Evening star., 1945-04-03
Todoy,s Casualty Lists
Killed

LIST 1t. Neil Rex Collier, jr., sor
Of Comdr. Collier, U. S. N. r., who
Is a member of The Stars editoria
stan now on military leave, ha.
been killed in action in Burma. Sc,
story on this page.
Capt. Benjamin Nichols, "A, pilot
OF Psi, was killed in action March
l8 over Germany, his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Howard G. Nichols, 463t
Hawthorne lane NV, have beer
informed. Capt. Nichols, veteran
of more than so missions, was serv-
ing as tactical reconnaissance
pilot when he was killed.
Capt. Nichols was born here ano
was graduated from st. Adams
School He attended Washington
and Lee University, where he was
member of Sigma Nu. Capt
Nichols entered the service in July
194l, and was on submarine patrol
in the Ascension Islands from July
l942, to July, 1943. After returning
to this country in 1S43 he was in
structor at Key Field, Meridian
Miss, and went to Europe last Au-
gust. He had been awarded the Air
Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters
two concentrations and only re-
Gently was promoted from first lieu
tenant to captain.
Capt. Nichols father is employed
In the Bureau Of Internal Revenue
His mother is president of the
Twentieth Century Club and chair
man of the Womens Committee Of
War Savings in the District.
Capt. Samuel w. Marsh, 27, son
of Mr.. and Mrs. S. H. Marsh, now
living in Philadelphia, where the
father is connected with the regional
office of the United States Forest
Service, is listed by the Army as
killed on December % in Belgium
while in action with an armored tank
unit.
He was born in Harrisonburg, Va,
and was graduated from George
Washington University. From 1880
to 1889 the family lived in Arlington,
Va His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Marsh,
whom he married in January, 1914,
now lives in Kansas City. Capt
Marsh entered the Army in 194l and
went overseas last September.
1st 1t. Melvin S. Barrett, 29, whose
wife, Mrs. Felicia G. Barrett, is a
Marine corporal on duty at the Ar
lington Navy Annex, was killed in
action in Northern Italy March 5
while serving with a ski troop di-
vision the War Department has an
nounced.
1t. Barrett was native of Boston
but had lived in Pittsburgh prior to
September, 1912, when he entered
the Army. Before the war he had
served an enlistment in the Marine
Corps. He attended the University
of Pittsburgh. His unit went over
seas last January.
Stacks Ravnell, stewards mate,
first-class, reported missing in action
last February. is now offlcially re-
ported killed in action. His wife,
Mrs. Cornish Ravnell, lives at 813
Fourth street NV.
Pvt. Martin Byron Hollenbeck, Sd
Marine Division, was killed on Two
Jima in March, his parents. Mr..
and Mrs. Martin Hollenbeck. 3614
Quesada street NV, have been
notified
Pvt. Hollenbeck attended Wood
row Wilson High School before en-
tering the service in June, 1914. He
went overseas in November. Prior
to his induction he worked at the
National Radio Institute.
A brother Corpl. George T. Hol-
lenbeck is with the Medical Depart
ment in England. Another brother,
Paul. and sister, Katherine. live
at the Quesada street address.
Pfc. Woodrow w. Marth, 80, was
killed in action in Germany March
II, his wife, Mrs. Ellen K. Marth,
1l13 Flower avenue. Takoma Park.
Md, has been informed. Pvt. Marth
went overseas last September
Born in Germantown, Nd, Pvt.
Marth attended high schol in Rock
Vile. He worked for the Sanitary
Grocery stores and for the Philgas
Service there before he went into
the service % months ago, his sis
law, Mrs. Lucille K. Phillips
of the Takoma Park address. said.
A brother, William Marth, is with
q tank unit in Germany
Capt. r. F. Besner, 26, died Of
wounds received last month in Ger
many, the War Department has no.
{ifed bie uriIouy N6rs hEorxy nocnar
1910 Fort Totten drive NE. Three
months earlier Capt. Besner's only
brother, Pfc. Truman Besner, also
was killed in action in Germany.
Cat. Besner was born in Michi-
gan and attended the College of
Mining and Technology in Hough-
ton, Mich. He was employed as
chemical engineer for the Ordnance
Department in Detroit before enter
ing the service as a reserve officer
in July, 1910 He served in the Army
from July, 1910. to July, 1941, and
was not called to active service
again until shortly after Pearl Har-
Dor. Capt. Besner lived in Washing
ton with his wife while he was
training with the engineers at Fort
Belvoir. He was sent overseas in
October. Capt. Besner has a Is
month-old daughter, Mary Jean.
Pvt. John w. Watkins, whose
mother, Mrs. Alice Watkins, lives on
Route /, Fairfax, has been killed in
action in the European theater,
the War Department announced
today.
Stories about the following men
now ofiicially listed as killed in ac-
ton appeared in The Star after their
next of kin had been notified:
1t. william Edgar Clark, U. S. N.
r., whose wife, Mrs. Bertha Lockhart
Clark, lives at 4410 Forty-second
street NV.
Pfc. Matthew r. Creamer, son OF
Mrs. Florence M. Creamer, 1872 Penn
street NE.
Pvt. Robert !. Miller, whose wife.
Mrs. Virginia Miller, lives at 1923
Howe street Sc.
Pvt. Walter w. Pusey. son of Mrs
Marie A. Pusey, Seat Pleasant, Md.
Wounded