American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
Paul A. Nichol, US Army was inducted into the Army for special assignment on May 3, 1943 and sent to Camp
Upton on Long Island for basic training.
Joseph McLean Nouss, served his naval career in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters in WWII and the Korean
Conflict. He retired in 1972 as commandant of the 3rd Naval District. A longtime resident of Pelham Manor, he
died suddenly on August 29, 2004 after a short illness.
Mr. Nouss was born in St. Louis, MO on January 20, 1920. Educated at St. Louis University High School, St.
Louis University, he graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD. He took graduate courses at Wharton
School of Business. He was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. He is survived by his
wife of 58 years, Susan Rhoades; three daughters: Nancy Nouss-Brown, Suzanne Bayley and husband, Don
Bayley, Elizabeth Nouss and husband, Tom Guinan; six grandchildren: He was also survived by a brother,
James Leo Nouss. He is predeceased by a sister, Celeste Matthews. Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Journal News
(Nov. 17, 2007)
Franklin F. Ogden, lived at 110 Corona Avenue, he was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy Reserve in
May 1943. His brother First Lieutenant William M. Ogden, U. S. Army, a member of the 20th Infantry Division,
6th Infantry Division which fought to retake the Philippine islands, was killed in action on February 2, 1945. The
Standard Star June 2, 1943. (April 27, 2008) Biography of William Ogden on WWII Hero Page
Florence Genevieve (Lahey) Ollinger, a native of Pelham Manor, a 27 year officer of the U.S. Navy Medical
Services Corps, and a member of the American Legion died on October 3, 2007 in Newport, RI. She was 88.
Lt. Commander Lahey Ollinger was born in New York City, on April 25, 1919, the second youngest of a family of
five brothers and seven sisters. She graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1937 and went on to study
at the St. Vincent's Medical Center, receiving designation as a Registered Nurse in 1940. Answering the call for
nurses to join the military during World War II, she was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy on Jan. 11, 1943.
Later she trained at the Medical College of Richmond, VA to become a National Registered Physical Therapist.
Her naval duty stations included St. Alban's Naval Hospital in New York, the Naval Air Station in New Orleans,
and bases at Treasure Island in San Francisco, San Diego, CA; Camp LeJeune, NC; Chelsea MA; and Newport
RI. In 1970, she retired from the Navy with the rank of Lt. Commander and the National Defense Service Medal
with one Bronze Star among her decorations. She was honored as a founding member of the Women's Military
Memorial in Washington, DC.
After retirement from the Navy, she served as an instructor in the School of Nursing at Salve Regina College in
Newport, RI. She was a member of several veterans and historical societies, including the American Legion and
the English- Speaking Union. She studied French at the Sorbonne in Paris and enjoyed reading and traveling.
During a trip to Spain, she met Solomon Ollinger, a widower, who was retired from the Bulova Watch Company.
Married in 1977 at the chapel of Salve Regina College, the couple traveled widely and lived in Spain and Rhode
Island. After her husband died, she lived in recent years at the Acquidneck Place residence in Portsmouth.
Lt. Commander Lahey Ollinger was the aunt of Kenneth G. Kraetzer of White Plains. Her funeral mass was held
on Oct. 6, 2007 with military honors provided by the Navy at the Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth RI.
PELLICCI, JOHN (SPOOFY) S. was a World War II hero serving in the Army under General George Patton, from
1941 to 1945. He served as a platoon sergeant of a medium tank unit.
Sergent Pellicci volunteered to join the Army on March 5, 1941 and initially trained at Camp Upton on Long
Island. He was then sent to the Second Armored Division, the "Hell on Wheels" Division, where he trained under
general George Patton. Overseas for more than two years, he saw action in Tunisa, Algeria, Sicily, France,
Belgium, Holland and Germany. In France, Sergeant Pellicci surprised a tank firing on an American tank, and
knocked it out. He destroyed two more tanks, a German half-track, and a 75 mm anti-tank gun. When a mine
disabled his own tank, Pellicci with three of the crew stayed with it keeping 65 enemy soldiers pinned down while
another crew member went for aid.
