Memorial

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Article from The Coshocton Tribune:
"Lt Rodney A. Renfrew, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. A Tracy Renfrew, Coshocton, Route 3, was killed in action February 10, in Germany", according to a telegram from the War Department received Friday by his parents. Since the invasion of Holland, Lt Renfrew had been in the thick of battle, working with three other officers as a Forward Observation Unit. He was a member of an Airborne Division of Field Artillery and took part in the invasion of Holland with a Glider Group. Lt Renfrew was born September 20, 1922 at Walnut Hills farm on Coshocton Route 3, the son of A. Tracy and Gladys Hamilton Renfrew. He was the oldest son of the fourth generation of live in the family homestead. He was graduated from Keene High School in 1940 and had been active as a member of the FFA there, the Oak Grove Grange, the Canal Lewisville Boy Scout troop and the 4-H club of the vicinity. He was also a member of the Canal Lewisville Methodist Church. At Ohio State University he was affiliated with Alpha Zeta Fraternity and the Saddle and Sirloin Club. In April, 1943, during his Senior year in the College of Agriculture, he was inducted into the Army. At Fort Bragg, N.C., he took basic training and went on to Sill, Oklahoma for Officers Training. In April, 1944, he was commissioned and after a short time at Camp Maxey, Texas, he was transferred in September, 1944, to Fort Meade, Md. From there he went overseas, serving in Great Britain before his assignment on the continent. Lt. Renfrew has been awarded posthumously the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy on the day he was killed. Lt Renfrew was acting as an Artillery Observer with assault elements of an Infantry Battalion in a bitter phase of the battle on the banks of the Roer River. Advancing down a steep slope in complete darkness, the attacking force stumbled into a heavily mined area and Lt Renfrew was mortally wounded. Although paralyzed, he refused to allow his men to stop to treat him. He gave them full instructions and urged them on to the attack. 'The spirit he instilled in his men, his courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Airborn Force', the citation stated.
He served as a forward observer during Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and the fighting for the Roer Pocket.

Lt Renfrew was killed by a landmine.

Picture 5: Lt. Renfrew with the officers of A Battery. 3rd from the left kneeling is Capt. Lenton Sartain, commander of A Battery who is still alive and is 96 years of age (sept. 2017)

Picture 6: Young Rodney as a boy scout.