After consulting with the Church of the Nativity, the United Methodist Church, St. Phlilip's Church and the Crafton American Legion, the Elders have assembled the below list.  While the list is much larger than they foresaw, there is incomplete information and perhaps not all have been noted.

 

     The Elders thank you for your assistance in completing this list so that a suitable monument reflects the names of all those Veterans that have given the ultimate.

 

     If there are any updates that you can contribute, please let us know by clicking this link and sharing your memories.

Adams, Joseph  WWII   Crafton Ave. Army Air Corp P-38 fighter pilot, France/Germany

 

Alamovich, Frank P.  b.12/31/18 d.1/6/45 Crafton Blvd. WWII Frank was born in McDonald, PA and graduated from McDonald High School in 1936.  He moved to Crafton and entered the service in November, 1942.  He became was a Private 1st class and assigned to the 101st Airborne paratroopers in Bastogne.  He was killed during the Battle of the Bulge near Belgium.  He was 25 years old.

 

Bahl, Robert b.5/13/47 d.1/7/68 Warrant Officer Robert F. Bahl, Jr. died from enemy action in Quesan, South Vietnam.  He served as a helicopter pilot with the First Air Calvary of the United States Army. His family lived on Clearview Ave. Robert was 20 years old.

 

Baine, James d.1/24/44 Clairhaven St., St. Philips. James, 24, was the son of George and Mary Ann Baine.  He was an engineer top turret gunner on a B-17 when he was killed over Germany.

 

Benson, Joseph d.2/9/51 Korea Fountain St., Killed in an accident Clarksville, TN Air Base.  Joseph was 18 years old.

 

Berg, William   d.7/30/44 WWII Clairhaven St., St. Philips Infantry - killed in France.

 

Bilque, Jack  d.6/7/44. WWII 79 Duncan Ave.  Jack served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. Jack died on D-2, the day after D-day, in Normandy, France.

 

Bowden, Fred  b.12/6/1893 WWI unknown St. Philip

 

Boyle, James  d.3/9/43 Station St. Killed in a bomber crash in Florida.

 

Brand, Frederick  WWII Crafton Blvd Killed in action Sicilian Campaign.  Fred had been a painter for A. J. Vater.

 

Brownlee, James   WWII  Clairhaven St., St. Philips, ’39 Private James J., 19, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Brownlee was originally reported MIA.  He was later confirmed to have been killed in action.  Army field artillery - Southern France.

 

Cerar, Charles  d.2/2/44 WWII Thornburg  St. Philips, Army infantry - training at Ft. Bliss, Texas.

 

Chess, Daniel G.  d.7/29/06  Private First Class Daniel G. Chess, returning home from USMC basic training, was struck by another motorist on Interstate 79.  Pfc. Chess was rounding a bend when his Mercury Mountaineer skidded and rolled onto its side.  He was able to get out of the vehicle.  As he did so, a vehicle struck him while trying to avoid Pfc. Chess' vehicle.  Before enlisting in the Marine Corps, he served Honorably in the Navy.

 

Cox, Edward J.  b.1926 or 1927 d.5/4/45  249 Noble Ave.  St. Matthew's Lutheran.  KIA Okinawa U.S. Army – he was 18 years old.

 

Davis, Arthur  WWII, Underhill St. Died in the Pacific theater.

 

Dawson, John  b.5/14/44 d.10/27/67 Belvidere St.  Son of Reverend John Dawson and Virginia Dawson.  Dr. John H. Dawson was pastor at Crafton United Methodist Church from 1948-1955.  Dr. Dawson left Crafton when he became president of Adrian College, Adrian MI.  A lieutenant in the Marines, Jack had been serving for seven weeks in S. Vietnam near the Cambodian border when he was shot while using his body to shield his wounded commanding officer from hostile file.  The CO survived. Jack was 23 years old.

 

Deloche, Louis, E.  d.2/26/45,  POW, captured Bataan, Philippines, died at Camp Honshu, Island, Japan

 

Dittman, Philip A.  d.1/6/46 Plane Crash. St. Matthew's Lutheran.

