The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1946-01-07
500 ATTEND VETS
WELCOME HOME;
HEAR BEIGHTLER
Successful Affair Held
In High School Auditorium
Thursday; Tributes Paid

A crowd of more than 500 per-
sons attended the welcome home"
program held in Marysville high
school auditorium, Thursday night,
honoring Union county'S ex-service
men and women, and heard an ad-
dress by Maj Gen. Robert 5.
Beightler, commander of the 37th
Division and former Marysville
boy.
The program was arranged by
heads of several civic organizations
working in cooperation with May
or Asman. 1t had originally been
planned for Dec. 10, but had to be
postponed because of the influenza
epidemic
Gen. Beightler, who was accom-
panied here by his mother, Mrs.
Joanna Beightler, and his wife,
Mrs. Claire Beightler, paid high
tribute to his men of the 37th Div
ision, and to all of the nations
service men in his Commute ad-
| dress.
Recalls Early Life Here
"These men accepted the chal-
lenge and they won-Won hands
down against the best that could
be sent against them," the General
declared.
In opening his address, Gen.
Beightler devoted some time to re-
miniscing on his boyhood days in
Marysville. He recalled his early
business" enterprises, and some
of the escapades he got into. 1t
was as a member of old Company
E, Fourth Ohio Infantry, that he
began his military career in Aug
ust, 1911.
Swinging into the serious aspect
of his talk, Gen. Beightler review
ed the nations magnificent change
over from peace to war, and paid
! tribute to the "homefront" for its
share in the victory.
Tells OF Manila Battle
But it was the fighting men
that he knew during the war, and
TT was the fighting man to whom
Gen Beightler devoted most of his
talk. To illustrate the valor and
heroism of the American soldier
and his own men of the 9th Divi-
sion, he recounted their part in the
taking of Manila; how the Japan
ese destroyed and raped the city
and how, through the resultant
rubble, his men fought against al
| most unbearable odds to drive the
Japs out.
The program opened with adj
vancement of American flags and
post colors Of the local American
Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars
and Disabled American Veterans
posts, and numbers by the Marys-
vile high school band
Irwin C.. Henry, as master of
ceremonies, called upon the aud
ience to join in tribute in prayer
for those who did not return, and
the Rev. E. ]. Goedeking, pastor
of Trinity Lutheran church, led
the group in prayer. General
Beightler's wife and mother were
then introduced by Mr.. Henry.
Mayor Introduces Speaker
Mayor ASman gave short adj
dress of welcome on behalf of the
community and then introduced
Gen. Beightler. The program CLOSED
with benediction by the Rev. Elisha
Kneisley, pastor of the First
! Methodist church, and retirement
of colors.
Seated upon the auditorium
stage, besides those taking part
in the program, were Scott Grew
iston, Legion commander; j. S
McCamey, VFW commander; Al
bert Saygrover, DAV commander
DR.. Angus MacIvor, representing
Rainbow Division veterans; anc
Wilbur Forty, representing Village
Council.
Prior to the program in the aud
itorium, a banquet was held ir
Gen. Beightler's honor in the Oak
land hotel, attended by approx
mately rs persons.