On December 26th, 1944 he was injured for the third time, this time in action in Belgium. His parents, Mr. & Mrs.
Joseph Pellicci of 506 Seventh Avenue, received a letter from their son on Jan. 15th 1945 written from a hospital
bed on Jan. 5th in which he wrote that he was "Doing well". In early February his parents received another letter
from their son describing that he was in a hospital in Paris. The letter from the War Department described the
latest injury as a laceration to his ear.
Before entering the service, he was in business with his Father who owned Joe's Bar and Grill at Sixth Street and
Seventh Avenue. His brother Sergeant Andrew Pellicci was stationed in Holland and a second brother.
Private First Class Jack Pellicci was stationed in New Orleans. During the summer of 1944, John and Andrew
ran into each other while John was at a rest place in England and were able to spend two days together.
Mr. Pellicci received two Purple Heart Medals, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal.
Returning home, on October 11, 1947 he married Eleanor Ranieri at St. Vito's Church in Mamaroneck, NY. He
was Captain of the Pelham Fire Department for many years. Retiring to Englewood, FL, he died on September
15, 2001 at the age of 82. Born September 9, 1919 in Pelham to John and Caroline Grandizio Pellicci?, Mr.
Pellicci was proprietor of the Fisherman's Net Restaurant, Pelham, NY. He was survived by his wife Eleanor, two
sons, Kenneth and his wife Terry and Richard and his wife Robin, one brother, Carl, three sisters, Rachel
D'Onofrio, Louise Cali and Rose Bruno, three granddaughters, and two great-grandsons. The Standard Star
February 8, 1945 The Journal News Sept. 17, 2001 (11/07)
Tech Sergeant Pal M. Porzio USAAF, a long time resident of Maple Avenue in Pelham, he was a mechanic
and flight engineer in the early days of WWII flying anti submarine missions in the Caribbean.
Mr. Porzio was a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School Class of 1938, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1939. He
applied for flight school but a slight 20-30 Vision defect in left eye eliminated him from flight consideration. he
was assigned to Roosevelt Field later that year and trained to became an aircraft mechanic. "The Roosevelt
Field Aviation School was one of the best schools at that time". He progressed to Flight Engineer, Flight Chief,
then Line chief.
He was assigned to the Sixth Air Force, 9th Bomb Squad, 5th Bombardier squad which focused on anti
submarine operations in the Caribbean. In 1940 he was assigned to Panama, Riohato, "I may have picked up
malaria there". He flew on B17s until they were diverted overseas, then slow B18s, then finally B25 Mitchell
bombers arrived at the end of '43. They flew missions searching for enemy submarines from Aruba, Venezuela,
Curacio, and British West Indies. “We started flying B17s, but they were taken away because of being needed
overseas in the Phillipines or Europe.
On Dec. 7, 1941, he was at St. Lucia, "No one knew where Pearl Harbor was". We were flying slow two engine B-
18s with no ammunition. They did not send us any ammunition until February 1942". "Our air group attacked
and sunk a submarine with depth charges, everyone received an air medal for that. "We found that the Norden
bomb site was good fro us, so we were told that if we see a submarine we should descend to just above the
waves to attack. Our outfit did lose planes to submarines. Porzio had 4,000 hours in the air, as Flight Engineers
often served as co-pilots. "We did not have enough pilots". Later, he was sent to Trindad with the 317th
Service Squadron.
"We saw a lot of merchant ship torpedoed, they would sink in less than five minutes, saw many guys in life rafts,
we gave locations to the Navy, but I fear many were never found.
"I was on a plane which where the landing gear collapsed on landing and I hit my head and developed a blood
clot in my leg. First went to an Atlantic City hospital, then sent to Louisville to a hospital where they operated on
my leg, great doctors there". "I became a line Chief for transport planes, they were just were starting to make
C46s into hospital planes staffed with nurses".
