Runnemede, N.J. War Memorial
The Runnemede War Memorial, located on Black Horse Pike between Route I-295 and Clements Bridge Road (Route 41), Runnemede, N.J. Dedicated in October 1947.
This tribute to those who served from Runnemede is located on the Black Horse Pike in Runnemede, N.J., between Route I-295 and Clements Bridge Road (Route 41). It was dedicated in October of 1947.
Runnemede's Tribute to Those Who Served
Panels of the Runnemede War Memorial. From left: Korea/Vietnam, World War II (three panels), and Vietnam.
Hallowed by These Who Gave Their All — World War II
| Name | Rank | Branch | Unit | Born | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Bartl | PVT | Army | 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division | 5/26/1943 | |
| Earl Brown, Jr. | TEC5 | Army | 1917 | 1944 | |
| James A. Cochran | PVT | Army | 37th Engineer Combat Bn | 6/6/1944 | |
| John J. Griffith, Jr. | SGT | Air Force | 668th Bomber Squadron, 416th Bomber Group | 3/18/1945 | |
| William Francis Gunn | S2C | Navy | USS Ticonderoga CV-14 | 1/21/1945 | |
| Walter D. Hansen | TEC4 | Army | 2/13/1945 | ||
| Edward Kasper | PVT | Army | Company I, 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division | 10/27/1944 | |
| Joseph J. Sampolske | SSGT | Army | 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division | 10/7/1944 | |
| Leonard B. Schafer | CPL | Army | 3/19/1945 | ||
| John Schnepp | 2LT | Army | 15th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division | 8/5/1944 | |
| Francis Senseman | PVT | Army | 59th Coast Artillery Regiment | 12/30/1942 | |
| John Shackleton | SSGT | Army | 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division | 11/21/1944 | |
| Gerald H. Thinnes | PFC | Army | |||
| Carl G. Thorman | PVT | Army | 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division | 7/15/1944 | |
| Earl A. Troup, Jr. | CPL | Army | 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division | 7/13/1944 |
Lest We Forget — Vietnam
| Name | Rank | Branch | Unit | Born | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James X. Gilch | PFC | Army | 2d Platoon, B Co, 1st Bn, 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division | 5/6/1945 | 7/21/1966 |
| John M. Haley, Jr. | LCPL | Marines | 9/15/1947 | 9/1/1967 | |
| Francis Joseph Hayes, Jr. | SGT | Army | 198th Infantry Brigade | 7/14/1947 | 5/15/1968 |
Memorial Name Inscriptions
The names of Runnemede war dead are also inscribed in marble at the base of the monument.
Runnemede Dedicates War II Memorial
Camden Courier-Post —
WAR DEAD of Runnemede were honored yesterday when a War II memorial was dedicated on Black Horse pike adjacent to Runnemede Borough Hall. Mrs. Joseph Shackleton, president of Camden County Gold Star Mothers Club, is shown placing a wreath at the monument. Mrs. Shackleton, who resides at 18 Fourth avenue, Runnemede lost a son in the war. The name of her son, John, who was killed in Germany in November 1944, is included among names of 15 local men who were killed during the conflict. Also included on the memorial are the names of 413 other men and women from the community who served with the armed forces during the war.
The Runnemede ceremony marked the unveiling of a War II memorial to 15 local men who gave their lives, and to 413 men and women who served in the armed services.
The memorial with the 428 names was unveiled by Mrs. Joseph Shackleton, president of the Camden County Gold Star Mothers Club, in the presence of more than 500 veterans, borough officials and residents. The memorial contains the name of Mrs. Shackleton’s son, John, who was killed in Germany in November, 1944.
The ceremonies opened with a flag raising by Commander Theodore Rahn, of Black Horse Pike Post, 3324 VFW, and Commander John McWilliams, of the John Irvin Post, 250, American Legion.
The Rev. Harry Bowman, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, asked the invocation and pronounced the benediction.
Mayor Pays Tribute
Mayor Harry Williams paid tribute to the war dead and to those who served in the armed forces. Other speakers were Herbert E. Harper, past Camden county commander, American Legion; Joseph Mead, past state commander of VFW, and Mrs. Shackleton.
Following is the list of those who died in the service: Glen C. Bartl, Earl Brown, James A. Cochran, John J. Griffith Jr., William Gunn, Walter D. Hanson, Edward Kasper, Joseph J. Sampolski, Leonard Schafer, John Schnepp, Francis E. Senseman, John E. Shackleton, Gerald H. Thinnes, Earl A. Troup and Carl Thorman.
Members of both local veteran organizations comprised the firing squad and buglers from both posts sounded taps. Mead was master of ceremonies and Henry Whitmore was chairman of the committee on arrangements.
'March of Silence' Slated For Runnemede War Dead
Camden Courier-Post —
A plaque honoring Pfc. James X. Gilch, killed in Vietnam in July, will be unveiled following a mile-long Memorial Day “march of silence” in Runnemede.
“We feel we should pay a silent tribute to the dead rather than celebrate,” said former Councilman Joseph F. Schipani, a member of the parade committee.
“Memorial Day shouldn’t be a joyous festivity,” he added. “It should be a day for paying respect to those who gave their lives for our country.”
Killed July 21
Pfc. Gilch, who lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Gilch Sr. at 2961 Davis Road, is the only borough resident who has been killed during the Vietnam fighting, according to Schipani.
A member of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division, Pfc. Gilch was killed July 21 near Cu Chi when the vehicle he was riding detonated a land mine.
But the Memorial Day observance is not for Gilch alone.
15 Lost in WW 2
“We had 15 borough residents killed during World War II,” said Schipani. “Fortunately, we didn’t have any casualties during the Korean conflict.”
The march, sponsored by Runnemede VFW Post 3324 under Commander David Sweeney, will begin at 1 p.m. from the Runnemede Fire Company parking lot Second and Central Avenues, at 1 p.m.
Members of Runnemede Barracks 198 of the Veterans of World War I will join VFW members in the silent journey along Central Avenue, left to Black Horse Pike and right to the municipal building, where there will be a brief observance.
War I Veterans
The World War I veterans, the youngest being 67-year-old Earl Thatcher of Read Avenue, will ride in automobiles.
According to Schipani, the Runnemede unit with its 71 members is the third largest veterans of World War I group in the country.
More than a half-century after the beginning of World War I (war was declared April 6, 1917), the Runnemede group remains active.
Tree Memorials
From the municipal building, the march will continue north on the Black Horse Pike and turn left on Smith’s Lane, where there is a row of 15 silver maple trees. The trees were planted three years ago when the “march of silence” idea was initiated.
“There’s a stone at the foot of each tree,” Schipani explained. “And there’s a plaque on each stone. Each is dedicated to one of the 15 borough residents killed during World War II.”
The 16th tree was planted Saturday.
HMTS Rohna
Six men from Camden, N.J. — Frank Ballerino, Michael Carr, Michael Yachus, Stephen V. Koscianski, Lewis Riondino, and Joseph H. Johnson — died together when the troop transport HMTS Rohna was struck by a German guided glider bomb and sank off the coast of North Africa. In addition, six other Camden County men — Jacob K. Jenkins and Carl Johanson of Pennsauken, 19-year-old Harry V. Taylor Jr. of Haddonfield, William McKeon of Blackwood, Merl Reagle of Lindenwold, and Elmer F. Day of Merchantville — also were lost that day. In total, 1,015 men were lost, but the story was never told to the families or the general public for over 57 years due to wartime censorship.
Beverly National Cemetery
| Name | Section/Plot |
|---|---|
| Joseph J. Sampolske | H 44 |