Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame will induct seven new members on Nov. 11
This year, the Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame will induct seven veterans into the class of 2022.
The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at Bucyrus High School. The speaker will be David A. Riedel, lieutenant colonel, United States Marine Corps, retired. The county high school bands will play various numbers along with other speakers.
The veterans who will be inducted this year are Paul Bloomfield, Richard Eugene Johnson, Wilmer W. Loy, Thomas Wesley Miller, Paul Kurtz Robinson Jr., James F. Starner and Mary Ann Starner.
Paul Bloomfield
Paul Bloomfield was born Oct. 6, 1920, in Camp Dix, Kentucky, to James and Lil (Dyer) Bloomfield. Bloomfield, one of eight children, attended school in Lewis County, Kentucky. He worked on the farm in his early years.
Bloomfield was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 3, 1942. He had basic training at Camp Forest Tennessee and advance training in Tucson, Arizona. He went to Europe as an infantryman with Company M 319 Infantry 80th Division in July 1944. On Feb. 7, 1945 he was wounded and spent three years in the hospital at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.While in the hospital he married Katherine Frazier on May 7, 1945.
Bloomfield's awards include the Good Conduct Medal, European Theater Campaign Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, American Theater Ribbon, World War II Victory Ribbon, Purple Heart with Oakleaf Cluster, Marksman M1 Rifle Badge, Sharpshooter M1 Carbine Badge and Combat Infantry Medal. Bloomfield was officially discharged from the Army in 1948.
He was released from the hospital in 1948. In 1951 they moved to Bucyrus and he spent the rest of his life in Crawford County. The Bloomfields had three sons, Paul, Garland (veteran, deceased) and William (veteran); and seven grandchildren. Bloomfield worked at Crawford Steel, Coby Manufacturing and Shunk Manufacturing, where he retired.
Bloomfield belonged to VFW Post 1078 and Amvets Post 27, both in Bucyrus. He died on Feb. 14, 1997.
Richard Eugene Johnson
Richard Johnson was born Dec. 21, 1946, in Bucyrus. He graduated from Wynford High School in 1964. Because of his interest in the sciences of mechanical and electrical equipment, the U.S. Army recruited him right out of high school into the Army Security Agency for four years. After nine months of telecommunications training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Johnson spent about 18 months in Ethiopia and 18 months in California to complete the four-year enlistment.
Johnson received a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering at DeVry University. His first job was at North Electric as a supervisor for CAD/CAM digital electronics logic circuit designs for seven years until they closed and moved away. Then it was a job at Autocall as an assembly supervisor, then manager of quality control and systems engineer for a total of 14 years until they were bought out and moved to Cleveland. His next job was CAD design engineer at PECOII for more than a year, then on to Guardian Industries as a CAD engineer. He was then hired into Drypers engineering department as a CAD engineer. Next was project engineer, then parts room supervisor, and now he is a project coordinator.
He had a membership in the Sports Car Club of America and loved going to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington. He likes watching all forms of racing in his spare time. On a part-time basis and on weekends, he spent 34 years in emergency medical services and as volunteer firefighter. For the last 25 years, he has been a nationally registered paramedic. For 25 years he has been an instructor with the American Heart Association as a BLS/Heart Saver instructor in First Aid, CPR-AED classes. Johnson is also a licensed dance instructor
Johnson returned to DeVry University to the Keller Graduate School of Management to earn a business master’s degree with a major in project management. After four years of study, it was a most memorable moment in 2012 to achieve a lifetime goal.
Wilmer W. Loy
Wilmer W. Loy was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Crawford County. He lived and worked in the county until he was drafted in the U.S. Army in November 1944.
Loy had his initial infantry training in Georgia in 1944 and then was transferred to the European Theater via ship from New York Harbor to Belgium in 1945. He transferred to the 15th Army and was trained as a crew member on 8-inch Howitzers. PFC Loy participated in combat with Nazi Germany in the Black Forest, the Siegfried Line and the Rhine River in Germany. After VE Day, he transferred into Patton’s Army and prepared for combat in the Pacific Theater. After VJ day, Loy was sent back to the United States from Europe and was honorably discharged from the Army.
