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Honoring the Fallen
Local Veterans Memorialize Those who Died in the Line of Duty.

While talking with other veterans in the area, Dieter Protsch came to realize that Hagerstown was lacking a Veterans Day parade as well as memorials to local fallen veterans. The more than 10 veterans organizations in the county decided to form a Joint Veterans Council to coordinate efforts and plan combined projects and events. As a delegate and first president of the Viet-Nam Veterans Last Man Club of American Legion Post 42, Dieter was elected as the first secretary of the new council.

During his 10-year tenure as secretary and historian, Dieter saw the council hold successful annual Veterans Day parades, establish a Veterans Memorial in a Hagerstown park and institute a memorial marker program to recognize every Washington County serviceman who lost his life in combat, died as a direct result of wounds received, those designated as missing in action and servicemen who were taken prisoner and never returned home. Dieter personally made more than 250 of the 2 ½ by 12-inch two-sided black markers, each bearing the name, rank, date born and killed, branch of service and the war or conflict that clamed the life of the serviceman.

During the group’s research, the council found that neither the Washington County Free Library nor the local newspapers had a complete record of war dead. The council’s 12-year search compiled adequate documentation for a reliable record that is now available in the county library, Washington County Courthouse and the State Archives in Annapolis.

One Soldier’s Story
In 1891, Corporal William Othello Wilson, I Troop, 9th Cavalry, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the role he played in rescuing the 7th Cavalry from a possible Sioux massacre at Drexel Mission, S.D. The Indians were preparing to avenge the deaths of their 200 men, women, and children at Wounded Knee. Wilson, a Buffalo Soldier, was the 11th member of the 9th Cavalry to receive the medal during the Indian Wars, according to Dan Hubble, writing in the VFW magazine in 1987.

Born in Hagerstown, Wilson enlisted in the army at age 22. After completing his military service, he returned here, where he taught school and worked as a carpenter on new home construction. He was known locally as the “penman,” installing himself in front of the present District Court building and Pen Mar Park where he helped people who could not write, according to a Herald-Mail article. Wilson is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. His memorial marker stands near the corner of Jonathan and Charles streets, near Medal of Honor Triangle.

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Dieter H. B. Protsch

“Be All You Can Be: From A Hitler Youth in World War II To A U.S. Army Green Beret”

Dieter’s memoirs chronicles the amazing story of his life — from a member of the Hitler Youth to a decorated U.S. Army Ranger. Born in Berlin in 1932, Dieter witnessed the beginning of World War II, survived aerial bombardments of the city and fled to the Polish border region with his family. When the Soviets attacked the region, he was briefly captured, escaped and later fled to the American Zone in Western Germany. Dieter was offered the chance to work for the U.S. Army and was sponsored for emigration, later registering for the draft when he reached the United States.

After 20 years of military service — during which he served in Germany, the Republic of Korea and Viet-Nam — Dieter retired and moved to Washington County, where he completed his memoirs and became involved as a volunteer with various military and veteran’s organizations. His book, “Be All You Can Be: From A Hitler Youth in World War II To A US Army Green Beret,” is available through various websites, including www.amazon.com, www.borders.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.