TWO MARINE HEROES FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

TWO MARINES FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
HEROES FOREVER


Marines Fighting In Belleau Wood


HE SLEEPS WHERE ROLLS THE MARNE

There were letters written during the Civil War that live unto this day. This letter written by Lieutenant Charles H. Ulmer of Pottsville, to his parents just before he went into the action in which he was mortally wounded, will live forever because of its simple beauty and depth of expression, because it is prophetic and because it breathes of a splendid heroism, a heroism that is wonderful and gripping because of the sublimity of its spirit of sacrifice.
This is a copy of Lieutenant Charles Ulmer’s last letter to his parents.

Dear Parents:
Beautiful June is here; what will it bring? I am going into line again and never felt happier over anything in my life. So far, I have been miraculously untouched, and it is surprising how much steel can pass you and yet leave you untouched. Something tells me I am going to have a chance this time. France has lost or sent all the young men, and only the aged an infirm remain, and the helpless and grief stricken women and children. If you could only see! Always so willing and ready to do anything to help. Sometimes I am so tired and weary that I stumble, and have to laugh at myself, but I am so thankful and glad of the chance to stand between these and the terrible enemy. Our glorious brave boys of German descent are out to fight down the wrong principles instilled for generations into the people; we shall live forever in the result of this war. The high cost of war has gone up in lives as well as money, but the higher price, the more valuable the purchase.



During the Fiercely fought battle of Belleau Wood on June 6th 1918, Lieutenant Charles H. Ulmer and a Lieutenant Donnelly of the 80th company, 6th Marines volunteered to take an important German machine gun nest near the edge of the woods which was raking the ranks of the Marines with heavy machine gun fire.
The men were advancing under temporary cover of and dodging from shell hole to shell hole and obstructions to stumps and everything that would afford a moment’s protection from the machine gun bullets, when a shrapnel shell fired by the Germans struck a tree a directly overhead of the men and riddled them with pieces of hot metal. Donnelly was wounded and while the wound was being dressed by Ulmer and another Marine another German shell suddenly struck nearby and killed Donnelly outright. Lieutenant Ulmer was so terribly wounded, he could only last for a few hours, and he died the next day.
He was buried in the courtyard of a little chateau overlooking the Marne where the hardest fighting took place, and won the day for America. Of the 250 men in Ulmer’s command only 40 were left on October 1st 1918 and all the officers were either killed or missing.



Charles Ulmer Marine
Croix de Guerre
Award
Lieutenant Charles H. Ulmer 2nd Lieutenant
80th company, 6th Regiment U.S.M.C. 2nd Division
French Croix de Guerre with palm.
Order no. 10,965 “D”
October 28, 1918
“Rejoining his unit on the front, he immediately led his platoon with bravery
And initiative and displayed great qualities as a leader until he was
Severely wounded.




SHENANDOAH MARINE A TRUE HERO



CORPORAL ANTHONY P. DAMATO


SHENANDOAH, PA.
HE LAID ON A HAND GRENADE TOSSED INTO A FOX HOLE TO PROTECT HIS BUDDIES.
The Following story was written by T/S William K. Terry, Youngstown Ohio, a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent. In the Pottsville Journal March 22, 1944.

Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands… A Marine Corporal lay on a Jap hand grenade to give his life to save two buddies early one Sunday morning when Japs counter attacked with hand grenades, mortars, and rifle fire on Engebi Island.
The Corporal was Anthony P. Damato of 601 W. Penn St. Shenandoah, Pa. a truck driver before he joined the Marines. He would have been 22 in March.
“The Japs had thrown in two other grenades in foxholes where Corp. Damato and two buddies were set up for the night, “ an officer explained. “The Marines threw out the first two. Then the Japs got wise and threw in a grenade after holding it for a few seconds. The corporal saw he couldn’t throw it back in time, so he lay on it. This saved the lives of his buddies.”
The Corporal’s watch was stopped at 4:07 A.M. when the grenade went off. “He was one of the best men I had,” 2nd Lt. Richard Pfhul said. “I took him with me whenever I went. He was one of the Marines who spearheaded the invasion of North Africa and he trained the Seabees of our battalion.”
Cpl. Damato was an assistant squad leader of a crack outfit in the 22nd Marines which took the objective on Engebi Island in an hour and fifteen minutes.
His outfit met and repulsed the strongest Jap counterattacks on the island. “None of us slept a wink either the first or second nights on the Island.” The Lieutenant continued. “One of my men in an advanced position had only his knife and two hand grenades. His weapon had jammed, but he refused to fall back during the night assault.
“Most of our casualties came at night. We took the objective without suffering any casualties.
“We got 12 Japs for one Marine the second night we spent on Engebi,” he continued. “They would drag their dead back with them and we had a hard time finding them in the morning.
“One of my sergeants was hit in the arm. He wouldn’t go back to the battalion aid station until he was ordered to.
“At one time during the invasion day we shot at Japs like they were targets in a shooting gallery. We had advanced along the left flank of another battalion and then shoved the Japs back toward us making them excellent targets for all.
“two of my men had their helmets shot apart by rifle fire and mortar fragments, but they were not hurt. “ he continued.
“The Jap snipers gave us a lot of trouble when they climber in trees on that part of the Island which was wooded the thickest.
“One of my boys knocked off a Jap officer who was dressed in full regalia. He was hiding under a palm fronds, and the Marine saw his leg sticking out.
Lt. Pfuhl said Japs even used some Marine hand grenades which they either found or stole.
“They threw grenades at us for 15 minutes the second night. Then they walked up to our foxholes, threw their hands in the air and said,” So solly”. They turned to walk away and we let them have it.
The same night, he added a Jap pedaled a bicycle along the runway on Engebi to be killed by the Marines.
“The most welcome sight we saw was daybreak.” He said. Night fighting was the worst. We could dig them out of their holes during the day.”





Note: Corporal Anthony Damato’s MOH
Written by Jay Zane



DAMATO

When the destroyer USS DAMATO slid down the ways of the Bethlehem Steel
Company's yards at Staten Island on November 21, 1945, its name reflected
one of the most heroic acts of any Schuylkill County winner of the
Congressional Medal of Honor.

Corporal Anthony P. Damato, 21, of Shenandoah, died in a foxhole on Engibi
Island in the Marshalls Group in the SOuth Pacific on the night of Feb. 19,
1944, by throwing himself upon a Japanese-tossed hand grenade to save the
lives of two comrades.

But when his mother, Mrs. Frances Damato, smashed the traditional bottle
of champagne over the bow of the destroyer bearing her son's name, she was
already carrying the burder of the loss of another son, Captain Neil J.
Damato, an Air Force bombardier, who had been missing in action since
November, 1943.

Neil had already been in the service when younger brother, Anthony,
enlisted in the Marines a month and a day after Pearl Harbor.

Corporal Damato's story of heroism is told graphically in the Citation:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving with an assault company of the
Second Battalion, 22nd Marines, Fifth Amphibious COrps, in action against
the enemy Japanese forces on Engibi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall
Islands, on the night of Feb. 19-20, 1944.

Highly vulnerable to sudden attack by small fanatical groups of Japanese
still at large despite the efficient and determined efforts of our forces
to clear the area, Corporal Damato lay with two comrades in a large foxhole
in his company's defense perimeter which had dangerously thinned by the
forced withdrawal of nearly half of the available men.

When one of the enemy approached the foxhole undetected and threw in a
hand grenade, Corporal Damato desperately groped for it in the darkness.
Realizing the imminent peril to all three and fully aware of the
consequences of his act, he unhesitantly flung himself on the grenade and,
although instantly killed as his body absorbed the explosion, saved the
lives of his two companions.

Corporal Damato's splendid intiative, fearless conduct adn valiant
sacrifice reflect great credit upon himself and the US Naval Service. He
gallantly gave his life for his comrades."

Damato was the 26th member of the Marine Corps to recieve the
Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II and the ninth enlisted man,
only two of which were alive at the time of the award of honor to him. He
became Shenandoah's 23rd Gold Star of World War II.

He was pronounced by his immediate commanding officer, Lt. Richard M.
Pfuhl, "the best Marine in my outfit."

