MOUNT VERNON — On Monday, city council members honored the heroism of a long-time community servant by proclaiming May 4, 2018, as “Dude Conway Day” in the city of Mount Vernon.
Conard J. “Dude” Conway will be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame on May 4 in a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse for heroic and meritorious conduct during his naval career in World War II.
Born in Mount Vernon on March 29, 1922, Conway was the youngest of six children. Rather than waiting to be drafted, he enlisted in the Navy right out of high school in 1942.
As a Signalman 2nd Class, he served aboard the LCI(R) 226 [Landing Craft, Infantry, Rocket] in the Southwest Pacific area from Dec. 26, 1943, to Feb. 16, 1945. He participated in eight D-Day landings. D-Day landings are the beginning of any offensive operation; in the Pacific theater in World War II, there were more than 100. Conway’s landings include:
- Jan. 9, 1945, Lingayen Gulf
- Jan. 29, 1945, Zambales Province, Luzon, P.I. (Philippine Islands)
- Feb. 15, 1945, Mariveles Harbor, Bataan, Luzon, P.I.
- Feb. 16, 1945, Corregidor Island, P.I.
Conway’s heroism throughout his naval career, but particularly at Lingayen Gulf, Mariveles Harbor, and Corregidor Island, earned him a Bronze Star Medal. In addition to the Bronze Star, Conway received the American Theatre Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal.
Discharged at the age of 21, Conway returned home to Mount Vernon and married Rita Zuccaro. He worked at Cooper-Bessemer for 46 years, and he and Rita raised eight children, seven girls and one boy.
Over the course of 50 years, Conway became a citizen activist for athletic teams, military activities, church, and schools. He served five terms as a city councilman.
Three of Conway’s daughters, Nancy Fitzsimmons, Cathy McCarter, and Kelley Watson, along with Conway’s granddaughter, Camille Fitzsimmons, accepted the proclamation on his behalf.
