Piqua Public Library Local History

July 9, 1883
This day in history in Piqua, Ohio
The Young Women's Christian Temperance Union was first organized.

James R. Brown
Lieutenant, United States Navy
Jim Brown played football, basketball and baseball at both Wilder Junior and Central High School and was a member of the Student Council graduating in 1962. Lt. Brown was born in Piqua, and after spending a year at Purdue University entered the Naval Academy, graduating in the class of 1967. After graduation, he began naval air training at Pensacola. Lt. Brown was serving as an instructor with VT-24 at Chase Field at the time of his death. He was posthumously commissioned Lieutenant in December 1969.

Paul S. Voress
Sergeant, United States Air Force
Paul S. (Steve) Voress was born in Sidney in 1948. He graduated from Piqua High School in 1966, playing basketball and hockey. Before joining the Air Force in 1968, he worked as a news carrier and in the composing room for the Piqua Daily Call. While serving in the Air Force, he died in an accident in Germany in 1974.

Steven D. Karnehm
Chief Warrant Officer, United States Army
Steven D. Karnehm born in 1948 and was a Piqua High School graduate in 1967. He enlisted in the US Army and began flying the Huey helicopters, being stationed in Vietnam. On September 27, 1971 when returning to base in inclement weather his helicopter crashed killing four crew members.

Dennis L. Siler
Staff Sergeant, United States Air Force
Dennis L. Siler was born November 14, 1949, in Piqua, Ohio, and graduated from Piqua Central High School in 1968. He served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and was stationed at Sembach Air Force Base in Germany. In 1975, he married Sgt. Sharon Lassiter. Both Sharon and Dennis died in a car accident in Germany in 1976. Dennis is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua, remembered by his family and community.

Philip Wenrick
Private First Class, United States Army
Philip Bruce Wenrick was born in California in 1947, and attended Piqua Central High School. He enlisted in the Army in 1967, serving as a light weapons infantryman with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. He was wounded in action on March 4, 1968, and later died of his injuries on March 29, 1968, in Kontum province. He was awarded honors including the Purple Heart.

Ronald K. Staneart
Private First Class, United States Marine Corps
Ronald K. Staneart was born on July 24, 1946, in Ohio and was from Piqua in Miami County. He served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Marine Corps, assigned as a rifleman with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam. On October 4, 1966, he was killed in action in Quang Nam province due to hostile small arms fire. He is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and is buried in Meigs County, Ohio.

Charles Marion Koon
Corporal, United States Army
Charles Marion Koon was born in 1950. He graduated from Piqua Catholic High School in 1968. He enlisted in the US Army and rose to Corporal. During his service in Vietnam, Corporal Koon experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life in 1970.

Victor R. Scheeler
Specialist 4, United States Army
Victor R. Scheeler was born in 1943 and graduated from Piqua High School in 1961. Prior to his enlistment in the Marines in 1963 he worked at the Elliott Furniture Company. He received advanced training in medical care. He served two tours in Vietnam and died in action in 1969 in a hostile rocket attack.

James T. Rush
Private First Class, United States Army
James T. Rush was born in October 1947 in Piqua. He entered military service by way of Selective Service in November 1968 after high school. During his service in the Vietnam War, Army Private First Class Rush served as an Armor Intelligence Specialist. In 1969, as a result of action in Vietnam, he lost his life.