LOCAL HEROES: Two bona fide heroes are part of a group of McKean
County men who served in the 104th Infantry Division. And, in all,
six local soldiers in the division were killed in World War II.

Joel Gilfert, who has written extensively on the subject,
provided information on these six men, something of a follow-up to
a reunion last week in Bradford of the Ohio chapter of the National
Timberwolf Association, part of the 104th Infantry Division.

Staff Sgt. Wallace K. Anderson of Clermont, who was killed in
action on Nov. 22, 1944, at the age of 22, was posthumously awarded
the Silver Star for his heroism.

Pfc. James V. Polio of Hazel Hurst received the Distinguished
Service Cross after being killed in action on Nov. 29, 1944, at the
age of 32. He was buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery,
Belgium.

Both were members of the 413th Infantry Regiment.

Sgt. Anderson earned the Silver Star after leaving his foxhole
and seeing a truck burst into flames after hitting an anti-tank
mine.

In the face of an intense German artillery and mortar barrage,
he made his way across 250 yards of enemy fire -swept terrain to
the stricken vehicle. Despite the flames and concentrated enemy
shelling, Anderson successfully extricated an officer and two
enlisted men who were injured and helplessly trapped in the truck
before being killed himself.

Pvt. Polio, when elements of an advancing company were pinned
down by enemy fire, voluntarily crawled from his covered position –
subjecting himself to merciless enemy fire – to better locate the
position of the enemy. After relaying their position, he continued
his advance to wipe out an enemy machine-gun nest with a rifle and
grenade. With complete disregard for his own personal safety he
moved on to wipe out another enemy machine gun nest with rifle fire
and hand grenades before an enemy sniper fired a shot that took his
life.

Also killed in action were: Pvt. Donald A. Gustafson, 21, of
Port Allegany, 414th Infantry Regiment, on Nov. 17, 1944; Pfc.
George Knickerbocker, 19, Eldred, died of wounds on March 10, 1945;
Pvt. Myron R. Moland, Browntown, 413th Infantry Regiment, killed in
action Dec. 1, 1944; and Staff Sgt. Gayle E. Raught, 29, of Bolivar
Run, Bradford, Company L, 414th Infantry Regiment, killed in action
Nov. 18, 1944, in Aachen, Germany.