Results tagged “Robert Zercher” from York Town Square

This artwork was the header for a York Corporation poster detailing employees serving in the military in World War II - and those who died. This was distributed in "Shop News," a newsletter for employees at home and in the military. The right part of the header stats that 991 men and women had served to date. The six stars indicated that six employees had died in uniform. Background posts: Zercher, I, Zercher II , Zercher III and 'Little Johnny' called for Allies in World War II.

York's factories kept employees up to date about those who were serving in uniform in World War II and those who had died.

No one did it better than York Corporation, previously known as York Ice Machinery and later as Borg-Warner, York International and Johnson Controls York.

But Yorkco could not keep up with a fast-moving war... .

Robert W. Zercher's name appears in this prestigious honor roll of Americans who died in World War II while stationed on British soil. The names of other York countians might be in there, too.
Nazis murdered ... Part I and Nazis murdered ... Part II .

For years, St. Paul's Cathedral in London has displayed a roll of honor bearing the names of Americans serving with the Canadian, British and United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice while enroute to or while stationed in the United Kingdom.

It also includes those members of units permanently based in the United Kingdom who made the supreme sacrifice between D-Day and VE-Day.

The name of Robert W. Zercher, the downed airman from York County who was executed by the Germans, is inscribed. Perhaps the names of other York County fighting men are on the honor roll, too... .

This page from "In the Thick of the Fight," profiles several of the 25 York Corporationemployees who died in uniform in World War II, according to "Shop News," Yorkco's newsletter. A researcher has shared additional information on the death of Robert Zercher, alphabetically last on the list of those who died. Background posts: Book blast produced Mother Lode and Dealing with POW camp, loss of life among York County's WW II sacrifices.

"I know from my research, most of the time, the story of what happened doesn't end when they were shot down, it is only the beginning."

So says ace researcher Jim Marsteller, expert on the 392nd Bomb Group.

Marsteller, jimbob@cyberia.com, also noted that more US servicemen died in the Air Corps than the Marine Corps. And while completing the required 30 missions, the chance of being killed was 71percent.

He noticed a short profile of an airman from York, Robert W. Zercher, who was killed in action.

Another researcher with the bomb group started digging for more information on Zercher, son of
Frank and Ella Zercher of York.

What Annette Tyson found is fascinating, according to this edited e-mail she sent Marsteller: