The following biographies are presented with acknowledgement to sources including the micro film
records contained at the New Rochelle Public Library of the New Rochelle Standard Star, current owner
The Journal News, the original copies of the Pelham Sun contained at the library of the Pelham Memorial
High School, the on-line archives of The New York Times, the on-line database of the American Battle
Monuments Commission and a variety of military unit and ship association websites as noted.
The research team which has been accumulating information since 2004 includes, Manny John Cortez,
James Morris, Ellis Moore, Sr.; and Sil Spagnuolo. Final editing and presentation has been done by Ken
Kraetzer, his mother Adelle Lahey Kraetzer graduated from Pelham Memorial High School, Class of 1938.
SGT. James A. Anderson, US ARMY, a member of the PMHS class of 1943, was killed in service to his
country on April 24, 1943. He was interred in 1949 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific,
Section F Site 801. 1943 Pelican (11 23 07)
Sergeant Vernon A. Biederman, U.S. Army, of 441 Third Ave, North Pelham was killed in action in
France July 11,1944. His parents received a letter earlier that month in which he said “all is well with me
and do not worry”. The Standard Star August 2, 1944
John Preston Blake, US Merchant Marine Service, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Blake of
Witherbee Court in Pelham Manor, and brother of Charles David and James Richard. He was a member
of the PMHS Class of 1937 (EM) and graduated from Princeton University in 1941. He enlisted in the
United States Maritime Service in September of 1941 and trained at Hoffman's Island, NY; St. Petersburg,
Florida, and San Francisco. Seaman Blake's sailed for ports in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and the
Hawaiian Islands.
On October 8, 1943, The New York Times reported his parents received a message reporting his death in
the "South Pacific Area" and "that he had been buried in an American cemetery in the Samoan Islands".
The Standard Star that day reported, "Seaman Blake died in a mobile hospital of the US Navy in the South
Pacific area. His death was attributed to a ruptured appendix, it was reported".
Lt. Paul Eugene Bowen, U.S. Army Air Force, lived at 531 Manor Lane, in Pelham Manor with his
parents, a younger brother John and sisters Jane and Isabel. He was a member of St. Catherine's
Church. A graduate of Pelham Memorial High School class of 1942, he was attending the University of
Cincinnati when he enlisted. He was called into active service on March 8, 1943.
He trained at San Antonio, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; and Denver before attending the navigation school at
Selman Field Monroe, LA where he was commissioned on Sept. 4th 1944. His parents received a
telegram that their son was one of three fliers killed in an airplane crash at noon on November 2nd, 1944,
near where he was stationed at Chatham Field, Savannah, Georgia. The funeral for the 20 year old was
held at St. Paul's Church in Jacksonville FL where he was born and he was interred at the Evergreen
Cemetery in Jacksonville. The Standard Star November 3, 1944.
Grover M. Burrows, US Navy: Oldest son of Grover and Mildred Burrows of 504 Pelham Manor Road
and brother of Charles, John, William, and Robert Burrows. Parishioner of Christ Church (EM). A naval
aviation cadet, he was killed in September of 1941 when his training plane crashed at Green Coves
Springs, FL. Standard Star Sept. 21st 19413?.
Private First Class Herbert W. Butcher, US Army, attended school in Flushing Queens before family
moved to 88 Fourth Avenue, Pelham in 1940. In addition to his parents he had a brother Alan and sister
Helen. He joined the military in 1938 and was stationed in Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. After the war
started, he was transferred to the paratroopers who he trained with at Fort Benning, GA.
On November 19th 1943 was reported by The New York Times as killed in action in the Mediterranean
area probably in Italy. He was one of 384 Americans listed as Killed in Action in that article, forty-one of
whom were from New York State. On November 30, 1943, The Standard Star reported that he was killed
in action in the Italy area.
Sgt. Gardner Caldwell, United States Marines of 440 Fowler Avenue, Pelham Manor, was born in
Manchester N.H., grew up in Pelham, and graduated from PMHS in January 1943. He enlisted in the
marines and trained first as a radio operator then later as an aerial gunner and was promoted to Sergeant
on Dec. 24th 1943. On May 19th, 1944 in a Navy patrol plane crash he was among 13 Marines who died
about six miles southeast of the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, N.C. He tuned age 20 on May
4th of that year. The Pelican 1943 (Nov. 23, 07)
Lieutenant C. George Campbell, US Navy grew up at 440 Pelhamdale Avenue and was graduated from
Pelham Memorial High School in 1932, Wesleyan University in 1936 and from the National Academy of
Design in 1938.
He enlisting in the United States Navy in May of 1941, and went in to aviation, earning his wings in
Jacksonville, Fla., He was such a good pilot that he was stationed there as an instructor for a year. One
of his hobbies was to design a six foot set of wings to record the exploits of his air group.
In 1944 he went to sea on the aircraft carrier, USS Hornet as the pilot of a Grumman TBM-1C Avenger
torpedo bomber, within VT-2 (Torpedo Squadron 2). He was awarded the Air Medal by the Commander
Fast Carrier Group for the mission he conducted against enemy naval forces on June 12 and 13th 1944.
On August 4th, Lt. Campbell and his crew flew Avenger #25205 from the Hornet on a mission against the
Bonin and Volcano Islands. He was later awarded the Navy Cross, a Gold Star, and Purple Heart for his
heroism that day on what turned out to be his final mission. The citation from Secretary of the Navy,
James Forestal read:
“Flying under extremely adverse weather conditions and in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, Lt.
Campbell pressed home a determined, aggressive attack on a large enemy destroyer and when his
torpedo failed to release, unhesitatingly turned his damaged plane back and made a second powerful
daring run, accurately scoring a direct hit amid-ships and leaving the hostile vessel in a sinking condition.”
“Forced to effect an emergency landing as a result of the severe damage inflicted on his craft during the
engagement, he skillfully set the plane down in the heavy seas without injury to his crewmen, and provided
for their escape before he himself succumbed. Lt. Campbell’s superb airmanship, indomitable fighting
spirit and great personal valor throughout this perilous mission were in keeping with the highest traditions
of the Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
A memorial service was held for C. George Campbell, Jr., age 29 at the time of his death, on Saturday
August 19, 1944 at Christ Church in Pelham. He is today memorialized at the Missing in Action or Buried
at Sea, Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, in Hawaii.
Sources: The Standard Star, New Rochelle, New York, August 18, 1944, Nov. 15th 1944, and Nov. 29th
1944
1st Lt. Samuel Meredith Carver, Jr. USAAF was from Easthampton, Massachusetts and a graduate of
Williston Academy and Dartmouth College. On February 22, 1942 his engagement was announced to
Pelham Memorial High School graduate Elinor Whitney Kingsbury, a senior that year at Smith College.
The Kingsbury's lived at 901 Plymouth Street in Pelham Manor.
Lt. Carver joined the Army Air Forces and trained to become a bomber pilot. He became a B29 pilot with
the 9th Bomb Group a component of the Twentieth Air Force which flew bomber flights from the island of
Tinian in the Mariannas Islands, 1500 miles across the western pacific to Japan.
On April 15th 1945, lt. Carver and his eleven man crew left Tinian as one of 33 B29s on what was
expected to be a very dangerous mission attempting to bomb the Kawasaki industrial area of Japan. Lt.
Carver's plane was one of four B29 that was shot down on that mission. It is believed that the crew
parachuted out of the plane and was soon captured by the Japanese and taken prisoner. It is further
believed that the crew was kept in confined in an area that was firebombed by a later mission and that Lt.
Carver and all but one member of the crew was killed with the exception of Corporal Nick J. Cristiano
(42061573) a gunner on the plane.
The 9th Bomb Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission. The citation described the
importance of the attack on the industrial section of Kawasaki,
"An important link in the component productive capacity...upon which industries in Tokyo and Yokahama
depended". The citation continued. "Because of its strategic location between two heavily-defended areas,
the objective was strongly guarded by masses of defenses both on the flanks and in the immediate target
area, making the approach, the bomb run, and the break-away from the target extremely hazardous."
Lt. Carver and the members of his crew were interred as a group at the Zachery Taylor National Cemetery
in St. Louis. MO.
"Kingsbury-Carver" The New York Times February 22, 1942. Wikipedia, "9th Bomb Group", USAAF
Missing Air Crew Report 99 Bomb Sq 9 Bomb Gp 17 April 1945 (January 28, 2008)
Private Americo Colautti, US Army, of 626 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, assigned to the 121st Infantry
Regiment, 8th Infantry Division,was reported killed in action Sept. 1st. 1944 in France, he had been with
an infantry unit there, a little over three months. A graduate of PMHS class of 1941 who was active in Sock
and Buskin theater performances (EM). Colautti was employed by the Colt Manufacturing Company in
Hartford Ct before his induction in march 1943. Private Colautti is interred at the Brittany American
Cemetery, St. James, France, Plot L Row 5 Grave 3. Sources The Standard Star Sept. 26, 1944, ABMC
Database.
Lieutenant Maurice K. Collette, Maurice Collette was an avid golfer in high school and college. He is
reported to have been an outstanding golfer at the Pelham Country Club, participating in many
tournaments throughout the county. At Princeton University he was on the golf team in 1942 as well a
member of the Cannon Club and manager of the Triangle Club.
Born in New York City, Lieut. Collette grew up in Pelham the son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Collette of 137
Manor Lane. An outstanding scholar, "Mo" Collette had skipped four semesters at the Siwanoy School,
causing him to graduate from Pelham Memorial High School Class of 1938 at the age of 16; from the
Lawrenceville School in 1939, and from Princeton University with Cum Laude honors in 1943.
Ellis Moore recalls, "In the mid-thirties, Collette and Eddie Potter (See Edward D. Potter Jr. below) took tap
dancing lessons with two other pals from Jim Kennett, who later abandoned show business ambitions to
become the successful editor-publisher of the original Pelham Sun which had been founded by his father,
Thomas M. Kennett. "Mo" Collette was the brother of Mary Jane and MacKay Collette."
Maurice enlisted in the US Army in 1943, and trained at Camp Hood, Fort Benning and Fort McClelland
before going overseas Nov. 12, 1944. The young Lieutenant was aide to Lieutenant General McBride,
Commander of the 80th Infantry Division.
Lieutenant Maurice K. Collette, just a month after arriving in Europe, was reported seriously wounded in
action at the great enemy counter offensive of the Battle of the Bulge, near Bastogne, France. On March
9th of 1945 the Standard Star reported that his parents had just been notified by the War Department of
his death on Dec. 24th 1944.
Lt. Maurice K. Collette is interred at the Luxembourg American Cemetery
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Private Peter V. Cornell, US Army was a member of the football team at Pelham Memorial High School.
He was the second oldest son of Natalie Hall Cornell and Nelson W. Cornell MD. His brothers were
George N., Richard W., John S., and Charles H. Cornell.
He "enlisted in the US Army at age 17, after eight weeks of basic training, he was shipped to Europe and
was killed three days later on February 19, 1945 in the Battle of the Bulge", J.R. Neale a friend recounts
on the WWII Memorial Registry.
Private Cornell, Service # 42179206 was a member of the 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry
Division. He received the Purple Heart. He is buried at Plot D Row 2 Grave 25, at the Ardennes American
Cemetery; Neupre, Belgium
Corporal Richard C. Di Giacomo, USMC: A Parishioner of Christ Church (EM) Mr. Di Giacomo grew up
at 155 Monterey Avenue, the son of Lt. Col and Mrs. James Di Giacomo. While a student at the University
of Virginia, he joined the Marine Corps on May 14, 1943. His brother Robert also became a soldier and
attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA in 1945.
Corp. Di Giacomo was sent to the Pacific during the height of WWII and he participated in four South
Pacific landings. He was awarded the Purple Heart when wounded on Saipan in June 1944 and was
hospitalized in Australia before returning to his unit. On May 5, 1945, Corp. Di Giacomo was reported by
the War Department as having been killed in action on Iwo (Jima) Island. He was age 23 at that time. The
date of his death was originally stated as March 31st in The New York Times and is presented as March
2nd by the American Battle Monument Commission.
More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US History. In 36 days
of fighting there were 25,851 US casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded). Of these, 6,825 Americans
were killed. Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished. The Marines' effort provided a vital link in the U.S.chain
of air bomber bases. By war's end, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewman had made emergency
landings on Iwo Jima. (iwoJima.com)
Corporal Di Giacomo was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart with Gold Star and is interred at Plot N
Row 1 Grave 435, of the Honolulu Memorial, in Hawaii. He is honored by name on the WWII Memorial in
the lobby of the New York Athletic Club building on Central Park South in Manhattan.
Private First Class Lester DuBois, Jr., US Army of 7 Bonmar Road, Pelham Manor was a parishioner of
Christ Church and a graduate of Choate in CT. His father had served as Village Trustee and Mayor of
Pelham. He was the brother of Jeanne DuBois Catherine (EM).
He joined the Army and was assigned to the 102nd Division, known as the Ozarks, of the Ninth Army which
fought in Europe. According to a telegram received March 7, 1945 by his parents, he was reported killed
in action in Germany. The 20 year old soldier had been overseas since the Fall of 1944 after joining the
service in 1943. Standard Star, March 8, 1945.
Lt. Richard Lewis Elliot, US Army Air Force, of the Pelham Biltmore Apartments, Pelham Manor,he
competed in track, cross country, football and baseball as a member of the Pelham Memorial High School
Class of 1940. He was in his second year at Lehigh University when he enlisted in January 1943. He
trained as a bomber pilot at Lubbock Field Texas and went overseas in November of 1944 as a member of
the 98th Bomb Group, 343rd Bomber Squadron based at Lecce, Italy.
On Dec. 23, 1944 Lt. Elliot was flying as a passenger in a B24G (42-63346) on a flight from Lecce to
Foggia Main Airfield, which was ferrying crew members to bring back other planes. The B24 encountered
snow, fog, a 200 foot ceiling and solid overcast on the flight. Despite being flown on instruments, the
plane crashed at about 12 Noon into a hill in the mountainous region approximately two miles northwest of
Rionero in Vulture, Italy. The altitude of the area was about 5,000 feet. The plane was reported as
completely destroyed. Found in the wreckage was the planes altimeter which indicated the crash occurred
at 4,200 feet, well below what was sufficient altitude to clear the terrain. It was also determined that the
plane was forty miles off course. The flight contained an extra five gunners, possibly to defend the planes
against attack.
