Project aims to preserve stories of soldiers killed in World War II
A statewide effort to preserve the stories of Pennsylvania service members killed in World War II is seeking volunteer writers, including in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.
The project, led by Kathy Harmon of Franklin County, in south central Pennsylvania through the nonprofit Stories Behind the Stars, aims to document the lives of the estimated 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania.
So far, more than 11,000 stories – including 292 in Washington County, 205 in Fayette County, and 39 in Greene County – have been completed and published on Fold3.com.
In Washington County, an estimated 761 service members died during World War II, while 752 from Fayette County and 148 from Greene County died.
Stories Behind the Stars aims to ensure the stories of more than 421,000 Americans who died in the war are preserved and accessible to the public. The memorials are also linked to gravesite information, allowing visitors to learn about service members’ lives and sacrifices.
Washington County residents Capt. Herbert Glenden Devore of North Strabane Township and Staff Sgt. Joseph Krusienski of Canonsburg were among the 30 Pennsylvania aviators in the legendary 100th Bombardment Group, nicknamed “the Bloody Hundredth,” and they lost their lives in 1944.
Devore was one of six siblings, and was a student at the University of Pittsburgh and worked as an inspector for the Carnegie Illinios Steel Company when he registered for the draft in October 1940. He was assigned to the 350th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, which flew B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, and by March 1944 had completed 24 combat missions.
Krusienski, who worked for Standard Tin Plate in Canonsburg, was the son of Polish immigrants and had three siblings. He was the ball turret gunner of a replacement crew that joined the group in England in January 1944. By early March 1944, he had completed 11 combat missions.
The group earned its nickname after suffering extraordinarily high casualty rates and aircraft losses early in their campaign.
From January through May 1944, the 100th Bomb Group targeted enemy airfields, industries, marshaling yards, and V-1 missile sites, bu sustained heavy losses.
On Devore’s 25th mission – just days before he would have been discharged – Devore, 25, and six other aviators were either killed in the air or in the ensuing crash southeast of Brunswick.
Devore was initially buried near the crash site. After the war, he was reinterred in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Liège, Belgium.
Also in March 1944, Krusienski’s aircraft was peppered with 20mm cannon fire from German fighters, which hit the ball turret and blew a hole in it. He likely died instantly, according to reports. He was 26 years old.
Krusienski was initially buried near the crash site. After the war, he, too, was reinterred in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial.
Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smart phone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. To volunteer or to get more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.
Harmon said she hopes to expand the group of volunteer writers, noting the work can be done remotely and at an individual pace. Volunteers are provided free access to research tools, including Fold3, Ancestry and Newspapers.com.
Those interested in participating can find more information through the Stories Behind the Stars website or by contacting organizers directly.