Santa Clarita Valley’s fallen
The following is a list of Santa Clarita veterans whose names are slated to be inscribed on the Fallen Warriors Memorial in downtown Newhall’s Veterans Historical Plaza.
World War II
October 19, 2015 – 20 Fallen Soldiers Pvt Garry Wingfield
Age unknown, Army June 13, 1942
Private Garry Wingfield of Soledad Township served with the 31st Infantry Regiment and was killed in action June 13, 1942. Private Wingfield was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Augustus A. Rübel 42, Army April 28, 1943
The American field Service re-started at the beginning of World War II in 1939, and the experienced Rübel was recruited to train younger ambulance drivers. In 1942 he went over himself to drive an ambulance in Tunisia. At age 42, he was killed April 28, 1943, when his ambulance went off the road, apparently having hit a German land mine.
Pvt Albert Lee Moore 25, Army June 28, 1943
Private Albert Lee Moore of Soledad Township, born on March 2, 1918, enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry in July 1941 and became a member of the 25th Infantry Division. He lost his life in the Pacific area; details are not known other than his unit had been sent to relieve the Marines at Guadalcanal. Private Moore is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California
Tom Ross (MIA) 19, Navy October , 1943
First Class Gunners Mate Tom Ross of Soledad Township had been in hot action in the Southwest Pacific fighting on PT Boats against Japanese submarines. He had two PT Boats shot out from under him and he received awards for heroism, but was reported Missing in Action at age 19.
Frank Whitmore Age unknown, Navy October 9, 1943
Soundman Frank Whitmore of Soledad Township was killed on October 9, 1943 while serving aboard the destroyer USS Buck when it was sunk by a German UBoat off Salerno, Italy.
Robert Remy Fose 34, Navy October 12, 1943
Robert Fose (an only son) of Newhall served aboard the famous cruiser USS Boise and was killed in action on October 12, 1943, with a total of 107 sailors during the fierce Battle of Cape Esperance near Guadalcanal. The USS Boise was repaired and returned to action in June 1944. Robert Fose is buried at Valhalla Cemetery in Burbank, California.
Sgt Edward D. Contreras 26, Army February 9, 1944
Sergeant Ed Contreras of Castaic served with the 3rd Infantry Division. At the age of 26 he was killed in action while serving near Anzio, Sicily. His body is buried in the American-Sicily Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. Sergeant Contreras was awarded the Bronze Star with V-Device for valor, and the Purple Heart.
Lt. Jack Harland 28, Army March 31, 1944
Lieutenant Jack Harland at age 28 was the copilot of a B-24 that collided in midair with another B-24 and crashed near Gate, Oklahoma, during a training exercise on March 31, 1944
Jim Barlett 29, Army April 20, 1944
Jim Bartlett of Soledad Township enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1943 and was trained for aerial photography. At age 29, Bartlett was aboard a U.S. Transport ship in the Mediterranean Sea — probably the SS Paul Hamilton — when it was struck by an aerial torpedo on April 20, 1944. His remains were unrecovered. He is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery, Tunisia, and he was awarded the Purple Heart.
Seaman 2/C Leon Cherry 19, Navy May 26, 1944
Seaman 2nd Class Leon Cherry of Newhall at age 19 was killed in a gunnery accident in performance of his duty and he was likely buried at sea in the Pacific Ocean.
Cpl E. Kenaston 34, Marines January 1945
Corporal E. Kenaston of Newhall was a veteran of Guadalcanal and six weeks after his return home took his own life at the age of 34. A suicide note revealed in anguished terms that he was hopelessly in love with his sister-in-law.
Pvt John Amos Ward 26, Army February 1, 1945
John Amos Ward, of 412 Pine Street, Newhall, succumbed at a field hospital to injuries sustained in the Battle of the Bulge. His remains were returned to the United States in 1949 and he was laid to rest at Valhalla Cemetery in North Hollywood.