Lt. Elliot was 22 years old at the time of his death in service to our country. His brother Capt. Herbert P.
Elliot, Jr. was also a pilot. Standard Star January 13, 1945. USAAF Report of Accident dated Feb. 1,
1945. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Captain Kendall King Fish, USAAF husband of Mrs. Elisabeth Lykes Fish, 631 Esplanade, Pelham
Manor, was a member of the 725th Bomber Squadron, 451st Bomber Group Heavy. He was listed on Jan.
30th 1945 by the War Department as wounded in action in the Mediterranean area. Lt. Fish had been
injured previously but was reported to have returned to action.
On April 24, 1945, just days from the end of the war in Italy he piloted the B24 bomber (42-64489) based
at Castelluccio, Italy on what was reported to be a "Test Hop". Witnesses saw the plane crash and
explode into rocks off the southwest coast of the island of Capri just off a lighthouse. USAAF records
indicate that there were no survivors of the four military members and three civilians on board which
included a USO member Joseph H. Prest. The plane sank in 200 foot depths with no possible salvage.
Captain Fish was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the
Purple Heart. He is memorialized on the Missing in Action, or Buried at Sea, Tablets of the Missing at the
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, in Nettuno, Italy. Standard Star January 30, 1945, ABMC Website,
USAAF Report of Accident 45-4-24-530. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Private First Class Robert A. Gordon, U.S. Army 29, of 88 Fourth Street, North Pelham was a member
of the 157th Infantry Division, 45th Infantry Division. He was married on May 15th, 1943 to the former Ann
McGovern at St. Catherine’s Chapel of OLPH, the couple had a daughter Kathleen. He was killed in action
in Northeast France on October 13th, 1944. The infantryman went overseas in March of 1944 and saw
action in Italy before participating in the invasion of France. Private Gordon is interred at Epinal American
Cemetery in France. The Standard Star February 6, 1945
Willard Graham, PMHS Class of 1940.
Lieutenant Commander F. Kenneth Gundlach, USN & New York State Naval Militia, received the Navy
Cross during WWI as an Ensign for heroism when assigned to the British merchantship RMS Idomeneus of
the Alfred Holt Line which was torpedoed by U67 off the Irish coast in route from New York to Liverpool on
15th Sep.t. 1917. The Citation read:
"The Navy Cross is awarded to Ensign Francis K. Gundlach, U.S. Navy (Reserve Forces), for
distinguished service in the line of his profession for remaining on board the Idomeneus, on which he was
detailed a signalmaster, after that ship had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine, and abandoned by
her crew, when it was found that there was a possibility of her remaining afloat."
Commander of the 31st Fleet Division since 1924, he served as an aide to New York State Governors
Lehman, Roosevelt, and Smith. He died at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital, after a five month illness On
October 12, 1942. The LTC is credited with erecting the Naval Militia Armory on East Main Street in New
Rochelle. One of his instrument panels from his naval supply business was used by Charles A. Lindbergh
on his historic flight to Paris. Standard Star October 13, 1942
First Lieutenant Francis Kennedy Gundlach Jr., U.S. Marine Air Corps, was born in New Rochelle,
but grew up in Pelham attended Siwanoy School, Pelham Memorial High School and Iona before
graduating from College Prep in 1940. He was the son of LTC F.K. Gundlach USNR, who was responsible
for building the New Rochelle Armory.
On February 10, 1944, Gundlach was flying an Avenger Torpedo Bomber as a member of the VMTB-143
Marine Torpedo Squadron 143, from a base at Torokina, Bougainville when his plane crashed near
Raboul in New Britain. Remains of the three crew members were not found until 1949.
Previously Lt. Gundlach was awarded the Air Medal, with a citation for bravery, for launching a diving
attack in a plane that was damaged and in flame and achieving a direct hit.
Lt. Gundlach is interred at Arlington National Cemetery with his two TBM-1c Avenger crewmembers
Gerald E. Duffie and Charles M. Dunham. Standard Star March 3, 1944 (Feb. 11, 2008)
Second Lieutenant Norman Hermansen USAAF, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Herman C. Hermansen of
Fourth Avenue in North Pelham, was a graduate of Pelham Memorial High School and the New York
School of Photography. He worked at the L. C. Chase and Company before his enlistment. He enlisted in
the Air Corps with his twin brother Truman in February of 1942 and started training in June of that year.
Lieutenant Hermansen received his commission and Air Corps wings at Brooks Field, San Antonio on Feb.
16th 1943. He was stationed at Morris Field, North Carolina where he served as an observer pilot.
On June 9, 1943, Lt. Hermansen died somewhere in Tennessee according to notification provided by the
American Red Cross to his family in Pelham. His Mother and sister Mrs. Donald Nelson immediately flew to
Tennessee. The Standard Star June 10. 1943
First Lieutenant Robert J. Holdom, US Army Air Forces, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gray D. Holdom of
Bolton Road, was a member of the 535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group Heavy. He was
reported missing in action over Amiens, France on July 14, 1943, and was later determined to have been
killed in service to his country on that day.
First Lieutenant Holdom, Service # O-792594, is buried at Plot B Row 21 Grave 35; the
Normandy American Cemetery; Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple
Heart. Sources: ABMC, The Standard Star Sept. 21, 1943. The New York Times August 3, 1943
Corporal Henry Harrison Ives, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, (473462) graduated from the Siwanoy
School and Pelham Memorial High School, where he began a brilliant career as a marathon runner. Even
while overseas, he kept up his running and wrote his mother that the running shorts and woolen socks that
she had sent him the prior Christmas were his most cherished Christmas gifts, and that he ran at every
opportunity.
Harrison Ives was born October 19, 1912 at 982 Split Rock Road, as was his mother and ten- year old
son, Charles. Before entering the service, he was a partner in the firm of Howe and Ives, tree surgeons.
He was a volunteer in the Pelham Manor Fire Department. He was married but separated from Mrs. Helma
Ives.
Ives enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on October 20, 1945 and assigned to active duty the next day.
He immediately went to basic training at Paris Island arriving on the 21st and then on Dec. 12th was
assigned to Camp LeJeune, new River NC were he went Spl Weapons Group. where he specialized in
gunnery.
He was stationed in the South Pacific for 18 months, as a member of Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-
Second Marines, First Provisional Marine Brigade.F.M.F. He was promoted to Corporal on Mar. 18th
1944. On the 4th of June he embarked at Quadalcanal BSI with his unit aboard the USS William P. Biddle
and sailed to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands arriving June 9th. Later that same date he embarked
on LST #243 and sailed to Enewetok Atoll also in the Marshall Islands arriving on July 5th. They left
Eniwetok on of June 15th and arrived at Quam on July 21st the first day of the invasion which lasted until
August 10th when the island was finalyy secured. He died on July 25, 1944. The Navy/MC Case Report
of Oct. 31, 1945 states that death was caused by enemy mortar shell fragment.
A newspaper report of August 16, 1944 described that Cpl Ives's mother, Mrs. Mary Huntenberg of 982
Split Rock Road, Pelham Manor, received a telegram from the War Department that he was killed in action
in the South Pacific. The telegram did not say where Cpl. Ives was killed, but advised that a letter would
follow.
Mrs. Huntenberg last heard from her son on July 12th, when he wrote her that he had just come out of a
battle, which she said was probably at Saipan, and that he would write again in about three days. Mrs.
Huntenberg said that she expected that her son would have a rest period, but that he was probably sent
right back into action, in which he met his death at age 33. She received a telegram on August 12, 1944
from Lt. General A.A, Vandegript Commandant of the USMC informing her of the loss of her son "In the
performance of his duties and in service of his country."
The capture of Guam cost the l;ives of 1,747 Americans killed and 6,053 wounded. The Japanese
casualties were 18,040 killed, and 485 Prisoners of War captured. In a few months, Guam would serve as
a primary base for B29 "Super Fortress" bombing missions against the Japanese homeland.
Members of the Pelham Fire Department, praised the outstanding record, made by Ives, since he entered
the service. “He was the kind of Marine who went right in and did the job regardless of his personal safety”.
Corp, Ives was awarded the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory
Medal. Initially he was interred at the Agat, Guam Cemetery II. In 1949 his remains were returned to the
United States aboard the USAT Dalton Victory on February 16th and interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in New Rochelle.
The Standard Star, New Rochelle, New York, Wednesday, August 16, 1944 Notes provided by the
National Archives. (April 25, 2009)
Vincent La Selva, Seaman, Third Class, U.S. Navy Reserve (810-48-55). Born on Christmas Eve of
1924, he grew up at 435 Fifth Avenue in North Pelham resident, the eldest son of Marie and Rosario La
Selva. His Father, born in Italy, was a self employed shoemaker. Three of his brothers also served in the
Navy during WWII, Leo "Vincent" a well known boxer, Seaman Second Class Canio, and Seaman First
Class Carmine. He attended Pelham Memorial High School for three years leaving in 1941 and worked in
a defense plant in Norwalk, CT. His trade was described as "Electrolytic operator".
La Selva was inducted into the Navy by local board 739 at the Fire Headquarters in North Pelham on April
14, 1943. His enlistment was credited to the 24th Congressional District and he was assigned to the V-6
training program. His pay was registered at $50 per month. After basic training at the US Naval Training
Station at Sampson NY, on July 14, 1943 he was assigned to the Naval Training Station at the University
of Minnesota in St. Paul to qualify as a "Machinist's Mate. On November 9th he was assigned to
"Destroyer Escort vessels" and sent to receive additional training at Norfolk, Virginia. He reported aboard
the destroyer escort USS Witter DE 636 on December 29th, the day the ship was commissioned in San
Francisco Harbor. On March 30, 1944 upon the Witter crossing the equater, La Selva was inducted by
the Commanding officer Alan C. Davis as a qualified "Shellback" of the "Silent Mysteries of the Far East".
On this date the Japanese Kamikaze onslaught against the U.S. Navy began off Okinawa resulting in
damage to or sinking of 34 ships. At 4:10 in the afternoon, two enemy planes approached the Witter,
eight miles distant approaching her from the south-southwest. The ship went to "General Quarters", the
engines were reved up to produce 23 knots speed, and evasive steering was ordered. In the five minutes
it took the two planes to approach the ship, both were hit by anti-aircraft fire and one crashed at sea. The
other continued an attack on the ship and crashed into the starboard side at the waterline. The
kamikaze's bomb went off in the forward fireroom resulting tin the deaths of six sailors including La Selva.
The ship was stabilized and towed to a friendly harbor and repaired sufficiently to sail back to the United
States but its WWII service was over.
A Memorial Service was held for Vincent La Selva in Pelham on April 17, 1945 at St. Catharine's Church
where he was a communicant. On May 3, 1945, The New York Times announced his death in its casualty
listings. The same article reported the deaths of Pelhamites Willard Graham and Richard Di Giacomo.
Seaman Vincent La Selva was awarded the Purple Heart and is honored at the Missing in Action or Buried
at Sea Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii (ABMC). Standard Star April 16, 1945,
National Personnel Records Center-Military Personnel Records, The National Museum of the Pacific War,
Wikipedia
(Spelled Lasalva in some government listings). (Updated November 15, 2008)
Captain C. William Law. Born in New York City, Capt. Law attended Roxbury Academy, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute and Rollins College where he won several letters in sports. Clarence J. Law, his
father lived at 144 Harmon Avenue in Pelham. He and his wife Louise R. Law had a son who was born in
1943. They lived at 88 Young Avenue. His sister was Mrs. W. Dwight Merrill, the former Miss Katherine
Law, was also of Pelham. He became a laboratory assistant at New York Edison's Hell Gate generating
station in 1936 and transferred to advertising three years later.
Capt. Law took a leave of absence from Consolidated Edison to enlist in December 1940 and earned a
lieutenant's commission before going overseas in early 1942 as a regimental transportation officer. In
1944 he served at Hawaii acting as liaison between infantry and headquarters staff during the conference
of General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz. He went onto serve with the 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th
Division. He fought in three major engagements in the Pacific. He led a company of infantry in
amphibious assaults on Kwajalein and Enwetok atols. At age 30, Capt. Law was killed in action at Okinawa
on April 20th 1945.
The Standard Star, May 19th 1945
Private William Lisecki, U. S. Army, husband of the former Susan Adamo of Fourth St., Pelham, was
killed in action in Italy on Dec. 23 1943. His parents, who lived in Mt. Vernon had four sons in military
service. Pvt. Lisecki was inducted into the Armed Forces Aug.18, 1942 and attached to the Medical Corps.
He had been overseas since last summer. He was interred at the Long Island National Cemetery, in
Farmingdale, sec. H, Site 10541. Standard Star January 31, 1944
Lieutenant (jg) Jason Ard Lodwick Jr., was a parishioner of Christ Church in Pelham Manor and his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Lodwick, lived at 915 Esplanade. Prior to the start of WWII, Lodwick worked for
Pan American Airways, Africa Ltd, and was stationed in North Africa, Egypt, and India. He was married to
Louise Chapelle Ivey Lodwick of Richmond, Virginia and his brother Lyle Lodwick served in the USNR in
the Pacific as well.
On May 27th of 1945 just days after transferring to the Fletcher class destroyer DD630, USS Braine, the
ship was hit by a Japanese plane off of Okinawa. The attack killed Lt. Lodwick and over twenty of his
fellow crew members, the greatest loss of life on any destroyer which was not sunk. The Standard Star
reported the news of his death on Oct. 6th and 8th, 1945. Lt. Lodwick is interred at Arlington National
Cemetery.
Sergeant Irving Whitall Lyon, US Army Air Corps. of 26 Manning Circle, Pelham Manor, was a member
of the PMHS calls of 1943. A native of New York City he resided in Pelham most of his life where was
active in the Boy Scouts and was leader of the Pelham School Band.
Sergeant Lyon, enlisted in the Air Corps, Oct. 17, 1942, and became a radio operator and a serial gunner.