After his discharge from the Army, Loy worked at Chatfield Hardware for more than 10 years. He then worked at Leonhart Gas and Oil in Tiro and worked for 40 years driving delivery trucks, semi tankers and heavy equipment. He also farmed his entire life on his farm outside New Washington, while volunteering for activities and organizations.
His military awards included the Good Conduct Medal; European African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star; World War II Victory Medal.
Loy was a member of the Chatfield Volunteer Fire Department for more than 60 years. During that time, he was treasurer for many years. While a member of the Chatfield Volunteer Fire Department, he also was a member of the Tiro Volunteer Fire Department for more than 10 years. He was one of the volunteers who started the annual Chatfield Chicken Barbecue Festival to raise money for the fire department. He was on the church council for St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Washington, and a cemetery trustee for many years.
He has 72 years of continuing service to the American Legion Post 405 in New Washington and more than 70 years as a member of Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 669 in Bucyrus.
Thomas Wesley Miller
Thomas Wesley Miller was born in Bucyrus on Oct. 15, 1947, to Richard and Jane Miller. He attended school in Crawford County and graduated from Colonel Crawford High School in 1965. Miller was employed at PPG Glass in Crestline from October 1965 until 1967.
Miller was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 19, 1967, with basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and AIT at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in the radio relay and carrier attendant course. He remained at Fort Gordon as an instructor in the same AIT training from January 1968 until June 1968. On Jan. 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a Navy intelligence vessel, was engaged in routine surveillance of the North Korean coast when it was intercepted and captured by North Korean patrol boats. The result was a massive military buildup in South Korea.
Miller arrived July 1, 1968, at B Company 51st Signal Battalion, remaining until June 11, 1969. Next stop was Fort Lewis, Washington, for an honorable discharge from active duty on June 12, 1969. After an absence of military service for more than six years, he joined the Ohio National Guard as a staff sergeant on Dec. 2, 1975, with B Battery, 1st Battalion 136th Field Artillery in Bucyrus, remaining until the Bucyrus Armory was closed in 1992. He then transferred to A Battery 1st Battalion 134th Field Artillery in Marion. Then he transferred with a promotion as sergeant first class to headquarters and headquarters detachment, 737th Maintenance Battalion Mount Vernon, on May 1, 1997. His final assignment with promotion to master sergeant was to headquarters and headquarters company 16th Engineer Brigade in Columbus until his retirement on July 31, 2004. He retired from military service after serving two active years in the U.S. Army and 28½ years in the Ohio National Guard.
Miller's awards for military service include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army National Components Achievement Medal with Silver Leaf, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass Device, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Bronze Numeral 2, Ohio National Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Ohio National Guard Faithful Service Ribbon with four Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Ohio National Guard Special Service Ribbon and Ohio National Guard Award of Merit Ribbon with Bronze Numeral 5.
He took advantage of the G.I. Bill and received an associate's degree in electrical engineering from North Central State in 1972 and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Tiffin University in 1989. He worked for Ohio Power, Ohio Edison and retired from AEP on Dec. 1, 2009. He has been married to Joanne for 53 years, they have a son Joel (Tami) Miller and daughter Jill (Tim) McMahon, and four grandchildren. He is a member of Bucyrus United Methodist Church, life member of VFW 1078, Amvets Post 27 and American Legion Post 181.
Paul Kurtz Robinson Jr.
Paul Kurtz Robinson Jr., or PK, was born in Galion on Jan. 5, 1939, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul K. Robinson. He graduated from Galion High School in 1957. During his school years, he was on the National Honor Society and on the football and baseball teams. Following graduation from high school, Robinson attended the College of Wooster for one year. During this time, he was accepted as a member of the newly formed United States Air Force Academy. As a cadet, he was named to the superintendent’s, the dean’s, and commandant’s lists.
