World War II Memorial - Atlantic Beach, FL
N 30° 19.929 W 081° 23.866
17R E 461764 N 3355658
This World War II memorial is located in Bull Memorial Park in Atlantic Beach, Florida, USA.
Waymark Code: WMQ48E
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 12/16/2015
Views: 3
The memorial consists of a large rectangular piece created of mortared stones with a metal plaque embedded in it. Etched into one of the stones beneath the plaque is the year 1946. The plaque reads:
"As a Memorial to
Robt. B. David,
Jack J. Ahern, Jr.,
Richard Bull,
Solomon Sturdivant.
They are Honored Today
in Our Hearts and May Our
Tribute be the Strength and
Courage to Carry on."
Three of the men named on the memorial were featured in an exhibit at the Beaches Museum & History Center (visit link) in 2007:
"The Beaches Museum & History Center has installed a temporary photographic exhibition honoring nine Beaches-area men who gave their lives for their country during World War II.
The exhibit, called "These Nine," runs through Saturday, Jan. 12. Photographs of the men are displayed, along with information on most.
The men are Navy Lt. j.g. Richard Bull; Army 2nd Lt. John J. Ahern Jr.; Army Pfc. Ivan R. Wellington; Army Pvt. Kenjiro Yoshida; Marine Corps Cpl. Ottis O. Boxx; Marine Pvt. Asbury R. Kelly; Army Lt. John W. Deam; Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Byron Mann, a machinist's mate; and Army Staff Sgt. Robert B. David.
They came from Mayport, Palm Valley, Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach. They were pilots, paratroopers, infantrymen and Marines between the ages of 19 and 34. They ranged in rank from private to lieutenant."
A Florida Times-Union newspaper article (visit link) about another WWII memorial in nearby Jacksonville Beach provides the following information about three of the men on the Bull Memorial Park memorial:
"Among the monument's names are 2nd Lt. John J. Ahern, a B-17 bomber pilot who was killed over England; Richard Bull, a pilot patrol bomber killed over the Pacific; and Solomon Sturdivant, who was killed in France."