On Tuesday August 9, 1944 the Associated Press reported an airplane accident two miles northeast of
Lake Charles Army Air Base, La. Twenty year old Sergeant Lyon was killed in the crash of a medium
bomber along with five other crewman. 1943 Pelican (Nov. 23, 07)
Air Cadet John H. MacManus, lived at 1111 Clay Street in Pelham Manor, younger brother of Frank
MacManus was a parishioner of Christ Church and at age 18 he was an Air Cadet. In the early morning
hours of March 17, 1944, he was a passenger in a car which was driving on Pelhamdale Avenue. The car
skidded and hit a fire hydrant near the Shore Road. The other three occupants of the car, Daniel
O'Connell US Merchant Marine, Charles Lange, Army Air Cadet, and Private Robert Lee Berran US Army
all of Pelham survived with serious injuries but Cadet McManus died at New Rochelle hospital at 8 AM the
day of the accident. (EM). Standard Star March 17, 1944 and April 27th 1944
Second Lieutenant, Murtha J. McCarthy, U.S. Army, (Service # 0-743461) the older brother of Paul
McCarthy grew up on the Esplanade in Pelham Manor and graduated from PMHS in 1938.
His fellow pilot Paul C. Murphey, remembers Murtha McCarthy, they were members of flight school class
43-D, which graduated at Williams Field, Chandler, AZ on April 12, 1943. Most of this class trained in the
RP-322, a P-38 with no supercharger. After graduation he and his class mates were sent to several
bases in California for further training. He was one of twelve picked to be the first of 43-D to go overseas
and be assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group: Edwin L. DeGraffenreid, Richard E.
Dotson, Robert E. Feehan, Stanley Johnson, Paul C. Murphey, John C. McClean, Jennngs L. Myers, Louis
Schriber, James R. Farris, Robert W. Wood, William F. Williams and Murtha J. McCarthy.
After flying across the pacific in a B24 converted to be a transport, Lt. McCarthy and his fellow flyers
trained in Brisbane, Australia for several weeks before being given combat assignments in early July. Lt.
McCarthy was reported killed on his first mission to Bogadjim, Madang, and Lae in Papua New Guinea.
He was officially declared Killed in Action on Dec. 19th 1945 after having been reported as Missing in
Action since that July day in 1943. He is remembered on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of
the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Air Medal, and Purple
Heart. (ABMC)
Second Lieutenant Paul A. McCarthy US Army Air Force The McCarthy family lived for many years
on the Esplanade in Pelham Manor. Paul played on the football and basketball teams as a member of the
PMHS class of 1939. He went on to work for the Pepsi-Cola Company. He entered the military, won his
commission and from flight school earned his wings on Dec. 5, 1942 in South Carolina.
In January 1943 he was married at St. Catherine’s Church to a another PMHS graduate the former Eileen
Stephenson. His wife since childhood made her home with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John K.
Markey of 98 First Avenue. He went overseas in May of 1943 and two weeks after arriving had completed
11 missions flying a B-17 Flying Fortress, according to a letter he wrote to his family.
2LT McCarthy was assigned to the 15th Army Air Force, commanded in the Mediterranean area by Major
General James Doolittle, famous for his 1942 raid from the USS Hornet to Japan. The.455th Bomb Group,
741st Bomb Squadron, formed in May of 1943 at Alamogordo Air Base in New Mexico. Their B24s had
black diamonds painted on the top half of their tails and the bottom was painted solid yellow.
The On June 26th 1944, 2Lt McCarthy was the pilot of a crew of ten flying a B24H (42-52241) on a
mission to bomb oil refineries at Moosbierbaum northwest of Vienna in Austria. T/Sgt Paul C. Roadman on
another plane reported, "I saw the B-24 No 241, piloted by 2nd Lt. McCarthy, break off from the formation
to his right. At that time, I saw no apparent trouble. I saw the waist gunners buckling on their chutes.
About a minute later I saw three chutes emerge and open, during which time, I saw two enemy fighters
attacking straight away from the rear of his plane. The next time I had a chance to look, about one minute
later, Lt. McCarthy's plane was going down in flames."
On July 6th 1944, Lt. McCarthy's wife, received a telegram from the War Department stating that her
husband had been missing as of June 26. He was last seen going down in his plane over Austria. He was
based at Foggia Field in Italy.
His older brother, Murtha McCarthy, U.S. Army, a member of the PMHS Class of 1936 was reported
missing in the South Pacific more than a year prior. Lieutenant McCarthy had two other brothers in the
Army. Robert, who was in the South Pacific, and John, whose station was described in an account as a
military secret.
The 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy), "the Vulgar Vultures", which included the 741st Bomb Squadron,
received Distinguished Unit Citations for missions flown to STEYR, AUSTRIA on 2 Apr. 1944 and
MOOSBIERBAUM, AUSTRIA 26 Jun. 1944. A young pilot from South Dakota would join the squadron and
fly his first mission in November 1944, Lt. George McGovern.
2 Lt. Paul A. McCarthy is interred at Section 84 Site 149, the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St.
Louis, MO (VA.gov). War Dept. AAF Missing Air Crew Report #6400 April 10, 1946. (Updated Sept. 30,
2007)
Gerald R. McDermott Jr., lived on Manor Lane in the 1930s (EM).
Private James Allen Mercer, United States Army 39 husband of the former Miss Henrietta Tsich, who
lived at 7 Archer Drive, Chester Heights, was killed in action in France on August 31, 1944. Private
Mercer had been overseas two years and went through the African and Sicilian campaigns with the Tank
Corps. Mrs. Mercer received a letter from him dated Aug. 29th 1944 in which he was certain he would be
home soon. A native of California, Private Mercer, 39, was in the motion picture business prior to the war
and was married in Nov. of 1942.
Staff Sergeant Frank T. Mirra, US Army, Service # 32535724, was a native of Yonkers who was the
uncle of Ralph Mirra from Pelham. He was a member of the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry
Division
landing in the early phases of D-Day at the Normandy beaches. He died on the 18th of July 1944
He is interred at Plot F Row 13 Grave 3, of the Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France; Sergeant
Mirra was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. ABMC (12/9/07).
Flight Officer Bertley A. (H) Moberg, US Army Air Forces, attended Siwanoy School and was a member
of the PMHS Class of 1941. His father, Edward J. Moberg, moved to 348 Seneca Avenue in Mt. Vernon.
He was close friend of Maurice Collette and Eddie Potter, nearby Pleham neighbors who also died in
World War II" recalls Ellis Moore.
Bertley was a member of the 20th Bomber Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group heavy, known as the "Defenders
of Liberty" which B-17 Flying Fortresses on missions out of Italy into Germany and eastern Europe. On
March 14, 1945 he co-piloted a mission aboard a B17 serial number 44-6426 that departed from
Amendola, Italy with a total crew of ten. The destination was to bomb the Stony oil refinery in Hungary.
Several reports indicate that near the target flying at about 22,000 feet, the plane's number two engine
took a direct hit by flak and burst into flames. The plane lost altitude altitude but remained under control.
Four parachutes were seen leaving the plane although one was said to be on fire. Soon after the B17
was reported to have blown up.
Bertley Moberg received the Air medal and the Purple Heart, he is honored on the Tablets of the Missing
at the Florence American Cemetery in Italy. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
2nd Bomb Group Association
Past Post 50 Commander and Westchester County Commander Robert McGuirl under the tribute
to Bertley Moberg on the Wall of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery during the visit of Post
50 members on May 5, 2005.
Lieutenant (jg) Kenneth Hart Muir, USNR of 4 Benedict Place, Pelham was a graduate of Choate
School and Princeton University. At age 26 he died in action as officer in charge of the U.S. Armed Guard
on board liberty ship SS NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, sunk in the Caribbean November 7,1942 by U-508.
Lt. Muir was awarded posthumously the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism” and also the Purple Heart.
His citation stated in part, “Lieutenant (jg) Muir, disregarding his own severe injuries and great suffering,
ordered the three men near him to leap clear of the ship and then rushed back to help more of his men
escape. His great personal valor and unselfish devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions
of the United States Naval Service.”
In June of 1944 the U.S.S. Muir, a destroyer escort vessel, was named in his honor.
1st Lt. Richard H. Mullineaux, US Army Air Forces, competed in track and and cross country as a
member of the PMHS Class of 1939. He became a fighter pilot (0801360) and served with the 75th
Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group. This squadron, known as the famous "Flying Tigers", was formed
prior to the start of WWII under the leadership of General Claire L. Chennault to fly against the Japanese
from airfields in China.
The History of the 74th Squadron which relieved the 75th recalls the missions of Lt. Mullineaux and his
flight mates flying P40s from the area of Hengyang, China:
"In the intense air action during the month of July the attrition rate of aircraft and pilots was high. 1st
Lieutenant Richard Mullineaux was wounded in the shoulder and neck, Lieutenant Evans received facial
wounds, Captain Herbst was bruised and shaken up when he blew a tire on take off. Lieutenants
Woodard and Hanover bailed out and Lieutenant Mullineaux was killed in a crash over a target area,
Captain Adams and Lieutenant Bates balled out. Many of the P-40’s were hit by small arms ground fire."
USAAF records confirmed that on July 23, 1944, Lt. Mullineaux departed Eweilan, China flying a P40N-5
model (42-104923) on a mission to bomb and strafe enemy forces near Fulinpu, China. At about 3 PM,
while flying 15 miles NE of Charagaba, he was observed making a "Low strafing run" and "Mushing into the
ground".
Lt. Mullineaux was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. He is
interred at: Plot P, Row 0, Grave 334 at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, in Hawaii.
Mr. Mullineaux was honored by his nephew, Craig Milan, who provided a listing on the WWII Memorial
Registry. USAAF Missing Air Crew Report July 24, 1944 (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Lloyd Allan Munger, US Army was born in Philadelphia on Feb. 23, 1923 the son of Lloyd Munger Sr
and Edith W. Williams. He grew up on Witherbee Avenue not far from Siwanoy School. At age 20 he
joined the Army and trained at Fort Brag NC. He died there on Jan. 10,1944 just over a month from his
21st birthday. Ancestry.com. (Updated July 30, 2009)
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 during 1944 and 1945. The Division maintained their
fight for a Pacific Theater record of 219 consecutive days of continuous combat on the island of Luzon.
During the War, the men of the 6th Division fought a total of 306 days of combat. Casualties for the 6th
Division totaled 1,174 killed in action, 3,876 wounded and 9 missing, for an overall total of 5059 casualties.
(6thInfantry.com)
Lt. Ogden was killed in action on February 2, 1945, very likely in the intense five day battle for the town of
Munoz, where the division encountered the biggest unit of Japanese armor assembled in the war, a force
which including 56 tanks. He received the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf
Cluster. He is buried at Plot 1, Row 6 Grave 123, Manila American Cemetery, the Philippines.
Second Lt. Edmund Baxter Overton, US Army Air Forces, was one of the New York area's top
amateur golfers in the late 1930s and early 1940s playing from the Pelham Country Club. He set the
Pelham course record in August 1940 with a 66 and was the 1941 Club Champion. Going into the 1942
season the Metropolitan Golf Association listed him as a 4 handicap, one of the best in the area.
Mr. Overton was a parishioner of Christ Church in Pelham (EM) and graduated from the Staunton Military
Academy in Virginia. He was the son of Mrs. C. W. Webster who lived at the Witherbee Court. He had a
brother; Robert Lee Overton, and step brother William O Webster. Prior to joining the military, he worked
at the Home Insurance company in New York City.
In 1942 he enlisted into the Army Air Corps and became a fighter pilot. He trained at Galesburg, IL and
was commissioned at Kelley Field, Texas. On April 22, 1945, Second Lt. Overton, age 25, was killed in an
airplane accident at the Brownsville Army Base in TX. A memorial service was held for him at the Ferncliff
Chapel in Hartsdale, NY. The Standard Star, April 23, 1945 The New York Times April 24, 1945
Private First Class Edward Dawley Potter Jr. USMC, lived at 459 Siwanoy Place., attended Siwanoy
School and was a member of the PMHS Class of 1942. He was one of the 14,000 Marine casualties killed
in action on the Pacific island of Okinawa in the spring of 1945.
The invasion of Okinawa was the largest amphibious assault during the Pacific campaign of World War II.
It was also the largest sea-land-air battle in history, running from late March through June 1945.
Americans suffered casualties over 72,000 casualties, over twice the number killed at Iwo Jima and
Guadalcanal combined. There were about 100,000 Japanese soldiers killed and 7,000 captured. Civilian
losses in the battle were at least 150,000, about a third of the civilian population of the island were killed in
the Spring of 1945.
Edward Dawley Potter died on June 27th, 1945; he received the Purple Heart and is interred at the
Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.
Battle of Okinawa, Global Security
Second Lieutenant Daniel Proper USAAF; lived at 125 Fifth Avenue in Pelham, the son of Mr. & Mrs.
George Proper Sr. Born in Riverhead NY Dec. 8, 1922, he lived in Pelham for eight and a half years and
was a graduate of Pelham Memorial High School. He joined the service in February of 1943 and trained at
Stutigart, Ark, Maxwell Field Al, and Mountain Home, Idaho. His brother George Jr. 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.
Lt. Proper was stationed with the 15th Air Force, 459th Bombardment Squadron in Italy after going
overseas in Dec. 1944 flying B-24 Liberator bombers. On June 3, 1945, he was the pilot of a B24 which
crashed while conducting a "Tour" near Kailwaug, Austria. Standard Star July 16, 1945 (12/2/2007)
Private First Class William H. Quinn, United States Army; 21 of 102 Loring Avenue, enjoyed playing
football, basketball, tennis, and track as a member of PMHS class of '41. He went on to study at Fordham
and NYU.
Pvt. Quinn went overseas to England in Sept. of 1944 with a mortar crew of the 11th Armored Division.
41ST tank Battalion. His brother Francis S. Quinn was in combat nine consecutive months with the 636th
Tank Destroyer Battalion and led a naval shore fire control party in first wave of D-Day.
Stationed in England before going to Belgium, his family learned of William being in Belgium was in a letter
he wrote Christmas Day, in which he said he had been in action. They last heard from him in a letter dated
Jan. 9th -in which he wrote that he was resting in a farmhouse with a Belgium family. He was killed in
action in Belgium on Jan. 15th 1945. A requiem mass was held for him at St. Catherine's Church on Jan.
31, 1945 at 8 AM. Standard Star January 31, 1945 (Dec. 1, 2007)
Fireman 1st Class Herbert Retallack, United States Navy was born in Kulpmont, Pa. in 1920, and
moved to Pelham as a young child. The family lived at 225 Third Avenue in North Pelham. He enlisted in
the United States Navy in March 1941, leaving Pelham Memorial High School, where he was an eleventh
grade student.
