MANSFIELD — Glenn S. “Buster” Wingenbach Jr. grew up in a Danwood Drive neighborhood behind the former Woodville Elementary School.
A star catcher for the Madison Comprehensive High School baseball team, he could have almost thrown a ball from his yard to East Cook Road, just east of the on-ramp to southbound Ohio 13.
On Friday afternoon, a section of Ohio 13 — from East Cook Road to Hanley Road — will be dedicated in honor of Wingenbach, a 20-year-old U.S. Marine killed in combat in 1969 during the Vietnam War.
Mansfield resident David Hackedorn, who grew up with Wingenbach, said he was proud to have worked with State Rep. Marilyn John (R-Richland County) to have a road named for his friend near “our old stomping grounds.”
According to the state legislation: “In addition to any other name prescribed in the Revised Code or otherwise, the southbound lane of State Route 13, commencing at the intersection of that route and East Cook Road and extending to the intersection of that route and west Hanley Road, in Richland county, shall be known as the ‘Marine PFC Glenn S. Wingenbach, Jr. Memorial Highway.’ The director of transportation may erect suitable markers along the highway indicating its name.”
The formal dedication announcement is scheduled Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, according to Hackedorn.
John said it was a deserving honor.
“While I did not know Marine PFC Glenn ‘Buster’ Wingenbach Jr., we all live in freedom because of his sacrifices and that of many others. This road naming will be a lasting legacy for our community.”
Hackedorn said he knew Wingenbach was different, even as a youngster.
“Buster was a leader in our neighborhood, organizing sandlot football and baseball games. He always paid attention to the younger kids, teaching them and making sure they felt important. He was very quiet generally, but led by example,” said Hackedorn, who became a local high school sports referee/official for decades.
“He was an outstanding athlete, particularly excelling in baseball.
“This is something I have thought about a lot. After seeing that the Lucas community honored Rick McFarland and Bellville honored Steve Smith, I thought it was time the Woodville area recognized their hero,” Hackedorn said.
Wingenbach’s siblings, older sisters Judy and Charlene, and a younger brother, Bob, are still living.
Hackedorn credited John for her work on the effort.
“Very efficient. Right on it. I contacted them last November. They explained the process and kept the family and myself informed on progress and here we are,” he said.
Wingenbach graduated from Madison in 1967, the same year the three-year letterman led the Rams to the Cardinal Conference championship. He enrolled at then-Ashland College and planned to continue playing baseball.
Wingenbach left college and joined the military during Vietnam War
He later decided to leave college and joined the Marine Corps as the war in Vietnam raged.
A rifleman, PFC Wingenbach arrived in Vietnam on Jan. 30, 1969, assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Lima Company.
As a line infantry company, Lima Company’s primary mission was to close with and destroy the enemy using fire, maneuver and close combat.
Operating with his fellow Marines in the Quang Tri Province, about 115 miles north of Danang, Wingenbach was killed during hostile action by an explosion on March 6, according to published reports.
His death reportedly came during a battle dubbed “Operation Purple Martin” that began March 1 and continued until May 2.
It came after U.S. reconnaissance detected that three People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) regiments were moving south The U.S. 4th Marine Regiment was tasked with blunting that advance and pushing it back to the north.
U.S. military officials dubbed the 71-day search-and-destroy mission a success, disrupting North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troop movements near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), securing critical high ground and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Officials reported around 100 Marines were killed during the fighting.
(Below are photos taken Tuesday at the Bellville Cemetery gravesite of U.S. Marine PFC Glenn Wingenbach Jr.)
Wingenbach was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart, also earning a Combat Action Ribbon, Marksmanship Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation and a Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
Wingenbach is buried in the Bellville Cemetery near his father, Glenn S. Wingenbach Sr., a World War II veteran who died in 2010.
Glenn is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. His name is inscribed at Panel 30w, Line 61, according to HonorStates.org.
Soon, his name will appear much closer to home — just a baseball throw or two away from his childhood house.