Later, "I was sent to North Carolina and worked with gliders destined for France. We learned how to take off with
one glider in tow, they come around the field and pick up a second glider. We met the actor Jackie Coogan who
was a pilot.". Then sent to Alliance, Nebraska, and flew on C46s, later sent to a school in Buffalo, where the
Pratt & Whitney engines where made, later schools, in California and Oregon.
Assigned to Bergstrom Field, Austin, TX, next to Camp Hood, he was an instructor for transport plane pilots,
training for European invasions. "It was kind of a safety center, we taught how to use equipment that had
defects which could become dangerous". "Worked with C46, new 2 engine transport sent to the Battle of the
Bulge. It had a belly to carry more troops. All the guys there were sent to France". Was at Austin when war
ended and discharged.
Sgt. Prazio came home and went to work in a contracting business in Mt. Vernon and Yonkers. Worked on
building the New England Thruway, was a master mechanic in rebuilding Hutchinson River and Cross County
Parkways. He married Rita in May 1949, and moved to Pelham in 1963. She worked in Pelham schools for 35
years. They had two girls and have two grandchildren. The couple is married 59 years in May 2008.
Interviews (April 26, 2008)
Paul Edward Prass was the son of Mr. & Mrs. John E. Prass of Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from the University
of Cincinnati with an Engineering degree in 1943. He served as a Naval Supply officer for two and a half years
during WWII.
On Sept. 6, 1949 he married Elda A. Smith of Pelham at St. Catharine's Church. The ceremony was officiated by
the Rev. Arthur A. Campbell. Elda's brother was LeSueur G. Smith the WWII Flying Boat pilot.
PFC Ralph W. Prezzano USMC, grew up at 410 Ninth Avenue in North Pelham had his right arm injured by a
hand granade during three days of fighting in the pacific at the Engebi and Parry Islands. PVC Prezzano came
through the battle at Engebi ok but was injured near the end of the battle for Parry Island. Standard Star April
27, 1944 (January 5, 2008)
Col. Altus Emory Prince US Army a native of Washington DC and graduate of the US Military Academy at West
Point NY, Col. Prince was the husband of Jane Constance Schilling of Pelham Manor, New York. The couple are
interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.
Known as Emory or “Em” to his friends and family, the Colonel was born on 12 October 1919 in Washington, DC
where he grew up. His parents were his stepfather, Jeremiah M. Enright, and his mother Dorothy E. Garner, who
served together in the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Labor.
Emory attended Western High School in DC, where he played football and baseball. He then began to prepare to
for West Point by attending a year at the Millard Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., and then serving four
months in the Illinois National Guard 24th Field Artillery. He was able to earn an appointment to the USMA from
U.S. Representative Scott M. Lucas of Illinois.
Emory arrived at West Point on 1 July 1939. Progressing well among the ranks at the Academy, he was named
a corporal in his second year and a sergeant as a first classman. Not big enough for football, he played
baseball where he was a second baseman, earning "Monograms" each year. His roommate wrote about him in
the "Howitzer":
“But who would not want him for a friend? — not one who has met him!”
During 1942 he met Jane Constance Schilling who was attending William and Mary College. He graduated early
on January 19, 1943. They were engaged to be married when Emory left for Europe with the 100th Infantry
Division. The young Lieutenant served was awarded two Silver Stars, for heroism on battlefields. He received a
battlefield promotion to Captain and given command of a rifle company. Under the leadership of Captain Prince
his unit receiving a Unit Presidential Citation for contributing to the 399th Infantry Regiment’s capture of a hill at
Tete de Reclos, France, in November 1944. Captain Prince was taken prisoner by the Germans in January
1945 and released in May 1945 as World War II came to a close.