He became a Fireman on the destroyer, USS Rowan DD405 and served in the Casablanca and Sicily
landings. On the 14th of July 1943 the Rowan arrived off the coast of Sicily and began to support the fight
going on there and soon after the invasion of the Italian mainland. On Sept. 10th after screening delivery
of supplies to Paestrum, she headed out with a convoy again towards Oran in North Africa. Shortly after
midnight, German E-boats attacked. Rowan pursued and fired and changed course to rejoin the convoy.
Soon after a new contact was posted and was closing in, Rowan changed course to avoid torpedoes and
bring her guns into position. As the range decreased to 2,000 yards, Rowan was hit by a torpedo. She
sank in less than a minute, taking 202 of her 273 officers and men with her.
A year later, in September of 1944. Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal advised the parents by letter,
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Retallack that Seaman Retalack was listed by the Navy Department as dead based
on reports that the U.S.S. Rowan, was torpedoed in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off Italy.
Secretary Forrestal wrote: “The severity of the explosion caused the ship to sink very rapidly. Visibility was
good and the sea was calm. An American ship was dispatched immediately to the scene of the sinking and
rescued survivors. In view of the rapidity in which the vessel sank, the prompt rescue facilities available,
favorable weather conditions and considering the length of time that had elapsed without any indication of
your son’s survival. I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that he is deceased”.
A memorial service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. A.E. Randell, executive director of the Congressional
Church of the Pelhams, Fireman Retallack is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome
American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy
Source: The Standard Star, New Rochelle, New York, Sept. 27th-28th 1943, and Saturday, September 30,
1944.
http://www.domeisland.com/goldplater/danfs405.html
Lt JG John Mathew Ring, US Navy, born at Worcester, MA on June 17, 1924, he lived at 623 Francis
Street in Pelham Manor, the son of Irene Monica and John Denis Ring. As a member of the PMHS class
of 1942, at Pelham Memorial High School, he participated in football, track, and hockey while also serving
as President of the debating team. Known as "Lonnie", he was described as one of the outstanding
performers on the 1942 PMHS Track team.
He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve V-5 class on September 29, 1942 and was commissioned an Ensign
on Oct. 1st of 1943. He was designated a Naval Aviator. After further training in Melbourne, FL and San
Diego, CA he was assigned on Jan. 11, 1944 to "Fighting Squadron Thirty Five" and on June 7th shifted to
Squadron 302. During this time he served on the Escort Carrier USS Chenango (CVE-28) which received
the Navy Unit Commendation by the Secretary of the Navy.
On October 25, 1944 flying with VF-44 "Fighting Squadron 44" from the USS Langley CVL27 , Ensign Ring
served as a wingman to Lt. John S. Tyler USNR who was leading a formation of eight F6Fs in a bombing
attack against a Japanese cruiser. Their position was 19-10 N,125E. At 5:25 PM the planes began their
dive from 14,000 feet. Ring's plane designated F6F-3 was hit by antiaircraft fire and fell out of control
from the formation. Several squadron officers saw the plane hit the water behind the Japanese ship.
He received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal and the Purple Heart. He is remembered on the Missing
in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines.
(October 18, 2009)
Lieutenant James H. Scott, US Army Air Corps, of 98 Hill Street, later the Bronx NY was reported
missing in action July 30th 1944 over Hungary. Lieutenant Scott was with the 15th Air Force in Italy, a
navigator on a B-24 Liberator bomber. A graduate of PMHS, his brother PFC Eric C. Scott was a United
States Marine in the South Pacific.
2Lt. James H. Scott, 0702495, is interred at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, KY.
Lt. Joseph Michael Shields, Jr. USMCR, lived at 637 James Street the son of Helen and the late
Joseph M. Shields. He was one of six children with Helen R, William T, Ann M., Elizabeth A., and Aileen.
On August 8, 1944 the New York Times described that Lt. Shields had died in the performance of his
duties two days before on August 6, 1944 at the US Naval Air Station, Norman, Oklahoma.
Lieutenant David G. Souther, US Marine Corps Reserve, was the son of Town Councilman and Mrs.
Richard C. Souther of 154 Country Club Lane in Pelham Manor and brother of John Souther. He
attended Pelham schools and was a member of the PMHS Class of 1939. After his sophomore year at
Yale University he enlisted in the US Marine Corps where he became a fighter pilot.
At age 22, he was killed in a crash at sea in South Pacific on September 3, 1943. A letter written by Lt.
Souther on August 21st 1941 was received by his parents the day after they were informed of his death.
Lt. Souther is buried at Plot B Row 0 Grave 1107, Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii. Standard Star Sept. 11th
and 21st, 1943 and ABMC.
Lieut. John Francis Stanton received the Purple Heart posthumously which was presented to his wife
Vera McQuade Stanton of 751 Pelhamdale Avenue, North Pelham, NY. The couple had been married just
barely a year before on April 9, 1942 at St. Catherine's Church in Pelham.
Mrs. Stanton received the news of his death at age 32 in North Africa from the War Department on May
18, 1943. An Army Chaplain with Lt. Stanton at the time of his death sent a letter to Mrs. McQuade. The
Chaplain described that Lt. Stanton was killed by enemy artillery fire in the front lines of the North African
campaign on Easter Saturday April 24th.
Stanton had attended St. Peter's Prep School in New Jersey and John Carroll University in Cleveland. He
was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stanton of Cleveland, Ohio. For a while he lived at the YMCA in Mount
Vernon while working at Floyd Bennett Field on Long Island. Shortly after being married he was inducted
into the Army on May 18, 1942 form the Mt. Vernon draft board 741. After attending Officer Candidate
School at Fort Benning in Georgia, he was commissioned on Jan. 18, 1943. After a short stay at Camp
Wheeler, Georgia he was sent overseas and arrived in North Africa in March. The Standard Star June 10,
1943 (February 7, 2008)
Second Lieutenant Robert W. Swanson, U. S. Army Air Force, 20 October 14, 1944. son of Mrs.
Kenneth Swanson of 42 Linden Ave., and Fenton W. Swanson of Harrisburg, Pa., was killed on October
13th, 1944 when the Flying Fortress in which he was on combat training, collided with a pursuit plane,
near Tunica, Miss. Lt Swanson was the grandson of Thomas M. Kenneth, publisher of the Pelham Sun.
He graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in Jan. 1943, and was commissioned on Aug. 7th of that
year. Funeral services were held at Christ Church.
Technical Sergeant Harold Roger Sweeney, U.S. Marine Corps, 27 of 520 Pelhamdale Ave., Pelham
Manor, a veteran of 19 months in the Pacific theatre was reported killed Oct. 9, 1944 in an airplane
accident, near Plymouth, N.C. An outstanding athlete at PMHS he was a member of the class of 1935,
Sweeney attended Manhattan College and Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. He was the older brother of
Robert Sweeney (EM). A solemn high requiem mass with military rites was said at St. Catherine’s Church.
Captain David B. Tarrant, US Army; Service # 0-399855, attended Pelham Schools and was a district
circulation manager in Pelham for The Standard Star. His mother lived at 719 Pelhamdale Avenue, in
North Pelham. Capt. Tarrant held a commission in the reserves with the old Seventh Regiment and was
called to duty in February 1941. He was sent to Hawaii early in 1942 and promoted to Capt. in May 1943
while serving with the 27th Infantry Division, 106th Infantry Division, Company G.
Early in 1944 he fought in the invasion and battle for the Marshall Islands, and later was taking part in his
the invasion of Saipan when second major engagement was killed in action at Saipan on June 27th 1944.
Captain Tarrant was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
David Alan Stahl of Augusta, GA reports "He was struck by a shell from a Japanese tank that had gone
undetected until it fired on a group of officers, causing several casualties". Mr. Stahl's father, Lloyd E
Stahl, was the executive officer of Company G, described David Tarrant as “one of the finest men I ever
knew.” When Captain Tarrant was killed, Lloyd Stahl resolved to name his son after Tarrant if he lived to
return home and have a son. David Stahl has also named his son after David Tarrant .
Captain Tarrant is interred at the Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.
Email from David Aaln Stahl June 8, 2009
(Updated March 19, 2009)
Petty Officer Second Class Jerry A. Terracciano, USNR, 20 , February 25, 1945 Petty Officer Second
Class Jerry A. Terraciano, USNR, (Service # 7104365) was born in North Pelham the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Terraciano, formerly of Pelham, who moved to 215 South Fifth Avenue, Mount Vernon.
After enlisting in January 1943, received training at the cook’s and baker’s school in Newport, R.I., and
later at San Diego. He was sent overseas in 1944, and served in Mexico, Panama, Hawaii, and finally in
the Pacific area, where he first saw action. On February 19th 1945, the 20 year old was reported to
have died of wounds following action while serving as ship’s cook on an LCI in the Pacific area. Petty
Officer Terracciano was buried at sea.
Surviving besides his parents were his brothers, Louis and Salvatore, both of Pelham. Jerry A.
Terracciano, Ship's Clerk, Second Class, U.S. Navy Reserve received the Purple Heart and is
remembered on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in
Hawaii. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Lieutenant JG William Thoman, US Coast Guard was a PMHS Class of 1938 (EM) who planned to
study at Columbia. He died in service to our country on June 13, 1943 and was awarded the Purple
Heart. Lt. Thoman is remembered at the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing, at East
Coast Memorial New York City.
John J. Tierney USN, a seaman second class was the son of Pelham Manor Police officer James T.
Tierney and lived at 33 Grove Street in New Rochelle. He was killed by enemy action at Quadalcanal on
Nov. 13, 1942. Standard Star September 21, 1943. (February 4, 2008)
First Lieutenant Ellsworth Totten, III U.S. Army Air Force Distance running was the passion of
Ellsworth Totten as he attended Pelham Memorial High School in New York, graduating with the class of
1938. He was a four year letter man in both cross country and track, holder of the school’s half mile
record, and captain of the cross country team (EM).
Perhaps this endurance training was the preparation First Lt. Totten would need for the where with all
necessary to fly 59 combat missions from Italy during WWII, many more than the number of flights at which
a rotation home should have been available.
First Lt. Totten was a member of the 84th Bomber Squadron, 47th Bomber Group, Light. He flew a light
bomber, the Douglas A20 Havoc. On December 23rd 1944, Lt. Totten and his crew of three went off to
search for the crew of a B25 which was reported crashed into the sea off of Italy. The accounts say the
take off of the A20 was fine but there may have been an engine problem. The plane crashed into the sea
several miles out. His family did not receive detailed news of the outcome of the crash until late April of
the next year.
Lt. Totten was decorated with the air medal with two oak leaf clusters. He is memorialized in the Missing in
Action or Buried at Sea, Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy
This story was read by Post 50 members at the WWII 60th Anniversary ceremony conducted by The
American Legion at the Florence American Cemetery on May 5th, 2005.
Sources: The New York Times, April 28th, 1945. The Standard Star, April 27th, 1945. The Pelican,
1938
George Francis Usbeck, Jr., U.S. Merchant Marine, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Usbeck, 53
Maple Avenue, North Pelham. He was a graduate of Hutchinson School, the Pelham Junior High School
and he left Iona Prep at the age of 17 to join the merchant Marine. His father served in the first World War
in the Navy and rejoined the service in Sept. 1944 as a Chief Petty Officer.
The Merchant Mariner made his first trip overseas in April 1942 served on the 6,700 ton merchant tanker
ship L.J. Drake for a cruise through the Caribbean Sea during the early summer of 1942. The ship was
torpedoed and sunk without a trace on June 5th by the submarine U-68.
A ceremony was held honoring the merchant mariner in April 1945 at the War Shipping Administration in
New York City. His parents attended and his mother was presented with a Mariners medal. The citation
read,
"He was one of those men who today are so gallantly upholding the traditions of those hardy mariners who
defied anyone to stop the American Flag from sailing the seas in the early days of this republic. He was
one of those men upon whom the nation now depends to keep our ships afloat upon the perilous seas; to
transport our troops across the seas; and to carry them the vitally needed material to keep them fighting
until victory is certain and liberty secure. Nothing I can say or do will in any sense requite the loss of your
loved one. He has gone but he has gone in honor and in the goodly company of patriots. Let me in this
expression of the country's deep sympathy, also express to you its gratitude for his devotion and sacrifice."
The Standard Star Sept. 21-23, 1943 and April 17, 1945. (January 13, 2008)
Merchant Ship Losses June 1942
Capt. Robert H. Wetherbee, US Army Air Forces; Service # O-429198, was a graduate of Pelham
Memorial High School and the University of Minnesota. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roland W.
Wetherbee of Minnesota, formerly of Pelham. Captain Wetherbee was married on March 21, 1942 at the
Church of the Redeemer to Mrs. Shirley Crozier, the daughter of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Courtney C. Crozier of
421 Second Avenue, in Pelham. The couple had a daughter, named Jean.
Capt. Wetherbee was stationed in England with the 56th Fighter Group of the US Army Air Forces starting
in December 1942. He was a member of the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group and flue
the P47C Thunderbolt aircraft, HV-W nicknamed "Little Butch" serial number 41-6322. He was reported
"Missing in Action" as of June 26, 1943.
He was reported as one of 277 American soldiers “missing in action on July 15th 1943 by the War
Department. The Wetherbee Family reported that they had received no notice from the War Department
that Captain Wetherbee was missing.
Mrs. Wetherbee made her home during that period at the Pelham residence of her parents, Lieut. Col.
And Mrs. Courtney C. Crozier. Their daughter was seven months old at the time he was missing. The
Standard Star reported on Sept. 21, 1943 that Capt. Wetherbee had been Missing in Action since June
26, 1943. The WWII Memorial Registry reports that he died June 27, 1944 possibly as a Prisoner of War.
Captain Wetherbee is Memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery;
Cambridge, England
The Standard Star, New Rochelle, N.Y., Thurs. July 15, 1943.
56th Fighter Group
US Air Force 60th Anniversary
Cradle of Aviation, P47
61st Fighter On May 3, 1945, The New York Times announced his death which had occurred on April 6,
1945.
(Nov. 14, 2007)
Ellis Moore contribute to this presentation based on his personal recollections, PHMS yearbooks, and the
Memorial Tablet at Church of Christ the Redeemer in Pelham Manor, NY.
records contained at the New Rochelle Public Library of the New Rochelle Standard Star, current owner
The Journal News, the original copies of the Pelham Sun contained at the library of the Pelham Memorial
High School, the on-line archives of The New York Times, the on-line database of the American Battle
Monuments Commission and a variety of military unit and ship association websites as noted.
