Tim Gosnell

Jack Kimberlin

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MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHY for JACK KIMBERLIN, WWII VETERAN

NEVER FORGOTTEN: Proudly Served Our Country and Our Community

Grover Jasper "Jack" Kimberlin, was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia on December 8, 1921 a son of the late Grover Cleveland and Elizabeth Dygert Kimberlin. He was a retired contractor with G.C. Kimberlin and Son. In High School be became interested in the ROTC program. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. As a pilot of a B-17 Aircraft, Jack made 35 successful bombing missions in Europe. Later in the War, he became a flight instructor of B-17 pilots. He was instrumental in construction of many business structures and homes in the Clifton Forge area. He was owner of Kim-Stan Incorporated, owner and operator of Virginia Coal and Supply in Clifton Forge, and was former owner and operator of the Valley Ridge Water System. Jack was a member of the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society, the Cowpasture River Preservation Association, Clifton Forge Lions Club for over 60 years, Clifton Forge Elks Club for over 50 years and the Clifton Forge Coffee Club. Mr. Kimberlin was an active part of area government. He served on the Clifton Forge City Council for several terms and served on the Water and Sewer Commission. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4299 of Clifton Forge. He enjoyed his farm on the Cowpasture River at Sharon. He was a friend to the Alleghany Highlands in political, economic, developmental and social aspects. Jack passed away on July 28, 2012.

I talked with Jack on a regular basis and regret missing the opportunity to discuss these experiences with him. We were very fortunate to still have Jack with us after completing his 35 missions. The B-17 heavy bomber was known as the “Flying Fortress” and was instrumental in helping to destroy the German war machine in Europe. Before the extended fighter support range of the P51 Mustang (like those that Bill Overstreet , another Clifton Forge native, flew), many of the B-17’s and crew were shot down and did not make it back to their bases in England.

Jack’s uncle, Willie Dygert from Iron Gate-VA, paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life in World War I, September of 1918.

Much of the above information was copied from various sources. Created 5-21-17 DHS

Robert Homrich

Robert Homrich

BIOGRAPHY for ROBERT HOMRICH, WWII VETERAN

Proudly Served Our Country and Still Serving Our Community

Robert Homrich was born in Hammond, Indiana on July 24th , 1924.

Soon after finishing high school, he was drafted into the service at the age of 19 in August of 1943 and attended basic training in Amarillo, Texas.

Mr. Homrich originally trained to be a pilot with 40 other servicemen. After only two of the group of forty passed the test to advance, he then attended gunnery school at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. After a two month home pass, Homrich then went to Tampa, FL where his flight crew was assembled. He then traveled by ship from New Jersey to Liverpool, England where he was entered into the replacement pool of the 8th Air Force, 390th Bomber Group, 571 st Bomber Squadron. His job as part of the crew of nine in the B-17 Flying Fortress, was the ball turret gunner, the gun turret located on the bottom of the plane.

Mr. Homrich’s first mission was July 29th , 1944; an oil refinery in Merseburg, Germany. On this first mission one of the bombs did not fully release. German BF-109 and FW-190 enemy fighters attacked as the bomb dangled in the bomb bay. The bomb was successfully released by a fellow crew member named Grice. Other missions included the countries of Nazi occupied France, Poland, and Romania; along with the Allied controlled countries of Russia and Italy. Their plane was severely damaged on mission #3 & #31, barely making it back to England on mission #3. One of the crew counted 92 holes in the plane after mission #31. A detailed account of all 33 missions was written by pilot Walter E. Hannold of New Jersey. Due to the high number of incoming replacements, the crew only completed 33 of the required 35 missions.

Mr. Homrich signed up to go the Pacific but the war was soon over. He was discharged and welcomed home to Hammond, Indiana by his family in October of 1945.

After returning home from the war, Mr. Homrich worked for Linde Air Products, which was an industrial gas division of Union Carbide, now Praxair corporation. He retired after working 42 years.

He met his wife, Barbara, through a cousin of hers with whom he had attended school, later discovering that he and Barbara had actually attended school together in 1st and 2nd grades.

Robert and Barbara have been married for 71 years and currently make their home in Botetourt County. They have one son Robert, a daughter Janice Ann, 5 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. They attend the Church of The Transfiguration in Fincastle.

Mr. Homrich is a member of the 8 th Air Force fellowship group in Roanoke, VA.

Created DHS 6-25-18

Winfred H. Hart Jr.

