Soldier News continued, 1944

William Nichols is Prisoner of War

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

Harry Nichols, who lives in Frear hollow, town of Franklin [Delaware Co., NY], received a telegram from the war department Friday that his son, Private First Class William H. Nichols, is a prisoner of war of the German government.  The war department message is based on a report received through the International Red Cross.

 

Pvt. John Polinsky, Jr., Killed in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

An Otsego county father, John Polinsky, of Unadilla , is awaiting additional word from the War Department in regard to the death of his son, Pvt. John Polinsky, Jr., of Unadilla, reported killed in action Oct. 27 in France.  Private Polinsky had been overseas several months.

 

Sgt. Robert Owen Missing in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

 

Mrs. Ida M Cobb, of Bovina, received a telegram from the war department on Thursday, Nov. 23, reading:  "The secretary of war desires me to express  his deep regret that your son, Sergeant Robert R. Owen, has  been reported missing in action since Nov. 8 over Germany.  If further details or other information are received, you will be promptly notified.  Witsell, acting adjutant general."

 

Cpl.- George Moran Wounded in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

 

Cpl. George Moran, 20-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moran, of 80 Mary Street, Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], doesn't think much of shoulder patches soldiers wear to identify their units.  Corporal Moran, who is convalescing in a hospital at Cleveland, Ohio, has plenty of reason to feel as he does.  Carrying his stiff left arm in a half bent position, the Binghamton soldier is convinced that if it had not been for his "Keystone" shoulder patch he'd still be in Europe fighting the Germans.  Last Aug. 7 Corporal Moran was suddenly spun around by a sickening blow on his left shoulder.  He fell to the ground and was carried to the rear by members of the medical corps.  There doctors discovered that four German machine gun bullets had scored a bull's eye on the corporal's shoulder patch.  Corporal Moran has been in the service two years and overseas for approximately 15 months.  Before going to Europe he served some time in Newfoundland.  While in England he met his brother, Staff Sergeant James Moran, also a member of the U.S. Infantry.  Sergeant Moran is now in France.  Corporal Moran was a resident of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] at the time he entered the service.  His parents moved to Binghamton about one year ago.

 

Ensign Edward Fiorina Graduates

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

 

Ensign Edward F Fiorina, of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY], has been graduated from the Transportation Corps Marine Officers School, New Orleans, La., with the class of engine officers, qualifying for service as Second Assistant Engineer aboard Army vessels, it has been announced by the school's public relations department.  He has been released to the New Orleans Port of Embarkation for assignment to active duty, following completion of a 12-week course in advanced engine training for officers of the Marine personnel division of the Army Transportation Corps.  Ens. Fiorina enrolled in the Maritime Service in October, 1943, from which he was selected for cadet training at St. Petersburg, Fla., leading to the position of engine officer with the "Army's Navy."  Upon graduation in July, he was assigned to the New Orleans school for specialized training.  Ens. Fiorina, who attended Bainbridge Central High School, was formerly employed by Earl Codington, Unadilla.

 

S-Sgt. Louis Finch Awarded Two Citations

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 2, 1944

 

15th AAF in Italy:  S/Sgt. Louis W. Finch, R.D.2, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, has been authorized to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge and one Bronze Cluster as a member of a veteran group which twice has been cited by the President of the United States for "outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy." 

 

Commanded by Col. Robert E. L. Eaton, Bellevile, Ill, the group received its original gold-rimmed blue ribbon for an attack on the Prufening aircraft factory at Regensburg, Germany, on Feb. 25.  The cluster was added for a mission over the Ploesti, Rumania, oil refineries on Apr. 5.  The citations read, in part:  (For Regensburg):

 

"Notified to prepare maximum aircraft... personnel worked feverishly, enthusiastically, and with untiring intensity...The tremendous material damage inflicted...contributed greatly to the curtailment of aircraft production by the enemy at a time of great importance."

 

And for Ploesti:

"Under the most difficult and trying conditions on the ground and despite extremely adverse weather conditions in the air, the group...successfully delivered a devastating blow to the important enemy oil installations.  The grim determination... and heroic courage of the combat crews, together with the profession skill and devotion to duty of the ground personnel... are outstanding in the history of aerial warfare."

 

Sgt. Finch entered the Army on Jan. 29, 1943, and received his training at the Buckley Field Armorer School, Colo., and the Harlingen Gunnery School, Tex.  His wife, Mrs. Doris Finch lives at the Bainbridge address.