Edweard I. Arthur

EDWARD I. ARTHUR

Boy, 16, To End His 3-Year Army Stint

COLUMBUS. O., July 28. P A 16-year-old Columbus paratrooper Is about to end his three-year military career. He is Pvt. Edward I. Arthur. He is leaving the service at the pleading of his mother, Mrs. Jessie B. Arthur, who prevailed upon him to notify his company commander that he falsified his age when he enlisted at Fort Hayes last February J5. Fort Benning, Ga., officials say 'Arthur's discharge awaits arrival of -his birth certificate. Arthur enlisted in the army reserves at 13 and became a radio operator. He became a private first class at 14 and at 15 enlisted as a regular for paratroop duty.

[The News-Messenger, Fremont, OH, 28 Jul 1951, Sat, Page 2]

Paratrooper,16, Ends 3-Year Hitch

   COLUMBUS, July 30 <JP) — A 16-year-old paratrooper is about to end his three-year military career.
   He is Pvt. Edward I. Arthur. He is leaving the service at the pleading of his mother, Mrs. Jessie B. Arthur, who prevailed upon him to notify his company commander that he falsified his age when he enlisted at Fort Hayes last Feb. 15.
   Arthur enlisted in the army reserves at 13 and became a radio operator. He became a private first class at 14 and at 15 enlisted as a regular for paratroop duly.

[The Sandusky Register, Sandusky, OH, 30 July 1951, Mon •, Page 8]

LANCASTER

:Edward I. Arthur,79, of Lancaster, Ohio and St. Augustine, Florida passed on Saturday, January 24,2015 atSt.Augustine’s Flagler Hospital.
   He ﬁrst entered the US Army as an underager of 13. .He served in the US Army,1/9B and D Troops, during the Vietnam War in 1966, 1967 and 1970, where he earned two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Valor and ﬁve Air Medals,one with a “V” device. Prior to that he fought at the Bay of Pigs to depose Fidel Castro. He also served his country behind the Iron Curtain in the 60’s.
.After his military service, he was Under sheriff of Teller County, Colorado, where he received the American Police Hall of Fame Silver Star for Bravery. He continued his law enforcement career in various locales fighting crime until his retirement. He authored several books on his career and was an avid artist, who in his youth was quite a Saxophone musician. He is founder of the Ohio Military Hall of Fame and a life member of VFW, American Legion, DAV and AmVets. He served as a Commissioner on the Fairﬁeld County Veterans Service Commission. His life was dedicated to America’s active military and retired veterans where all will meet the “Fiddler on the Green.” He was a hero to his country, his family and his community.
   He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Rhoads Arthur; daughters, Tammy Arthur, Debbie (Ron) Grimm, Amy (Anthony) Jackman;and son, Edward I Arthur II. He loved his grandchildren, Colin Hughes, Allison Hughes, Danny and Alexandra Hughes, and William Matthew Lee and his little darling granddaughters, Abbey Jackman and Kyra Grimm; and great-granddaughter, Alyssa Hughes. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Edna and William Henry; brother, David Lemery; nieces and nephews, William Henry, Edward Henry, Terry Browning, Carol McClure, Carl Henry, David Lemery, Lisa Lemery, Venita Lemery and Shawnda Duffy; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Jessie Arthur.
   Viewing is scheduled on Monday, February 2,from 2-4:00 pm and 6-8:00 pm at the Dwayne Spence Funeral Home, 650 W. Waterloo Street, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110. A funeral service will begin at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 3, at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Union Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of ﬂowers, memorial contributions may be made to Motts Military Museum, 5075S. Hamilton Road,   Groveport, Ohio. Online condolences may be found at www.spencefuneralhome.com.

[Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Lancaster, OH, 31 Jan 2015, Sat, Page A5]

[courtesy of Steven Borgwald]

Grave markers for Edward I. Arthur in Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester (Franklin county), Ohio.

[courtesy of Ellen Peters]

On 15 June 1995, the Veterans of Underage Military Service organization presented Edward with this Underage Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Achievement noting his service in 1951 with the 508th PIR while age 15 and 16. The medal is unofficial but denotes a significant achievement.

Edward's jump wings, marksmanship award and 508th PIR pin are also displayed.