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BIOGRAPHY for WINFRED H. HART JR., WWII VETERAN

Proudly Served Our Country and Still Serving Our Community

Winfred H. Hart Jr. was born in Nace, Virginia (near Troutville) on May 1st, 1921.

He enlisted in January of 1942 at the age of 21 and attended basic training in Texas.

Mr. Hart trained to be a pilot but later became a radio operator for the bomber crew of a B-24 Liberator which was part of the 8th Air Force, 466th Bomb Group, 785th Squadron, Crew number 545. During most of World War II, the 466th was stationed in Attlebridge, England; a point from where it could conduct bombing missions over most of Nazi occupied Europe.

Hart’s first mission was oil refinery targets in one of Germany’s largest port cities of Hamburg. Other missions included an airfield in Marne, France; a Junkers aircraft engine factory in Magdeburg, Germany; and railroad targets throughout Germany which were supplying the German Army. Mr. Hart’s last mission on January 21st, 1945 was a railroad marshalling yard (freight staging yard) in Helbronn, Germany.

Hart says they were very fortunate none of the crew was ever hurt. He remembers two close calls. While on his first mission over Hamburg, Germany, they lost the #3 engine from flak fire damage.  Two P-51 Mustang fighters escorted them back to England, protecting them from enemy fighter aircraft. The other was a near midair collision with an allied aircraft over London while doing training exercises. He credits their pilot, John Gerrity, who was a tough, tall Irishman from Texas who knew how to handle the hard to fly B-24 aircraft.

After completing 27 missions, Mr. Hart was discharged in the spring of 1945. He was welcomed home by his family, which included his grandfather who rented a farm from Magnus Brugh, near the original Brugh’s Mill in Troutville. His Father was a machinist for Norfolk & Western Railroad and his mother was a Crawford from Craig County. Hart family descendants settled in Cambridge, MA. Family records show that the gymnasium of Harvard University is located on the old Hart family barnyard.

After returning home from the war, Mr. Hart worked to complete the high school credits required to attend VPI (VA Tech) where he would study Electrical Engineering. While attending school, he worked a short time for Eagle Rock Lime Company. Mr. Hart and his wife, Lois, both worked for Appalachian Power until retiring in 1982. Following retirement, they both enjoyed traveling which included visits to New Zealand, the Caribbean, Russia, and many parts of Europe. He is an avid fan of classical music and played violin for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Hart resides in Roanoke where he continues to enjoy music and is a member of the 8th Air Force fellowship group.

Created DHS 12-2-17

Cline L. Saville, Sr.

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MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHY for CLINE L. SAVILLE, SR., WWII VETERAN

NEVER FORGOTTEN: Proudly Served Our Country

Cline Luster Saville Sr. was born in Eagle Rock, Virginia on February 5th, 1906.

He was drafted in January of 1944 at the age of 37, one of the oldest in our area.  His first day of active duty, which fell on his 38th birthday- February 5th, 1944, was basic training at Camp Croft near Spartanburg, South Carolina.

He was trained as an Infantry Replacement as part of Patton’s 3rd U.S. Army, 90th “Tough Ombres” (Texas-Oklahoma) Division, 358th Regiment, Company A.

Operations included the countries of England, France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg.  We were told that he did not enter France on D-Day (June 6th) but went in a few days later, maybe D-Day+3.  Research confirms that some of the 358th went on D-Day and some a few days later.  Patton was in England, being punished by General Eisenhower for public relations issues and was not allowed to be part of the invasion on the first day.

Cline was wounded twice and received two purple hearts.  The first wound was not serious, only a shrapnel wound in the leg.  The second more serious wound occurred near Oberwampach, Luxembourg on January 20th, 1945.  A bullet wound below the left shoulder nearly cost him his arm.  Medics wanted to amputate his arm but he would not let them. On March 26th, 1945 he was evacuated to the United States for additional stateside medical treatment in New Jersey.  After several years, he regained most use of the wounded arm.

Cline was welcomed home by his wife Cecile Hunter Saville, daughter Joyce “Sissy” Saville Stull, sons Cline L. “Sonny” Saville Jr. and Donald H. “Bebe” Saville.  Grandchildren are Robert Stull, Sherry Stull Mason, Don Saville, Andy Saville, and Patrick Saville. Great Grandchildren are Jordan Saville and Makayla Saville.

