Heroes of St. Martin's

Heroes of St. Martin's

In 1951, just six years after the end of World War II, St. Benedict’s College, now Benedictine College, built a new residence hall on its Atchison campus. St. Martin's Memorial Hall would house 90 young men at what was then an all-male school. The hall’s name honored the patron saint of soldiers, and each of the 50 rooms honored a Raven who had fallen in the war.

Today, the college is coed and St. Martin’s Memorial Hall now houses 90 freshmen women. The names on each door are still there, though, remembering those brave alumni who gave the last full measure in defense of freedom around the world.

These young men served in the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. They served in military action across Europe and throughout the Pacific. Some had already graduated and had careers and families, and some left college to enlist, still teenagers. It is proper that we honor these heroic men and Benedictine College is proud to offer pictures and biographical information pulled from the college’s yearbooks and school newspaper.

Use the links below to see pictures of each of these men, read what they were studying in college, and learn about their service and sacrifice for the greater good. The names are alphebetical by floor. (As research continues, we will add more information and photographs to this site.)

St. Martin's Memorial Hall - 1st Floor

St. Martin's Memorial Hall - 2nd Floor

St. Martin's Memorial Hall - 3rd Floor

1st Floor Heroes

Room 100
Ensign James Vincent Barr

James Barr

Born in Oklahoma, Barr attended St. Benedict’s College from 1935–1940. He majored in Philosophy, was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Camera Club, the Glee Club, Operetta Club, and more activities during his time in school. ENS Barr served in the U.S. Navy as the Instructor of Squadron 11-C before he was killed in a crash at Rodd Field, Texas, on June 15, 1942, at the age of 24.

Room 108
Second Lieutenant Theodore Francis Bartle

Born in Coffeyville, KS, Bartle attended St. Benedict’s College from 1941–1942. He was a member of the 1941–42 football team during his college years. 2nd Lt. Bartle served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 389th Bomb Group, 564th Bomb Squadron on the aircraft “The Old Veteran.” He died at the age of 23 when his plane exploded over Germany on March 24, 1945.

Room 105
Private Donald Lewis Borders

Born in Wyaconda, MO, Borders attended St. Benedict’s College in 1943. Growing up, he was an outstanding athlete and quite friendly. PVT Borders served in the U.S. Army in the 291st Infantry, 75th Division, spending time in England, France and Belgium. He was killed in action on February 3, 1945. He was only 19.

Room 107
Sergeant Jeremiah J. Brosnan

Brosnan attended St. Benedict’s College from 1941–1943. He lived in St. Joseph Hall before being called to military service. SGT Brosnan served in the U.S. Army in the 99th Infantry Division, 395th Infantry Regiment before he was killed in action on March 2, 1945. He is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Liège, Belgium.

Room 109
Ensign Allen Francis Cannell

Allen Cannell

Born in Colorado Springs, CO, Cannell attended St. Benedict’s College from 1940–1943. He majored in Chemistry, was a member of the Holy Name Society, and was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges during his time at St. Benedict’s College. ENS Cannell served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Minneapolis before he was lost at sea near the Marshall Islands on January 31, 1945, at the age of 21.

Room 110
Captain John Joseph Charters

Charters was born in Appleton, WI. He attended St. Benedict’s College from 1936–1940. He majored in Sociology and was a member of the Holy Name Society, was the business manager of The Rambler, was the boxing captain, an intramural track champion, and a member of the B Club while at St. Benedict’s College. Capt. Charters served in the U.S. Army Air Corps on the aircraft “Mustn’t Touch” before he was declared missing in action on January 9, 1945, at the age of 27.

Room 112
Staff Sergeant Roger W. Collins

Roger Collins

Born in Oak Park, IL, Collins attended St. Benedict’s College from 1941–1942. There is little information about his time at college. SSgt. Collins served the 367th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group as a Tail Gunner on the aircraft “Norah.” SSgt. Collins’ plane collided with another plane after a fighter attack and crashed in the Netherlands, killing him on January 11, 1944, at the age of 20. He is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial.

Room 114
Technician Fifth Grade Emmett Hugh Daly, Jr.