After his release from the German POW Camp, he hurried home to be married on July 10, 1945 at the Cadet
Chapel at West Point. The newlyweds enjoyed assignments at the Command and General Staff School, Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, followed by assignments at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands, New Mexico. Their first
born Carol Ann, was born at Fort Totten, New York, on September 14, 1946. In 1948, the family moved to Hawaii
so that Emory could instruct in an ROTC assignment. Their son Lawrence Emory was born there on January 28,
1952. The next stop for the family was in July 1952 back to the Washigton DC area.to join the joint
headquarters in the Pentagon of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. The position involved policies and
procedures for the storage and handling of classified weapons. In 1956, Emory went unaccompanied to Vietnam
for an tour. He returned In 1957, and the family moved to Fort Ord, California, and the Combat Development
Command where he worked on tactics that would be utilized in Vietnam.
Noted as an excellent teacher and instructor, Emory was assignment to Southeast Germany, where he taught a
NATO Nuclear Course at the U.S. Army School in Europe from 1960 to 1963. As many American military families
of the day, found, they enjoyed their stay in Germany. On one occasion they attended the Passion Play at
Oberammergau. Upon their return, Emory's final Army tour was at the Defense Atomic Support Agency where he
served until his retirement as a Colonel on 1 August 1967. During this period the family enjoyed as Emory was
remembering telling a West Point classmate, "A strange, delightful happening occurred" with the birth of another
son, Stephen Garner, at Fort Belvoir on July 18, 1965.
Emory and Jane settled in Fairfax, Virginia, with many other West Point and military families. Emory continued
his fondness for teaching as a mathematics instructor at Northern Virginia Community College where he
advanced to the head of the Developmental Mathematics Department.
Emory died of a heart attack on 20 August 1971. Jane and her children maintained their residence in Fairfax,
VA. Jane also died unexpectedly at a young age on July 8, 1980. She joined her husband at Arlington National
Cemetery.
Their daughter Carol married J. Michael Montana, who live in Carmel, CA and have a daughter Megan Michele.
Their older son Lawrence, resides in Fairfax, Virginia; and younger son Stephen, attended San Diego State
University. It is noted that Emory’s best friend since high school, Paul Browning, Jr., of Washington, DC, has
remained in close touch with the family.
A West Point classmate remembered the Prince's by saying,"They leave a legacy of love for all, particularly their
family of which they were so fond. We will always remember Emory for that love along with his love of country, his
devotion to duty, his delightful sense of humor, and his kindness to all. Whoever met you, Emory, was a better
person for just having known you.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/aeprince.htm (A USMA classmate's biography) (March 22, 2008)
George Proper Jr. grew up at 125 Fifth Avenue in Pelham, the son of Mr. & Mrs. George Proper Sr. He.
became an aviation machinist's mate second class in the Navy, a combat air crewman with a training unit at the
Naval Air Station at Pensacola, FL. His brother Daniel was killed flying a B-24 over Austria on June 3, 1945.
Standard Star July 16, 1945. (12/2/2007)
Corp. Leslie Pugh was the son of Mrs. Hannah Pugh of 105 Fifth Avenue, North Pelham. He graduated from
Mahanoy City High School in Pennsylvania. Before joining the military he worked as a horticulturist.
Pugh was inducted on Dec. 14th 1042 into the Army and was assigned to the New Orleans area to work in the
Transportation Corps. This branch had the responsibility of moving men and materials to the fighting fronts. The
Standard Star June 4, 1943. (April 12, 2008)
Francis J. Purcell USA, was a Second Lt. of the US Army serving with a cavalry unit during the invasion of
Europe during the winter of 1945. According to a letter received by his wife, on Feb. 19th, he was on a mission
in Germany and had succeeded in taking a town when he was wounded by Germans firing an 88 mm gun from a
pillbox. He had to walk to the next town to receive medical attention. He was married to the former Marion Fidelis
Walsh of 441 Wynnewood Road in Pelham Manor. Standard Star April 17, 1945 (January 13, 2008)
15
Upton on Long Island for basic training.