In making the supreme sacrifice he saved the lives of his two buddies,
Corporal Herman F. Dohms, Jr. and Pfc. George W. Gale. It was reported
that the Japanese soldier who threw the grenade died immediately at the
hands of a US Marine.

Mrs. Damato's health did not permit her to receive her son's award from
the President of the United States personally. The presentation was made
April 9, 1945, in the Lincoln School Building, Shenandoah, by Brigadier
General Maurice C. Gregory, USMC, acting for the President. Seven months
and twelve days lateer the USS DAMATO slid down the ways at Staten Island
to further memorialize this Schuylkill Conty hero.

COMPARING THE CIVIL WAR SOLDIER TO THE PERIOD COAL MINER...ITS BETTER TO BE A COAL HEAVER THAN A SOLDIER

BOYS OF THE 48TH IN THE MINE AT PETERSBURG

IT'S BETTER TO BE A COAL HEAVER !

During the Civil War, many Schuylkill County men turned in their coal shovels for the musket and volunteered to join the army to serve their country and the Union cause. According to a Mr. A. Lee, a former Lieut. in the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry and a mine owner, the men and boys would have fared out better by remaining at home and working in the coal pits. From an article he wrote to the National Tribune on November 16, 1893 titled "A Computation" we learn the differences.


BRINGING POWDER INTO THE PETERSBURG MINE


Editor National Tribune; The following is a comparison of work performed by a soldier in the war of 1861 to 1865, and his wages, with that of a laboring man at the coal mines of Pennsylvania at the same time.
The labor performed by a soldier was to march and carry his load; the average laboring man to load coal. The average day's work of a soldier we will say, was to march 16 miles per day, carry his gun, 40 rounds of ammunition, three days rations, and knapsack, which would weigh 56 pounds: the average weight of a soldier is 150 pounds; making a total weight of 206 pounds.
While walking on a level road his average step would be about 28 inches, and the height from the ground to his thigh joint would be 34 inches. At every step he lifts his center of gravity 2½ inches. All the weight above the knee would be raised 2½ inches at every step. Now we will assume 180 pounds to be lifted 2½ inches at every step.

CIVIL WAR SOLDIER IN FULL KIT
In one mile there are 2,263 steps; 2,263 steps by 2½ inches equils 5,658 inch pounds; or 471 foot pounds by 180, equals 84,780 pounds. The soldier's weight with his load would equal 84,780 foot pounds, or 2,58 horse power per mile.
If a soldier marches 16 miles per day this would equal 41 horse power , or 1,383,000 units of work per day.



COAL MINERS

The work performed by a laboring man about the mines is to load eight cars of coal per day from the bottom of the chamber or gangway. As each car holds 96 cubic feet of loose coal it will take 350 No. 3 scoop shovels of coal to fill one car 350 by 8 cars equals 2800 shovels of coal per day. The labors throw the coal seven feet high into the cars. The weight of the coal and shovel is 20 pounds. The force necessary to throw the coal 7 feet high would be 40 pounds, making a total of 60 pounds. 2,800 by 60 equals 168,000 pounds by 7 feet high equals 1,176,000 foot pounds. The soldier received an average of $1.10 per day to perform 41 horse power. The laboring man receives $2.37 per day to perform 35.6 horsepower per day. The soldier received 26 months at $13.00 per month. $338.00; 10 months at $16 per month, $260.00: Us bounty, $100.00: Three years board at 25 cents per day $275.75: three years clothing $126.00; Total $997.75 . The laborer received 12 months at $30.00 per month; $360.00 12 months at $60.00, $720.00, 12 months at $87.50 per month, $1,030.00, total $2,180.000.
A soldier would have to receive a pension of $4.00 per month for 23 years 7 months and 2 days to receive as much wages as the laboring man who stayed at home. This average I send you is that of a strong young man employed by me in my mines for the last 13 years. If I should take the average of 300 men in my employ it would be 25 % less.
It is interesting to speculate as to how many men would have made a different choice knowing the facts presented, and would have stayed with the coal shovel instead of shouldering a musket for Uncle Sam. Either way both the soldier and the coal heaver suffered in their own way.

