A Memorial Day Tribute
Honoring all members of the Cincinnati Fire Department past and present who served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America - Thank you for your service!
Honor Roll of CFD members who served in WW2
Compliments B.Houston Collection
The poster presented above was distributed throughout the fire department shortly after the war, to pay tribute to members who served in World War 2. Today a copy of this poster still hangs in the quarters of Engine 46 in Hyde Park (though it is badly faded). All listed members have a star in front of their names. Members with a black star were killed during their service. Some members appear with an eagle stamp after their name. Inside the stamp there is a date which is different for each individual. Currently it is not known what this marking designates but members with the mark did survive their wartime service. If you believe you know what the meaning of this marking is please comment on the post and share you knowledge!
Update: Special thanks to B.Strite for solving the mystery of the eagle stamp and date - the symbol is called the "ruptured duck." Service members were given a patch with the symbol to put on their uniforms after being honorably discharged from the service (see the example below)
Black Star Names (Members killed in service during WW2):
KIA (Killed in Action) FOD (Finding of Death) DNB (Death Non-Battle)
Melvin J. Trimpe
(FOD - 14 March 1944) 2nd Lieutenant
Norbert J. Vehr
(DNB - 02 Feb 1945) 2nd Lieutenant
Louis F. Sander
(KIA - 11 March 1944) Staff Sergent
Russell P. Zorens
(DNB - 10 May 1945) Sergent
Roy C. Bitzer
(KIA - Reported Missing 11 November 1944) 2nd Lieutenant
Marshall C. Hard
(DNB - 06 Jul 1945) Tech5
Note: Two of the members listed on the Honor Roll of WW2 service are now also counted among the members who died in service to the Cincinnati Fire Department
Lt. Robert W. Beyer
(LODD - Heart Attack - 08 Jun 1959)
Died after operations in the new High Intensity Building
Marshal Robert Riegler
(LODD - Smoke Inhalation - 13 Jun 1961)
Overcome by smoke at 1020 Woodrow Street, Central Brass and Aluminum Foundry Fire
Cincinnati Post - 11 Dec 1944
Cincinnati Post - 31 Jan 1945
NOTE: If you are related to or know someone who is related to any of the above mentioned members who served either the fire department or to their country, CFD History would like to acquire a copy of their picture to pay further tribute to them. Please contact me if you are interested in helping in this matter.
Thank You.
Served in the US Army and retried from service in the rank of Warrant Officer - Joined the CFD in 1938 and retired as a Lieutenant in 1977. His father William Gloystein was one of the original charter members of Local 48 and his picture can be found at the Union Hall on the wall.
Thanks to J.Shroyer for helping to make the Honor Roll list come to life!
If you are conducting research regarding the past military service of a member of your family and you have hit a wall because their records were lost in the fire at the National Archives in the 70s, I highly recommend the services of Golden Arrow Military Research. I have used this research service twice with excellent results and I highly recommend their work:
(Tell them CFD History sent you!!!)
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