Author photo

By Drew Lawson
The Times 

Historical marker coming to Mann family ranch

 

Last updated 9/1/2020 at 9:43am

REARDAN – World War II Medal of Honor and Reardan native Joe Mann is considered a national hero in Netherlands, a war hero in the United States and has a hospital named after him in Spokane. Now the Mann Ranch just north of Reardan is being recognized as a historical marker.

The historical marker was campaigned for by the Jonas Babcock chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and the Mann family.

Mann, private first class, posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 1945 after sacrificing his life by jumping on a grenade in Holland during the Market Garden Offensive on Sept. 19, 1944 in Best, the Netherlands and saving his comrades. He was 22. He was also awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart with oak clusters.

He is buried at Greenwood Terrace in Spokane, where the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center is named after him and platoon sergeant Bruce A. Grandstaff, of Spokane, who sacrificed his life in the Vietnam War.


The pole where a sign will go was posted Aug. 23 by representatives from the Jonas Babcock chapter and members of the Mann family, including nephews Byrne Bennett and Jim Mann. Bennett is in the process of writing a book about Joe Mann’s life. The sign will commemorate Joe Mann and mark the family ranch as a historical marker worthy of visit.

The official dedication of the historical marker at Mann Ranch is on Sept. 18 at 2 p.m.

More on Mann’s life growing up in Reardan, his decision to join the army and his ultimate sacrifice will be in next week’s edition of The Times.


– Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.

Author Bio

Drew Lawson, Editor

Author photo

Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 02/18/2024 16:04