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Valley WWII, Vietnam veterans to be inducted into HOF
COLUMBUS
Two area military veterans, James W. Campbell of Howland and Howard B. Friend of Poland, are among 20 men and women to be inducted Thursday into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
The members of the Class of 2017 join 834 Ohio veterans who have been inducted since 1992.
Campbell, 68, served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War in 1969 and 1970 and was a highly decorated machine-gunner on a quick-response team.
Campbell, who served in several law-enforcement agencies in Trumbull County, retired from the Howland Police Department as a detective in the criminal investigations section.
He held numerous local and state offices in veterans organizations including that of commander of the American Legion Department of Ohio in 2015 and 2016.
Also, he said he is “very proud” to be a member of the Trumbull County Honor Guard, which has provided full military honors for more than 3,000 veterans since 2000.
Friend, 91, who served in the Army during World War II, was sent to Europe in December 1944. He became part of Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army and was quickly moved into the Battle of the Bulge. During the fighting, he was severely wounded on Jan. 9, 1945, leaving him hospitalized for 18 months. He was discharged May 26, 1946, with the rank of private first class.
A graduate of Mount Union College, Friend had a long career as an educator, serving as a high school teacher and principal in several area school districts, and was the first superintendent of the Mahoning County Joint Vocational School.
He has been active in the community, particularly as a volunteer for Youngstown YMCA and its Camp Fitch.
Campbell and Friend said they will attend Thursday’s induction ceremony accompanied by large contingents of their families and friends.