This week marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into World War II. By April of 1942, several of Ridgeway’s young men had entered the military to “do their bit” for the war effort. The Maryville Daily Forum published an article on April 17, 1942, with the names of local men receiving promotions in the Maryville army unit. Larry Blakely was promoted to sergeant; Gordon Jenkins was promoted to corporal and John R. Andrick and Charles W. Gibson were promoted to private first class. The “Ridgeway: Then and Now” centennial book notes that Gaylen Champlin, Floyd Tuggle, and Garland Ceradsky all joined the service on February 4, 1941. According to the Ridgeway book, many others also joined to serve their country during WWII. I hope to do something a little more in depth on this time at a later date.
