Endowment established for War Memorial

Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Putnam County Community Foundation announced recently that J. Frank Durham has established an endowment to provide financial support for the care and maintenance of the historic "Buzz Bomb," World War II Memorial in Greencastle.

GREENCASTLE -- The Putnam County Community Foundation announced recently that J. Frank Durham has established an endowment to provide financial support for the care and maintenance of the historic "Buzz Bomb," World War II Memorial, located on the southwest corner of the Putnam County Courthouse lawn.

The memorial is dedicated to the seventy-three Putnam County WWII veterans who were killed in action during that War.

Durham is an attorney in Greencastle.

The Buzz Bomb is a German-built flying bomb, commonly known in the U.S. as a "buzz bomb," and in Britain as the "doodle bug." It was officially designated the FZG-76.

Adolf Hitler unleashed the buzz bomb against London in 1944.

The story of how the Buzz Bomb came to Greencastle began in the spring of 1947 at Stumpneck, Md. Durham, a Navy Reservist, was spending two weeks receiving annual training in explosive ordnance demolition when it was announced that all obsolete captured enemy ordnance was to be disposed of.

Durham thought it was "a shame to deep six" the ordnance because there were so many people in the country who had never seen such things.

His supervising officer made the comment that it would take an Act of Congress to get this done.

Rather than be discouraged, Durham decided that was just what he would do.

Money for the project was raised locally from Putnam County merchants and citizens. Putnam County Commissioners Clarence E. Goff, Fred Hunter, and Ross Torr gave their support and approval.

Art Perry of DePauw University designed the memorial in the shape of the letter "V," which was a symbol of victory in World War II.

The limestone came from Hoadley Limestone Quarries in southern Indiana.

State Sen. William B. Hoadley's only son was killed in WW II, so he and his brother agreed to furnish the limestone at no cost to the community except for transportation costs.

Stonemasons Wilbur Grimes and his son Jerry were put in charge of building the memorial. The memorial was dedicated on Armistice Day, 1948, in the presence of an estimated crowd of 5,000 people.

Durham later wrote, "Never in the history of Putnam County has there been better cooperation between our citizens than during that time."

Contributions to the endowment are welcome and should be made payable to the Putnam County Community Foundation with "Durham Buzz Bomb Endowment" in the memo, and mailed to 2 South Jackson Street, Greencastle, IN 46135.

Foundation staff are available to help donors make gifts of cash, stock, retirement assets, life insurance, bequests, real estate and other types of gifts to the Endowment.

To learn more about how to make a contribution or start a new fund, visit pcfoundation.org or contact Elaine Peck at 653-4978.

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  • THANK YOU FRANK!!!!

    For your Service to our Freedom and to your service to this community. You are a true Friend & Hero!

    Again you have placed into motion the extension of life to this historic War Memorial for future generations to read and See the True Past.

    Thank You!

    -- Posted by macvrod on Thu, Jan 27, 2011, at 7:29 AM
  • What a great idea! Thank you, Frank. Now, how about a fund to keep the WW I memorial up --- maybe even the one on the NW corner of the court house.

    -- Posted by not gullible on Thu, Jan 27, 2011, at 9:19 AM
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