Born in Tulsa, OK, Daly attended St. Benedict’s College from 1932–1936. He majored in Economics, was the student manager of the boxing team, a member of the Social Committee, B Club, and Raven yearbook staff, among other activities during his time at St. Benedict’s College. Technician Fifth Grade Daly served in the U.S. Army before he was killed in action on October 29, 1944, at the age of 31.

Room 116
Corporal Albert Paul Deposki

From the St. Louis, MO, area, Deposki attended St. Benedict’s College from 1940–1941. He was a member of the 1940–41 boxing team while at St. Benedict’s College. CPL Deposki served in the U.S. Army before he died in a non-battle incident in September of 1945, at the age of 25.

Room 118
Staff Sergeant Robert E. DeWolf

Born in St. Clair County, IL, DeWolf attended St. Benedict’s College from 1940–1942. He served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on an unknown date. SSG DeWolf was temporarily buried in the Marzanello Nuovo Cemetery in Italy before his body was returned to the United States in August 1948.

Room 111
First Lieutenant Daniel E. Goodwin

From Jefferson County, KS, Goodwin attended St. Benedict’s College from 1937–1939. There is little information about his time at college. 1st Lt. Goodwin served the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 822nd Bomber Squadron, 38th Bomber Group. He was a passenger on a plane that crashed near Lake Myola, Papua New Guinea, and was declared Missing in Action on January 21, 1944, at the age of 25.

Room 103
Private First Class Francis J. Neumann

Born in Atchison, KS, Neumann attended St. Benedict’s College from 1931–1932. He was a member of St. Benedict’s Hall, which was specifically for students who lived in town with their families or relatives. PFC Neumann served in the U.S. Army before he went missing in action. He was declared dead on April 7, 1943.

Room 101
Rev. Leo G. Rechsteiner, OSB

Rev. Leo Rechsteiner

Born in Althan, Wuerttemberg, Germany, Rechsteiner attended St. Benedict’s College from 1929–1930. He lived in St. Gregory’s Hall in preparation to join the Abbey, was a tackle for the intramural football team, played C League intramural basketball, and was the custodian for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, among other activities. After joining St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, KS, Rev. Rechsteiner was transferred to Holy Cross Abbey in Colorado, where he was ordained in 1940. Rev. Rechsteiner served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and was a chaplain in the Philippines. Many of the military chaplains served on the front lines where they felt they needed to be to offer Last Rights to dying soldiers. Rev. Rechsteiner was killed in action by the Japanese on Leyte, Philippines, on October 22, 1944, at the age of 36.

Room 102
Private Harold Francis Rohleder

Born in Atchison, KS, Rohleder attended St. Benedict’s College from 1943–1945. There is little information about his time at college. PVT Rohleder served in the U.S. Army before he died on October 15, 1945, in Wyoming in a non-battle incident.

Room 104
First Lieutenant Firman Edward Susank

Firman Susank

Born in the tiny Kansas town of Susank, which bears his family name, Firman attended St. Benedict’s College from 1939–1940. There is little information about his time at college or his background. 1st Lt. Susank served the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 760th Bomber Squadron, 460th Bomber Group. He was declared dead on May 26, 1944, when his plane went missing over the Mediterranean Sea near Corsica. He was 23. He is memorialized in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy.

Room 106
Rev. Joseph Vanderheiden, OSB

Joseph Vanderheiden

Born in Otoe County, NE, Vanderheiden attended St. Benedict’s College from 1933–1934. A monk from Conception Abbey in Missouri, he majored in Philosophy. Rev. Vanderheiden was a Captain in the U.S. Army serving as a chaplain for the 5th Air Base Group in the Philippines. Rev. Vanderheiden was captured by the Japanese and held as a Prisoner of War before he was declared Dead While Captured on January 20, 1945, around the age of 33.

2nd Floor Heroes

Room 211
Second Lieutenant Philip James Beisner

Philip Beisner

Born in Salina, KS, Beisner attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1942. He majored in Business Administration, was a member of the Holy Name Society, International Relations Club, an intramural bowling champion, and a member of the amateur drama club during his time at St. Benedict’s. 2d Lt. Beisner served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 492nd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group before he was killed in Germany on September 27, 1944, at the age of 23.

