
Scattered throughout the 25-acre http://www.ordmusfound.org U.S. Army Ordnance Museum in Aberdeen, Md., are howitzers, tanks and guns, like this 8-inch gun. A plaque under the gun tells about the 243rd field artillery battalion, which used the weapon in World War II. The museum is located just a short drive from York County’s southern border. Background posts: Gurgling all the way from Texas to New Jersey and York/Adams residents contributed to the war.
With Pearl Harbor’s anniversary just observed, it’s a good time to recount York County’s contributions to World War II.
Here is a listing, by the numbers:

Edward and Arlene Williams of Delta join their son Keith and grandson Ryan Williams of Lititz during a tour of the US Army Ordnance Museum. Williams worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground for more than 30 years.
Estimated number of men and women who served: 20,000.
Portion of York County’s population: 1 in 9.
Number who died in uniform: More than 570.
Approximate number from Red Lion who died: 32.
Number from Red Lion’s St. Paul’s Evangelical Church who died: 11.
Approximate number from St. Matthew Lutheran Church, West Market Street, York, to serve: 250.
Approximate number from St. Matthew who died in uniform: 9.
Number of YMCA members who died: 25.
Number of York Corporation employees who died: 25.
Approximate number of Hanover residents who died: More than 40.
An interesting comparison point. The number of men in uniform with direct or indirect York/Adams links to die in the 21st-century War on Terror is about 25.
Source: “In the thick of the fight”.


I've been editor of the York (Pa.) Daily Record/Sunday News for 8 years and managing editor of the newspaper for 15 years before that. So, York Town Square explores the rapidly changing world of journalism. And I studied York/Adams' history in graduate school, have written six books about these fascinating southcentral Pennsylvania counties and serve on the York County (Pa.) Heritage Trust board. So, this blog deals with regional history. Often, journalism and history meet here. They're part of a continuum anyway. My hope is that this site intrigues readers on both accounts in giving a daily dose of journalism/history. Or history/journalism. Contact me at 


nice anti tank gun it is a 8 man spiral barrel AT
ITS BEUTIFUL!!!!!!