Marvin Leonard Jarchow, passed away at Lifepan Good Samaritan Hospice Residence in Battle Creek on March 5, 2012. He was born April 4, 1923, the son of Herman and May (Zwart) Jarchow. Marvin graduated from Battle Creek Central in 1942. He was employed with the Kellogg Company until he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

The war became a defining time for a young man who was spoken of by his principal as “A boy of good character, serious in purpose, cooperative and of high integrity.” He was trained as a waist gunner to serve on planes known as Flying Fortresses. Marvin saw action in North Africa and Italy. He participated in action raids over Cassino, Toulon, Athens, Ploesti, Bucharest, Sofia, and Budapest. In 1944 he gave this report to the Enquirer and News: “We were in tight spots a couple of times but the roughest one was when we were jumped by a force of Focke Wulffers, over 100 of them, disguised to look like American planes. Their cowl flaps were enlarged to make their noses look like P-47’s and they had American markings. We came in with more than 100 holes in the plane that day, but none of the men were hit. One side of the ship was knocked out, including the oxygen line, and we had to double up on the other side. That made an extra drain on the line, and by the time we bombed our objective and got back to where we could come down under 10,000 feet, there was only enough oxygen left for about 10 minutes when we were able to land.”

Sergeant Jarchow received the Air Medal with three bronze and one silver Oak Leaf cluster as well as the European Theater ribbon, the bronze star for the Italian campaign and additional medals as the war continued. He saw the historic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and flew over the Anzio beachhead the day our troops landed. “Our pilot wouldn’t turn back for anything,” he said, describing a raid during which they were attacked by rockets shot from fighter planes. “We were on a raid in Austria, that time, and a fragment from an exploding rocket hit one of our wings, knocking out the radio room and the hydraulic line. We went on to the target, and when we returned we had to ground loop to make a landing and stop the plane.”

After participating in fifty missions, Marvin returned to Battle Creek and was able to reunite with his brothers who were also serving in the Army and Army Air Corps, not having seen each other for eighteen months. When they had leave they came home to visit their mother, May Jarchow Bloomhuff. Charles Jarchow had been discharged on a medical issue and Allen R. Jarchow was a Liutenant in the European Theater until the end of the war. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned home where he was hired by Post Cereal working more than 45 years in shipping and inventory control. Marvin married Rita Babcock and was able to share 50 years of marriage with daughter Cynitha Buckner, who resides in Battle Creek. Rita’s passing was a great loss as they both loved to go to Las Vegas and play slots. Marvin’s parents and brothers also preceded him in death. Marvin will always be remembered by his nieces, Liinda A. Borsum, Susan Carlson, and Cindy Jarchow. Marvin had many friends who made his last years active and fun. Many thanks to Bill, Harold, Jean and Michael. Marvin was a Mason and was active in the Battle Creek chapter. A memorial service will be held at the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service on Monday April 2, 2012 at 1:00PM. Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Humane Society.

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