Room 201
Private Norman L. Fee

Norman Fee

Born in St. Joseph, MO, Fee attended St. Benedict’s College from 1943–1944. There is little information about his time at college as he was only at St. Benedict's as a freshman. PVT Fee served in the U.S. Army before he was killed in action on November 16, 1944. He was only 18.

Room 202
Second Lieutenant Robert Wilfred Froelich

Robert Froelich

Born in Hays, KS, Froelich attended St. Benedict’s College from 1934–1935. He was the 1934–35 Outstanding Music Freshman during his time at St. Benedict’s College. 2d Lt. Froelich served in the U.S. Army Air Corps before he was thrown from his aircraft and died following a training accident at the Pocatello Army Air Base in Idaho on August 1, 1944. He was 27.

Room 203
Ensign William Francis Frothingham

From New York state, Frothingham attended St. Benedict’s College from 1941–1942. There is little information about his time at college. ENS Frothingham served in the U.S. Navy before he died in the line of duty in a non-combat related incident on January 7, 1945. His remains were returned from the US Armed Forces Cemetery, Philippine Islands, and interred at Golden Gate National Cemetery in July 1948.

Room 204
Private First Class Joseph John Gassen

John Gassen

Born in El Reno, OK, Gassen attended St. Benedict’s College from 1941–1942. There is very little information about his time at college. PFC Gassen served the U.S. Army in the 104th Infantry Division, 413th Infantry Regiment before he was killed in action in the Netherlands on November 3, 1944, at the age of 21. He is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Liège, Belgium.

Room 206
Second Lieutenant George R. Grace

From Illinois, Grace attended St. Benedict’s College from 1941–1943. There is little information about 2d Lt. Grace’s background or college years. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces before he was declared Missing in Action on December 30, 1944. 2d Lt. Grace likely served in the Philippines.

Room 207
Lieutenant Junior Grade William James Hansen

Born in Michigan, Hansen attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1939. He was a member of The Rambler staff during his time at St. Benedict’s. LTJG Hansen served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Helena before he was killed when it was struck by a torpedo on July 6, 1943. He was lost at sea around the age of 22.

Room 208
First Lieutenant Robert Leo Hogan

Robert Hogan

Born in Abilene, KS, Hogan attended St. Benedict’s College from 1929–1930. He lived in Freshman Hall (now Elizabeth Hal) and performed in Julius Caesar during his time at St. Benedict’s. He was married to Mary K. (James) Hogan and had two children, Jean Ann and Bobby. 1LT Hogan served the U.S. Army in the 43rd Cavalry Squadron before he was injured in France, later succumbing to his wounds on September 2, 1944, at the age of 32. He is buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in France.

Room 205
Second Lieutenant John (Jack) W. Horton

John Horton

Born in Arkansas City, KS, Horton attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1940. He majored in Economics, was a member of the Holy Name Society, Camera Club, and was a B League intramural baseball champion. 2d Lt. Horton served the U.S. Army Air Corps in the 39th Bomb Group, 402nd Bomb Squadron. He was killed on a training flight that went off course and crashed into Mount Baldy, along the Arizona – New Mexico border, on September 11, 1942. He was 23.

Room 210
Private Jay P. Kapple

Jay Kapple

Born in Chicago, IL, Kapple attended St. Benedict’s College from 1940–1942. There is little information about his time at college. PVT Kapple served in the US Army before he was killed in action on January 31, 1945, at the age of 22. He is buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Liège, Belgium.

Room 209
Staff Sergeant Roger L. Kearney

Born in Tulsa, OK, Kearney attended St. Benedict’s College from 1942–1943. There is little information about his time at college as he left for the military as a freshman. SSG Kearney served the U.S. Army in the 407th Infantry, 102nd Division before he was killed in action on February 23, 1945, at the age of 20.

Room 212
First Lieutenant Robert J. Koscelnak

Born in Cook County, IL, Koscelnak attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1939. There is very little information about his time at college or his background. 1st Lt. Koscelnak served the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 38th Bomber Group, 405th Bomber Squadron before he was killed in action on August 31, 1943. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

Room 216
Private First Class Meldon P. Masur

Born on April 10, 1916, Masur attended St. Benedict’s College from 1934–1936. He was a member of the football team during his time at St. Benedict’s. PFC Masur served the U.S. Army in the 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Division before he was killed in Leyte, Philippines, on February 13, 1945, at the age of 28.

