Company 'C' 192nd Tank Battalion

Company 'C' 192nd Tank Battalion. . , This plaque is to identify the Ohio friends and neighbors, who on Monday 25 November 1940 answered the call of the president of the United States and entered into active duty in response to the threat of global war. On the morning of Friday, 29 November 1940, the following members of Company "C", 192nd Tank Battalion, departed Port Clinton, Ohio, bound for Duty Station Fort Knox, Kentucky. , John R. Andrews . Joseph W. Beard . Harold R. Beggs . Charles R. Boeshart . Joseph M. Braddock . Arthur V. Burholt . George S. Carr . Charles P. Chaffin . Wade W. Chio . Harold W. Collins . Raymond H. Conley . Chester s. Decant . Alton M. Dodway . Steve M. Eliyas . Olen C. Elwell . Virgil M. Gordon . Edward E. Gorgg . Rollie C. Harger . Joseph J. Hrupcho . Virgil C. Janes . Edsel E. Kirk . John G. Kolesar . John Kovach, Jr. . Silas L. Legrow . Carl H. Meighan . Andrew Migala . John Miklo . John D. Minier . John J. Morine . James W. O'Brien . John F. Reed . Jacob A. Schmidt . John L. Short . Russell D. Simon . Elmer N. Smith . George H. Smith . Robert S. Sorensen . Kenneth E. Thompson . Henry M. Wierzba . Joseph J. Wierzchon . Howard M. Wodrich . Joseph Zam , After a period of 48 weeks of training, personnel adjustment and extended Louisiana maneuvers, Company "C" departed San Francisco, California, 27 October 1941. The unit arrived 20 November 1941 at Fort Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands. While preparing their newly acquired M-3 Light Tanks and essential field equipment, Japanese planes attacked Clark Field, Philippine Islands, 8 December 1941, with the unit experiencing its first casualties. Company "C" first saw ground combat 22 December 1941 as the enemy landed in force at Lingayen Gulf against outnumbered Fil-American defenders. Many successful delaying actions during these first weeks were due to the courageous efforts of the American tank crews and the Philippine scout cavalry units. Company "C", in the first valid World War II tank-versus-tank action, destroyed eight Japanese tanks and prevented a complete rout of Fil-American troops in the area, thus preventing the capture of the Manila-San Fernando Highway so essential to the Southern Luzon forces withdrawal into Bataan Peninsula. The unit continued to support the allied retreat into Bataan Peninsula, continually facing superior enemy numbers, suffering effects of tropical disease, lacking supplies, food, ammunition, and communications. After moving into Bataan, the company was cited for its participation during the coastal defense and front line direct support phases, the critical "Battle of the Pointe," and their decisive role in the "Battle of the Pockets". Ultimately, the unit was captured 9 April 1942, with the fall of Bataan. As a unit of the 192nd Tank Battalion, Company "C" was commended and awarded three distinguished unit streamers and the Philippine Presidential Unit streamer for various sections and operations that resulted in slowing and checking the Japanese Imperial forces advance from reinforcing their South Pacific drive, consequently allowing the allies time to build and strengthen their forces on the Australian continent., The following is a roster of personnel that served with Company "C" in the Philippines. Many of those members that survived combat and the "Bataan Death March," were to succumb to inhumane conditions the treatment during 3 1/2 years of hell while held Prisoners Of War by the Japanese., Died in Combat, Death March, or of Conditions while a Prisoner of War. , Leonard M. Adans . Albert L. Alilen, Jr. . John R. Andrews . Joseph W. Beard . Harold R. Beggs . Charles R. Boeshart . James Boyle . John H. Bewer . William Brown . Vincent R. Brown . James M. Bryant . James R. Burden . Arthur V. Bumolt . Charles P. Chaffin . Earl L. Charles, Jr. . Wade W. Chio . Harold W. Colling . Berlin C. Cupp . Thomas Davenport . Chester S. Decant . Vernon Deck . Cornell Dillon . Alton M. Dodway . John E. Doshier . Jack D. Driver . David H. Duff . Robert T. Duncan . Robert Dunlap . Jess W. Durham . Raymond O. Edens . Steve M. Eliyas . Olen C. Elwell . Charles E. Everett . Clifford W. Fusselman . George S. Garman . Howard R. Gasawa . William Gentry . Raymond F. Gheen . Melvin Giddens . James W. Gillespie . Charles J. Gimalava . Paul A. Grassick . Edward E. Grogg . Rollie C. Harger . Charles C. Harmon . Marvin C. Harris . Joseph J. Hrupcho . Virgil C. Janes . Harvey A. Jennings . Elwin C. Jones . Lewis H. Kirby . John G. Kolesar . John Kovach, Jr. . Silas B. Legrow . Charles H. Looney . Edward F. Martel . Raymond J. MoCreanor . Hobart G. McVay . John Miklo . Robert L. Miller . John D. Minier . Thomas J. Moran . John J. Morine . William W. Mullins . Albert P. Naymick . Billie B. Neal . James B. O'Brien . Joseph P. Pevey . Lacy L. Prater . Sidney M. Ratnor . Samuel L. Raynes . George H. Reis . Paul E. Reutinger . John B. Richardson . Forest E. Richeson . Charles G. Riedmiller . Elmer M. Roberts . Walter L. Robey . John E. Robinette . John F. Ross . Robert A. Ruminski . Wilbur F. Russell, Jr. . John Sandor . Jacob A. Schmidt . John L. Short . Robert W. Shubert . Allen F. Sills . Russell D. Simon . Elmer N. Smith . Emerson P. Smith . Robert S. Sorensen . Arnold M. Stephen . Carl D. Stuller . Kenneth E. Thompson . George M. Verba . Lavern A. Weir . Joseph A. Wierzchon . Wilfred R. Willis . Howard M. Wodrich . Robert L. W. Young . Joseph Zam . George Zimmerman