Joseph McLean Nouss, served his naval career in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters in WWII and the Korean
Conflict. He retired in 1972 as commandant of the 3rd Naval District. A longtime resident of Pelham Manor, he
died suddenly on August 29, 2004 after a short illness.
Mr. Nouss was born in St. Louis, MO on January 20, 1920. Educated at St. Louis University High School, St.
Louis University, he graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD. He took graduate courses at Wharton
School of Business. He was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. He is survived by his
wife of 58 years, Susan Rhoades; three daughters: Nancy Nouss-Brown, Suzanne Bayley and husband, Don
Bayley, Elizabeth Nouss and husband, Tom Guinan; six grandchildren: He was also survived by a brother,
James Leo Nouss. He is predeceased by a sister, Celeste Matthews. Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Journal News
(Nov. 17, 2007)
Franklin F. Ogden, lived at 110 Corona Avenue, he was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy Reserve in
May 1943. His brother First Lieutenant William M. Ogden, U. S. Army, a member of the 20th Infantry Division,
6th Infantry Division which fought to retake the Philippine islands, was killed in action on February 2, 1945. The
Standard Star June 2, 1943. (April 27, 2008) Biography of William Ogden on WWII Hero Page
Florence Genevieve (Lahey) Ollinger, a native of Pelham Manor, a 27 year officer of the U.S. Navy Medical
Services Corps, and a member of the American Legion died on October 3, 2007 in Newport, RI. She was 88.
Lt. Commander Lahey Ollinger was born in New York City, on April 25, 1919, the second youngest of a family of
five brothers and seven sisters. She graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1937 and went on to study
at the St. Vincent's Medical Center, receiving designation as a Registered Nurse in 1940. Answering the call for
nurses to join the military during World War II, she was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy on Jan. 11, 1943.
Later she trained at the Medical College of Richmond, VA to become a National Registered Physical Therapist.
Her naval duty stations included St. Alban's Naval Hospital in New York, the Naval Air Station in New Orleans,
and bases at Treasure Island in San Francisco, San Diego, CA; Camp LeJeune, NC; Chelsea MA; and Newport
RI. In 1970, she retired from the Navy with the rank of Lt. Commander and the National Defense Service Medal
with one Bronze Star among her decorations. She was honored as a founding member of the Women's Military
Memorial in Washington, DC.
After retirement from the Navy, she served as an instructor in the School of Nursing at Salve Regina College in
Newport, RI. She was a member of several veterans and historical societies, including the American Legion and
the English- Speaking Union. She studied French at the Sorbonne in Paris and enjoyed reading and traveling.
During a trip to Spain, she met Solomon Ollinger, a widower, who was retired from the Bulova Watch Company.
Married in 1977 at the chapel of Salve Regina College, the couple traveled widely and lived in Spain and Rhode
Island. After her husband died, she lived in recent years at the Acquidneck Place residence in Portsmouth.
Lt. Commander Lahey Ollinger was the aunt of Kenneth G. Kraetzer of White Plains. Her funeral mass was held
on Oct. 6, 2007 with military honors provided by the Navy at the Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth RI.
PELLICCI, JOHN (SPOOFY) S. was a World War II hero serving in the Army under General George Patton, from
1941 to 1945. He served as a platoon sergeant of a medium tank unit.
Sergent Pellicci volunteered to join the Army on March 5, 1941 and initially trained at Camp Upton on Long
Island. He was then sent to the Second Armored Division, the "Hell on Wheels" Division, where he trained under
general George Patton. Overseas for more than two years, he saw action in Tunisa, Algeria, Sicily, France,
Belgium, Holland and Germany. In France, Sergeant Pellicci surprised a tank firing on an American tank, and
knocked it out. He destroyed two more tanks, a German half-track, and a 75 mm anti-tank gun. When a mine
disabled his own tank, Pellicci with three of the crew stayed with it keeping 65 enemy soldiers pinned down while
another crew member went for aid.