SSG James M. Redman Age unknown, Army February 17, 1945
Staff Sergeant James M. Redman of Soledad Township was killed in action during savage fighting in Belgium. His outfit was previously in the thick of operations on D-Day, June 1945, and his group received a citation for slashing a 50 yard gap through barbwire, under water obstacles and mines on the coast of Normandy when the big push first started. SSG Redman had participated in battles in France and Holland.
Lt. Lee M. Nolton Age unknown, Army February 23, 1945
Lieutenant Lee M. Nolton was serving with the 378th Fighter Group when his P-38 ‘Lighting’ was shot down over Engelskirchen, Germany, on February 23, 1945.
Pfc Archibald K. Beall 23, Army March 13, 1945
Pfc Arch Beall of Newhall joined the U.S. Army’s 394th Infantry Regiment and was killed in action on March 13, 1945. Details are unknown.
Sgt Ozal R. Smart 34, Army March 24, 1945
Sergeant Ozal Smart of Castaic enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort MacArthur, California, on September 27, 1940, and served with the 17th Airborne Division. 1st Lt. Jack Nims: “He was released over the landing zone at 1115 hours and was last seen as he entered the smoke over the LZ and was not observed after that.” Sgt Smart, at age 34, was reported killed in action near Wesel, Germany, and he’s buried at the American War Cemetery Margraten. Sergeant Smart was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Sgt Eugene E. Darr 22, Army
June 10, 1945
Sergeant Eugene E. Darr of Saugus served with the 96th Infantry Division and at age 22 was killed in action June 10, 1945, on Okinawa. Sergeant Darr was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
PFC Johnny Cordova 22, Army June 18, 1945
Johnny Cordova of Castaic was killed in action on Okinawa June 18, 1945. He is listed as DOW (Died of Wounds), meaning he was wounded and later died. The Cordova family settled in Castaic 110 years earlier in 1835. Cordova is buried at Ruiz-Perea Cemetery, San Francisquito Canyon.
Bill Osborn Age unknown Date of death unknown
From Soledad Township Bill Osborn’s, death is mentioned in a newspaper article about Tom Ross, who was missing in action. No further information at this time.
Robert Cone Age unknown Date of death unknown
The death of Robert Cone of Soledad Township (SCV) is mentioned in a newspaper article about Tom Ross, who was missing in action. No further information at this time.
Korean War Fallen
PFC Albert E. “Stud” Thomas (MIA) 20, Army August 11, 1950
Former Hart High School student, Corporal Thomas was a member of the 8036th Signal Service Company. At the age of 20 years, he was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on August
11, 1950. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Corporal Thomas was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
PFC Robert L. Whisler 19, Army September 3, 1950
Former Hart High School student, Private First Class Robert L. Whisler served the 1st Cavalry Infantry Division, was sent to South Korea July 16, 1950, and immediately went to the front lines. The details of PFC Whisler’s death, at 19 years of age, are unknown - he’s listed as “Killed in Action”. PFC Whisler was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Korean Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.
MSG Gilbert D. Montenegro 36, Army February 8, 1951
Master Sergeant Montenegro of Newhall served with the 24th Infantry Division. At the age of 36 years, he was “Killed in Action” while in South Korea on February 8, 1951. Master Sergeant Montenegro was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
PFC Donald E. Morissett 19, Army March 30, 1951
Private First Class Morissett of Saugus was a Light Weapons Infantryman with the 25th Infantry Division. At age 19 years, he was “Killed in Action” while fighting in South Korea on March 30, 1951. He was hit in the head and chest by enemy fire and was killed instantly. Private First Class Morissett was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Ensign Raymond Gene Kelly (MIA) 23, Navy January 9, 1952
Ensign Kelly of Newhall was a pilot of an AD-3 Skyraider dive bomber assigned to Fighter Squadron 54 aboard the USS Essex. At age 23 years, during a combat mission over North Korea on January 9, 1952, his aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. His aircraft nosed over and went into a vertical dive, crashed and burned. Kelly’s remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Ensign Raymond Gene Kelly was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Gold Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.