 

Dugan, Paul  Survived WWII.  Worked for the CIA and was killed in Japan during peacetime.

 

Dzurichko, Andrew  d.9/25/41 23 Harrison  Died in a Camp in NC following illness.

 

Earhart, Charles  d.12/17/44  Richmond St., Charles was married to Ellen. Charles died during the Battle of the Bulge, while serving with the 1st Calvary division.

 

Fitch, William  d.4/15/45, 23 Emerson Avenue. He was a member of the Methodist church.  Pilot in Air Cadets – died in P-51 in England. Sister of Glenda Fitch.

 

Fitzharris, Joseph  WWI  b.4/15/1887, 34 Belvidere St. St. Philips  Army Infantry 315th Reg. 79th Division Argonne Forrest.

 

Forrest, Frank  d.6/20/44 Ingram Army Rangers - landed D-2, Killed D-4 Normandy.

 

Fox, Edward  WWII, b.6/8/21 d.11/19/46  Emerson St. Edward was wounded during a training accident.  His sister, Betty, also a CHS graduate, later became Sr. Annina of St. Philip.

 

Harbaugh, Lloyd  d.11/11/44, Noble Ave. Died at Metz.  He was 28.

 

Henk, Robert  b.1/12/23 d.7/20/44. WWII St. Philip, ’40, Barr Ave. Robert left Langley High School early to enlist in the Army paratroopers. Robert was killed in Italy.  He was survived by his mother and father and four sisters.  He body was returned to the states and is buried in Calvary Cemetery. His sister, Betty, was an operator (engineer) for the Pittsburgh Railways, a precursor to the Port Authority.  Bob was 21 years old. 

 

Hilliard, James  b.1926 d.6/27/45 79 Lincoln Ave St. Philip ’40, CHS ‘44. USMC WWII. James lived with his brother Donald and two sisters.  Jim was killed in action while serving with the Marines in Okinawa.

 

Irvine, Howard  d.12/20/44 121 Schley Ave. KIA – buried in American Cemetery in Luxemboug.

 

Johnson, Edward D.  Smilax St., Ingram.  Killed in Europe – Radio operator on a B-17.  Ed was a Pitt Graduate.

 

Kernoll, Russell T.  Russell lived on Bradford Ave.

 

Kirk, Frank R.  b.1892  WWI  Frank was the son of Ingram Station Agent. Enlisted June 11, 1917.  Became private August 1, 1917, Corporal October 1, 1917, Sergeant November 1, 1917. He was shipped overseas on April 19, 1918 with the 28th Division.  Frank was wounded on August 7th and hospitalized until August 12th, then returned to his unit on September 28th.  He was commissioned Lt. On August 26th.  Frank was killed at Toul, France on November 4th, 1918, seven days before Armistice on November 11th.  He was 26 years old.  The local American Legion Post was named for Frank by lottery.  Ten or twelve names were placed in a container and the one pulled (Frank R. Kirk) had the post named for him.

 

Klein, George  d.4/22/68 Army infantry KIA Binh Duong CHS ‘61

 

Kukuruda, Andrew aka Senn  b.12/03/50 d.3/14/69 St. Philip.  Andrew was Private 1st Class in the USMC.  His tour began on 1/22/69. His casualty occurred as a result of small arms fire, in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.  "Andrew Kukuruda was his given birth name. His father passed away when he was very young, perhaps because of a work-related accident. His mother then married Charles Senn, and he adopted Andy and his sisters; Charlene and Georgianna.   Andy was the youngest at the time and grew up with half-brother John and half-sister Peggy. They lived at 1619 Clairtonica St. in Crafton Heights.  I made the pilgrimage to Washington D.C. and found his name on the wall there.
Hope this helps -Dave Cameron"

 

Lacey, Richard   b.8/25/46 Richard grew up on N. Grandview Ave.  He served with the 1st Signal Brigade of the Army, with a rank of SFC (Selective Service).  Richard’s tour of duty began on 1/31/68.  He was wounded during the Tet Offensive in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam. His body was never recovered.

