By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame welcomed its newest class of six honorees at the annual induction ceremony Wednesday evening.
Taking place in Bucyrus High School’s Alex Kish Memorial Gymnasium, George F. Fischer Jr. (WWII), James Martin Hiler (Vietnam War), Pearl Heydinger Horrell (WWII), Melanchton Paul “Reverend Pat” Paetznick (WWII), James J. Reinhard (WWII), and Cyrus Sears (Civil War) were inducted as the 2015 class of the prestigious Hall of Fame.
The latest class featured two firsts: the first Civil War veteran inducted, as well as the Hall’s first female.
Sue Horrell, who accepted her mother Pearl’s posthumous recognition, explained how it feels for her mom to be the first woman in the Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame.
“We are all honored. The family is so pleased and honored, and she would be too. She took great pride in her service,” Horrell said.
Horrell, a Chatfield native, served in the Navy Waves from Nov. 7, 1943 until Feb. 7, 1946 in New York, Hawaii, and Virginia. Sue Horrell explained that her mom didn’t speak much about the war.
“We saw pictures and she wrote a little bit, but she didn’t talk about it a lot other than maybe meeting her husband (Willis Horrell) in Hawaii. But a lot of them didn’t talk about it a lot,” Horrell said.
Of the inductees George F. Fischer Jr. was the only veteran of the 2015 class who wasn’t inducted posthumously. Born in 1924, Fischer served three years in the Army Air Corp in the China-Burma-India theater of World War II as a tail gunner in a B-24, part of the 7th Bombardier Group.
Fischer explained what it was like to serve as a tail gunner during the war.
“The worst part was the flack. You would sit up there and there was nothing you could do,” Fischer said. “I had two 50-caliber machine guns and couldn’t do a darn thing. I counted 32 bursts of flack around my tail one day. Somebody asked why would you do that, and I said nothing to do about it, accept that and pray.
“I am always sad about the fact that I lost five guys in my crew. But the good thing that came out of that was my co-pilot had to go up to China because some G.I. stole his camera and had to be a witness for a court martial, so he didn’t fly. My navigator didn’t go because the group navigator didn’t have any flight time to get his flight pay so we went to his place and two of my crew members were saved that way,” Fischer continued.
During his induction speech, Fischer explained that it took him 47 years to find out what happened to his crew members that didn’t make it home. Upon finding out what had happened to them it was like losing a brother, Fischer said.
James Martin Hiler of Tiro served as a door gunner in the Firebird platoon of the 71st Assault Helicopter Company. Flying numerous missions, Hiler was shot down three times. Cancer caused by Agent Orange took Hiler’s life on Aug. 25, 2013.
Hiler’s wife Debbie accepted the award on his behalf. Debbie Hiler was thankful for the posthumous honor.
“I would like to thank the committee for recognizing the service of the veterans,” Hiler said. “Jim was proud of his service. Congratulations to the rest of the inductees.”
Melanchton “Reverend Pat” Paul Paetznick was born in Chadwick, Ill. in 1926. While serving as a minister of Christ Lutheran Church in Carey in 1943, Reverend Pat enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as chaplain in the 11th Marine Air Group. After returning from the war, Reverend Pat was minister for numerous area churches, retiring from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in 1998.
Paetznick passed away on Sept.16, 2001. Paetznick’s son John accepted his award on his behalf. During his acceptance speech John Paetznick thanked the committee.
“Dad would be humbled and shocked at this recognition. He was just one of millions that came back to their communities after their service, and served their communities to make them a better place to live and raise their family. We owe a great amount to these people,” Paetznick said. “We should remember it is the land of the free because it is the home of the brave.”
Serving from 1942 until the end of World War II in 1945, James J. Reinhard was a member of the 232nd Signal Operation Company. After his service Jim lived in Bucyrus with his family working at the Farm Bureau and the Timken Roller Bearing Co. Reinhard passed away on May 9, 1989. Accepting the award on his behalf was his daughter, Susan Weber.
“I would like to thank the committee for accepting the nomination. We are thrilled with this and dad would be more thrilled. Thank you,” Weber said.
Civil War veteran Cyrus Sears moved to Crawford County in 1836 at the age of 4. Graduating from Cincinnati Law School in 1856, Sears was admitted to the bar and set up practice in Bucyrus until 1861 when he enrolled into the Union Army as part of the 11th Ohio Independent Battery of Light Artillery.
Sears was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the battle of Lula where his battery lost 56 men and he was severely wounded. After recuperating Sears was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 11th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent in 1863 where he served in the regiment for the remainder of the war. Passing away on Nov. 30, 1909, Sears is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Upper Sandusky.
Relatives of Sears couldn’t be found in time for the ceremony so no one accepted on his behalf.
Prior to the induction ceremony, 2007 Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame inductee Harry Martin was posthumously granted his varsity letter for participating with the Bucyrus High School football team. Robert Martin was on hand to accept the letter. Martin’s letter will be on display at Bucyrus High School.
Bucyrus High School Class of 1965 member Steve Brickner along with his wife Debbie presented a painting celebrating the class’ veterans.
“We had a graduating class of 199 students, and of those 199, 42 became veterans. At the time we really didn’t understand a place called Vietnam, but by the end we understood.”
Bucyrus High School Principal Dr. Mark Burke accepted the painting on the school’s behalf, noting that it will be on display in the commons of the school from this day forward.
Crestline Mayor David Sharrock spoke of the work that veterans associations do for their own.
“If you are a veteran there are many programs open and available. Contact your local V.A. and get involved,” Mayor Sharrock said.
Chief Operating Officer of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services Tim Espich was the special guest speaker of the hall of fame ceremony. In his speech Espich spoke about military service at the basic levels.
“At the most basic level you leave home and become property of the U.S. Government 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Espich said. “At the most basic level you are going to be homesick. You are going to miss things: home, bed, pillows, showers, food, birthdays, Thanksgiving, first words, first steps, ballgames, hugs. You don’t realize it at first but the rest of the world moves on. People change. Relationships change. Service puts a burden on those you love most, you become glued to information you never cared about before, home don’t feel like home. Your life is put on the line for other’s freedoms. Some leave as kids and come back incredibly aged. On Veterans Day if you really think about it service is an incredible thing. It’s beyond words.”
After Espich’s speech the playing of the military medley from each of the branches of service’s flags being represented was performed by the Crawford County high school bands under the direction of Buckeye Central Band Director Karla Neise.
After the induction ceremony “Amazing Grace” was performed on bag pipes, followed by a rifle salute along with “Taps.”
More information on the Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame including past inductees as well as nomination forms for future inductees can be found online at http://www.ccvhof.org/.