Robinson graduated from the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a distinguished graduate in June 1962. He was completed F-100 training at Luke AFB, Arizona, as he was selected for future assignments as a fighter pilot. During the Vietnam War, he flew 387 combat missions during two tours, and was shot down over North Vietnam on July 1, 1972, and interned as a prisoner of war until his release in 1973. He retired in 1988 as a U.S. Air Force Colonel.
His awards include a Silver Star with OLC, Legion of Merit with three OLCs, Distinguished Flying Cross with four OLCs, Bronze Star Medal with Valor and OLC, Purple Heart with OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 28 OLCs, Air Force Commendation Medal, Distinguished-Presidential Unit Citation, AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and three OLCs, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Prisoner of War Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five Stars, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with two OLCs, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with two OLCs, Air Force Longevity Award with six OLCs, Smalls Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon, AF Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After his Air Force career, Robinson began a second career with First Interstate Bank of Nevada. He served in several divisions and branches as a loan officer and as a branch manager. He was named as a business loan officer in July 1996 when Wells Fargo bought out First Interstate Bank. Robinson was a Vice President with Wells Fargo Bank but has retired. He is active in his church and community, serving on numerous boards and committees. He and his wife, Reta, have been married 60 years and they have two children.
James F. Starner
James F. Starner was born Aug. 13, 1925, in Bucyrus, son of Monta V. and Ethel M. (Spangler) Starner. His sisters were Margaret and Sally Ann Davis. James graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1943. He was inducted Nov. 1, 1943, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, with basic training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He attended gunnery school in Laredo, Texas. From Laredo, he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, where they assembled the new bomber crews. They then went to Casper, Wyoming, where the crews trained together on the B-24 Liberator Bomber.
From Casper to Topeka, Kansas, then by troop train to New York, leaving on the Queen Elizabeth with 16,000 troops aboard. They arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, then by train to Eye, England, where they were assigned to the 490th Bomb Group, 849th Bomb Squadron. Here they made the change from B-24s to the B-17 Flying Fortress and their crew flew 25 missions over Nazi Germany. Starner was a tail gunner. He was discharged on Nov. 2, 1945, in San Antonio, Texas.
He received the American Theater, EAME Theater with three battle stars, the Air Medal with three clusters, and Good Conduct Medal.
Starner returned to Bucyrus and worked on the New York Central Railroad for 5½ years as a brakeman, then went to work for the Timken Company and retired after 31 years. He married Mary Ann Noblet on Sept. 9, 1949, in the First Methodist Church in Bucyrus. Their children are Thomas M. married to Paula K. Heidemann, and Cathy E. Starner married to William Brunskill. Grandchildren are Chad A., Brett J. and Erin D. Starner; and great grandchildren are Nicholas and Blake Starner. James was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge 139, Bucyrus Historical Society, American Legion Post 181, life member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, and a life member of the 490th Bomb Group USAAF Association.
Mary Ann Starner
Mary Ann (Noblet) Starner was born Jan. 7, 1924, in Marion, daughter of Thomas and Nina (McGrath) Noblet. She has a sister, Ruth Hildebrand, and brother, Richard Noblet.
She graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1944 and enlisted June 1, 1944, in Naval Training School. She served at Hunter College, Bronx, New York; Medical Hospital Corp School, Bethesda, Maryland; Naval Hospital, Philadelphia; as a physical therapist. She was discharged as a pharmacist mate 2nd class at U.S. Naval Personal Separation Unit in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 1946.
She returned to Bucyrus and worked for Dr. Jack Arnold and the White Cross Hospital in Columbus and married James F. Starner on Sept. 9, 1949, at the First Methodist Church in Bucyrus. Their children are Thomas M. married to Paula K. Heidemann, and Cathy E. Starner married to William Brunskill. Grandchildren are Chad A., Brett J. and Erin D. Starner; and great grandchildren are Nicholas and Blake Starner.
Starner is a member of the First Methodist Church and the Eastern Star.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame will induct seven on Nov. 11