 

Lamb, Hamilton  87 Oregon St. MIA 4/6/44 (Life)

 

Lauritzen, John   b.11/22/12 d.2/16/45. WWII John was in action in France, Belgium and Germany with the 319th Infantry Regiment 3rd Army.  He was killed in the Battle of the Bulge and is buried in Henri Chapel American cemetery in Belgium.  John attended St. Philip Grade School and lived on Greenwood Avenue in Fairywood.

 

Lauritzen, Richard S.  b.3/15/11 d.11/25/43 WWII. Richard was a Staff Sergeant with the 9th Army Air Force bomb squadron in Burma, and was killed in a plane explosion. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  He attended St. Philip grade school and lived on Greenwood Avenue.

 

Longo, Frank  d.12/18/41 1st bombing squadron, Hickam Field, Hawaii  Frank died of wounds suffered in the attack on that field by the Japanese, Sunday December 7th, 1941.  He was struck by a bomb splinter.  Pvt. Longo joined the Army in 1940. He was 22 years old. 

 

Loos, Walter  b.12/13/16 d.1/16/44 CHS ’35 WWII. Josephine St., Lt. US Army. Killed in South America when his B-24 crashed while enroute to Africa.  It was his first mission over the Atlantic following 50 missions in the Pacific.

 

Mann, Donald  d.1954, Thomas St., Killed in an airplane accident in Japan

 

Mathews, W. Allen  WWI died 1918 Crafton

 

McConaghy, John Regis  b.1/29/25 d.4/20/44 CHS ‘42 John lived at 54 Hawthorne Avenue.  He entered the Army Air Corps in April, 1943, at the age of eighteen and was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland for basic training. He later served at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City prior to going overseas. On April 20, 1944, he was listed as "missing in action." He was officially declared dead on May 15th, 1944. At the rank of corporal, he was on board the USS Paul Hamilton Troop Transport Ship with the 32nd Recon Squadron. His ship was sunk off the coast of North Africa. He was 19 years old.

 

McCoy, Jim  WWII Idlewood, St. Philip ‘39 Army Air Force accidentally after returning from Aleutians.  Jim’s sister, Bernie, still resides on Fountain Avenue in Crafton.

 

McDonough, William   d.1954 Korea, Ewing Rd. Killed in accident, Neosho, MI

 

McKee, William  WWII Ingram St. Philip Army Air Force - Bomber pilot – Italy

 

McKenna, Roy  b.9/8/19 d.10/13/43, Graduate CHS ’37 Pitt ’41.  1st Methodist member.  85 Belvidere St.  Roy enlisted in August 1942, but was not called into service until March.  He died a cadet in P40N crash at Marianna, Fl.  He would have earned his wings in 2 weeks.   Besides his mother, he left his widow, Mrs. Bethel Boyer McKenna, and a daughter Judith Anne,  4 months old, who he'd never seen.

 

McNutt, Maurice  d.11/4/44, Marion St. CHS’43.  The yearbook describes him as the ‘heart throb of the senior class … tall, blond, handsome and shy.’ ‘Mo’ died flying his 20th mission. 

 

Messina, George  WWI, St. Philip b.2/20/1896, 124 Dinsmore Ave.  Died in the European theater. 

 

Michael, Robert A.  Warren St.  KIA European theater WWII.

 

Moore, Frank Harris  b.3/28/43 d.12/8/67. Frank was the son of J. James Moore and Elizabeth Harris Moore. They lived on Clearview Avenue, otherwise known as Harris Terrace.  Frank graduated from St. Philip grade school and Holy Innocents High School.  He attended St. Vincent College one year, and then enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He was assigned to Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant.  He was sent to Vietnam and promoted to 1st. Lieutenant shortly after.  He was assigned to the Pacification Unit in Intelligence Operations.  On December 8th, 1967 in the company of another officer, he was investigating a native village for subversive activities.  A Vietnamese platoon accompanied them.  When their helicopter landed in a nearby rice field, the platoon fled and the officers were ambushed and killed by machine gun fire.  Frank was 24 years old.