Before being drafted, Cline was employed by the paper mill in Covington, previously Owens-Illinois, currently WestRock.  Due to his injuries from the war, he could not return to work at the mill. After the war, he worked many years as a self employed carpenter.  He was an active member of the Eagle Rock Fire Department and Eagle Rock Baptist Church. His hobbies included gardening and flowers which were used on occasion as backdrops for local TV news stations.

Cline passed away on January 23rd, 1980 almost two weeks before his 74th birthday.

Created DHS 6-18-17

James Smith

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BIOGRAPHY for JAMES SMITH, WWII VETERAN

Proudly Served Our Country and Still Serving Our Community

James William “Neighbor” Smith Sr. was born in Lexington, Virginia on January17th, 1923.

He was drafted in January of 1943 at the age of 20 and attended basic training at Fort Jackson near Columbia, South Carolina.

Mr. Smith was trained as a tank commander as part of the 3rd U.S. Army, 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd“Dragoons” Cavalry Regiment, Company F.

Operations participated in include England, Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland, Luxembourg, and Czechoslovakia.  Special operations include accepting the surrender of the entire 11th German Panzer Division and liberating the world-renowned Lipizzaner Stallion horses along with 200 U.S. prisoners of war from Czechoslovakia a short time before Russian forces arrived.  If the Russians would have reached the area first, the fate of the prisoners and the horses could have been much different.

Awards received included a medal for good conduct and the Europe-Africa-Middle Eastern service ribbon.  

While in Luxembourg, away from his tank and waiting for fuel, James was given a 21st birthday party from a family that lived there; a family which he would revisit with his wife Virginia Thurston Smith some 40 years later.  The visit also included stops in France and Germany as part of the WWII 40th anniversary re-enactment.  Mr. Smith and his family have also visited the World War II monument in Washington, D.C. and the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA.

Mr. Smith was discharged October 28th, 1945 and was welcomed home by his family, some of which were at McClung’s Drug Store in Lexington, the location where the bus stopped.

After returning home from the war, Mr. Smith worked for the C&O Railroad in Clifton Forge and resided in Selma, VA.  He was laid off from the railroad in 1953 when they switched from steam to diesel locomotives. He worked 26 years as a truck driver for Smith Transfer until retiring on January 31st, 1986.

Mr. Smith continues to reside in Selma with his family including daughters Charlotte Smith Brown, Beverly Smith Parchen, several grand children and great grand children.  He has been the superintendent of the Sunday School at Selma Methodist Church since 1958, for nearly 60 years.

Created DHS 7-16-17

Russell Robinson

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BIOGRAPHY for RUSSELL ROBINSON, WWII VETERAN

Proudly Served Our Country and Still Serving Our Community

Russell “Russ” M. Robinson was born in Roanoke, Virginia on April 6th, 1923.

He enlisted in 1942 at the age of 19 and attended basic training in Newport, Arkansas; primary training in Jackson, Tennessee; advanced training in Stuttgart, Arkansas; followed by crew training in Charleston, South Carolina.

After training, Russ became a pilot of a B-24 Liberator bomber and was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 453rd Bomb Group, 732nd Squadron.  During World War II, the 453rd was stationed in Old Buck (Old Buckenham), England; a point from where it could conduct bombing missions over Nazi occupied Europe.

From December 1944 through April of 1945 Robinson piloted 34 bombing missions including three to Berlin and five to Magdeburg, Germany.  “Arrowhead”, shown in the photos below, was the name of the B-24 Liberator bomber flown on most of the missions. The crew was referred to as “Robinson’s Raunchy Raiders”.  His last mission on April 25th, 1945 in Salzburg, Austria was to prepare the city for the American troops which would soon enter on May 5th, 1945.

Russ was very fortunate not to have been shot down or injured but did have one close call when a large piece of shrapnel from anti-aircraft flak entered the cockpit and came to rest next to him.   See photos below where he is holding the shrapnel while wearing the same bomber jacket used during the missions in the mid 1940’s. He credits the success of his crew and plane to the hard work of the ground crew, including crew chief, Andy Cumming.

After being discharged in 1945, Robinson remained in the reserves until 1949, where according to Russ, “they did not do much”.  He worked as a carpenter in construction and later became an inspector for an architectural firm in Durham, North Carolina.

Russ married Valentina in 1949.  They had one daughter Diana “Trutina”, and two sons Mark and Raphael.

Mr. Robinson resides at his home in Roanoke where he continues to use his carpentry skills on projects like picture frames.  He is an active member of the 8th Air Force Fellowship Group and gives presentations at venues such as the National D-Day Memorial and Profiles of Honor Tour.

