BUCYRUS — The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame is set to induct seven individuals into the hall of fame during a ceremony Monday evening.
The event is at 7 p.m. at Bucyrus High School.
The inductees include the following:
David Bauer
David Allen Bauer was born 22 Nov 1948 in Crestline, OH to the late Floyd “Bud” Bauer and Priscilla Schwan. He is a graduate of Crestline High School class of 1967. After graduation, he began studies at the Mansfield branch of The Ohio State University, but circumstances changed, and he joined the U.S. Navy in January 1968. David served for four years, and that included 2 tours in Vietnam. He earned the Vietnam Service Medal W/1 Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal W/Device, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon and National Defense Service Medal.
After separation from the Navy, David returned to Crestline and was employed by Geauga Plastics for a year and a half. While in the Navy, David was introduced to fire training and was greatly encouraged to take the Civil Service Exam, which he passed and was hired on the Crestline Fire Dept Jan. 5,1974. On June 6, 1976 David became the youngest Fire Chief in the state of Ohio at the age of 27. With 31 years of service to fire and squad runs David retired Jan. 5, 2005.
David was known to man the squad, or make sure it was available for the VFW Huck Finn fishing derby on Labor Day. David also followed in his father’s footsteps and would dress as Emmett Kelly’s clown, Weary Willie and attend children’s functions to entertain and pass out candy.
On June 29th, 1991 David married his wife Karen Wyer and they still reside in Crestline. He has 2 Stepsons and 4 grandchildren. David is a life member of VFW Post 2920 and a member of Eagles Aerie 859 in Crestline. The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame is proud to induct David Allen Bauer into the class of 2019.
David Robertson
David was born in Bucyrus, Ohio December 17, 1947 to the late Rosemary and C.E. (Bud) Robertson. David attended Bucyrus City Schools and graduated in class of 1966. At a young age David delivered papers for the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum and after school assisted with lawn care at Oakwood Cemetery. After high school he began working at General Electric in shipping and the maintenance dept from 1966-1967 upon enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Trained as Aircraft mechanic at Sheppard Air Force Base Wichita Fall, TX. Stationed at Robbins Air Force Base, Warner Robbins, GA to work on T-29s from October 1967 – November 1968. Arrived in Da Nang Vietnam on Christmas Day 1968 until December 1969. Stationed at Beale Air Force Base, Marysville/Yuba City, CA upon returning home, working both preflight and recovery of KC135 tankers, which flew in support of the SR71 (Blackbird) and B52s among other aircraft and remained there until being Honorably Discharged June 4, 1971.
He returned to General Electric and work there until being hired at the Bucyrus Police Dept. in 1973, then he entered the Ohio State Patrol Academy in 1973. Was sworn in on April 1,1973 just one day after his father retired as Chief of Police. Served on the Bucyrus Police Department for 23 years as a Patrolman, walking the downtown beat and serving as the records and communications officer. Retired from Bucyrus Police Department on March 31, 1996. David was office manager for Ziegler’s Electrical Service from 1995-2016.
David is very active in the American Legion Post 181 where he has been a life member for 49 years. During that time, he has held many offices at Post 181, Past Commander 1985, Post Adjutant from 1989 to present, SAL Advisor from Charter to present, Post Color Guard, Firing Squad, most offices at the Crawford County Council, Division Commander, District Adjutant two terms. Maintains Veterans Point, member and Financial secretary of Bucyrus Memorial Society, member of Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame as American Legion representative. David is a Life member at American Legion Post 181, Amvets Post 27, VFW Post 1078, And DAV Chapter 100.
David is very active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sulphur Springs serving on various committees and on Church Council.
David was Bucyrus Police Department Officer of the year, 1995, 5th District Legionnaire of the Year 2015, Department of Ohio Legionnaire of the year 2017, Department of Ohio SAL Advisor of the Year, 2019.
On June 21, 1980 David married his wife Brandy and they have two daughters, Carrie and Amber.
The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame is honored to induct David J. Robertson into the class of 2019.