 

Morgan, Charles 10 Crafton Ave. MIA Gunner Air Corp.  Was listed as missing in 2/46.  Charles had a wife – Kathleen.

 

Nelson, Ernie  b.1/25/21 d.6/23/45 WWII, Pilot. Ernie enlisted in the Air Corps in July of 1942.  He signed up at the same time as Chuck O’Mahony at the old Post Office.  He would have gone on active duty in January of 1943. Ernie became an instructor and was killed in an accident.

 

Nelson, Robert “Ozzie”  d.9/8/52  122 Crotzer.  CHS ’43.  Ozzie played guard on the football team.  He enlisted in the Navy right out of high school.  When the war was over, he attended Pitt, then reenlisted in the Navy and was killed in a mid-air collision at McChord Field. He was married only 3 months.  Buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Nelson, William  b.12/15/22 d.11/11/45 122 Crotzer. USAF died in Air Trainer, brother of Ernie, cousin of Robert.

 

Neuman, Robert  WWI  Episcopal Church.

 

Nock, Edward P.  Died from injuries after V-E Day

 

Oliverio, Joseph  WWII Ingram St. Philip ‘39 Marines.  Joe served in the same theater with George Bush, Sr. & Art Rooney’s brother.  Joe died in the Southwest Pacific in July or August 1944.

 

Opaska, Walter  WWII  Attended Crafton High School

 

Patterson, Edward  d.9/26/43 – Accident in N. Africa.  ’38 Grad School of Law, Howard University.  Wash, DC

 

J.L. Patterson  WWI

 

Perry, John  WWII Clairhaven St., St. Philip ‘39 - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Perry Sr., John served as a Fireman 2^nd Class aboard the submarine, USS Shark II (SS-314). After attacking and sinking the Japanese ship Arisan Maru, the Shark was sunk on October 24, 1944 in the South China Sea. All 87 men on the Shark were lost.

 

Petramalo, Thomas  b.5/6/36 d.8/21/67. Thomas was originally from Rochester, NY.  His length of service was eight years.  His tour of duty began on 6/10/67.  He was wounded on August 21st, in Quang Tin, South Vietnam, while serving with the Army 101st Airborne Division.  He was 31 years old.

 

Picard, James Robert  b.8/3/19 d.09/21/44. 232 W. Steuben St. Jim graduated St. Philip grade school and Crafton High School.  He was drafted into the Army Air Corp and became a bombardier in flights over Germany.  He was killed when two planes collided over Roblenz, Germany in September, 1944.  He is buried in Henri Chapel American Cemetery in Belgium.  He received the Purple Heart.  He was 25 years old.

 

Picard, Raymond Joseph  b.6/20/23 d.11/8/44 232 W. Steuben St. Ray, like his brother, graduated from St. Philips and Crafton High school.  Ray was drafted into the Navy and was eventually assigned to the USN Submarine USS Growler, where he became motor machine mate 3rd class.  His sub was rammed by a Japanese sub and sank.  All 85 men lost their lives. In an ironic twist, fellow Crafton resident Jack Bladel’s ship went sailed through the wreckage. Ray’s memorial is in Fort Bonificio – Manila, Philippines.  Ray received the Purple Heart.  He was 21 years old.

 

Prescott, George, G.  WWI

 

Rea, Benedict (Benedetto)  WWII  Woodlawn  Army Engineers - Battle of the Bulge.  Benedict was the brother of Vince.

 

Robinson, Nelson  CHS ‘41

 

Rothrock, L. B.  1st casualty from Crafton WWI

 

Scafoglio, Vince  b.9/1/23 d.10/25/44 WWII White St. St. Philip ’37. CHS ’41. Vince liked dramatics in high school and was a member of the gym club.  He was employed by Pittsburgh Brass Company before enlisting in the Navy in 1943.  He attended boot camp at Sampson, NY.  Deployed on Destroyer USS Johnston as water tender 3rd class.   He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and died when his ship was sunk October 25th, 1944, in the Battle off Samar, preceding the retaking of Leyte in the Philippines. He survived the sinking, but was attacked and killed by sharks. That is how his death was described in the telegram to his mother, Nellie. She had nightmares about his death for the rest of her life.  The battle, the sinking and the survival of Vince is described in the book, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, written by James Hornfischer.  Vince’s father, who served in WWI in the Italian Army, owned a barbershop in Crafton with his younger brother, aka “Junior.”  Vince was 21 years old.