Created DHS 7-24-18

Carlos Showalter

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MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHY for CARLOS SHOWALTER, WWII VETERAN

NEVER FORGOTTEN: Proudly Served Our Country and Our Community

Carlos L. Showalter was born on May 22nd, 1925, in Page County Virginia.  At the age of 17, he requested permission from his parents to join the U.S. Navy.  His mother refused to sign for the Navy because of the threat that Submarines were causing to surface ships.  However, she did agree for him to sign up for the Marines.

After completing basic training in 1942, Mr. Showalter was dispatched with the Marines 4th Division, 23rd Regiment, Company C, which was stationed in Maui, Hawaii.

November 1943 - February 1944:  One of the first missions was to take the Marshall Islands and the Japanese air bases that were located there.  This was one of the first steps to take control of the Pacific, providing air and naval support for future battles.

June 15th 1944 - July 9th 1944:  Saipan, another important strategic location and very important moral victory.  After American forces took Saipan, the Japanese Prime Minister and the entire Japanese war cabinet resigned, marking what many believe to have been the beginning of the end of the war in the Pacific. Saipan was the first captured air base from which U.S. B-29 Super Fortress bombers could reach mainland Japan.

July 1944 – August 1944:  Tinian, yet another important strategic location for troops and airfields. 

February 1945 – March 1945:  Iwo Jima, one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific.  Of the 238 original men in Company C, only 16 of the 38 that returned to the United States were not casualties; one of which was Mr. Showalter.  He was involved in the taking of Hill 382 which was one of the most costly battles on Iwo Jima, losing close to 1/3 of the company in that battle alone.  The U.S. Air Force dedicated one of its B-29 bombers to the Marines 4th division.  It was estimated that nearly 100 planes per month were saved with the closer air fields captured by the Marines.

After returning home in 1945 as Sergeant, Mr. Showalter remained in the Marine Reserves until completing the 4 year enlistment requirement.

He married Jeanne Rosenberger Showalter, had three children, and enjoyed a career selling power equipment. Into his nineties, Mr. Showalter continued a life of service as an active member of Shenandoah Baptist Church where he and his wife had completed several mission trips to many different countries in need. He also continued to display his patriotism, giving speeches and presentations about his experiences as a Marine in World War II to various groups and organizations.

Mr. Showalter passed away peacefully at his home near Fincastle, VA, on the afternoon of July 9th 2019; the same day as the 75th anniversary of the end of the battle of Saipan, which he was a part of. His family includes several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; many of which called him "Go-Gran" because he was always "on the go." His ongoing service to his country and community will be sorely missed.

Psalms 91:7 -  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

Created DHS6-20-17, reviewed by CLS

Clarence Grove

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MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHY FOR CLARENCE RAY “TURK” GROVE, WWII VETERAN

NEVER FORGOTTEN: Proudly Served our Country

Clarence Ray “Turk” Grove was born in Clifton Forge, VA on August 16, 1911.

He was drafted in March of 1944 at the age of 32.  After reporting to Fort George G. Meade, MD on March 11, 1944; he transferred two days later to Fort Stewart, GA for basic training.  He later reported to Camp Haan, CA on August 8, 1944.  Other posts included Camp Howze, TX, October 1944, and then back to Fort George G. Meade, MD in January of 1945.

He was trained for anti aircraft replacement as part of Patton’s 3rd U.S. Army, 80th Division and was deployed aboard the Queen Elizabeth with 18,000 other troops arriving in England on February 6th, 1945.

Operations included the countries of Germany, Austria, France, England, and Czechoslovakia.

He departed England on December 3rd, 1945 and arrived in New York on December 21st, 1945 aboard the USS John Dickinson.  “Glad to be back after being on the high seas for 18 days”:  copied from notes in his service record.  His official discharge was at Fort George G. Meade, MD on December 30th, 1945.

He received the Bronze Star Medal but we are not sure why since nothing was listed about it in his service record.  Receiving the medal is confirmed by “BSM” engraved on his head stone.

He was welcomed home by his wife Dorothy Lillian Halleck Grove, Daughters Patricia “Pat” Ann Grove Liptrap, Nancy Claryce “Cattie” Grove Dame, and Victoria Ray Grove Saville.  Grandchildren include Pam Liptrap, Sammy Ray Liptrap, Lorrie Liptrap, Chris Liptrap, Don Saville, Patrick Saville, and Michael Dame.

Turk passed away on November 20th, 1950 as the result of a hunting accident.

Created DHS 6-18-17 

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