Donald Scheerer
Donald E Scheerer was born in Chatfield Township on July 10,1924. He was the third of six children. The family moved to Bucyrus, where he graduated in 1942. He joined the United States Marine Corps on 12 August 1942. His specialty was carrying the BAR Browning Automatic Rifle, and then he went to airborne school. After airborne school he went to the west coast as a Marine Raider. The Raiders were part of the Fifth Marine Division. On 12 August 1944 he was moved to the Pacific Theater. In early 1945 the Fifth Marine Division and others invaded the island of Iwo Jima. He was wounded the second or third day, but he didn’t talk about his service. He was wounded in the left arm and foot. He received the Purple Heart and was discharged after the war was over.
Upon returning home he married Velma L. Kern, and they had two children, Donald J. and Chris. He was a fireman on New York Central steam engines. Later he drove truck for the Coby Co taking farm equipment to shows and State fairs. He then worked at the Timken Company until he retired.
He helped form and was Scoutmaster for Troop 40. As scoutmaster the troop went to Camp Owens in the summer. The scout troop hiked just about all the trails in Ohio. The troop bought an old bus and was repaired and painted by the troop dads. The bus was used to take about 40 scouts to Gettysburg and Washington D.C. in 1962.They stayed at the Navy Yard in D.C. This is where NCIS is now housed. He managed minor league and Little league baseball teams and umpired hundreds of games. He divorced in 1965 and later married Mary Lou Naufzinger and she survives. He has two stepsons and many grandchildren. He passed away 26 June 1984. The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame is honored to induct Donald E. Scheerer into the class of 2019.
Lattie Graves
Lattie was born May 18, 1917 in Allen County Kentucky to Robert Graves and Mrs. Georgia Bordens Graves. Lattie attended school in Kentucky and was a farm hand in his early years. He moved to Crawford County Ohio in 1938 and worked on the farm until he was drafted. He was the second draft number pulled out by the President but was given a deferment because of harvest season. He was inducted into the U.S. Army February 10, 1941. He left 26 May, 1942 for the Asiatic Pacific Theater as an Infantryman. He was with the 37th Division when the battle for Bougainville began. In March 1943 his unit the 148th Infantry Regt. came up against stiff resistance of enemy pillboxes. The rocket launcher or bazooka had not been fired in action by the 148th. Staff Sergeants Jim Spencer and Lattie Graves told Lt. Oliver Draine that they would volunteer to take a crack at it. Preceding the company until they reached a shallow trench 20 yards from the nearest enemy pillbox, they selected their target, and with much anticipation they launched their first rocket. Although this round completely missed the target, the men were so pleased with their partial success, that they immediately reloaded the weapon, aimed more carefully and launched a second rocket. This time they scored a direct hit and demolished the pillbox.
Spencer and Graves dodged from one covered position to another, blasting away, either killing the occupants of the pillboxes or frightening them into flight. During the intervals between loading and firing the launcher, Graves blasted away with his M-1 rifle. Spencer and Graves fired the bazooka periodically for 3 hours. Lattie was wounded later on in the battle for Manila.
Lattie received the Silver Star Medal for his action with the bazooka, in addition to that he received the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon w/2 Bronze Stars, American Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon W/1 Bronze Star, Good Conduct Ribbon, and Distinguished Unit Citation. He was Honorably Discharged 9 Aug 1945. He returned to Bucyrus, and was employed by Swan Rubber Co. On Feb. 4, 1946 he married Arleta Schiefer, sadly on 7 June 1949 Lattie was killed in a car, train accident. The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame is Honored to induct Lattie L. Graves into the class of 2019.
Richard Schmidt
Richard was born Nov. 9, 1927 in Oklahoma City, OK, son of Gus Herman and Regina M. Roetker Schmidt. Sister and Brother; Mary Josephine Meyer and Robert Herman Schmidt. He attended St. Joseph School and graduated from St. Joseph H.S. in 1946. He registered for the draft while in high school and received orders to be called up in his senior year. He wanted to graduate in May-June 1946, with the understanding he would prefer to join the Navy. Permission was granted and he fulfilled his obligation of active duty and reserves for almost seven years.
After graduation he joined the Navy in Oklahoma City, OK on June 18, 1946 with basic training in San Diego, CA. He was assigned to USS St. Croix APA-231 on Sept. 28, 1946 to Jan. 2, 1947, then transferred to USS Henrico APS-45 on Jan. 2 to Feb.26, 1947. Next was a cruise up the west coast, then on to Pearl Harbor, HI. At Pearl Harbor requested shore duty on Ford Island from Feb. 26, 1947 to Jan. 14, 1948. He requested to be transferred to USS Valley Forge CU-45 on Jan. 14, 1948, and on a Goodwill Cruise to nations of the world and build alliances for freedom. He was discharged June 18, 1948. He received WWII Victory Medal and was in Navy Reserves in Oklahoma City, OK and discharged June 16, 1953.