On December 26th, 1944 he was injured for the third time, this time in action in Belgium. His parents, Mr. & Mrs.
Joseph Pellicci of 506 Seventh Avenue, received a letter from their son on Jan. 15th 1945 written from a hospital
bed on Jan. 5th in which he wrote that he was "Doing well". In early February his parents received another letter
from their son describing that he was in a hospital in Paris. The letter from the War Department described the
latest injury as a laceration to his ear.
Before entering the service, he was in business with his Father who owned Joe's Bar and Grill at Sixth Street and
Seventh Avenue. His brother Sergeant Andrew Pellicci was stationed in Holland and a second brother.
Private First Class Jack Pellicci was stationed in New Orleans. During the summer of 1944, John and Andrew
ran into each other while John was at a rest place in England and were able to spend two days together.
Mr. Pellicci received two Purple Heart Medals, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal.
Returning home, on October 11, 1947 he married Eleanor Ranieri at St. Vito's Church in Mamaroneck, NY. He
was Captain of the Pelham Fire Department for many years. Retiring to Englewood, FL, he died on September
15, 2001 at the age of 82. Born September 9, 1919 in Pelham to John and Caroline Grandizio Pellicci?, Mr.
Pellicci was proprietor of the Fisherman's Net Restaurant, Pelham, NY. He was survived by his wife Eleanor, two
sons, Kenneth and his wife Terry and Richard and his wife Robin, one brother, Carl, three sisters, Rachel
D'Onofrio, Louise Cali and Rose Bruno, three granddaughters, and two great-grandsons. The Standard Star
February 8, 1945 The Journal News Sept. 17, 2001 (11/07)
Tech Sergeant Pal M. Porzio USAAF, a long time resident of Maple Avenue in Pelham, he was a mechanic
and flight engineer in the early days of WWII flying anti submarine missions in the Caribbean.
Mr. Porzio was a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School Class of 1938, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1939. He
applied for flight school but a slight 20-30 Vision defect in left eye eliminated him from flight consideration. he
was assigned to Roosevelt Field later that year and trained to became an aircraft mechanic. "The Roosevelt
Field Aviation School was one of the best schools at that time". He progressed to Flight Engineer, Flight Chief,
then Line chief.
He was assigned to the Sixth Air Force, 9th Bomb Squad, 5th Bombardier squad which focused on anti
submarine operations in the Caribbean. In 1940 he was assigned to Panama, Riohato, "I may have picked up
malaria there". He flew on B17s until they were diverted overseas, then slow B18s, then finally B25 Mitchell
bombers arrived at the end of '43. They flew missions searching for enemy submarines from Aruba, Venezuela,
Curacio, and British West Indies. “We started flying B17s, but they were taken away because of being needed
overseas in the Phillipines or Europe.
On Dec. 7, 1941, he was at St. Lucia, "No one knew where Pearl Harbor was". We were flying slow two engine B-
18s with no ammunition. They did not send us any ammunition until February 1942". "Our air group attacked
and sunk a submarine with depth charges, everyone received an air medal for that. "We found that the Norden
bomb site was good fro us, so we were told that if we see a submarine we should descend to just above the
waves to attack. Our outfit did lose planes to submarines. Porzio had 4,000 hours in the air, as Flight Engineers
often served as co-pilots. "We did not have enough pilots". Later, he was sent to Trindad with the 317th
Service Squadron.
"We saw a lot of merchant ship torpedoed, they would sink in less than five minutes, saw many guys in life rafts,
we gave locations to the Navy, but I fear many were never found.
"I was on a plane which where the landing gear collapsed on landing and I hit my head and developed a blood
clot in my leg. First went to an Atlantic City hospital, then sent to Louisville to a hospital where they operated on
my leg, great doctors there". "I became a line Chief for transport planes, they were just were starting to make
C46s into hospital planes staffed with nurses".