FIRST DEFENDER & POTTSVILLE NATIVE HELPED CAPTURE FORT FISHER

US ARMY SIGNAL CORP

FIRST DEFENDER
AND
POTTSVILLE NATIVE HELPED CAPTURE FORT FISHER
DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

ALONG WITH REAR
ADMIRAL PORTER AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN

OCCUPIES CONFEDERATE JEFFERSON DAVIS’S MANSION.

MAJOR WILLIAM W. CLEMENS




Major William W. Clemens died Saturday June 2, 1894 at the home of his mother in Pottsville. Major Clemens was a brave soldier and won high recognition for his service to the country. Major Clemens was born and raised in Pottsville he was 56 at the time of his death. His father was one of the early settlers of Pottsville, William attended all the Pottsville schools and was a graduate of the West Chester Academy.
Major Clemens who at the time of the civil war was living in Minersville and joined the Washington Artillerists as a private marched with the First Defenders to Washington.
He then joined the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a private in Company H. After the muster out of the 25th on 7-23-61 Clemens enlisted in the 129th a nine month regiment under the command of Col. Jacob Frick on July 21, 1862. He enlisted as the First Lieutenant of Company A formed in Minersville under Captain George J. Lawrence. The 129th in its short career fought in two hard battles, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. During the battle of Fredericksburg Clemens and his men made the charge up Marye’s Heights with Humphries Division. Company A would suffer the loss of Captain George J. Lawrence, John M. Jones, John Nicholas, and Thomas Millington, and many more wounded.
Clemens saw Captain Lawrence fall and detailed a man to carry the body to the rear. Where Captain Lawrence would later die from his wounds. After Lawrence’s death Lieutenant Clemens was made commander of Company A.
An event that Major Clemens is famous for is his appointment as Chief Signal Officer to Rear Admiral Porter in the two attacks on Fort Fisher in January of 1865. Fort Fisher controlled the entrance to Wilmington, N.C. and Major Clemens as Chief Signal Officer, commanded the fleet which made the sea attack, also he signaled for the advance of the land attack, the result of which was the fall of Fort Fisher.
Major Clemens was highly recommended for his valor and dauntless courage displayed in his successful attack on Fort Fisher by Rear Admiral David D. Porter. Because of his actions he was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army . Soon after the capture of Fort Fisher, Richmond was taken and Rear Admiral Porter as a mark of esteem and regard invited Clemens to accompany him with President Lincoln on a trip up the James River to the capitol of the confederacy where they occupied the mansion deserted by Jefferson Davis.
CONGRESS GAVE HIM A VOTE OF THANKS AND REAR ADMIRAL PORTER ACKNOWLEDGES HIS BRAVERY.

Congress honored Major Clemens with a vote of thanks for his bravery, and he was appointed by the Secretary of War second Lieutenant, and was stationed at San Antonio. He had charge of all the government stores, and was subsequently promoted First Lieutenant of the 31st Infantry at Fort Garland, Colorado. From this he was transferred to the Fiftieth Infantry and served until his resignation in 1870 when he went to work for the Coal And Iron Company.
He became manager of the financial department of Bines & Sheaf, coal agents of the C&I . He remained with them until about 1880 and then became a bookkeeper for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. He resigned this position in 1891 owing to illness and resided in Pottsville for his last few years.


President Lincoln enters Richmond, VA—under escort of Rear Adm Porter, a dozen armed sailors, and three aides (Capt. Penrose, Lincoln's military aide, Capt. Adams of the Navy, and Lt Clemens of the Signal Corps). Lincoln had been aboard USS Malvern but, when obstructions blocked her path, transferred with the admiral to Porter’s barge. Landing one block above Libby Prison, Porter left two sailors to guard the launch and formed the remaining ten into a guard, six in front and four behind. Porter reported to Secretary Welles, “We found that the rebel rams and gunboats had all been blown up, with the exception of an unfinished ram, the Texas, and a small tug gun-boat, the Beaufort, mounting one gun. The ships destroyed included the 4 gun ironclads Virginia No. 2, Richmond, and Fredericksburg; wooden ships Nansemond, 2 guns; Hampton, 2 guns; Roanoke, 1 gun; Torpedo, Shrapnel, and school-ship Patrick Henry.”

Major Clemens Award


NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,
U. S. Flagship Malvern, off Fort Fisher, January 17, 1865.
SIR: Second Lieutenant W. W. Clemens, U.S. Signal Corps, was detailed, at my request, for a signal officer by the chief of that corps, to serve as signal officer on my staff. Mr. Clemens has taught the army code to at least one of the regular officers on board each ship that had them, which has enabled me often to communicate when naval signals would have been of no avail.
In addition, his services have been to me of the utmost importance; thoroughly collected and competent at all times and under any circumstances; gentlemanly in his deportment, intelligent, always ready and cheerful.
I hope you will at least send a copy of this to the honorable Secretary of War, that it may be placed on file as a slight evidence of my appreciation of him as an officer and gentleman.
Through Mr. Clemens I was in constant communication with General Terry, even during the assault on Fort Fisher, and was enabled to direct the fire of the New Ironsides to the traverses occupied by the enemy without fear of hurting our own people from my complete reliance on him.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID D. PORTER,
Rear-Admiral.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy.

VETERANS DAY 2008

My Salute to all the Veterans in America...........Thank you



On November 11, 1918 at the 11th hour the guns on the Western front fell silent, ending the horror of what was known as World War 1. This year will celebrate the 90th year since those guns fell silent. Today there is one remaining American WW1 veteran still alive, Mr. Frank Buckles who is 107 years old. All of our Schuylkill County Veterans have passed many years ago. Veterans Day is not a day to celebrate war, but is a day to celebrate the peace we as Americans have lived with for many years, because of those who fought for it and died for it. I want to take this time as a veteran to thank all those men and women from Schuylkill County and our great country who have served in time of peace and war.
What is a veteran? Sometimes I think people put aside the true meaning of this word. Veterans are that special unique group of men and women who for many reasons have worn the uniform of the United States in time of peace and war. A band of brothers and sisters inseparable from the common citizen, those special people who have taken the stand between freedom and tyranny. Americans who have taken up the sword of justice in the defense of those liberties we hold to be so dear. Americans who put country first above all agendas.
In this day and age I sometimes fear that these liberties we hold so dear are short changed by the elected politicians we have placed in office. I fear that they will take for granted all the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country for their own political agenda. These politicians who believe in a faceless dream of a world that doesn’t hate America and a world where we should give ground on our beliefs so that we will have a better imagine in the world. I asked these officials, even if you didn’t take the time to serve in uniform and know the cost of freedom to please stop and take the time to remember what this country is about, and take a look at the millions who are living today and have served this great country and those who have sacrificed everything for it. If only we could get them to read what those men who came before us held high, and see the passion to live out a dream that became this great country of ours. Please I beg, do not throw it a way for a faceless global image.
The great American Samuel Adams wrote in 1771 "The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men... It is a very serious consideration, which should deeply impress our minds, that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers in the event." I please ask these people to adhere to these principles.
It is well known that on this day we honor the living veterans who served honorably in the military, in wartime and peace. On Memorial Day we honor those who have sacrificed all for our country. So on this Veterans Day let us say; For those men and women who have served and returned home alive, we honor you, for you are the ones who left your home and your loved ones and have traveled to foreign lands, have taken up arms and fought many battles on behalf of the American people. We honor you who went and didn’t ask why our country called you served with pride and dignity you’re imagine is what needs to be held in high esteem. And to our men and women today, who are far from country and family and friend defending us against an enemy who hates our very way of life, we salute you, we honor you, we thank you for the freedom we so much enjoy. We salute you for putting country ahead of self. When you finally return home your lives will forever be changed, and we Veterans will welcome you into a fraternity of brother hood and sister hood that shines above all fraternities, those who have put their lives ahead of others to serve this great country. Remember, Veterans, “For those who fought for it, Freedom has a taste the protected will never know.” Thank You Veterans.

Stu Richards
Vietnam Veteran
Orwigsburg, Pa. 17961