Room 218
First Lieutenant Norman Bernard Mayse

Born in St. Joseph, MO, Mayse attended St. Benedict’s College from 1939–1941. He married Leila Wood Matthews on January 13, 1944, while stationed at Key Field in Mississippi. 1st Lt. Mayse served the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 345th Fighter Group, 355th Fighter Squadron as a pilot, before he was killed in an air battle over France on August 25, 1944, at the age of 22.

Room 214
Staff Sergeant Bernard Leo McCudden

Born in West Virginia, McCudden attended St. Benedict’s College from 1942–1943. There is little information about his college years or background, though he was married to Dorothy Marie (Leuchtmann) McCudden. SSgt. McCudden served in the U.S. Air Forces and was returning from a mission in Aschaffenberg, Germany, when he was killed in a mid-air collision on January 21, 1945, at the age of 20.

Room 220
First Lieutenant William J. Meehan, Jr.

Born in Cook County, IL, Meehan attended St. Benedict’s College from 1933–1935. He was a member of the 1934–35 football team, played in basketball intramurals, lived in St. Joseph Hall, and was the Outstanding Varsity Athletic Student of St. Joseph Hall while at college. 1LT Meehan, Jr., served in the U.S. Army before his death on May 4, 1944, around the age of 28.

Room 222
Lieutenant William T. Merriman, Jr.

Born in 1915, Merriman attended St. Benedict’s College from 1934–1935. There is little information about his time at college. Lt. Merriman, Jr., served in the U.S. Army Air Forces before he was killed in action over Germany on March 24, 1945, at the age of 29.

3rd Floor Heroes

Room 310
Second Lieutenant Carl Anastasio Brevi

Born in Williamson County, IL, Brevi attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1939. There is little information about 2nd Lt. Brevi during his time in college. He served in the U.S. Marines as part of the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and was killed in the early phases of combat operations at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, (New Guinea) on January 3, 1944, at the age of 26.

Room 311
Quartermaster First Class Everett Eugene Burns

Everett Burns

Born in Amboy, IL, Burns attended St. Benedict’s college from 1931–1934. He majored in Biology, was a member of the Apostleship of Prayer and the League of the Sacred Heart, and lived in St. Joseph Hall during his time at St. Benedict’s College. QM1 Burns served in the U.S. Navy aboard LST-460, a tank landing ship, in the Asiatic-Pacific theater for several operations. He was lost at sea when Japanese kamikaze planes crashed into his ship near Mindoro, Philippines, on December 21, 1944. He died at the age of 32.

Room 309
Cadet John (Jack) P. Clements

John Clements

Born in Fort Dodge, IA, Clements attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1942. He was the president of the senior class, a Philosophy major, a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Glee Club, Raven yearbook staff, and the A League intramural basketball champion. Cadet Clements served in the U.S. Army Air Forces before he died in an air crash in Illinois on February 10, 1944, at the age of 23.

Room 301
Sergeant Joseph A. Morton, Jr.

From Ohio, Morton attended St. Benedict’s College from 1932–1933. He was a member of St. Benedict’s Hall, which was specifically for students who lived in town with their families or relatives. SGT Morton, Jr., served in the U.S. Army before he was killed in action in Germany on September 18, 1944, at the age of 23. 

Room 302
Private Bernard H. Murphy

Born in Newton, KS, Murphy attended St. Benedict’s College High School (Maur Hill) from 1927–1930. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the Philippines before he was captured by the Japanese. While in a prisoner of war camp, PVT Murphy died of malaria on May 29, 1942, around the age of 30. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

Room 304
First Lieutenant Roy Edward Niemann, Jr.

From St. Louis, MO, Niemann attended St. Benedict’s College from 1937–1938. There is very little information about his time at college or his background. 1LT Niemann, Jr., served in the U.S. Army before he was killed in action in 944, around the age of 26.

