We celebrate Memorial Day, the memory of D-Day, the 4th of July and Veterans Day. The bedrock of each celebration is our freedom, and the men and women who fought and gave their lives for that freedom. During those occasions this year, while some WWII veterans remain among us, let us remember the local men from Marple and Newtown who gave their lives in that war.
Melvin Doughten: Valedictorian of Marple Newtown High School class in 1937, served in the U.S. Army’s 894th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and was killed in action in Italy on April 9, 1945. He is buried in the American Cemetery outside of Florence, Italy.
Harry Brooks Mackay: Attended St. Anastasia’s and Newtown Township’s schools. Harry died on April 2, 1944, at age 18 during the Anzio Beach Campaign. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, and after the war, returned home and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Clifford Douglas Murray, Jr.: Only son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Murray, Sr., Clifford joined the Army in February 1942 and saw action in the North African and Sicilian campaigns, in Italy 
and in France as a member of the First Infantry Division. He was killed in action in the Normandy invasion on June 16, 1944, and was buried at the American Cemetery in Normandy.
George A. Toms: George is a graduate of Marple Newtown High School. He was a radioman-gunner and was missing in action in the Battle of Midway on June 5, 
1942. George was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement as a tail gunner in aerial combat during the Battle of Midway.
Malcolm Lee Watson: A corporal in Patton’s 318th Infantry, Malcolm had volunteered many times for 
reconnaissance duty. He was killed by German artillery on December 3, 1944, during General Patton’s push towards Germany, and is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in France. He was awarded the Bronze Star.
William E. Yerger: A graduate of Marple Newtown High School, class of 1932, Staff Sargent Yerger died August 12, 1945, while serving with the 12th Air Force in Naples, Italy. 
After the war, he was brought home for burial with his family at Cumberland Cemetery in Media.
Lest we forget, there are others with local ties, and of course, men and women who served and died in other wars. In remembering these local men who died in World War II, we do not slight the service of all those who sacrificed and gave their lives in service to our nation.