Sixty-five years ago, Tyrone residents gathered along Pennsylvania Avenue to show support and say their farewells to a group of men setting out to answer their country’s call. These men were a part of the Sheridan Troop, Troop B, 104th Cavalry.
On January 14, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt placed all federally recognized National Guard on active duty for military training for a period of one year. The order provided for prompt mobilization of all units involved.
Troop B was ordered into active federal military service on February 17, 1941.
In the early morning on March 1, 1941, the troops marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, amid the crowd of onlookers, making their way to the train station. There they boarded two coaches, one baggage car and three horse cars, taking all of their horses and equipment.
The men were on their way to the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation.
Of those soldiers who boarded the train that morning, five are still living. Four of the men were recently able to get together at the Tyrone Armory for a trip down memory lane as the anniversary of their departure approached. Among them was James W. Morrissey, Alexander J. Catich, Pete Spanelli and Bama Miller. Aldus E. Shuey was unable to attend the impromptu reunion of sorts.
The men were happy to be together and share their stories, but they also remembered those friends who could not be with them.
“There were six of us,” said Morrissey, sharing the recent passing of Clair G. Sharer just weeks before the gathering.
The men remembered the march to the train station, their arrival at Indiantown Gap and then departing for Philadelphia where the group eventually was split up.
Morrissey described his 28 months overseas saying from Philadelphia he was sent to North Africa, Italy, France and Germany.
Spanelli served two years after leaving Philadelphia, spending time in India, Burma and China.
Miller was stationed on the European Theater of Operation for two and a half years after separating from the Sheridan Troop and Catich spent three months with the 303rd 8th Army Air Corp. in England.
The Troop B, 104th Cavalry roster as of March 1, 1941 listed: Captain Jesse L. Waite; first lieutenant Thomas J. Barnhart; first Lieutenant Warren McKinney; second Lieutenant Irvin F. Mitchell; second Lieutenant Harold L. Barr; Sergeants: Robert J. Charles, Albert L. Duey, David R. Lykens, Walter S. Ross, Elmer E. Sheriff, Samuel A. Steel and John H. Stroup; Corporals: James D. Isenberg, Chester L. Shaner, Stanley P. Sinlger, Clark F. Speece, Melvin J. Waite and Devon D. Winslow; Privates First Class: Jack P. Anderson, John W. Bayer, Jr., Sheridan R. Bland, Alexander J. Catich, John P. Duff, Paul E. Hughes, John W. Johnson, Robert V. Lucas, Edward R. Myers, Harold T. Oshell, William H. Phillips, William S. Shively, Reeder C. Singler, Calvin L. Stahl, Harry C. Steele and Guy E. Waite.
Privates listed included: James M. Ammerman, Thomas J. Barnhart, Jr., George M. Barner, Charles I. Baughman, William G. Bickel, Chalmer O. Burget, Guy E. Burkholder, Harry Cosentino, William W. Cramer, James S. Daughenbaugh, Richard F. Dean, Joseph B. Demko, Edward Dufour, Robert D. Eckroth, John E. Eschbach, Ivan P. Fleck, Clarence E. Frantz, John M. Gillman, Francis J. Hardy, Kendell E. Harpster, Clair Hinish, George A. Igou, Jack E. Irvin, Ralph D. Irvin, Harry E. Johnson and Earl L. Kaspick.
Also, Robert C. Keppler, Frank Kolinchak, James LaRosa, Andrew T. Lapinsky, Paul L. Little, Donald R. Lloyd, George Loner, Robert S. Lynn, Edwin S. Magill, Gerbert Markel, James C. McCulley, Talford D. McCaulley, Richard D. McCracken, Lloyd O. Michaels, Donald R. Miller, John R. Miller, Marion D. Miller, Gerald L. Miles, Edmund P. Moyer, James W. Morrissey, William M. Myers, Harold J. Nearhoof, Donald W. Oshell, Ray M. Oshell, Robert M. Parker, Harold O. Peters and William T. Potaris.
Also, James E. Price, Thomas T. Price, James C. Reed, Jr., Charles W. Renney, William F. Rodgers, Paul H. Rutherford, Clair G. Sharer, William E. Shoemaker, Aldus E. Shuey, Charles B. Snyder, Edward L. Snyder, Pete Spanelli, William G. Sponsler, Louis L. Stiner, Ryland G. Summers, Fred J. Tennis, Herbert E. Thomas, Martin S. Waite, Vernor Waite, Warren E. Way, WIlliam A. Wertz, Donald L. Westley, Richard L. Weston, Richard N. Williams, Herbert M. Williams, George H. Wolfe and Herbert E. Young.
Tyrone’s Sheridan Troop was organized on July 15, 1871.
According to “A History of The Sheridan Troop and Troop B Pennsylvania National Guard and Sheridan Troop Veterans Association Tyrone, Pennsylvania”, compiled in 1960-61 by Francis D. Beyer Sr., “Early in the summer of 1871 a group of men headed by Charles S. W. Jones of Tyrone began meetings to discuss the possibility of organizing a National Guard Cavalry troop in the Tyrone area.
“When the number of men in the Tyrone group reached twenty, they began a series of meetings, adopted the name Sheridan Troop, elected officers on a temporary basis, adopted resolutions to govern the group pending completion of organization.”
The troop remained a cavalry troop until late 1941 when the 104th cavalry was completely mechanized. All remaining horses returned to remount depots by the end of April 1942.