 

Schrey, Richard “Vance”  WWII  Oakwood  St. Philip USN - accidentally in Hawaii.

 

Shannon, Stuart  WWII  Oakwood  St. Philip ‘37 Marines died after receiving severe wounds during Iwo Jima.  Brother of radio commentators Jim and Paul Shannon.  Paul later went into television.

 

Shema, Josef  b.9/26/22 d.1/7/45. Attended 1st Ward School grades 1-6.  Graduated 2nd Ward School (7-8 grades) 1936.  CHS class of 1940.  Joe was killed in Belgium when Army glider crashed.  Joe lived on 2nd floor of his father’s furniture store on Noble Avenue.  Joe was returned to Pittsburgh and is believed to be buried in Allegheny Cemetery. He was 22 years old.

 

Smith, George F.  d.3/31/45 McMunn Ave., KIA 3rd armored division.

 

Smith, George R.  d.5/31/44, Union Ave. KIA over Germany, flying with the 8th Air Force Bomber Group.

 

Speer, John O.  b.1918 d.9/11/43 1943 E. Crafton Ave. John graduated from the USNA as served on the USS Savannah.  While supporting the landing at Salerno, Italy in 1943, his ship was hit with a bomb. John was the brother of Les Speer CHS’34.  He was buried at sea.  He was 35 years old.             

 

Staples, Clesson  d.1944  Crafton  USMC Saipan (Marians Islands) in the Southwest Pacific.  Died in June or July 1944.

 

Stein, James  d.6/30/44 Clairhaven St., St. Philips Jim was the son of Mr. And Mrs. Clarence Stein and was an Aviation Radioman 2nd Class.  He died in the South Pacific.

 

Stone, Robert B.  d.12/31/43  His plane was shot down over Germany.  He belonged to the Nativity Church.

 

Stuart, James   WWII, Clairhaven St., St. Philips Army Infantry MIA France 6/27/44

 

Sutcavage, Paul   Marines.  b.8/14/65 d.9/6/1987 Lived on Crafton Blvd.  Paul was a Crafton resident and graduated from Carlynton High June 1980.  Enlisted in Marine Corps May 31, 1983 and trained at Parris Island, S.C.  Corporal Sutcavage was a helicopter specialist for CH 46.  He received numerous awards and commendations.  Paul is survived by both parents, 3 brothers and one sister.

 

Symosko, Steven  Died 1944 or 1945.  CHS 1943.

 

Toney, James D.  d.1945  41 Steuben St. KIA

 

Turnblacer, Frank  b.2/17/1888  d.1917 or 1918.  St. Philip  Frank was the youngest brother of Frederick, Charles, Helen, Eva and Mary.  All of the children graduated from Holy Ghost University, now Duquesne.  Nina Turnblacer, Frank’s niece from Butler recalls an old postcard, the last known correspondence Frank sent home.  On the postcard, there was a picture of a soldier with a round hat and jodhpurs.  He wrote that he couldn’t wait to get home to see the baby.  Nina believes that the baby was probably a nephew.

