Part One Introduction and the early years

On July 10, 2023, three generations of Arthur F. Gorham’s family will assemble at Ponte Dirillo, Sicily to pay homage to him and all of the brave warriors who liberated Sicily.   This will be our fourth trip to Sicily during the past 20-plus years.  May God bless him and all past and future warriors as we pray for peace but remain vigilant against the enemies of freedom.

On 12 July, 2023 The town of Bellevue, Ohio will pay homage to one of its heroes—Arthur F. Gorham.  12 July was chosen as it will be the 80^th anniversary of LTC Gorham’s death while commanding the first battalion of the famed 505^th Parachute Infantry Regiment and contributing significantly in the liberation of Sicily.

This story, remarks made in Sicily and descriptions and photos of the different events will be chronicled on this website for the several weeks.

To set the stage in the coming days I will share the story of Arthur F. Gorham.

The Early Years

Arthur Fulbrook Gorham was born on January 11, 1915, in Brooklyn, New York, to James Allison Gorham, Sr. and Louise Fox Gorham. His older brother was James Allison Gorham, Jr.  His parents were second-generation Americans and were both of Scottish descent.  The Gorham family moved to Bellevue, Ohio, when Art was three.  Bellevue is a railroad town with a current population of about 8,000.  When one visits the cemetery in Bellevue, one is struck by the number of graves with American flags on them.  A particular portion of the cemetery is reserved for the deceased veterans so they can be honored and remembered.  There is a ceremony conducted there every Memorial Day in May.  The main street of Bellevue is lined with banners proudly displaying the pictures of some of these veterans.  Patriotism seems to course through Bellevue’s veins. 

Growing up, Art attended Ellis Elementary School and then Bellevue Central High School.  During high school, he played in the band for four years, was secretary of the junior and senior classes, earned two varsity letters in football and two more in track, and served on the high school newspaper, the Blazer, for four years.  Art was also a member of the National Honor Society.  From speaking with family and his boyhood friends, I have learned that he acquired and exhibited many traits in his youth.  For example, he was a terrible clarinet player but seemed to enjoy attempting to coax music from the device.  He was also a poor equestrian, but not for lack of courage.  He was soft-spoken but also demonstrated persistence.  Indeed, his willingness to work hard and an unwillingness to settle for second-best were on display in his youth in Bellevue, his time as a cadet at West Point, and eventually, his time as one of the U.S. Army’s first paratroopers.  These traits, and his exploits on the battlefield, would earn him a place in the school’s Hall of Honor over 70 years later.

Young Art Gorham in his Bellevue

Letter Sweater.

Art’s father ran a successful dry goods business in Bellevue.  After graduating from high school in 1932, he had not received the sought-after appointment to West Point, so he attended Stanton Preparatory Academy in Cornwall, New York, and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  Finally, in 1934, Art was admitted to West Point and joined the Class of 1938 at West Point.