Soldier News continued - 1944

Pvt.  Alex Kuracina, Jr. Missing in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 10, 1944

 

Pvt. Alex Kuracina, Jr., has been listed as missing in action, according to a War Department notification received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Kuracina, Sr., of Endicott [Broome Co., NY].  The missing soldier is one of five brothers, all serving in the armed forces. 

 

Joseph Brainard Wounded in France

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 10, 1944

 

Sgt. Joseph Brainard, son of Mrs. Emma G. Brainard, of Walton [Delaware Co., NY], was severely wounded in France by a mortar shell and is now a patient in a hospital in England, according to a letter from him and one of his nurses to his mother.  The letters revealed that he received ankle and shoulder injuries. The flesh on both legs also was shredded by fragments of the shell.  Flesh grafting is being done and his condition is said to be favorable.

 

Pfc. Roswald Sager Missing in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 17, 1944

 

Pfc. Roswald Sager, 27, son of Mrs. Nellis Sager, who  makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Andrew Prohaska, Jr., Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] R.D.2, has been reported missing in action in France since July 13.  Private First Class Sager, who had been in the regular Army for six years, had been stationed in Ireland since December prior to the invasion.  His wife, Mrs. Ida Sager, lives at Columbia, N.C.  He also has a brother, Arthur Sager, ACOM serving with the Navy. 

 

Pvt. Edson Smith Killed in Action in France

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 17, 1944

 

Pvt. Edson H. Smith

 

 

Residents of the village and vicinity were saddened Monday noon by the grim horrors of war when word was received here of the first war casualty.  Reported killed in action in France on June 24 is Pvt. Edson H Smith, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fayette L. Smith, according to a telegram received from the War Department.  Previously his parents had received a telegram stating that he was missing in action on that date.

 

Pvt. Smith, who was an infantryman, had been in France since the invasion of Normandy.  The last letter his parents received from him was dated June 18, just six days before the fatal hour.  Edson entered the service on April 1, 1942 and received his training at Camp Croft, S.C., Camp Gordon, Ga., and Camp Gordon Johnston, Fla., and arrived in England in January of this year.  He has three brothers in the service, Pfc. Harold Smith, who is in England; Lt. Robert F. Smith, a pilot in Italy; and Fayette L. Smith, Jr., S 2/C, AOM, of Memphis, Tenn.

 

Pvt. Smith was born in Bainbridge June 9, 1914.  He attended Bainbridge High School and St. Peter's Church.  Before entering the service he was employed at the Scintilla Magneto Co., Sidney.  Surviving besides his parents and three brothers already mentioned are two brothers, Claude Smith and Kenneth Smith, both of Bainbridge; his grandmother, Mrs. Belle Smith, and an aunt, Mrs. Nina Lovejoy, both of Harpursville.

 

Kenneth Kinter Promoted

Bainbridge news & Republican, August 17, 1944

 

Mr. and Mrs. Ross Kinter, of Afton [Chenango Co., NY], recently received word that their son, Kenneth E. Kinter, with the Fifth Army in Italy, has been promoted form corporal to sergeant. 

 

Sergeant Kinter recently received a citation for "exceptional service beyond the call of duty"  The citation stated that Sergeant Kinter was one of seven men who volunteered to go more than a thousand yards in enemy territory to rescue some wounded buddies who were ambushed there.  the evacuation was carried on successfully without enemy interference, although the boys were never expected to return to their own lines. 

 

Sergeant Kinter entered the service in February of 1943 and received his training at Camp Croft, S.C., and Fort George Meade, Maryland, and was sent overseas in November of that year where he has taken part in both African and Italian campaigns.

 

Kermit Lewis Promoted to Captain

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 17, 1944

 

Kermit Howard Lewis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lewis, of Afton, has been promoted to captain at Sacramento Air Service Command, Sacramento, Calif.  This Army Air Force installation is one of 11 Air Force Command area control stations in the United States form which planes, often fly directly to combat zones and A.A.F. supplies are shipped to the far corners of the earth.

 

A former student of Afton High School and of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, Captain Lewis was a junior construction engineer and architectural draftsman when he entered military service in August, 1940.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant after he completed O.C.S. at Miami Beach in April, 1943.  As a radio officer Captain Lewis has made frequent flights to Untied States A.A.F. bases in Quebec, Labrador and Baffinland for the purpose of inspecting, installing and repairing radio equipment pertaining to the operations of army air ways communications system radio stations in those areas. 

 

Captain Lewis has been awarded the American defense medal and the American theatre of operations medal. 

 

Donald Murray Missing in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 17, 1944 

 

Mrs. Donald Murray, of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], has received word that her husband, Pvt. Donald Murray, had been missing in action since July 7.  Private Murray is a grandson of John Burton, of Guilford, and the father of an eight-months-old son.  Prior to his entry into the service.  Private Murray was employed in Bainbridge. 

 

Helen Averell Attending Midshipmen's School

Bainbridge News & Republican, August 17, 1944

 

Mrs. Helen C. Averell, Sp. (S) 2/C, USNR, formerly of Bixby street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] reported recently to the Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School, (WR) Northampton, Mass.  for officer's training.  Mrs. Averell has been on active duty with the WAVES since June 29, 1943.  She was previously stationed at the Naval Barracks in Washington, D.C.  Mrs. Averell is a graduate of Oneonta State Teachers' College and taught at the Utica County Day School, New Hartford, until her entrance into the Navy.  Her husband, Capt.  H.L. Averell, is with the United States Army.