The research team which has been accumulating information since 2004 includes, Manny John Cortez,
James Morris, Ellis Moore, Sr.; and Sil Spagnuolo. Final editing and presentation has been done by Ken
Kraetzer, his mother Adelle Lahey Kraetzer graduated from Pelham Memorial High School, Class of 1938.
SGT. James A. Anderson, US ARMY, a member of the PMHS class of 1943, was killed in service to his
country on April 24, 1943. He was interred in 1949 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific,
Section F Site 801. 1943 Pelican (11 23 07)
Sergeant Vernon A. Biederman, U.S. Army, of 441 Third Ave, North Pelham was killed in action in
France July 11,1944. His parents received a letter earlier that month in which he said “all is well with me
and do not worry”. The Standard Star August 2, 1944
John Preston Blake, US Merchant Marine Service, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Blake of
Witherbee Court in Pelham Manor, and brother of Charles David and James Richard. He was a member
of the PMHS Class of 1937 (EM) and graduated from Princeton University in 1941. He enlisted in the
United States Maritime Service in September of 1941 and trained at Hoffman's Island, NY; St. Petersburg,
Florida, and San Francisco. Seaman Blake's sailed for ports in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and the
Hawaiian Islands.
On October 8, 1943, The New York Times reported his parents received a message reporting his death in
the "South Pacific Area" and "that he had been buried in an American cemetery in the Samoan Islands".
The Standard Star that day reported, "Seaman Blake died in a mobile hospital of the US Navy in the South
Pacific area. His death was attributed to a ruptured appendix, it was reported".
Lt. Paul Eugene Bowen, U.S. Army Air Force, lived at 531 Manor Lane, in Pelham Manor with his
parents, a younger brother John and sisters Jane and Isabel. He was a member of St. Catherine's
Church. A graduate of Pelham Memorial High School class of 1942, he was attending the University of
Cincinnati when he enlisted. He was called into active service on March 8, 1943.
He trained at San Antonio, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; and Denver before attending the navigation school at
Selman Field Monroe, LA where he was commissioned on Sept. 4th 1944. His parents received a
telegram that their son was one of three fliers killed in an airplane crash at noon on November 2nd, 1944,
near where he was stationed at Chatham Field, Savannah, Georgia. The funeral for the 20 year old was
held at St. Paul's Church in Jacksonville FL where he was born and he was interred at the Evergreen
Cemetery in Jacksonville. The Standard Star November 3, 1944.
Grover M. Burrows, US Navy: Oldest son of Grover and Mildred Burrows of 504 Pelham Manor Road
and brother of Charles, John, William, and Robert Burrows. Parishioner of Christ Church (EM). A naval
aviation cadet, he was killed in September of 1941 when his training plane crashed at Green Coves
Springs, FL. Standard Star Sept. 21st 19413?.
Private First Class Herbert W. Butcher, US Army, attended school in Flushing Queens before family
moved to 88 Fourth Avenue, Pelham in 1940. In addition to his parents he had a brother Alan and sister
Helen. He joined the military in 1938 and was stationed in Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. After the war
started, he was transferred to the paratroopers who he trained with at Fort Benning, GA.
On November 19th 1943 was reported by The New York Times as killed in action in the Mediterranean
area probably in Italy. He was one of 384 Americans listed as Killed in Action in that article, forty-one of
whom were from New York State. On November 30, 1943, The Standard Star reported that he was killed
in action in the Italy area.
Sgt. Gardner Caldwell, United States Marines of 440 Fowler Avenue, Pelham Manor, was born in
Manchester N.H., grew up in Pelham, and graduated from PMHS in January 1943. He enlisted in the
marines and trained first as a radio operator then later as an aerial gunner and was promoted to Sergeant
on Dec. 24th 1943. On May 19th, 1944 in a Navy patrol plane crash he was among 13 Marines who died
about six miles southeast of the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, N.C. He tuned age 20 on May
4th of that year. The Pelican 1943 (Nov. 23, 07)
Lieutenant C. George Campbell, US Navy grew up at 440 Pelhamdale Avenue and was graduated from
Pelham Memorial High School in 1932, Wesleyan University in 1936 and from the National Academy of
Design in 1938.
He enlisting in the United States Navy in May of 1941, and went in to aviation, earning his wings in
Jacksonville, Fla., He was such a good pilot that he was stationed there as an instructor for a year. One
of his hobbies was to design a six foot set of wings to record the exploits of his air group.
In 1944 he went to sea on the aircraft carrier, USS Hornet as the pilot of a Grumman TBM-1C Avenger
torpedo bomber, within VT-2 (Torpedo Squadron 2). He was awarded the Air Medal by the Commander
Fast Carrier Group for the mission he conducted against enemy naval forces on June 12 and 13th 1944.
On August 4th, Lt. Campbell and his crew flew Avenger #25205 from the Hornet on a mission against the
Bonin and Volcano Islands. He was later awarded the Navy Cross, a Gold Star, and Purple Heart for his
heroism that day on what turned out to be his final mission. The citation from Secretary of the Navy,
James Forestal read:
“Flying under extremely adverse weather conditions and in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, Lt.
Campbell pressed home a determined, aggressive attack on a large enemy destroyer and when his
torpedo failed to release, unhesitatingly turned his damaged plane back and made a second powerful
daring run, accurately scoring a direct hit amid-ships and leaving the hostile vessel in a sinking condition.”
“Forced to effect an emergency landing as a result of the severe damage inflicted on his craft during the
engagement, he skillfully set the plane down in the heavy seas without injury to his crewmen, and provided
for their escape before he himself succumbed. Lt. Campbell’s superb airmanship, indomitable fighting
spirit and great personal valor throughout this perilous mission were in keeping with the highest traditions
of the Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
A memorial service was held for C. George Campbell, Jr., age 29 at the time of his death, on Saturday
August 19, 1944 at Christ Church in Pelham. He is today memorialized at the Missing in Action or Buried
at Sea, Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, in Hawaii.
Sources: The Standard Star, New Rochelle, New York, August 18, 1944, Nov. 15th 1944, and Nov. 29th
1944
1st Lt. Samuel Meredith Carver, Jr. USAAF was from Easthampton, Massachusetts and a graduate of
Williston Academy and Dartmouth College. On February 22, 1942 his engagement was announced to
Pelham Memorial High School graduate Elinor Whitney Kingsbury, a senior that year at Smith College.
The Kingsbury's lived at 901 Plymouth Street in Pelham Manor.
Lt. Carver joined the Army Air Forces and trained to become a bomber pilot. He became a B29 pilot with
the 9th Bomb Group a component of the Twentieth Air Force which flew bomber flights from the island of
Tinian in the Mariannas Islands, 1500 miles across the western pacific to Japan.
On April 15th 1945, lt. Carver and his eleven man crew left Tinian as one of 33 B29s on what was
expected to be a very dangerous mission attempting to bomb the Kawasaki industrial area of Japan. Lt.
Carver's plane was one of four B29 that was shot down on that mission. It is believed that the crew
parachuted out of the plane and was soon captured by the Japanese and taken prisoner. It is further
believed that the crew was kept in confined in an area that was firebombed by a later mission and that Lt.
Carver and all but one member of the crew was killed with the exception of Corporal Nick J. Cristiano
(42061573) a gunner on the plane.
The 9th Bomb Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission. The citation described the
importance of the attack on the industrial section of Kawasaki,
"An important link in the component productive capacity...upon which industries in Tokyo and Yokahama
depended". The citation continued. "Because of its strategic location between two heavily-defended areas,
the objective was strongly guarded by masses of defenses both on the flanks and in the immediate target
area, making the approach, the bomb run, and the break-away from the target extremely hazardous."
Lt. Carver and the members of his crew were interred as a group at the Zachery Taylor National Cemetery
in St. Louis. MO.
"Kingsbury-Carver" The New York Times February 22, 1942. Wikipedia, "9th Bomb Group", USAAF
Missing Air Crew Report 99 Bomb Sq 9 Bomb Gp 17 April 1945 (January 28, 2008)
Private Americo Colautti, US Army, of 626 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, assigned to the 121st Infantry
Regiment, 8th Infantry Division,was reported killed in action Sept. 1st. 1944 in France, he had been with
an infantry unit there, a little over three months. A graduate of PMHS class of 1941 who was active in Sock
and Buskin theater performances (EM). Colautti was employed by the Colt Manufacturing Company in
Hartford Ct before his induction in march 1943. Private Colautti is interred at the Brittany American
Cemetery, St. James, France, Plot L Row 5 Grave 3. Sources The Standard Star Sept. 26, 1944, ABMC
Database.
Lieutenant Maurice K. Collette, Maurice Collette was an avid golfer in high school and college. He is
reported to have been an outstanding golfer at the Pelham Country Club, participating in many
tournaments throughout the county. At Princeton University he was on the golf team in 1942 as well a
member of the Cannon Club and manager of the Triangle Club.
Born in New York City, Lieut. Collette grew up in Pelham the son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Collette of 137
Manor Lane. An outstanding scholar, "Mo" Collette had skipped four semesters at the Siwanoy School,
causing him to graduate from Pelham Memorial High School Class of 1938 at the age of 16; from the
Lawrenceville School in 1939, and from Princeton University with Cum Laude honors in 1943.
Ellis Moore recalls, "In the mid-thirties, Collette and Eddie Potter (See Edward D. Potter Jr. below) took tap
dancing lessons with two other pals from Jim Kennett, who later abandoned show business ambitions to
become the successful editor-publisher of the original Pelham Sun which had been founded by his father,
Thomas M. Kennett. "Mo" Collette was the brother of Mary Jane and MacKay Collette."
Maurice enlisted in the US Army in 1943, and trained at Camp Hood, Fort Benning and Fort McClelland
before going overseas Nov. 12, 1944. The young Lieutenant was aide to Lieutenant General McBride,
Commander of the 80th Infantry Division.
Lieutenant Maurice K. Collette, just a month after arriving in Europe, was reported seriously wounded in
action at the great enemy counter offensive of the Battle of the Bulge, near Bastogne, France. On March
9th of 1945 the Standard Star reported that his parents had just been notified by the War Department of
his death on Dec. 24th 1944.
Lt. Maurice K. Collette is interred at the Luxembourg American Cemetery
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Private Peter V. Cornell, US Army was a member of the football team at Pelham Memorial High School.
He was the second oldest son of Natalie Hall Cornell and Nelson W. Cornell MD. His brothers were
George N., Richard W., John S., and Charles H. Cornell.
He "enlisted in the US Army at age 17, after eight weeks of basic training, he was shipped to Europe and
was killed three days later on February 19, 1945 in the Battle of the Bulge", J.R. Neale a friend recounts
on the WWII Memorial Registry.
Private Cornell, Service # 42179206 was a member of the 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry
Division. He received the Purple Heart. He is buried at Plot D Row 2 Grave 25, at the Ardennes American
Cemetery; Neupre, Belgium
Corporal Richard C. Di Giacomo, USMC: A Parishioner of Christ Church (EM) Mr. Di Giacomo grew up
at 155 Monterey Avenue, the son of Lt. Col and Mrs. James Di Giacomo. While a student at the University
of Virginia, he joined the Marine Corps on May 14, 1943. His brother Robert also became a soldier and
attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA in 1945.
Corp. Di Giacomo was sent to the Pacific during the height of WWII and he participated in four South
Pacific landings. He was awarded the Purple Heart when wounded on Saipan in June 1944 and was
hospitalized in Australia before returning to his unit. On May 5, 1945, Corp. Di Giacomo was reported by
the War Department as having been killed in action on Iwo (Jima) Island. He was age 23 at that time. The
date of his death was originally stated as March 31st in The New York Times and is presented as March
2nd by the American Battle Monument Commission.
More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US History. In 36 days
of fighting there were 25,851 US casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded). Of these, 6,825 Americans
were killed. Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished. The Marines' effort provided a vital link in the U.S.chain
of air bomber bases. By war's end, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewman had made emergency
landings on Iwo Jima. (iwoJima.com)
Corporal Di Giacomo was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart with Gold Star and is interred at Plot N
Row 1 Grave 435, of the Honolulu Memorial, in Hawaii. He is honored by name on the WWII Memorial in
the lobby of the New York Athletic Club building on Central Park South in Manhattan.
Private First Class Lester DuBois, Jr., US Army of 7 Bonmar Road, Pelham Manor was a parishioner of
Christ Church and a graduate of Choate in CT. His father had served as Village Trustee and Mayor of
Pelham. He was the brother of Jeanne DuBois Catherine (EM).
He joined the Army and was assigned to the 102nd Division, known as the Ozarks, of the Ninth Army which
fought in Europe. According to a telegram received March 7, 1945 by his parents, he was reported killed
in action in Germany. The 20 year old soldier had been overseas since the Fall of 1944 after joining the
service in 1943. Standard Star, March 8, 1945.
Lt. Richard Lewis Elliot, US Army Air Force, of the Pelham Biltmore Apartments, Pelham Manor,he
competed in track, cross country, football and baseball as a member of the Pelham Memorial High School
Class of 1940. He was in his second year at Lehigh University when he enlisted in January 1943. He
trained as a bomber pilot at Lubbock Field Texas and went overseas in November of 1944 as a member of
the 98th Bomb Group, 343rd Bomber Squadron based at Lecce, Italy.
On Dec. 23, 1944 Lt. Elliot was flying as a passenger in a B24G (42-63346) on a flight from Lecce to
Foggia Main Airfield, which was ferrying crew members to bring back other planes. The B24 encountered
snow, fog, a 200 foot ceiling and solid overcast on the flight. Despite being flown on instruments, the
plane crashed at about 12 Noon into a hill in the mountainous region approximately two miles northwest of
Rionero in Vulture, Italy. The altitude of the area was about 5,000 feet. The plane was reported as
completely destroyed. Found in the wreckage was the planes altimeter which indicated the crash occurred
at 4,200 feet, well below what was sufficient altitude to clear the terrain. It was also determined that the
plane was forty miles off course. The flight contained an extra five gunners, possibly to defend the planes
against attack.
Lt. Elliot was 22 years old at the time of his death in service to our country. His brother Capt. Herbert P.
