Staff Sergeant, USMC

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John N. Obat was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Nicknamed “Blackie”, John was a member of Marine Night Fighter Squadron 531 (VMF(N)-531). The squad was activated on November 16, 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. On January 9, 1943, the Squadron became part of the Fleet Marine Force. Due to the uniqueness of their night fight mission, VMF(N)-531 was placed under the direction of the Commandant of the Marine Corps until it was ready to deploy to combat. They were the first naval aviation night fighter squad to operate in the South Pacific during World War II. Nicknamed the “Grey Ghosts”, the squad provided close air support and aerial reconnaissance.

John was born on August 19, 1921 and lived in the Collinwood area of Cleveland.  After retiring from military service, he worked at Morrison Products in Cleveland where he met Mary, who would later become his wife. John and Mary raised two daughters, Lois and Linda, and continued to live in Collinwood. He later worked for Euclid, Inc., one of the world's leading firms in the manufacturing of off-highway, earth-moving and hauling equipment until his retirement in 1976. 

John kept in contact with former members of his squad and attended several Marine Night Fighter Squadron reunions across the country until his health no longer permitted him to do so. in 2004, when those health issues became a concern, he took up residence at the Slovene Home for the Aged on Neff Road, staying true to his Collinwood roots. John passed away there on March 14, 2008. 

His two daughters are proud of their father's service to his country. John was humble and reserved about his heroic war efforts as a squad member of the "Grey Ghosts" of World War II. But through Lois and Linda, the stories of his bravery will continue to be passed down to his four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren in order to honor his service. 

Tower #28 is dedicated to Staff Sergeant Obat by Maureen Gregory on behalf of her friend Linda Williams (John's Daughter)

My dad was drafted into the Army following his high school graduation in 1970. He is the fourth of four boys (Marines, Navy, Air Force -respectively) so all of the branches were well covered. He went to basic training at Fort Campbell KY, and then to advanced training as a Vulcan gunner at Fort Bliss TX, with his duty station being Biggs Field, TX. 

My family taught me the importance of duty to country. My dad taught me the importance of duty to family. Growing up, I watched him work endless hours during the night shift, with no days off to make sure that we had not only the things we needed but also the things we thought we needed at the time. His work ethic made him an obvious choice to be my number 1 farmhand at OD Greens. He did pretty well in the interview. 

Over the course of the last year, I have been fortunate to work side by side with my dad. He is not exactly know as a conversationalist, but during the last 12 months I have learned more about him than I probably have throughout my life. As a new father myself, my dad continues to be my role model and I hope that I can be as good of a father to my kids as he has been to me. I love you Dad!

Tower #65 is dedicated to Ron Tobul and his service. 

Tower 21 is dedicated to the University of MN Supply Chain Management Class of 2019 for our journey together to learn how we can be leaders of positive change by advocating for a socially responsible supply chain. Honorable mention and Thanks to all the amazing veterans in our class!

Walter Novak enlisted in Cleveland, OH in 1941.  K.I.A. February 1943

First duty assignment was the SS West Portal, a merchant vessel in convoy to England from Halifax, Nova Scotia. As part of a Naval gunnery crew presence for the security within the convoy. 

At 17 years old Walter P. Novak had to have written permission to join the military. He wanted to serve his country like his six brothers. He was the youngest of the Tobul/Novak tribe trying to do his part in the craziness of the world at that time.

