries in southern West Virginia as well. (WV Memory Project, Veteran’s Database)
Boggs Hall ’37
A Graduate of Sutton high School and WV Wesleyan College, Boggs Hall was employed in the land department at the State Auditor’s office in Charleston before leaving for Basic Training at Fort Bragg N.C. Boggs Hall received a Purple Heart. He is buried in Holland, where he died, but also has a memorial in his home town of Sutton. (WV Memory Project, Veteran’s Database)
Carl Robert Reger ’43
He was a graduate of WV Wesleyan prior to enlistment and in his senior year president of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Member of First Methodist Church, Buckhannon. Recipient of the Purple Heart and the Presidential Citation. He is buried in Heavener Cemetery in Buckhannon. (WV Memory Project, Veteran’s Database)
Francis Clay Robinson ’36
A graduate of WVWC, Clay also went on to medical school at Harvard, where he graduated in 1941. Newspapers tell us that he was a resident physican in Worchester MA prior to enlistment, and WVWC Alumni publicatons indicate that he was a Clinical Instructor at the University of Vermont Medical School as well. (WV Memory Project, Veteran’s Database)
Paul Jones Rogerson ’35
He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College and from the University of Chicago, and taught for a year at Moundsville High School and at Linsly Institute in Wheeling before entering the service. Paul died 5-12-1944, at the age of 31, of pneumonia in Louisiana. (WV Memory Project, Veteran’s Database)
Loran Alexander Umpleby ’42
He graduated from WV Weslyan College in 1942. Records show that the plane crashed down at Storeton, near Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Their base in England was at Tibenham, Norfolk, England. The 24 crew killed in the explosion had taken war weary aircraft over to Langford base in Northern Ireland and were returning to their bases at Tibenham. (WV Memory Project, Veteran’s Database)
Memorial Day
Shortly after the Civil War, Decoration Day was a time to honor those lost in that war. Graves were decorated and people remembered the horrors of neighbors and family members fighting each other to the death.
After World War I and World War II, the holiday was expanded to include those lost in all wars. But, it was not until 1971 that it became a national holiday. In our society, holidays mean trips to the beach, parades, and cookouts.
Much respect to these, and all men (and women), who have sacrificed for us. 