Soldier News continued, 1944

Pfc. Clifford Sherman Survives Plane Crash

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 21, 1944

Pfc. Clifford Sherman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sherman, of R.D.2, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], is one of the survivors of a plane crash in which the pilot was instantly killed.  Private Sherman is with a cargo unit which carries supplies by air from England to France.

 

Lt. Col. James Commings Awarded Bronze Star

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 21, 1944

 

Lt. Col. James H. Comings, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Comings, of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], and graduate of the Afton High School, recently received the Bronze Star Medal for "meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy from Nov. 8 to Nov. 20, 1944, in France."  Col. Comings is with General Patton's 3rd Army.

 

Pfc. Howard Foster Wounded in Action

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 21, 1944

 

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Foster received a telegram form the War Department Sunday stating that their son, Pfc. Howard Foster, had been wounded Nov. 29 in Germany, while serving with the 26th Infantry.  On Monday, Mr. and Mrs. Foster received a letter from a chaplain reporting that Howard had his right arm in a cast and was confined to a hospital in Belgium.

 

Pfc. Ernest Meade is Prisoner of Germans

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 21, 1944

 

Pfc. Ernest E. Meade is a prisoner of war in Germany according to a telegram received from the War Department by his mother, Mrs. Ruth Meade, last Thursday night about 11 o'clock.  Private Meade, of the Airborne Infantry, was reported missing in action Sept. 25, in Holland, and no word had been received concerning his whereabouts until the telegram arrived.  Private Meade was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received June 14, in France.

 

Ove Munk in Training at Submarine School

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 21, 1944

 

Ove T. Munk, 30, fireman 1c, R.D.3, Bainbridge, N.Y. [Chenango Co.[, basic training at the Submarine School, Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, for duty with our growing fleet of underseas fighters.  Fireman Munk will be entitled to wear the twin dolphin insignia of the Submarine Service after further experience aboard a submarine during which he must demonstrate to his commanding officer that he is fully qualified to carry out the duties of his rate. The insignia is regarded as a mark of distinction throughout the Navy.  Munk was graduated in '32 from Bainbridge Central High, joined the Navy last March and went to Sampson, N.Y. for recruit training.  The Submarine School, the only one of its kind conducted by the Navy, is attended by a picked group of men who must pass special physical, mental and psychological tests. The school work takes place not only in classrooms and laboratories, but also in numerous training submarines in which students master the actual techniques of operating the powerful fighting craft.  Many students at Submarine School already have seen battle as members of surface ship crews before volunteering for submarine duty.

 

Pfc. Daniel Kirk Dies of Wounds

Bainbridge News & Republican, December 21, 1944

 

Army Pfc. Daniel M. Kirk, 19, of East Windsor [Broome Co., NY], who was badly wounded during the Allied invasion of Normandy, died Friday in the Rhoades General Hospital, Utica.  The funeral was held Monday in the Pilgrim Holiness Church of East Windsor with burial in the East Windsor cemetery.  Private Kirk, whose brother, James J. Kirk, is with the Army in Belgium, is the fourth Windsor boy to give his life in World War II.  Entering service Apr. 2, 1943, Private Kirk received training in four Army camps here before being shipped to Ireland Apr. 5, this year.  He was stationed in England before he was sent to France.  He participated in several campaigns and was reported shot through the stomach by machine-gun fire.  Operated on in England, he was returned to the United States Oct. 8.  Admitted to the Army hospital on Staten Island, Private Kirk was removed to the Utica hospital Oct. 13.  He spent Dec. 7, 8 and 9 at his home and then returned to the Army hospital.  Army officials attributed death to acute fulminating hepatitis.  Private Kirk was the son of John and the late Gertrude D. Kirk, of East Windsor.  Mr. Kirk is a retired railroad man and farmer.  Survivors in addition to the father and the brother include a sister, Emma, and another, brother, John, all of East Windsor.