Circleville, Ohio 22 September 2020
Tuesday evening a small ceremony was held at the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Society Library on North Court Street, Circleville, Ohio.
The gathering was to honor the posthumous induction of Captain William Jennings Barthelmas, Jr. , into the membership of the Camp Charlotte Chapter of Pickaway County, Ohio. A small color guard, Ohio Society President, Turner “Lee” Wilkerson III presented the Certification of Memorial Membership for the Ohio Society SAR and the National Society of the SAR, to Steven Barthelmas [Capt. Barthelmas’ brother] and nephew, Scott J. Barthelmas.
Steve and Scott Barthelmas
Compatriot Captain William J. Barthelmas, Jr. is the first posthumous Military Veteran to be recognized as a fellow member of the Ohio SAR. His lineage is documented as a descendant of the Captain Andrew Leist of the Virginia Militia. Captain Leist died in Pickaway County, Ohio on 11 Nov 1821.
Captain, William Jennings Barthelmas, Jr. was born on June 26, 1936 in Pickaway County, Ohio. He was killed in action in Vietnam on July 27, 1965/ Burial: Spring Bank Cemetery, Ross County, Ohio. In his honor, a Memorial Bell Tower [originally constructed by his father] was erected at Circleville High School and the bell rang loud & proud following a Circleville victory. The Memorial Bell Tower was relocated to Canal Park following the construction of a new Circleville School building project.
Captain William Jennings Barthelmas, Jr. was the first casualty from Pickaway County, during the Vietnam War. He was killed in action following a bombing mission to Hanoi.
by Rick Lear, Treasurer CCSAR
National Society Sons of the American Revolution, Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution Camp Charlotte Chapter #41, Pickaway County, Ohio
Camp Charlotte Chapter #41-Sons of the American Revolution 