 

Vernon, Harold Mark, Jr.  b.3/30/33 d.12/8/52 ‘Mark’ came to Thornburg in 1937, at age 4 into a new home built by his parents at 515 Hamilton Road.  He had the privilege of attending the two-room Thornburg School in grades one through eight, from 1938 through 1946.  While most Thornburg School graduates went on to attend Crafton High School, Mark chose to enroll at Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia.  Prior to graduation from Staunton, the Korean War commenced and Mark enlisted in the United States Air Force.  After normal Air Force training, Mark was sent to Korea.  He was assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron, a/k/a The Grim Reapers.  He was an aerial gunner on a B-26 night intruder.  His twin-engine bomber participated in night attack missions over North Korea, specifically low-level attacks against enemy vehicles, trains and front-line enemy troops. The connotation Grim Reaper meant there were no witnesses – you just didn’t come back.  Mark Vernon’s B-26 was shot down, at night, over North Korea on his 50th mission.  He was originally listed as MIA.  Then a year later, he was officially declared Killed in Action.  His remains were never recovered, however his place of internment is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Courts of the Missing (a/k/a the Punchbowl).  A worn, faded marker is all that remains.  Mark was awarded posthumously the following citations.

 

* The Distinguished Flying Cross

* The Purple Heart

* The Air Corp Medal (with one Oak leaf cluster)

* The Good Conduct Medal

* The Korean Service Medal (with 2 stars)

* The United Nations Service Medal

 

Voelker, Chuck  d.2/21/44, Noble Ave. USMCR d.2/21/44 Charles Voelker graduated from Crafton High School with the class of 1941.  A born comic, Charlie was the class clown.  He enlisted in the Marines in July of 1942 and took his boot camp training at Camp LeJeune, N.C.  Always looking for the toughest duty, he put in for jump school and became a paratrooper.  He became fully qualified, but had a serious accident before he could ship out.  He was badly injured in a fall from a truck while on field maneuvers and had to leave the paratrooper ranks.  Back in the Marine infantry, his first taste of combat came on Iwo Jima, February 19, 1945.  To this day, Iwo Jima remains the bloodiest battle the Marines have ever fought, and on February 21st, Corporal Charles Voelker was killed in action.  As platoon leader, he fired on a Japanese machine gun nest until he ran out of ammunition.  He was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously, and for his bravery under fire, the Silver Star.

 

Voye, Almon  d.1945 St. Philips ’35 CHS ’39.  He was wounded at Salerno, Italy and sent home to recover in Walter Reed Hospital, where he then developed cancer.  He came home to 26 Fountain Street in Crafton, where he died in July of 1945.  Almon delivered newspapers and didn’t like his nickname “Shorty”.

 

Watt, Richard  d.5/23/43 Lt. Col. Air Corp. Richard was shot down over the Aleutian Islands.  He was the brother in law of Norma Lamb. Awarded a DFC for leading a squadron against a numerically superior Japanese force in the Aleutians.

 

Weaver, Frederick  WWI  Episcopal Church

 

Weaver, John D.  Station St. d.9/21/44  Bombardier  Crash at Triangle, Idaho.

 

Welker, Calvin  WWII. Fountain St., Died while serving in the Army.  Hawthorne Church.  Calvin is buried in France.

 

West, Jason M.  Iraq.  Jason grew up on Afton Avenue and graduated from Carlynton in 1995.  He then attained a degree in Human Resources Management at Slippery Rock University.  West was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, after completing the ROTC program, in May 2002 and was assigned to the Army's 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.  Captain West was killed by enemy small arms fire, at Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on 7/24/2006.

 

Wirth, Michael   WWII  Oakwood  St. Philips  Marines - Okinawa

 

Wood, Leonard   Graduated from Crafton High School with the class of 1941.  He was accepted at West Point, and completed his training there in three years.  He was married to Crafton-ite Mary Simpson in December of 1944.  The wedding ceremony took place in St. Philips church.  Wood then completed flight training in the Army Air Corps, graduating at Waco, Texas.  He shipped overseas and was stationed on Okinawa as a P-47 fighter pilot.  Wood died in a plane crash in July of 1946.  His short life came full circle when he was given a military funeral at St. Philip church.  The doctor who attended Wood at the crash site on Okinawa came back to the states and was discharged.  In a remarkable coincidence, he was the doctor in attendance when Wood’s son, Leonard, was delivered on November 16, 1946. Dr. Piergeorge was in attendance (Graduated Pitt medical school)

 

Young, Lillie  Nurse WWI.  Lillie was killed overseas.