BAND OF CLASSMATES

Three WWII veterans who attended same school together are honored in Alma ceremony

Three U. S. Army veterans, two who were killed in battle during WWII, were recently remembered during a ceremony at Alma’s Riverside Cemetery.

Friends and family members of Rolland Hill, Howard Berry and Ceo Bauer, who all grew up near Carson City and attended school together, held a service to honor the lives, military service and sacrifice of the three men.

Hill and Berry both died fighting in France during 1944, while Bauer, 97, whonowlives in Ithaca, was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his efforts during the war.

Attendees gathered in the special section of the cemetery dedicated to those who fought in American wars. They were on hand to see the unveiling of three markers honoring the men.

Hill is actually buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in France and Berry’s initial gravemaker at the cemetery was inaccurate.

Although Bauer is still alive he thought it was only appropriate to includeamarker for himself along with his two buddies.

“I’mactually going to be buried in the family plot in Carson City. I’ve had a place ready there for the past 15 to 20 years. I never expected to live this long,” Bauer said laughing.

He got the idea to honor his two friends when the G.I. marker that was provided to Berry’s family was incorrect.

“It didn’t include the fact that he had been awarded the Silver Star,” Bauer explained. “I wanted to get it changed but I had to jump through so many government hoops I didn’t think it was worth it. So I started working on getting a new one and figured why not get one for Hill and myself too.”

Berry’s niece Sandra Hagerman assisted him with getting the new markers made and installed.

“It was all paid for by the families,” Bauer said. “I feel pretty good about it.”

He has been a driving force in local ventern’s projects for years, including helping found the Gratiot County All Wars Memorial on the grounds of the county courthouse in Ithaca.

Bauer has also visited Hill’s gravesite in Normandy, the last time in 2019 when he was joined by members of Hill’s family.

They spent nearly two weeks in France visiting memorials, working with French war his

torians and following in the footsteps of Hill, according to an email sent to the Morning Sun by Hill’s nephew, Bruce Garlock.

“(Bauer) followed the path of (Hill’s) company with the historians and a documentary filmmaker,” Garlock said. “Our family (Hill’s relatives) were all deeply moved at the story revealed, as we learned detailswe had been unfamiliar with regarding Rolland’s service.”

That film, “A Girl Who Wore Freedom,” is available on Youtube. It also features an interview with Bauer.

In addition to Bauer and Garlock, Hill’s sister and Garlock’s mother, Elaine Hillgarlock, now 100, spoke during the dedication ceremony, as well as others.

“Itwas a remarkable day,” Bruce Garlock said.

During the service Bauer shared stories “with both solemnity and humor,” he added.

The threemen all entered the u.s. Army 35th Infantry Division together in January 1943. They were stationed at Camp Custer in Battle Creek before being shipped to Europe.

“We all left from the train station in Alma on the same day,” Bauer said. “Now we are all finally back in Alma again.”

COURTESY PHOTOS Pictured are U.S. Army veteran Ceo Bauer, 97, of Ithaca, who was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star after suffering battle wounds during WWII, and Elaine Garlock, 100years young and sister of the late Rolland Hill of Carson City, who was killed in 1944while fighting in France. Harlene Gedris poses at right. All three were on hand with about 30others recently to dedicate memorials for Bauer, Hill and Howard Berry of Carson City, whowas also killed in the war, at Alma’s Riverside Cemetery. INSET: Carson City natives Ceo Bauer, Rolland Hill and Howard Berrywait at the train station in Alma after joining the U.S. Army duringwwii. Both Hill and Berrywere killed in battle in France, while Bauer, now 97and living in Ithaca, was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

FAR LEFT: Pictured is the Howard Berry marker at Alma’s Riverside Cemetery.

LEFT: Rolland Hill proudly poses in his U.S. Army uniform in 1944, before departing for war overseas. Hill died fighting in France.

COURTESY PHOTOS Elaine Garlock, 100, sister of the late Roland Hill of Carson City, and U.S. Army veteran Ceo Bauer, 97, of Ithaca, who was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.