Following discharge, he returned to Oklahoma City and under the GI Bill, he enrolled at the Univ. of Oklahoma in Norman, OK Sept. 1948 to June 1949. He transferred to Oklahoma A&M at Stillwater Sept. 1949 to Jan. 1953 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He received an offer from General Electric Co. for their new engineer test program which took him to half a dozen different plants for training and permanent job in Bellevue, OH with GE Lamp Division. He was with GE 38 years and retired from Bucyrus Lamp Plant in 1991
Richard married Janett Catherine Reffing on May 12, 1956 at Immaculate Conception Church in Bellevue, OH. Children Richard Paul Jr., Scott David, Rebecca Joan, and Jennifer Marie. The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame is honored to induct Richard Paul Schmidt into the class of 2019.
Roger Willis
Roger L. Willis was born Jan. 18, 1949 in Galion Ohio. He graduated from Galion High School in 1967. Roger was inducted Feb. 12, 1969 at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. Basic Training at Fort Jackson SC, where he qualified as expert on rifle and machine gun. His next tour of duty was Chu Lai Vietnam, where he served with the 16th Combat Aviation Group, the D Troop, 4th Squadron, 1st Cavalry, the Saber Blues. Roger carried the M79 grenade launcher with the Armor Cav. Unit and flew 120 missions. Roger earned the Vietnam Service Medal W/2 Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Expert Rifle Badge.
While Roger was home on leave from Basic Training, he married his high school sweetheart Susan, June 28,1969. Both still reside after 50 happy years in Galion, OH. They have 2 children and 1 grandchild.
After discharge from service Roger came back to Galion and worked for Covert in Galion for 20 years as a machinist and worked his way up to Supervisor. He then joined W.E. Lott and traveled internationally as a business industrial engineer manager, where he traveled back to Vietnam in 2008-2009 and made several trips to China on business.
Roger also owned Zips Ice Cream in Galion in the mid 80’s. He sponsored the first Galion Today Day, where a 3000 lb. banana split was made on the square of Galion. The Governor of the State of Ohio had the first sample. Roger raised $1500 of proceeds from his banana split and donated it to Galion Children Home. With this event being such a great success for uptown Galion business’s, Roger was voted President of Uptown Association. Roger is a Life Member of VFW Post 2920 Crestline, OH. The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame is honored to induct Roger L. Willis into the class of 2019.
Thomas Schiefer
Thomas was born in Shelby, Ohio July 30, 1949. He resided in Tiro, Ohio and attended the Buckeye Central School system and graduated from Buckeye Central High School in 1967. He was employed by General Electric Bucyrus Lamp Plant in August 1967. On March 10, 1969, he was drafted into the US Army and after basic and advanced training was sent to Vietnam. In Vietnam he was assigned to Company C 2nd Battalion 3rd Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, Old Guard. Tour of Duty in Vietnam from 1969-1970, his awards were Bronze Star medal w/V, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Service Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, CIB, Old Guard Medal.
Thomas returned to Bucyrus, and back to General Electric where he was employed for 42 years with 4 years at HWH Engineering Consultant. His Training Bell and Howe School 1973-1975, Kepner Tregoe from Analytical Trouble Shooting and the Kepner Tregoe Training Academy (Training Certification). He has numerous awards from General Electric for Safety, Managerial and Productivity.
He is a member of American Legion Post 181 and is on the Honor Squad, DAV Chapter 100, Bucyrus Elks Lodge 156, Past commodore of the Bay Point Yacht Club, past member/ Board of Directors for Bucyrus Jaycees. He also established a computer lab for Holy Trinity Catholic School, where he spent over 2,000 hours creating a lab.
Thomas was married to his wife Vickie July 9, 1983, and they have 3 children: Sami, Isaac and Chelsea, and 4 grandchildren. Sadly, Thomas passed away October 17, 2019. The Crawford Country Veterans Hall of Fame, is honored to induct Thomas Wynn Schiefer into the Class of 2019.