Soldier News continued - 1943

Milton Simonds Joins Seabees

Bainbridge News & Republican, September 2, 1943

Milton R. Simonds, Jr., 18, popular youth of the village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], and son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton R. Simonds, of West Main street, will leave Saturday for the Seabees.  "Milt" prominent in all school activities, was given the athletic award last year.  This award is given to the boy and girl in the entire high school for outstanding athletic achievements.  He played football, baseball, basketball; and he was a member of the track team, wrestling team, glee club, and town baseball club.  He was a member of the auxiliary firemen's organization; and he served on the committee of the Youth Recreational Program.

 

Italy Surrenders

Bainbridge News & Republican, September 9, 1943

 

 

Frank Lewis Enters Navy

Bainbridge News & Republican, September 9, 1943

 

Frank H. Lewis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis M. Lewis, of North Main street [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], entered the U.S. Navy last Saturday and is expected to receive his boot training at Sampson.  Frank graduated from the College of Engineering, Cornell University, last June, and was employed at the Scintilla before his induction into the service.

 

Lt. Warren Barnet Killed in Airplane Accident

Bainbridge News & Republican,  September 16, 1943

 

Lt. Warren Barnet, 21, who was graduated from the intermediate department in the Margaretville High School in 1934, was killed in an Army airplane accident in Missouri last week Tuesday.  There was a military funeral for Lt. Barnet at Margaretville Sunday.  The American legion had charge.  Details of the crash which killed him have not been revealed by the War Department.  He was on a flight from New England to Texas.  Lt. Barnet was married four months ago.  His wife, his parents and his grandparents survive.  He enlisted in the Army Air Forces about one year ago.  His death brings to five the number of Margaretville [Delaware Co., NY] boys killed in the present war.  Four of the deaths came in planes.

 

1st Lt. James Moore Awarded Decoration

Bainbridge News & Republican, September 23, 1943

 

First Lieutenant James M. Moore, of Gilbertsville [Otsego Co., NY], is one of a crew of U.S. fliers who last week were awarded bronze oak leaf cluster "for extraordinary achievement in the Southwest Pacific," according to Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney, commander of Allied Air Forces in that area.

 

Their decorations were for participation in a bombing attack on a Japanese convoy in the Bismarck sea in March. The rest of the formation of heavy bombers missed the rendezvous and the lone heavy bomber made the attack alone, although the lower turret gun was not functioning, and although it was known Japanese planes were in the vicinity. 

 

"A single attack was made on the convoy at an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet," the citation said.  "Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered from the enemy vessels.  During the bombing run this bomber was attacked by 15 enemy fighter planes.  As a result of this attack, all but the tail guns were disabled, and the aircraft was otherwise badly damaged.  The radio was also damaged, but was repaired in flight and radio contact was effected with their home base, thus enabling the damaged aircraft to be safely landed at its home base.  The courage and exceptional devotion to duty displayed by these crew members on this mission are worthy of the highest commendation."

 

Merton Moore, father of Lieut. Moore, was formerly a resident of Cannonsville [Delaware Co., NY]

 

T/Sgt John Martin Jr. Decorated

Bainbridge News & Republican, September 23, 1943

 

T/Sgt. John J. Martin, Jr., of Walton [Delaware Co., NYH], winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross and bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart for wounds received at Pearl Harbor, as well as the Army good conduct medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific theatre ribbon, is home from the Southwest Pacific on his first furlough in many months.  Sgt. Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Martin, of Walton, who took part in more than 100 bombing missions, is believed to have seen more action than any other Walton man in the service, and much of that action came as first radio man and gunner on a Flying Fortress in the Solomons.

 

Sgt. Martin enlisted in the Army in March, 1939, in his senior year at Walton High School.  Vaguely he smelled gun powder.  That, perhaps, was inherent.  His father marched out with an Oneonta detachment for foreign service in World War I.