Elliot, Jr. was also a pilot. Standard Star January 13, 1945. USAAF Report of Accident dated Feb. 1,
1945. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Captain Kendall King Fish, USAAF husband of Mrs. Elisabeth Lykes Fish, 631 Esplanade, Pelham
Manor, was a member of the 725th Bomber Squadron, 451st Bomber Group Heavy. He was listed on Jan.
30th 1945 by the War Department as wounded in action in the Mediterranean area. Lt. Fish had been
injured previously but was reported to have returned to action.
On April 24, 1945, just days from the end of the war in Italy he piloted the B24 bomber (42-64489) based
at Castelluccio, Italy on what was reported to be a "Test Hop". Witnesses saw the plane crash and
explode into rocks off the southwest coast of the island of Capri just off a lighthouse. USAAF records
indicate that there were no survivors of the four military members and three civilians on board which
included a USO member Joseph H. Prest. The plane sank in 200 foot depths with no possible salvage.
Captain Fish was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the
Purple Heart. He is memorialized on the Missing in Action, or Buried at Sea, Tablets of the Missing at the
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, in Nettuno, Italy. Standard Star January 30, 1945, ABMC Website,
USAAF Report of Accident 45-4-24-530. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Private First Class Robert A. Gordon, U.S. Army 29, of 88 Fourth Street, North Pelham was a member
of the 157th Infantry Division, 45th Infantry Division. He was married on May 15th, 1943 to the former Ann
McGovern at St. Catherine’s Chapel of OLPH, the couple had a daughter Kathleen. He was killed in action
in Northeast France on October 13th, 1944. The infantryman went overseas in March of 1944 and saw
action in Italy before participating in the invasion of France. Private Gordon is interred at Epinal American
Cemetery in France. The Standard Star February 6, 1945
Willard Graham, PMHS Class of 1940.
Lieutenant Commander F. Kenneth Gundlach, USN & New York State Naval Militia, received the Navy
Cross during WWI as an Ensign for heroism when assigned to the British merchantship RMS Idomeneus of
the Alfred Holt Line which was torpedoed by U67 off the Irish coast in route from New York to Liverpool on
15th Sep.t. 1917. The Citation read:
"The Navy Cross is awarded to Ensign Francis K. Gundlach, U.S. Navy (Reserve Forces), for
distinguished service in the line of his profession for remaining on board the Idomeneus, on which he was
detailed a signalmaster, after that ship had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine, and abandoned by
her crew, when it was found that there was a possibility of her remaining afloat."
Commander of the 31st Fleet Division since 1924, he served as an aide to New York State Governors
Lehman, Roosevelt, and Smith. He died at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital, after a five month illness On
October 12, 1942. The LTC is credited with erecting the Naval Militia Armory on East Main Street in New
Rochelle. One of his instrument panels from his naval supply business was used by Charles A. Lindbergh
on his historic flight to Paris. Standard Star October 13, 1942
First Lieutenant Francis Kennedy Gundlach Jr., U.S. Marine Air Corps, was born in New Rochelle,
but grew up in Pelham attended Siwanoy School, Pelham Memorial High School and Iona before
graduating from College Prep in 1940. He was the son of LTC F.K. Gundlach USNR, who was responsible
for building the New Rochelle Armory.
On February 10, 1944, Gundlach was flying an Avenger Torpedo Bomber as a member of the VMTB-143
Marine Torpedo Squadron 143, from a base at Torokina, Bougainville when his plane crashed near
Raboul in New Britain. Remains of the three crew members were not found until 1949.
Previously Lt. Gundlach was awarded the Air Medal, with a citation for bravery, for launching a diving
attack in a plane that was damaged and in flame and achieving a direct hit.
Lt. Gundlach is interred at Arlington National Cemetery with his two TBM-1c Avenger crewmembers
Gerald E. Duffie and Charles M. Dunham. Standard Star March 3, 1944 (Feb. 11, 2008)
Second Lieutenant Norman Hermansen USAAF, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Herman C. Hermansen of
Fourth Avenue in North Pelham, was a graduate of Pelham Memorial High School and the New York
School of Photography. He worked at the L. C. Chase and Company before his enlistment. He enlisted in
the Air Corps with his twin brother Truman in February of 1942 and started training in June of that year.
Lieutenant Hermansen received his commission and Air Corps wings at Brooks Field, San Antonio on Feb.
16th 1943. He was stationed at Morris Field, North Carolina where he served as an observer pilot.
On June 9, 1943, Lt. Hermansen died somewhere in Tennessee according to notification provided by the
American Red Cross to his family in Pelham. His Mother and sister Mrs. Donald Nelson immediately flew to
Tennessee. The Standard Star June 10. 1943
First Lieutenant Robert J. Holdom, US Army Air Forces, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gray D. Holdom of
Bolton Road, was a member of the 535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group Heavy. He was
reported missing in action over Amiens, France on July 14, 1943, and was later determined to have been
killed in service to his country on that day.
First Lieutenant Holdom, Service # O-792594, is buried at Plot B Row 21 Grave 35; the
Normandy American Cemetery; Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple
Heart. Sources: ABMC, The Standard Star Sept. 21, 1943. The New York Times August 3, 1943
Corporal Henry Harrison Ives, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, (473462) graduated from the Siwanoy
School and Pelham Memorial High School, where he began a brilliant career as a marathon runner. Even
while overseas, he kept up his running and wrote his mother that the running shorts and woolen socks that
she had sent him the prior Christmas were his most cherished Christmas gifts, and that he ran at every
opportunity.
Harrison Ives was born October 19, 1912 at 982 Split Rock Road, as was his mother and ten- year old
son, Charles. Before entering the service, he was a partner in the firm of Howe and Ives, tree surgeons.
He was a volunteer in the Pelham Manor Fire Department. He was married but separated from Mrs. Helma
Ives.
Ives enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on October 20, 1945 and assigned to active duty the next day.
He immediately went to basic training at Paris Island arriving on the 21st and then on Dec. 12th was
assigned to Camp LeJeune, new River NC were he went Spl Weapons Group. where he specialized in
gunnery.
He was stationed in the South Pacific for 18 months, as a member of Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-
Second Marines, First Provisional Marine Brigade.F.M.F. He was promoted to Corporal on Mar. 18th
1944. On the 4th of June he embarked at Quadalcanal BSI with his unit aboard the USS William P. Biddle
and sailed to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands arriving June 9th. Later that same date he embarked
on LST #243 and sailed to Enewetok Atoll also in the Marshall Islands arriving on July 5th. They left
Eniwetok on of June 15th and arrived at Quam on July 21st the first day of the invasion which lasted until
August 10th when the island was finalyy secured. He died on July 25, 1944. The Navy/MC Case Report
of Oct. 31, 1945 states that death was caused by enemy mortar shell fragment.
A newspaper report of August 16, 1944 described that Cpl Ives's mother, Mrs. Mary Huntenberg of 982
Split Rock Road, Pelham Manor, received a telegram from the War Department that he was killed in action
in the South Pacific. The telegram did not say where Cpl. Ives was killed, but advised that a letter would
follow.
Mrs. Huntenberg last heard from her son on July 12th, when he wrote her that he had just come out of a
battle, which she said was probably at Saipan, and that he would write again in about three days. Mrs.
Huntenberg said that she expected that her son would have a rest period, but that he was probably sent
right back into action, in which he met his death at age 33. She received a telegram on August 12, 1944
from Lt. General A.A, Vandegript Commandant of the USMC informing her of the loss of her son "In the
performance of his duties and in service of his country."
The capture of Guam cost the l;ives of 1,747 Americans killed and 6,053 wounded. The Japanese
casualties were 18,040 killed, and 485 Prisoners of War captured. In a few months, Guam would serve as
a primary base for B29 "Super Fortress" bombing missions against the Japanese homeland.
Members of the Pelham Fire Department, praised the outstanding record, made by Ives, since he entered
the service. “He was the kind of Marine who went right in and did the job regardless of his personal safety”.
Corp, Ives was awarded the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory
Medal. Initially he was interred at the Agat, Guam Cemetery II. In 1949 his remains were returned to the
United States aboard the USAT Dalton Victory on February 16th and interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in New Rochelle.
The Standard Star, New Rochelle, New York, Wednesday, August 16, 1944 Notes provided by the
National Archives. (April 25, 2009)
Vincent La Selva, Seaman, Third Class, U.S. Navy Reserve (810-48-55). Born on Christmas Eve of
1924, he grew up at 435 Fifth Avenue in North Pelham resident, the eldest son of Marie and Rosario La
Selva. His Father, born in Italy, was a self employed shoemaker. Three of his brothers also served in the
Navy during WWII, Leo "Vincent" a well known boxer, Seaman Second Class Canio, and Seaman First
Class Carmine. He attended Pelham Memorial High School for three years leaving in 1941 and worked in
a defense plant in Norwalk, CT. His trade was described as "Electrolytic operator".
La Selva was inducted into the Navy by local board 739 at the Fire Headquarters in North Pelham on April
14, 1943. His enlistment was credited to the 24th Congressional District and he was assigned to the V-6
training program. His pay was registered at $50 per month. After basic training at the US Naval Training
Station at Sampson NY, on July 14, 1943 he was assigned to the Naval Training Station at the University
of Minnesota in St. Paul to qualify as a "Machinist's Mate. On November 9th he was assigned to
"Destroyer Escort vessels" and sent to receive additional training at Norfolk, Virginia. He reported aboard
the destroyer escort USS Witter DE 636 on December 29th, the day the ship was commissioned in San
Francisco Harbor. On March 30, 1944 upon the Witter crossing the equater, La Selva was inducted by
the Commanding officer Alan C. Davis as a qualified "Shellback" of the "Silent Mysteries of the Far East".
On this date the Japanese Kamikaze onslaught against the U.S. Navy began off Okinawa resulting in
damage to or sinking of 34 ships. At 4:10 in the afternoon, two enemy planes approached the Witter,
eight miles distant approaching her from the south-southwest. The ship went to "General Quarters", the
engines were reved up to produce 23 knots speed, and evasive steering was ordered. In the five minutes
it took the two planes to approach the ship, both were hit by anti-aircraft fire and one crashed at sea. The
other continued an attack on the ship and crashed into the starboard side at the waterline. The
kamikaze's bomb went off in the forward fireroom resulting tin the deaths of six sailors including La Selva.
The ship was stabilized and towed to a friendly harbor and repaired sufficiently to sail back to the United
States but its WWII service was over.
A Memorial Service was held for Vincent La Selva in Pelham on April 17, 1945 at St. Catharine's Church
where he was a communicant. On May 3, 1945, The New York Times announced his death in its casualty
listings. The same article reported the deaths of Pelhamites Willard Graham and Richard Di Giacomo.
Seaman Vincent La Selva was awarded the Purple Heart and is honored at the Missing in Action or Buried
at Sea Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii (ABMC). Standard Star April 16, 1945,
National Personnel Records Center-Military Personnel Records, The National Museum of the Pacific War,
Wikipedia
(Spelled Lasalva in some government listings). (Updated November 15, 2008)
Captain C. William Law. Born in New York City, Capt. Law attended Roxbury Academy, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute and Rollins College where he won several letters in sports. Clarence J. Law, his
father lived at 144 Harmon Avenue in Pelham. He and his wife Louise R. Law had a son who was born in
1943. They lived at 88 Young Avenue. His sister was Mrs. W. Dwight Merrill, the former Miss Katherine
Law, was also of Pelham. He became a laboratory assistant at New York Edison's Hell Gate generating
station in 1936 and transferred to advertising three years later.
Capt. Law took a leave of absence from Consolidated Edison to enlist in December 1940 and earned a
lieutenant's commission before going overseas in early 1942 as a regimental transportation officer. In
1944 he served at Hawaii acting as liaison between infantry and headquarters staff during the conference
of General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz. He went onto serve with the 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th
Division. He fought in three major engagements in the Pacific. He led a company of infantry in
amphibious assaults on Kwajalein and Enwetok atols. At age 30, Capt. Law was killed in action at Okinawa
on April 20th 1945.
The Standard Star, May 19th 1945
Private William Lisecki, U. S. Army, husband of the former Susan Adamo of Fourth St., Pelham, was
killed in action in Italy on Dec. 23 1943. His parents, who lived in Mt. Vernon had four sons in military
service. Pvt. Lisecki was inducted into the Armed Forces Aug.18, 1942 and attached to the Medical Corps.
He had been overseas since last summer. He was interred at the Long Island National Cemetery, in
Farmingdale, sec. H, Site 10541. Standard Star January 31, 1944
Lieutenant (jg) Jason Ard Lodwick Jr., was a parishioner of Christ Church in Pelham Manor and his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Lodwick, lived at 915 Esplanade. Prior to the start of WWII, Lodwick worked for
Pan American Airways, Africa Ltd, and was stationed in North Africa, Egypt, and India. He was married to
Louise Chapelle Ivey Lodwick of Richmond, Virginia and his brother Lyle Lodwick served in the USNR in
the Pacific as well.
On May 27th of 1945 just days after transferring to the Fletcher class destroyer DD630, USS Braine, the
ship was hit by a Japanese plane off of Okinawa. The attack killed Lt. Lodwick and over twenty of his
fellow crew members, the greatest loss of life on any destroyer which was not sunk. The Standard Star
reported the news of his death on Oct. 6th and 8th, 1945. Lt. Lodwick is interred at Arlington National
Cemetery.
Sergeant Irving Whitall Lyon, US Army Air Corps. of 26 Manning Circle, Pelham Manor, was a member
of the PMHS calls of 1943. A native of New York City he resided in Pelham most of his life where was
active in the Boy Scouts and was leader of the Pelham School Band.
Sergeant Lyon, enlisted in the Air Corps, Oct. 17, 1942, and became a radio operator and a serial gunner.
