Pfc. Sylvester Martin Metzinger was born April 23, 1918 in Mitchell, South Dakota, to Celina (Vande Voorde) Metzinger and John J. Metzinger. His family moved to Letcher, South Dakota, after his father died in May 1925, and Metzinger attended school there. In the 1920 U.S. Census, he had three sisters: Marie, Loretta and Anna Metzinger.
Pvt. Kenneth Wayne Kirkendoll was born May 20, 1925 in Oketo, Kansas, to Ruth (Moble) Kirkendoll and Robert Kirkend0ll of Rosedale. In the 1940 U.S. Census, he had five siblings: Robert, Jerrold, Jack, Dale and Levi Kirkendoll.
Sgt. Lyle Sanford Jones was born June 13, 1919 in Gig Harbor to Elsie Lenora (Dimmick) Jones and Sanford David Jones. In the 1920 U.S. Census, he had five siblings: Horace, Lois, Doris, Marvin, and Lila Jones, his twin sister.
Gig Harbor Now columnist Tonya Strickland researched and profiled the 14 local men whose names appear on the World War II monument at Kenneth Leo Marvin Memorial Park. Find all 14 profiles here. Hometown: Gig Harbor Branch: U.S. Naval Reserve Rank: 2nd Class Machinist’s Mate Died: May 30, 1943 Burton Allen Gustafson was born on
Second Lt. Raymond “Ray” John Edwards was born April 15, 1923 in Olalla to Leone Valentine (Major) Edwards and David “D.C.” Cleveland Edwards of Gig Harbor. In the 1940s U.S. Census, he had five siblings: Donald, Roy, Ramona, Igal and Joyce Edwards.
Cpl. Arnold “Arn” Joseph Boers was born June 19, 1921, in Wapato, Washington, to Anna Henrica (Schoenmakers) Boers and Arnold Francis Boers Sr. In the 1930 U.S. Census, he had eight siblings: Margaret, Elizabeth, John, Cornelius, Johanna, Jack, Nellie and Robert Boers. At the time, the family lived in Seattle.
The names of 14 men who died while serving their country are inscribed on a monument at Kenneth Leo Marvin Veterans Memorial Park in Gig Harbor. Many people walk past it without giving the names much thought. Gig Harbor Now journalist Tonya Strickland, however, “couldn’t help but wonder about the names embossed in copper on
Carl Wendel Pearson was born April 5, 1916, in Gig Harbor to Anna Eugenia (Ahlberg) Pearson and Clifford Nelson Pearson. In the 1940 U.S. Census, Carl had three siblings: Ralph, Doris and Eugene “Gene” Pearson.
Before addressing the answer to the question from our last column, it’s worth mentioning that if you haven’t seen Tonya Strickland’s 14 Names to Remember project, a tribute to the Peninsula’s WW2 dead, there’s plenty of time left to do so. It’s well worth seeing. Unlike the granite monument in Kenneth Leo Marvin
The 14 Names to Remember Project is defying all the rules. Gig Harbor Now is putting on a community news exhibit featuring the stories behind the names of 14 veterans who died in World War II. The first stop will be at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St., from May 16 through the end of June.
P.O. Box 546
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