Room 305
Lieutenant North Arthur Oberlin

Born in Atchison, KS, Oberlin attended St. Benedict’s College from 1936–1939. A resident of Atchison, he was well-known for his enthusiasm for life and amiable spirit. LT Oberlin served in the U.S. Naval Reserve as an executive officer on a submarine detection boat before he was lost overboard during a hurricane. After extensive search efforts, LT Oberlin was declared dead on September 13, 1944, at the age of 25. 

Room 306
Sergeant Joseph Panepinto

Born in Indiana, Panepinto attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1939. There is very little information about his time at college or his background. Sgt. Panepinto served in the U.S. Army Air Corps before he died in a non-battle incident on September 16, 1943, at the age of 24. 

Room 307
Cadet Elroy E. Parker

Born on September 17, 1923, Parker attended St. Benedict’s College from 1941–1943. He lived in St. Joseph Hall as a sophomore and was a member of the 1941–42 basketball team during his time at St. Benedict’s. Cadet Parker served as an Air Cadet in the U.S. Naval Reserve before he was killed in the line of duty on May 12, 1944, at the age of 20.  

Room 308
Cadet Joseph Edward Quigley

Joseph Quigley

Born in Kansas City, MO, Quigley attended St. Benedict’s College from 1935–1940. He majored in Economics, was the vice president of the Holy Name Society, a member of the football team, basketball team, Glee Club, dramatics club, and a variety of other activities during his time at St. Benedict’s College. Cadet Quigley served in the U.S. Army Air Corps for just under two months before he was fatally injured in a training plane crash in Collinsville, OK, on June 18, 1941, at the age of 23.  

Room 303
Ensign Donald Jerome Ryan

Donald Ryan

Born in Chicago, IL, Ryan attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1942. He majored in Business Administration, was the quarterback for the football team, the president of the Business Majors’ Guild, a member of the Holy Name Society, and an A League intramural basketball champion, among other activities during his time at St. Benedict’s. ENS Ryan served in the U.S. Naval Reserve before he was killed in action on August 13, 1943, at the age of 23. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Room 312
Sergeant George Sanders Tinklin

Born in Corning, KS, Tinklin attended St. Benedict’s College from 1932–1933. There is little information about his time at college. He served in the U.S. Army 190th Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division, before he was killed in action on December 27, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. He was 31. SGT Tinklin is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial.

Room 314
Second Lieutenant Raymond R. Van Sickel

Born in 1919, Van Sickel attended St. Benedict’s College from 1938–1940. He was a member of the Program Club – a musical group – during his time at St. Benedict’s. 2d Lt. Van Sickel served in the U.S. Army Air Corps before he was killed in Georgia on October 12, 1942, around the age of 22.

Room 316
Sergeant James Stanton Wallace

Born in Leavenworth, KS, Wallace attended St. Benedict’s College from 1940–1941. There is little information about him, though he served the U.S. Army Air Forces in the Combat Cargo Squadron before he was killed in action on January 18, 1945, at the age of 24.

Room 318
Second Lieutenant Robert Frederick Weingart

Born in Atchison, KS, Weingart attended St. Benedict’s College High School (Maur Hill) from 1931–1935. He was a member of St. Benedict’s Hall, which was specifically for students who lived in town with their families or relatives. 2LT Weingart served in the U.S. Army before he accidentally drowned in Pennsylvania on July 23, 1943, at the age of 28. 

Room 320
Second Lieutenant Bernard Joseph Wheeler

Bernard Wheeler

Born in Fort Scott, KS, Wheeler attended St. Benedict’s College from 1931–1932. He lived in St. Bede’s Hall as part of his formation for diocesan priesthood, was a member of the college band, and the captain of the D League intramural basketball team. 2d Lt. Wheeler served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the 579th Bomb Squadron, 392nd Bomb Group before his aircraft went missing during a return flight from a mission. He was declared Missing in Action on February 2, 1944, at the age of 28.

Room 322
Captain Robert E. Whitehand

Robert Whitehand

Born in California, Whitehand attended St. Benedict’s College from 1928–1929. There is little information about his time at college. Capt. Whitehand was married to Mrs. Laura E. Whitehand and served as the Historian for the 3rd Air Division in the U.S. Army Air Corps before he was killed in action in France on March 27, 1945, at the age of 35.

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