Three West Virginians died for freedom
Louis Bennett Jr., Roscoe Harry Moles, and Lawrence Alexander Meredith lost their lives in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
Three men from West Virginia paid the final price for their country during the 20th century, serving in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
Louis Bennett Jr. was born into wealth in Weston. He attended Yale University starting in 1913. During the First World War, he joined the British Royal Flying Corps to fight quickly. Bennett became the 12th ranked American flying ace. He shot down three aircraft and nine observation balloons in ten days. On August 24, 1918, his plane was shot down near Wavrin, France. He suffered burns, a broken leg, and a head wound. He died while calling for his parents.
Roscoe Harry Moles, known as Toe, grew up in Elkview. He was a high school junior when he enlisted in the Army in January 1944. He served in the 141st Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division. Moles was wounded on October 5, 1944. He died two days later. He was one week shy of his 19th birthday. He was the only member of his Elk District High class to die in the war before graduation.
Lawrence Alexander Meredith was 20 years old when North Korean forces captured him. He was from Fort Spring and raised in Frankford. He graduated from Frankford High in 1949. He served with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He was captured near Wonju on February 13, 1951. The Army declared him dead on December 31, 1953. North Korea returned 34 boxes of remains to the United Nations in 1993. Meredith was among them. He was buried next to his parents in a Lewisburg cemetery in 2009.
Bennett was described as headstrong and mechanically inclined. He owned a car and a motorcycle by age 12. Moles boxed and played football. He once told a story about his brother playing football in his place when he was ill. Meredith played football, baseball, and boxed. He was president of his sophomore class and a member of the local Methodist church.
The men belonged to a group of West Virginia service members who died in service. They joined a larger group of American soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen who gave their lives. The source notes that freedom is not free. It suggests that voting is a way to honor those who died.
General George S. Patton said it is foolish to mourn the men who died. He said it is better to be thankful that such men lived. The source thanks God for the three men and others like them.