On Tuesday August 9, 1944 the Associated Press reported an airplane accident two miles northeast of
Lake Charles Army Air Base, La. Twenty year old Sergeant Lyon was killed in the crash of a medium
bomber along with five other crewman. 1943 Pelican (Nov. 23, 07)
Air Cadet John H. MacManus, lived at 1111 Clay Street in Pelham Manor, younger brother of Frank
MacManus was a parishioner of Christ Church and at age 18 he was an Air Cadet. In the early morning
hours of March 17, 1944, he was a passenger in a car which was driving on Pelhamdale Avenue. The car
skidded and hit a fire hydrant near the Shore Road. The other three occupants of the car, Daniel
O'Connell US Merchant Marine, Charles Lange, Army Air Cadet, and Private Robert Lee Berran US Army
all of Pelham survived with serious injuries but Cadet McManus died at New Rochelle hospital at 8 AM the
day of the accident. (EM). Standard Star March 17, 1944 and April 27th 1944
Second Lieutenant, Murtha J. McCarthy, U.S. Army, (Service # 0-743461) the older brother of Paul
McCarthy grew up on the Esplanade in Pelham Manor and graduated from PMHS in 1938.
His fellow pilot Paul C. Murphey, remembers Murtha McCarthy, they were members of flight school class
43-D, which graduated at Williams Field, Chandler, AZ on April 12, 1943. Most of this class trained in the
RP-322, a P-38 with no supercharger. After graduation he and his class mates were sent to several
bases in California for further training. He was one of twelve picked to be the first of 43-D to go overseas
and be assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group: Edwin L. DeGraffenreid, Richard E.
Dotson, Robert E. Feehan, Stanley Johnson, Paul C. Murphey, John C. McClean, Jennngs L. Myers, Louis
Schriber, James R. Farris, Robert W. Wood, William F. Williams and Murtha J. McCarthy.
After flying across the pacific in a B24 converted to be a transport, Lt. McCarthy and his fellow flyers
trained in Brisbane, Australia for several weeks before being given combat assignments in early July. Lt.
McCarthy was reported killed on his first mission to Bogadjim, Madang, and Lae in Papua New Guinea.
He was officially declared Killed in Action on Dec. 19th 1945 after having been reported as Missing in
Action since that July day in 1943. He is remembered on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of
the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Air Medal, and Purple
Heart. (ABMC)
Second Lieutenant Paul A. McCarthy US Army Air Force The McCarthy family lived for many years
on the Esplanade in Pelham Manor. Paul played on the football and basketball teams as a member of the
PMHS class of 1939. He went on to work for the Pepsi-Cola Company. He entered the military, won his
commission and from flight school earned his wings on Dec. 5, 1942 in South Carolina.
In January 1943 he was married at St. Catherine’s Church to a another PMHS graduate the former Eileen
Stephenson. His wife since childhood made her home with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John K.
Markey of 98 First Avenue. He went overseas in May of 1943 and two weeks after arriving had completed
11 missions flying a B-17 Flying Fortress, according to a letter he wrote to his family.
2LT McCarthy was assigned to the 15th Army Air Force, commanded in the Mediterranean area by Major
General James Doolittle, famous for his 1942 raid from the USS Hornet to Japan. The.455th Bomb Group,
741st Bomb Squadron, formed in May of 1943 at Alamogordo Air Base in New Mexico. Their B24s had
black diamonds painted on the top half of their tails and the bottom was painted solid yellow.
The On June 26th 1944, 2Lt McCarthy was the pilot of a crew of ten flying a B24H (42-52241) on a
mission to bomb oil refineries at Moosbierbaum northwest of Vienna in Austria. T/Sgt Paul C. Roadman on
another plane reported, "I saw the B-24 No 241, piloted by 2nd Lt. McCarthy, break off from the formation
to his right. At that time, I saw no apparent trouble. I saw the waist gunners buckling on their chutes.
About a minute later I saw three chutes emerge and open, during which time, I saw two enemy fighters
attacking straight away from the rear of his plane. The next time I had a chance to look, about one minute
later, Lt. McCarthy's plane was going down in flames."
On July 6th 1944, Lt. McCarthy's wife, received a telegram from the War Department stating that her
husband had been missing as of June 26. He was last seen going down in his plane over Austria. He was
based at Foggia Field in Italy.
His older brother, Murtha McCarthy, U.S. Army, a member of the PMHS Class of 1936 was reported
missing in the South Pacific more than a year prior. Lieutenant McCarthy had two other brothers in the
Army. Robert, who was in the South Pacific, and John, whose station was described in an account as a
military secret.
The 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy), "the Vulgar Vultures", which included the 741st Bomb Squadron,
received Distinguished Unit Citations for missions flown to STEYR, AUSTRIA on 2 Apr. 1944 and
MOOSBIERBAUM, AUSTRIA 26 Jun. 1944. A young pilot from South Dakota would join the squadron and
fly his first mission in November 1944, Lt. George McGovern.
2 Lt. Paul A. McCarthy is interred at Section 84 Site 149, the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St.
Louis, MO (VA.gov). War Dept. AAF Missing Air Crew Report #6400 April 10, 1946. (Updated Sept. 30,
2007)
Gerald R. McDermott Jr., lived on Manor Lane in the 1930s (EM).
Private James Allen Mercer, United States Army 39 husband of the former Miss Henrietta Tsich, who
lived at 7 Archer Drive, Chester Heights, was killed in action in France on August 31, 1944. Private
Mercer had been overseas two years and went through the African and Sicilian campaigns with the Tank
Corps. Mrs. Mercer received a letter from him dated Aug. 29th 1944 in which he was certain he would be
home soon. A native of California, Private Mercer, 39, was in the motion picture business prior to the war
and was married in Nov. of 1942.
Staff Sergeant Frank T. Mirra, US Army, Service # 32535724, was a native of Yonkers who was the
uncle of Ralph Mirra from Pelham. He was a member of the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry
Division
landing in the early phases of D-Day at the Normandy beaches. He died on the 18th of July 1944
He is interred at Plot F Row 13 Grave 3, of the Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France; Sergeant
Mirra was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. ABMC (12/9/07).
Flight Officer Bertley A. (H) Moberg, US Army Air Forces, attended Siwanoy School and was a member
of the PMHS Class of 1941. His father, Edward J. Moberg, moved to 348 Seneca Avenue in Mt. Vernon.
He was close friend of Maurice Collette and Eddie Potter, nearby Pleham neighbors who also died in
World War II" recalls Ellis Moore.
Bertley was a member of the 20th Bomber Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group heavy, known as the "Defenders
of Liberty" which B-17 Flying Fortresses on missions out of Italy into Germany and eastern Europe. On
March 14, 1945 he co-piloted a mission aboard a B17 serial number 44-6426 that departed from
Amendola, Italy with a total crew of ten. The destination was to bomb the Stony oil refinery in Hungary.
Several reports indicate that near the target flying at about 22,000 feet, the plane's number two engine
took a direct hit by flak and burst into flames. The plane lost altitude altitude but remained under control.
Four parachutes were seen leaving the plane although one was said to be on fire. Soon after the B17
was reported to have blown up.
Bertley Moberg received the Air medal and the Purple Heart, he is honored on the Tablets of the Missing
at the Florence American Cemetery in Italy. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
2nd Bomb Group Association
Past Post 50 Commander and Westchester County Commander Robert McGuirl under the tribute
to Bertley Moberg on the Wall of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery during the visit of Post
50 members on May 5, 2005.
Lieutenant (jg) Kenneth Hart Muir, USNR of 4 Benedict Place, Pelham was a graduate of Choate
School and Princeton University. At age 26 he died in action as officer in charge of the U.S. Armed Guard
on board liberty ship SS NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, sunk in the Caribbean November 7,1942 by U-508.
Lt. Muir was awarded posthumously the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism” and also the Purple Heart.
His citation stated in part, “Lieutenant (jg) Muir, disregarding his own severe injuries and great suffering,
ordered the three men near him to leap clear of the ship and then rushed back to help more of his men
escape. His great personal valor and unselfish devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions
of the United States Naval Service.”
In June of 1944 the U.S.S. Muir, a destroyer escort vessel, was named in his honor.
1st Lt. Richard H. Mullineaux, US Army Air Forces, competed in track and and cross country as a
member of the PMHS Class of 1939. He became a fighter pilot (0801360) and served with the 75th
Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group. This squadron, known as the famous "Flying Tigers", was formed
prior to the start of WWII under the leadership of General Claire L. Chennault to fly against the Japanese
from airfields in China.
The History of the 74th Squadron which relieved the 75th recalls the missions of Lt. Mullineaux and his
flight mates flying P40s from the area of Hengyang, China:
"In the intense air action during the month of July the attrition rate of aircraft and pilots was high. 1st
Lieutenant Richard Mullineaux was wounded in the shoulder and neck, Lieutenant Evans received facial
wounds, Captain Herbst was bruised and shaken up when he blew a tire on take off. Lieutenants
Woodard and Hanover bailed out and Lieutenant Mullineaux was killed in a crash over a target area,
Captain Adams and Lieutenant Bates balled out. Many of the P-40’s were hit by small arms ground fire."
USAAF records confirmed that on July 23, 1944, Lt. Mullineaux departed Eweilan, China flying a P40N-5
model (42-104923) on a mission to bomb and strafe enemy forces near Fulinpu, China. At about 3 PM,
while flying 15 miles NE of Charagaba, he was observed making a "Low strafing run" and "Mushing into the
ground".
Lt. Mullineaux was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. He is
interred at: Plot P, Row 0, Grave 334 at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, in Hawaii.
Mr. Mullineaux was honored by his nephew, Craig Milan, who provided a listing on the WWII Memorial
Registry. USAAF Missing Air Crew Report July 24, 1944 (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Lloyd Allan Munger, US Army was born in Philadelphia on Feb. 23, 1923 the son of Lloyd Munger Sr
and Edith W. Williams. He grew up on Witherbee Avenue not far from Siwanoy School. At age 20 he
joined the Army and trained at Fort Brag NC. He died there on Jan. 10,1944 just over a month from his
21st birthday. Ancestry.com. (Updated July 30, 2009)
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 during 1944 and 1945. The Division maintained their
fight for a Pacific Theater record of 219 consecutive days of continuous combat on the island of Luzon.
During the War, the men of the 6th Division fought a total of 306 days of combat. Casualties for the 6th
Division totaled 1,174 killed in action, 3,876 wounded and 9 missing, for an overall total of 5059 casualties.
(6thInfantry.com)
Lt. Ogden was killed in action on February 2, 1945, very likely in the intense five day battle for the town of
Munoz, where the division encountered the biggest unit of Japanese armor assembled in the war, a force
which including 56 tanks. He received the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf
Cluster. He is buried at Plot 1, Row 6 Grave 123, Manila American Cemetery, the Philippines.
Second Lt. Edmund Baxter Overton, US Army Air Forces, was one of the New York area's top
amateur golfers in the late 1930s and early 1940s playing from the Pelham Country Club. He set the
Pelham course record in August 1940 with a 66 and was the 1941 Club Champion. Going into the 1942
season the Metropolitan Golf Association listed him as a 4 handicap, one of the best in the area.
Mr. Overton was a parishioner of Christ Church in Pelham (EM) and graduated from the Staunton Military
Academy in Virginia. He was the son of Mrs. C. W. Webster who lived at the Witherbee Court. He had a
brother; Robert Lee Overton, and step brother William O Webster. Prior to joining the military, he worked
at the Home Insurance company in New York City.
In 1942 he enlisted into the Army Air Corps and became a fighter pilot. He trained at Galesburg, IL and
was commissioned at Kelley Field, Texas. On April 22, 1945, Second Lt. Overton, age 25, was killed in an
airplane accident at the Brownsville Army Base in TX. A memorial service was held for him at the Ferncliff
Chapel in Hartsdale, NY. The Standard Star, April 23, 1945 The New York Times April 24, 1945
Private First Class Edward Dawley Potter Jr. USMC, lived at 459 Siwanoy Place., attended Siwanoy
School and was a member of the PMHS Class of 1942. He was one of the 14,000 Marine casualties killed
in action on the Pacific island of Okinawa in the spring of 1945.
The invasion of Okinawa was the largest amphibious assault during the Pacific campaign of World War II.
It was also the largest sea-land-air battle in history, running from late March through June 1945.
Americans suffered casualties over 72,000 casualties, over twice the number killed at Iwo Jima and
Guadalcanal combined. There were about 100,000 Japanese soldiers killed and 7,000 captured. Civilian
losses in the battle were at least 150,000, about a third of the civilian population of the island were killed in
the Spring of 1945.
Edward Dawley Potter died on June 27th, 1945; he received the Purple Heart and is interred at the
Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.
Battle of Okinawa, Global Security
Second Lieutenant Daniel Proper USAAF; lived at 125 Fifth Avenue in Pelham, the son of Mr. & Mrs.
George Proper Sr. Born in Riverhead NY Dec. 8, 1922, he lived in Pelham for eight and a half years and
was a graduate of Pelham Memorial High School. He joined the service in February of 1943 and trained at
Stutigart, Ark, Maxwell Field Al, and Mountain Home, Idaho. His brother George Jr. 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.
Lt. Proper was stationed with the 15th Air Force, 459th Bombardment Squadron in Italy after going
overseas in Dec. 1944 flying B-24 Liberator bombers. On June 3, 1945, he was the pilot of a B24 which
crashed while conducting a "Tour" near Kailwaug, Austria. Standard Star July 16, 1945 (12/2/2007)
Private First Class William H. Quinn, United States Army; 21 of 102 Loring Avenue, enjoyed playing
football, basketball, tennis, and track as a member of PMHS class of '41. He went on to study at Fordham
and NYU.
Pvt. Quinn went overseas to England in Sept. of 1944 with a mortar crew of the 11th Armored Division.
41ST tank Battalion. His brother Francis S. Quinn was in combat nine consecutive months with the 636th
Tank Destroyer Battalion and led a naval shore fire control party in first wave of D-Day.
Stationed in England before going to Belgium, his family learned of William being in Belgium was in a letter
he wrote Christmas Day, in which he said he had been in action. They last heard from him in a letter dated
Jan. 9th -in which he wrote that he was resting in a farmhouse with a Belgium family. He was killed in
action in Belgium on Jan. 15th 1945. A requiem mass was held for him at St. Catherine's Church on Jan.
31, 1945 at 8 AM. Standard Star January 31, 1945 (Dec. 1, 2007)
Fireman 1st Class Herbert Retallack, United States Navy was born in Kulpmont, Pa. in 1920, and
moved to Pelham as a young child. The family lived at 225 Third Avenue in North Pelham. He enlisted in
the United States Navy in March 1941, leaving Pelham Memorial High School, where he was an eleventh
grade student.