Later, "I was sent to North Carolina and worked with gliders destined for France. We learned how to take off with
one glider in tow, they come around the field and pick up a second glider. We met the actor Jackie Coogan who
was a pilot.". Then sent to Alliance, Nebraska, and flew on C46s, later sent to a school in Buffalo, where the
Pratt & Whitney engines where made, later schools, in California and Oregon.
Assigned to Bergstrom Field, Austin, TX, next to Camp Hood, he was an instructor for transport plane pilots,
training for European invasions. "It was kind of a safety center, we taught how to use equipment that had
defects which could become dangerous". "Worked with C46, new 2 engine transport sent to the Battle of the
Bulge. It had a belly to carry more troops. All the guys there were sent to France". Was at Austin when war
ended and discharged.
Sgt. Prazio came home and went to work in a contracting business in Mt. Vernon and Yonkers. Worked on
building the New England Thruway, was a master mechanic in rebuilding Hutchinson River and Cross County
Parkways. He married Rita in May 1949, and moved to Pelham in 1963. She worked in Pelham schools for 35
years. They had two girls and have two grandchildren. The couple is married 59 years in May 2008.
Interviews (April 26, 2008)
Paul Edward Prass was the son of Mr. & Mrs. John E. Prass of Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from the University
of Cincinnati with an Engineering degree in 1943. He served as a Naval Supply officer for two and a half years
during WWII.
On Sept. 6, 1949 he married Elda A. Smith of Pelham at St. Catharine's Church. The ceremony was officiated by
the Rev. Arthur A. Campbell. Elda's brother was LeSueur G. Smith the WWII Flying Boat pilot.
PFC Ralph W. Prezzano USMC, grew up at 410 Ninth Avenue in North Pelham had his right arm injured by a
hand granade during three days of fighting in the pacific at the Engebi and Parry Islands. PVC Prezzano came
through the battle at Engebi ok but was injured near the end of the battle for Parry Island. Standard Star April
27, 1944 (January 5, 2008)
Col. Altus Emory Prince US Army a native of Washington DC and graduate of the US Military Academy at West
Point NY, Col. Prince was the husband of Jane Constance Schilling of Pelham Manor, New York. The couple are
interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.
Known as Emory or “Em” to his friends and family, the Colonel was born on 12 October 1919 in Washington, DC
where he grew up. His parents were his stepfather, Jeremiah M. Enright, and his mother Dorothy E. Garner, who
served together in the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Labor.
Emory attended Western High School in DC, where he played football and baseball. He then began to prepare to
for West Point by attending a year at the Millard Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., and then serving four
months in the Illinois National Guard 24th Field Artillery. He was able to earn an appointment to the USMA from
U.S. Representative Scott M. Lucas of Illinois.
Emory arrived at West Point on 1 July 1939. Progressing well among the ranks at the Academy, he was named
a corporal in his second year and a sergeant as a first classman. Not big enough for football, he played
baseball where he was a second baseman, earning "Monograms" each year. His roommate wrote about him in
the "Howitzer":
“But who would not want him for a friend? — not one who has met him!”
During 1942 he met Jane Constance Schilling who was attending William and Mary College. He graduated early
on January 19, 1943. They were engaged to be married when Emory left for Europe with the 100th Infantry
Division. The young Lieutenant served was awarded two Silver Stars, for heroism on battlefields. He received a
battlefield promotion to Captain and given command of a rifle company. Under the leadership of Captain Prince
his unit receiving a Unit Presidential Citation for contributing to the 399th Infantry Regiment’s capture of a hill at
Tete de Reclos, France, in November 1944. Captain Prince was taken prisoner by the Germans in January
1945 and released in May 1945 as World War II came to a close.
