Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Soldier News continued - 1945

S/Sgt. Louis Finch Accepted as Cadet
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 10, 1945
 
Staff Sergeant Louis Finch, of 70 Main street, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], has qualified before an AAF examining board at the AAF Redistribution Station No. 1 to take training as an aviation cadet.  The sergeant is a veteran of 17 combat missions in the European theatre of operations where he was an armorer-gunner on a Liberator bomber.  He served five months overseas and wears the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the European theatre ribbon with two stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.  Sgt. Finch has left for San Antonio, Tex., Aviation Cadet Center where he will be classified for training as a navigator, bombardier or pilot.  
 
T/5 Stanley Smith Now at Lake Placid
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 10, 1945
 
T/5 Stanley E. Smith, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], who has recently returned from overseas duty, has reported to the Army Ground and Service Forces Redistribution Station at Lake Placid Club.  Cpl. Smith entered service on Sept. 28, 1942, and was overseas 24-1/2 months with an Engineer Maintenance unit in the Southwest Pacific theatre of operation.  He participated in the New Guinea and Netherlands East Indies campaigns and wears the Distinguished Unit Citation.
 
Pfc. Howard J. Foster Arrives in New York
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 10, 1945
 
Pfc. Howard J. Foster, Infantryman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Foster, of Front street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY] who was seriously wounded on Nov. 29, 1944 in Germany, returned to the States Saturday.  Private First Class Foster has been confined to hospitals in England since his injuries and was visited several times by his brother, S/Sgt Victor Foster, who is stationed in England.
 
John Burgin, M.M. 2/C Returns from Europe
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 10, 1945
 
John I. Burgin, M.M. 2/C, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Burgin, of Franklin [Delaware Co., NY], former residents of Bainbridge, arrived in the States last week after serving in the Mediterranean during the invasion of North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern France.
 
Pfc Robert Kingsley Serves 31 Months Overseas
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 17, 1945
 
 
Pfc. Robert Kingsley
 
Pfc. Robert Kingsley, who is now stationed in France, holds the Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Infantry Combat Badge and the E.T.O. Ribbon.  Private First Class Kingsley, who has been overseas 31 months, took part in the north Africa Campaign, where he was wounded, also the battle of Sicily.  He later was removed to a hospital in England where he was confined for many months.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kingsley of Front street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY].
 
Gerald Tiffany & Jan DeWitt Receive Unit Citation
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 17, 1945
 
Gerald Tiffany, S 1/C, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Tiffany, of R.D.2, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], and Jan. H. DeWitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.W. DeWitt, of Walton [Delaware Co., NY], entered the service in October, 1943, and received their boot training in the Seabees of Camp Peary, Va.  However, they did not become acquainted with one another until they were later assigned to the 31st Special Stevedoring Battalion at Camp Endicott, Davisville, R.I.  Gerald was the battalion bugler in Rhode Island.  They moved out to Port Hueneme, Calif., last July.  While out there the band was organized.  Gerald plays trumpet and Jan baritone.  Gerald is also in the swing band, of which Jan is librarian. 
 
Sometime the first of September, 1944, the battalion embarked from Hueneme for the Marianas.  The shipping situation was so critical there at the time of their arrival that instead of walking into a camp site as originally planned the stevedoring boys pitched tents on the beach and in the next three weeks broke all records unloading the ships in the harbor and getting vital materials ashore.  Later they all got together and, although inexperienced at such a task, set up their own living and administrative quarters.
 
The 31st has been cited three times by the island command on increasing the unloading of supplies by 300 percent and reducing breakage up to a minimum.  On duty hours Gerald drives a coral truck and Jan drives a water truck in the transportation corps.
 
Pvt. Orville Smith Graduates from Mechanics Course
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 17, 1945
 
Keesler Field, Biloxi, Miss.:  Pvt. Orville S. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay C. Smith, of R.D. 3, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] was graduated this week from the AAF Training Command's basic airplane and engine mechanics course at Keesler Field.  The course extended over a 76-day period, during which time he received instruction and actual experience in aircraft maintenance.  This training prepared him for entrance into a specialized course where ground crew students receive instruction in maintenance and trouble shooting on particular types of planes.  The training program he followed included, in addition to aircraft maintenance, fundamentals, instruction in airplane electrical systems, structures, fuel and oil systems, propellers, instruments, hydraulic systems, engine operations and basic airplane inspection.
 
Louis Scanlon Promoted to Frist Lieutenant
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 17, 1945
 
With the 27th Infantry Division on Okinawa:  Promotion of Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant has been announced here for Louis W Scanlon, of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], veteran officer in this Division's famous "fighting Irish" regiment.  Lieutenant Scanlon learned of his promotion while leading his platoon of riflemen in this bitter fight for Okinawa, key to the Ryukyus and to the Japanese homeland.  A veteran of two other major operations against the Japanese in the Central Pacific, the Bainbridge officer saw combat service on Maki Atoll and Saipan Island.  In addition to other service ribbons he wears the Combat Infantryman's Badge for exemplary conduct in battle.  Lieutenant Scanlon has served in his present regiment since its overseas service began more than three years ago.  The organization formerly was a regiment of the New York National Guard.  His home address in 12 Evans street, Bainbridge, where his father, John Scanlon, resides.
 
Capt. James Ryan Awarded Medal
Bainbridge News & Republican, May 17, 1945
 

Capt. James Ryan
 
Capt. James F. Ryan, veteran of the Old Hickory Division, who was seriously wounded on Oct. 7 in Germany and who is a patient at the England General Hospital, Atlantic City, N.J., has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  The Citation reads:
 
"Captain James F. Ryan, 197th Field Artillery Battalion, United States Army, is awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious conduct in action on 21 August 1944, in France.  Captain Ryan was serving as a battery commander when, during a battalion march, it was discovered that enemy troops were in a position approximately eight hundred yards left of the march of the battalion.  By aggressive action and though operating in plain view of the enemy position, his resourcefulness and initiative was largely responsible for the death or capture of approximately 70 of the enemy and the capture of much enemy equipment.  Entered military service from  New York."
 
Captain Ryan is a son of Mr. and Mrs. P.F. Ryan, South Main street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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