Remembering the Valley’s fallen

While Carson Valley cemeteries are the final resting place for more than 600 veterans, there are only a handful of those who grew up in the Valley and were killed in action.

The Record-Courier reported on each death since Pvt. Earl F. Jepsen died Oct. 4, 1918, while fighting in France. He was followed shortly by Pvt. Carmelo Bloisi, who was killed in action with the 91st Division on Oct. 8, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

World War II saw a far greater toll on Carson Valley men starting with Pvt. Seymour Arnot, killed in action in the South Pacific on Oct. 7, 1942, during the battle of Guadalcanal.

Reflecting the air war over Europe, Lt. Harlan Fricke and Lt. Frank Andrews lost their lives when their aircraft were downed.

The battle to take Italy claimed the lives of Walter Leehman, Arthur Stanley and Edward Joe. Pvt. Donald Cornbread was killed Oct. 5, 1944, while fighting across Europe, as were Harvey Juchtzer and Earl Watson. Pvt. Gillis W. Cornbread made it home after being wounded in Europe, only to succumb to his injuries on Aug. 17, 1945, three days after Japan surrendered, ending the war.

As the conflict focused on the Pacific, Pvt. Wilbur Frank and Pvt. Kenneth Storke were killed in the Philippines during May 1945.

Carson Valley Marine Lance Corp. Michael Bylinowski was killed in Vietnam on Dec. 6, 1967. Brandon Williams was killed in Iraq on Oct. 9, 2006, while guarding a bomb disposal unit. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Rodgers was shot down by the Taliban over Afghanistan on May 30, 2007.

These individuals and many, many more gave their lives to preserve our freedoms, and it is fitting that we remember their sacrifice.