The real conflict? Walter’s dad refused to sign the papers and left it up to his mother to determine if his military service would be or not.  My grandmother gave into Walter’s request to let him do his part like his brothers. She signed the papers and Uncle Walter left for Cleveland, Ohio to enlist in the Navy. At 17 years old he finished his basic training in Cleveland and had orders to report to the USS West Portal in New York, bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia,  then join Convoy SC-118, destination, the North Atlantic passage to England. Understanding at the time, Convoy speeds were set by the slowest ship in the group. Their designation as SC meant they were a slow convoy vs HX which was faster speed. What happened to Uncle Walter and his convoy was already in the workings of the Nazi U-boat wolf packs, before his convoy, SC-118, even left Halifax. The classic war cliché, " Loose lips sink ships" turned Uncle Walters fate into his destiny along with all hands on the SS West Portal and hundreds of his shipmates in the 61 ship convoy. The convoy HX-224 left Halifax a week before Uncle Walters convoy. HX-224 was attacked by a U-boat wolfpack. After a successful attack, a German U-boat picked up a sole survivor from a sunken merchant ship  who told his German rescuers about Convoy SC-118 coming just behind them in a couple days as a SC designation. That slip of the lip gave the Germans time to assemble a huge wolfpack that would be lying in wait for Uncle Walter and SC-118. Eleven U-boats had time to gather with the seven that were already on station and involved in the attack of HX-224. The largest wolfpack gathering in the North Atlantic in 1943 was then assembled. The American survivor had no idea what he did when he gave up that vital information. I was not able to put a name or identity to this survivor, no log records indicate what became of that survivor. Back in Halifax, SC-118 was getting underway the first week of February 1943. Sixty one ships left on their mission to England. The enigma code had not been broken at that time, and the convoy had no idea what was already developing as they set course for their passage to their destination in England. A course, the Germans already knew, and were waiting to spring their ambush, confident they would be successful. February 4th 1943 the wolfpack managed to scatter the convoy in the first day of the 5 day battle. In the chaos they managed no damage on the first day but the battle had just begun and the scattering of the ships was the Germans goal. Now they turned their attention to the stragglers and the slow easy pickings. The most successful wolfpack attack in the North Atlantic had just started.  February 5th 1943 the wolfpack made its first torpedo  contact with SC-118. The SS West Portal, being one of the slower transports, at about 8 knots, was the first casualty of the ambush. An accidental firing of a flare lit the West Portal up right in the cross hairs of U-boat U-413. Captain Gustav Poel recorded in his log on February 5, 1943 witnessed the West Portal sinking after firing two torpedoes. He recorded seeing survivors launching life boats, but survivors were never found. SS West Portal's distress call did not reveal their new position after the convoy was initially encountered and scattered by the wolfpack.  The West Portal was lost with all hands including my Uncle Walter. 66 sailors and merchant seamen lost on one ship alone and isolated by U-413. The battle continued for three more days. On February 8th U-413 recorded six more ships sunk or damaged. Credited with almost half of the total of eleven ships that were sunk, out of SC-118 Captain Poel was part of the most successful wolfpack attack in the North Atlantic in 1943 and was made a hero to the German people. It is sad that Uncle Walter, the yougest of the Tobul/Novak clan to volunteer, was the only brother that did not return home. My grandfather never forgave my grandmother for signing those papers, and it was a decision she lived with for the rest of her life. I never got to meet my Uncle Walter but he is my hero. My grandmother became a gold star mother because she loved her son. She understood the word "Sacrifice" to give your all, for something you love. The ones who have given their all, are the heroes, my Uncle Walter, and my Grandmother, showed the courage and heart it takes to make that "Ultimate Sacrifice". No greater love can be given, than a life, for a life. My only wish is that their "Sacrifice" is not in vain.

As part of the North Atlantic effort to keep England in needed supplies and support for the war effort. The Nazi U-boat presence was an ever menacing real threat to those convoys. The North Atlantic convoys were a very dangerous but necessary passage to help the British and allies conquer the world insanity at that time. Uncle Walter never made it to England.

Tower #9 is dedicated to Walter's service and sacrifice by his nephew JG Tobul. 

"Walter P. Novak was my Uncle and my Hero"

Served:  September 1952 to September 1956 – Navy Missile Division

Korean War Medal, Good Conduct Medal.

David was stationed on the USS Norton Sound which was a Missile Ship.  Formerly a C Plane Tender but it was modified to test missiles.  Designated VM-1 – class of ship.

His duties on the ship : a missile man;  then assigned to Telemeter Shack which recorded the flight of the missile.  The missile would send back data of what was going on with the missile and they recorded missiles during its flight.

Missile Captain :  Gave final permission to put the missile on the launch.

My brother got his education at Kent State University where he joined ROTC and then enlisted into the US Navy.  He was never a good swimmer, so we couldn’t understand why he chose the Navy.  But he did well, and with more college education had become a Chemist and with a partner started their own chemical company. He is now retired. 

Tower 19 is dedicated to his service by his sister Wanda Chop

Tower #3 is dedicated to the Red Knights, by Gaylon McAlpine. 

"Freedom-5" is dedicated to all service members - past, present, and future, and for the sacrifices made by these individuals for ALL Americans.

Tower #5 is dedicated by Kirsten Pirc 

Born: July 15, 1913, Oliphant Furnace, Pa.

In the words of his son JG Tobul: ‘Dad’ was a dedicated father of 4 boys and husband to my mother. He walked softly and carried a pretty big stick. I remember a couple, First– “Don't ever tell your mother to do her own dishes”. He was also known as granpa and great-granpa. I called him pops one time. His work mates called him Fuchee. Mom called him Hon, and his CB handle was Daddy-O-4. A sixth grade education from a hard working Polish family, 13 brothers and sisters -his youngest brother, Uncle Walter (above), gave the ultimate sacrifice when he was lost with all hands at sea in February of1943.