He became a Fireman on the destroyer, USS Rowan DD405 and served in the Casablanca and Sicily
landings. On the 14th of July 1943 the Rowan arrived off the coast of Sicily and began to support the fight
going on there and soon after the invasion of the Italian mainland. On Sept. 10th after screening delivery
of supplies to Paestrum, she headed out with a convoy again towards Oran in North Africa. Shortly after
midnight, German E-boats attacked. Rowan pursued and fired and changed course to rejoin the convoy.
Soon after a new contact was posted and was closing in, Rowan changed course to avoid torpedoes and
bring her guns into position. As the range decreased to 2,000 yards, Rowan was hit by a torpedo. She
sank in less than a minute, taking 202 of her 273 officers and men with her.
A year later, in September of 1944. Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal advised the parents by letter,
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Retallack that Seaman Retalack was listed by the Navy Department as dead based
on reports that the U.S.S. Rowan, was torpedoed in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off Italy.
Secretary Forrestal wrote: “The severity of the explosion caused the ship to sink very rapidly. Visibility was
good and the sea was calm. An American ship was dispatched immediately to the scene of the sinking and
rescued survivors. In view of the rapidity in which the vessel sank, the prompt rescue facilities available,
favorable weather conditions and considering the length of time that had elapsed without any indication of
your son’s survival. I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that he is deceased”.
A memorial service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. A.E. Randell, executive director of the Congressional
Church of the Pelhams, Fireman Retallack is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome
American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy
Source: The Standard Star, New Rochelle, New York, Sept. 27th-28th 1943, and Saturday, September 30,
1944.
http://www.domeisland.com/goldplater/danfs405.html
Lt JG John Mathew Ring, US Navy, born at Worcester, MA on June 17, 1924, he lived at 623 Francis
Street in Pelham Manor, the son of Irene Monica and John Denis Ring. As a member of the PMHS class
of 1942, at Pelham Memorial High School, he participated in football, track, and hockey while also serving
as President of the debating team. Known as "Lonnie", he was described as one of the outstanding
performers on the 1942 PMHS Track team.
He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve V-5 class on September 29, 1942 and was commissioned an Ensign
on Oct. 1st of 1943. He was designated a Naval Aviator. After further training in Melbourne, FL and San
Diego, CA he was assigned on Jan. 11, 1944 to "Fighting Squadron Thirty Five" and on June 7th shifted to
Squadron 302. During this time he served on the Escort Carrier USS Chenango (CVE-28) which received
the Navy Unit Commendation by the Secretary of the Navy.
On October 25, 1944 flying with VF-44 "Fighting Squadron 44" from the USS Langley CVL27 , Ensign Ring
served as a wingman to Lt. John S. Tyler USNR who was leading a formation of eight F6Fs in a bombing
attack against a Japanese cruiser. Their position was 19-10 N,125E. At 5:25 PM the planes began their
dive from 14,000 feet. Ring's plane designated F6F-3 was hit by antiaircraft fire and fell out of control
from the formation. Several squadron officers saw the plane hit the water behind the Japanese ship.
He received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal and the Purple Heart. He is remembered on the Missing
in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines.
(October 18, 2009)
Lieutenant James H. Scott, US Army Air Corps, of 98 Hill Street, later the Bronx NY was reported
missing in action July 30th 1944 over Hungary. Lieutenant Scott was with the 15th Air Force in Italy, a
navigator on a B-24 Liberator bomber. A graduate of PMHS, his brother PFC Eric C. Scott was a United
States Marine in the South Pacific.
2Lt. James H. Scott, 0702495, is interred at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, KY.
Lt. Joseph Michael Shields, Jr. USMCR, lived at 637 James Street the son of Helen and the late
Joseph M. Shields. He was one of six children with Helen R, William T, Ann M., Elizabeth A., and Aileen.
On August 8, 1944 the New York Times described that Lt. Shields had died in the performance of his
duties two days before on August 6, 1944 at the US Naval Air Station, Norman, Oklahoma.
Lieutenant David G. Souther, US Marine Corps Reserve, was the son of Town Councilman and Mrs.
Richard C. Souther of 154 Country Club Lane in Pelham Manor and brother of John Souther. He
attended Pelham schools and was a member of the PMHS Class of 1939. After his sophomore year at
Yale University he enlisted in the US Marine Corps where he became a fighter pilot.
At age 22, he was killed in a crash at sea in South Pacific on September 3, 1943. A letter written by Lt.
Souther on August 21st 1941 was received by his parents the day after they were informed of his death.
Lt. Souther is buried at Plot B Row 0 Grave 1107, Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii. Standard Star Sept. 11th
and 21st, 1943 and ABMC.
Lieut. John Francis Stanton received the Purple Heart posthumously which was presented to his wife
Vera McQuade Stanton of 751 Pelhamdale Avenue, North Pelham, NY. The couple had been married just
barely a year before on April 9, 1942 at St. Catherine's Church in Pelham.
Mrs. Stanton received the news of his death at age 32 in North Africa from the War Department on May
18, 1943. An Army Chaplain with Lt. Stanton at the time of his death sent a letter to Mrs. McQuade. The
Chaplain described that Lt. Stanton was killed by enemy artillery fire in the front lines of the North African
campaign on Easter Saturday April 24th.
Stanton had attended St. Peter's Prep School in New Jersey and John Carroll University in Cleveland. He
was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stanton of Cleveland, Ohio. For a while he lived at the YMCA in Mount
Vernon while working at Floyd Bennett Field on Long Island. Shortly after being married he was inducted
into the Army on May 18, 1942 form the Mt. Vernon draft board 741. After attending Officer Candidate
School at Fort Benning in Georgia, he was commissioned on Jan. 18, 1943. After a short stay at Camp
Wheeler, Georgia he was sent overseas and arrived in North Africa in March. The Standard Star June 10,
1943 (February 7, 2008)
Second Lieutenant Robert W. Swanson, U. S. Army Air Force, 20 October 14, 1944. son of Mrs.
Kenneth Swanson of 42 Linden Ave., and Fenton W. Swanson of Harrisburg, Pa., was killed on October
13th, 1944 when the Flying Fortress in which he was on combat training, collided with a pursuit plane,
near Tunica, Miss. Lt Swanson was the grandson of Thomas M. Kenneth, publisher of the Pelham Sun.
He graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in Jan. 1943, and was commissioned on Aug. 7th of that
year. Funeral services were held at Christ Church.
Technical Sergeant Harold Roger Sweeney, U.S. Marine Corps, 27 of 520 Pelhamdale Ave., Pelham
Manor, a veteran of 19 months in the Pacific theatre was reported killed Oct. 9, 1944 in an airplane
accident, near Plymouth, N.C. An outstanding athlete at PMHS he was a member of the class of 1935,
Sweeney attended Manhattan College and Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. He was the older brother of
Robert Sweeney (EM). A solemn high requiem mass with military rites was said at St. Catherine’s Church.
Captain David B. Tarrant, US Army; Service # 0-399855, attended Pelham Schools and was a district
circulation manager in Pelham for The Standard Star. His mother lived at 719 Pelhamdale Avenue, in
North Pelham. Capt. Tarrant held a commission in the reserves with the old Seventh Regiment and was
called to duty in February 1941. He was sent to Hawaii early in 1942 and promoted to Capt. in May 1943
while serving with the 27th Infantry Division, 106th Infantry Division, Company G.
Early in 1944 he fought in the invasion and battle for the Marshall Islands, and later was taking part in his
the invasion of Saipan when second major engagement was killed in action at Saipan on June 27th 1944.
Captain Tarrant was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
David Alan Stahl of Augusta, GA reports "He was struck by a shell from a Japanese tank that had gone
undetected until it fired on a group of officers, causing several casualties". Mr. Stahl's father, Lloyd E
Stahl, was the executive officer of Company G, described David Tarrant as “one of the finest men I ever
knew.” When Captain Tarrant was killed, Lloyd Stahl resolved to name his son after Tarrant if he lived to
return home and have a son. David Stahl has also named his son after David Tarrant .
Captain Tarrant is interred at the Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.
Email from David Aaln Stahl June 8, 2009
(Updated March 19, 2009)
Petty Officer Second Class Jerry A. Terracciano, USNR, 20 , February 25, 1945 Petty Officer Second
Class Jerry A. Terraciano, USNR, (Service # 7104365) was born in North Pelham the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Terraciano, formerly of Pelham, who moved to 215 South Fifth Avenue, Mount Vernon.
After enlisting in January 1943, received training at the cook’s and baker’s school in Newport, R.I., and
later at San Diego. He was sent overseas in 1944, and served in Mexico, Panama, Hawaii, and finally in
the Pacific area, where he first saw action. On February 19th 1945, the 20 year old was reported to
have died of wounds following action while serving as ship’s cook on an LCI in the Pacific area. Petty
Officer Terracciano was buried at sea.
Surviving besides his parents were his brothers, Louis and Salvatore, both of Pelham. Jerry A.
Terracciano, Ship's Clerk, Second Class, U.S. Navy Reserve received the Purple Heart and is
remembered on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in
Hawaii. (Updated Sept. 29, 2007)
Lieutenant JG William Thoman, US Coast Guard was a PMHS Class of 1938 (EM) who planned to
study at Columbia. He died in service to our country on June 13, 1943 and was awarded the Purple
Heart. Lt. Thoman is remembered at the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing, at East
Coast Memorial New York City.
John J. Tierney USN, a seaman second class was the son of Pelham Manor Police officer James T.
Tierney and lived at 33 Grove Street in New Rochelle. He was killed by enemy action at Quadalcanal on
Nov. 13, 1942. Standard Star September 21, 1943. (February 4, 2008)
First Lieutenant Ellsworth Totten, III U.S. Army Air Force Distance running was the passion of
Ellsworth Totten as he attended Pelham Memorial High School in New York, graduating with the class of
1938. He was a four year letter man in both cross country and track, holder of the school’s half mile
record, and captain of the cross country team (EM).
Perhaps this endurance training was the preparation First Lt. Totten would need for the where with all
necessary to fly 59 combat missions from Italy during WWII, many more than the number of flights at which
a rotation home should have been available.
First Lt. Totten was a member of the 84th Bomber Squadron, 47th Bomber Group, Light. He flew a light
bomber, the Douglas A20 Havoc. On December 23rd 1944, Lt. Totten and his crew of three went off to
search for the crew of a B25 which was reported crashed into the sea off of Italy. The accounts say the
take off of the A20 was fine but there may have been an engine problem. The plane crashed into the sea
several miles out. His family did not receive detailed news of the outcome of the crash until late April of
the next year.
Lt. Totten was decorated with the air medal with two oak leaf clusters. He is memorialized in the Missing in
Action or Buried at Sea, Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy
This story was read by Post 50 members at the WWII 60th Anniversary ceremony conducted by The
American Legion at the Florence American Cemetery on May 5th, 2005.
Sources: The New York Times, April 28th, 1945. The Standard Star, April 27th, 1945. The Pelican,
1938
George Francis Usbeck, Jr., U.S. Merchant Marine, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Usbeck, 53
Maple Avenue, North Pelham. He was a graduate of Hutchinson School, the Pelham Junior High School
and he left Iona Prep at the age of 17 to join the merchant Marine. His father served in the first World War
in the Navy and rejoined the service in Sept. 1944 as a Chief Petty Officer.
The Merchant Mariner made his first trip overseas in April 1942 served on the 6,700 ton merchant tanker
ship L.J. Drake for a cruise through the Caribbean Sea during the early summer of 1942. The ship was
torpedoed and sunk without a trace on June 5th by the submarine U-68.
A ceremony was held honoring the merchant mariner in April 1945 at the War Shipping Administration in
New York City. His parents attended and his mother was presented with a Mariners medal. The citation
read,
"He was one of those men who today are so gallantly upholding the traditions of those hardy mariners who
defied anyone to stop the American Flag from sailing the seas in the early days of this republic. He was
one of those men upon whom the nation now depends to keep our ships afloat upon the perilous seas; to
transport our troops across the seas; and to carry them the vitally needed material to keep them fighting
until victory is certain and liberty secure. Nothing I can say or do will in any sense requite the loss of your
loved one. He has gone but he has gone in honor and in the goodly company of patriots. Let me in this
expression of the country's deep sympathy, also express to you its gratitude for his devotion and sacrifice."
The Standard Star Sept. 21-23, 1943 and April 17, 1945. (January 13, 2008)
Merchant Ship Losses June 1942
Capt. Robert H. Wetherbee, US Army Air Forces; Service # O-429198, was a graduate of Pelham
Memorial High School and the University of Minnesota. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roland W.
Wetherbee of Minnesota, formerly of Pelham. Captain Wetherbee was married on March 21, 1942 at the
Church of the Redeemer to Mrs. Shirley Crozier, the daughter of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Courtney C. Crozier of
421 Second Avenue, in Pelham. The couple had a daughter, named Jean.
Capt. Wetherbee was stationed in England with the 56th Fighter Group of the US Army Air Forces starting
in December 1942. He was a member of the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group and flue
the P47C Thunderbolt aircraft, HV-W nicknamed "Little Butch" serial number 41-6322. He was reported
"Missing in Action" as of June 26, 1943.
He was reported as one of 277 American soldiers “missing in action on July 15th 1943 by the War
Department. The Wetherbee Family reported that they had received no notice from the War Department
that Captain Wetherbee was missing.
Mrs. Wetherbee made her home during that period at the Pelham residence of her parents, Lieut. Col.
And Mrs. Courtney C. Crozier. Their daughter was seven months old at the time he was missing. The
Standard Star reported on Sept. 21, 1943 that Capt. Wetherbee had been Missing in Action since June
26, 1943. The WWII Memorial Registry reports that he died June 27, 1944 possibly as a Prisoner of War.
Captain Wetherbee is Memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery;
Cambridge, England
The Standard Star, New Rochelle, N.Y., Thurs. July 15, 1943.
56th Fighter Group
US Air Force 60th Anniversary
Cradle of Aviation, P47
61st Fighter On May 3, 1945, The New York Times announced his death which had occurred on April 6,
1945.
(Nov. 14, 2007)
Ellis Moore contribute to this presentation based on his personal recollections, PHMS yearbooks, and the
Memorial Tablet at Church of Christ the Redeemer in Pelham Manor, NY.
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American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
| The Heroic and Tragic Stories of Pelham Residents who gave their lives in service to their country during WWII |
The World War II Monument, Washington DC