After his release from the German POW Camp, he hurried home to be married on July 10, 1945 at the Cadet
Chapel at West Point. The newlyweds enjoyed assignments at the Command and General Staff School, Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, followed by assignments at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands, New Mexico. Their first
born Carol Ann, was born at Fort Totten, New York, on September 14, 1946. In 1948, the family moved to Hawaii
so that Emory could instruct in an ROTC assignment. Their son Lawrence Emory was born there on January 28,
1952. The next stop for the family was in July 1952 back to the Washigton DC area.to join the joint
headquarters in the Pentagon of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. The position involved policies and
procedures for the storage and handling of classified weapons. In 1956, Emory went unaccompanied to Vietnam
for an tour. He returned In 1957, and the family moved to Fort Ord, California, and the Combat Development
Command where he worked on tactics that would be utilized in Vietnam.
Noted as an excellent teacher and instructor, Emory was assignment to Southeast Germany, where he taught a
NATO Nuclear Course at the U.S. Army School in Europe from 1960 to 1963. As many American military families
of the day, found, they enjoyed their stay in Germany. On one occasion they attended the Passion Play at
Oberammergau. Upon their return, Emory's final Army tour was at the Defense Atomic Support Agency where he
served until his retirement as a Colonel on 1 August 1967. During this period the family enjoyed as Emory was
remembering telling a West Point classmate, "A strange, delightful happening occurred" with the birth of another
son, Stephen Garner, at Fort Belvoir on July 18, 1965.
Emory and Jane settled in Fairfax, Virginia, with many other West Point and military families. Emory continued
his fondness for teaching as a mathematics instructor at Northern Virginia Community College where he
advanced to the head of the Developmental Mathematics Department.
Emory died of a heart attack on 20 August 1971. Jane and her children maintained their residence in Fairfax,
VA. Jane also died unexpectedly at a young age on July 8, 1980. She joined her husband at Arlington National
Cemetery.
Their daughter Carol married J. Michael Montana, who live in Carmel, CA and have a daughter Megan Michele.
Their older son Lawrence, resides in Fairfax, Virginia; and younger son Stephen, attended San Diego State
University. It is noted that Emory’s best friend since high school, Paul Browning, Jr., of Washington, DC, has
remained in close touch with the family.
A West Point classmate remembered the Prince's by saying,"They leave a legacy of love for all, particularly their
family of which they were so fond. We will always remember Emory for that love along with his love of country, his
devotion to duty, his delightful sense of humor, and his kindness to all. Whoever met you, Emory, was a better
person for just having known you.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/aeprince.htm (A USMA classmate's biography) (March 22, 2008)
George Proper Jr. grew up at 125 Fifth Avenue in Pelham, the son of Mr. & Mrs. George Proper Sr. He.
became an aviation machinist's mate second class in the Navy, a combat air crewman with a training unit at the
Naval Air Station at Pensacola, FL. His brother Daniel was killed flying a B-24 over Austria on June 3, 1945.
Standard Star July 16, 1945. (12/2/2007)
Corp. Leslie Pugh was the son of Mrs. Hannah Pugh of 105 Fifth Avenue, North Pelham. He graduated from
Mahanoy City High School in Pennsylvania. Before joining the military he worked as a horticulturist.
Pugh was inducted on Dec. 14th 1042 into the Army and was assigned to the New Orleans area to work in the
Transportation Corps. This branch had the responsibility of moving men and materials to the fighting fronts. The
Standard Star June 4, 1943. (April 12, 2008)
Francis J. Purcell USA, was a Second Lt. of the US Army serving with a cavalry unit during the invasion of
Europe during the winter of 1945. According to a letter received by his wife, on Feb. 19th, he was on a mission
in Germany and had succeeded in taking a town when he was wounded by Germans firing an 88 mm gun from a
pillbox. He had to walk to the next town to receive medical attention. He was married to the former Marion Fidelis
Walsh of 441 Wynnewood Road in Pelham Manor. Standard Star April 17, 1945 (January 13, 2008)
15
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