Between about 1940 and 1982 my dad faithfully took his lunch box with him to work in a chemical plant in Painesville, Ohio -The Diamond Alkali, later called Diamond Shamrock. He was a millwright. That meant he traveled throughout the plant fixing old broken down equipment. I remember seeing him with a huge cast on his arm when I was 8 or 9 maybe. He got caught in a conveyor belt he was working on and almost lost his left arm. The moving conveyor belt grabbed his wedding ring and mangled his arm. He had nuts and bolts bubble gum and duct tape holdin’ his arm together. He was never able to straighten that arm again. Daddy-O-4 was forced by the Diamond Shamrock to hire a lawyer in order to sort out his medical retirement after 42 years of service. Daddy-O-4 almost gave his life for a company that denied their responsibility.

He had the courage to continue for his family, 4 boys, growing and eating everything that did not move. His rule, “You will finish high school. Choices after graduation? College, job or military obligation? Let’s go visit the recruiter”. Daddy-O-4 was definitely a patriot. He did not teach us Polish, we learned American. We had an obligation to take care of… Uncle Sam needed us, so it goes. After all Daddy-O-4 already new about WWII and he was in the Ground Observer Corps. during Korea. His mother was a gold star mother. Daddy-O-4 was a worrier, but his heart was full. Once he fully understood the situation in Viet Nam, and that the Corporation that he worked for, was one of several chemical corporations producing Agent Orange. He was beside himself. 42 years for a company that was producing and poisoning his own children.

In his youth, he came up through the depression, borrowed coal from the railroad to help warm the company house. In the winter he read Buck Rogers comic books and actually saw space travel come out of the comics. From radio to the miracle of television these accomplishments meant nothing to him. Weighing heavy on his mind was the poisoning of his children, 3000 miles away, in a country that was having its own civil war. Daddy-O-4's patriotism changed, his politics changed, and our conversations changed. A political quagmire of lies, deceit, and greed. American sons and daughters dying for no reason, and the company he worked 42 years for, producing chemical agents and carcinogens to spray on our cheese sandwiches, was a lot for Daddy-O-4 to keep on his conscience and he knew Uncle Sam didn't really care. We drank a couple beers over the years talking about that issue. I don't think he really ever came to grips or resolve on that issue. It was a dead horse he and I kicked around a good bit.

Daddy-O-4 would certainly be impressed with the new grow technology and the hydroponic system of growing without dirt. I think he would wonder,  “How would you bury your moonshine in the corn field without dirt to dig a hole in?” RIP Daddy-O-4, I love you man. I will never forget the night in WPB at the Best little Oar House in Town. Eating oysters on the half shell and drinking imported beers. Daddy-O-4 shared these immortal words with me, his number 2, "Wet birds don't fly at night" I remembered those words, and I have passed that message on to family, in hopes the words inspire them as much as they have driven me. Thanks Dad, make this tower full of Polish power! 

Tower # 10 is dedicated to the life and legacy of Frank John Tobul 

We would like to dedicate this tower to the veterans in the Tobul, Davis, Novak, Lerch, Wootan and Vanlangendonck families who served in the various branches of service and were honorably and proudly discharged from service.  Sadly, our Uncle Walter did not return during WWII.  All of our family veterans will forever be remembered in our thoughts and prayers.  Thank you all for your dedication to America's freedom.  Thank you to the parents, wives and others who gave support to their loved ones while they were so far away protecting us on foreign soil.

I am proud of Robert and Rachel, my son and daughter-in-law.  Robert retired from the 82nd A/B after 20 years of dedicated service including deployment to Iraq.  Rachel was in the National Guard when they met.  She attended college, worked and raised quadruplets with Robert.  

I am proud of Diane and Jason Davis, my daughter and son-in-law. Diane worked while attending college to become a teacher and earn her Masters, while raising three children with Jason.  Heather is a registered dietician in North Carolina.  Jeremy was deployed to Afghanistan while in the Marines.  Jared works for his Dad.  Jason worked hard to get his own business going and is doing very well.  

I am proud of my step-daughter, Suzanne, who has been running the household and raising 4 children with the help of Grandma Judy and Grandma Rella, while working the last twenty years for Continental and United Airlines as a flight attendant.   

Tower #12 is dedicated to the family, with love by Ross and Judy Tobul.

Operation Iraqi Freedom I & II. Stationed in Camp Pendleton, California

LCpl Hubbard served with Golf Co. 2nd Battalion 5th Marines during OIF I and during OIF II he was a scout sniper with Weapons Co. 2nd Battalion 5th Marines but was attached with Golf Co. On November 4th, 2004, while patrolling with his sniper team to a nearby hide, a roadside bomb took the life of LCpl Hubbard and LCpl Jeremiah Baro. 

Both Marines were fine examples of dedication to one’s craft and dedication to the mission and its purpose. Both were childhood friends before the Marine Corps.

Tower 14 its dedicated to the memory of LCpl Hubbard by Joseph Zoleta who served with him and Golf Co. 2nd Battalion 5th Marines