Showing posts with label fallen hero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fallen hero. Show all posts

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Fallen Hero: First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly, U.S. Army

First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly, U.S. Army, was born on May 28, 1915, son of Michael and Ellen Kelly. Edward lived with his parents and one brother at 129 Fisher Street. 
First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly was an officer in the regular army having enlisted on November 13, 1934. When conflict broke out, 1LT Kelly was sent to a tank outfit for training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was then ordered to the Hawaiian Islands to serve in an amphibious tractor outfit. 1LT Kelly died a short time later on June 20, 1944, at age 29, while serving in Hawaii. 
1LT Edward A. Kelly was survived by his wife, Rose, and a child who were living in Los Angeles, CA at that time. 
First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly was interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 17, 1949.


FH_Kelly
Fallen Hero: 1LT Edward Kelly


For the full series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html



Fallen Hero: Corporal John J. Kell, U.S. Army

Corporal John J. Kell, U.S. Army, was born in Franklin on November 4, 1924 to parents Archibald and Inez Kell. John lived with his parents, brothers and sisters at 39 Raymond Street and attended the Franklin Schools. 
CPL Kell volunteered from Franklin and served two years with the military police in England before asking for a transfer to active duty on the war front. John received a transfer to the infantry and was on active duty for several months before he was killed in action in Germany on April 17, 1945. 
Memorial services were conducted here in Franklin on May 13, 1945 honoring CPL John J. Kell whose eternal resting place is in an American Cemetery in Germany. 
Corporal Kell was 20 at the time of his death serving his country in World War II.

FH_Kell
Fallen Hero: Corporal John Kell


For the full series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html


Friday, August 16, 2013

Fallen Hero: Second Lieutenant William G. Hosford, U.S. Army Air Corps

Second Lieutenant William G. Hosford, U.S. Army Air Corps, was born in Franklin on April 1, 1915, son of James R. and Mary Hosford. William lived with his parents and three brothers and three sisters at 22 Queen Street. William graduated from Franklin High School class of 1933 and later attended Michigan State University. 
William completed his flying course of instruction at Craig Field, Alabama and received his wings and commission on December 12, 1941. Second Lieutenant Hosford was assigned to the 35th Air Pursuit Squadron, 8th Pursuit Group, Port Moresby, New Guinae. On June 1, 1942 he was shot down by Japanese machine gun fire while in aerial combat flying a Bell P-39F. 
Second Lieutenant William Hosford had written in letters to family and friends of his eagerness to serve his country even to the point of giving up his life, should it be necessary. When 2nd LT Hosford was called upon to make the supreme sacrifice, those nearest to him knew that he made it willingly. 
Second Lieutenant William G. Hosford was 27 years old at the time of his death and now eternally rests in the Honolulu Memorial Site on Honolulu, Hawaii.
FH_Hosford
Fallen Hero: 2nd L William Hosford


For the full series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html



Fallen Hero: Sergeant Timothy J. Hayes, U.S. Army

Sgt Timothy J. Hayes, U.S. Army was born on October 14, 1914, the son of Daniel and Margaret Hayes. 
Sgt Hayes was graduated from Franklin High School in 1932 and was the husband of the former Eleanor McGrory. The couple was married in Franklin on May 16, 1943 and lived at 62 Cross Street.\ 
Sgt Timothy Hayes served in the regular army prior to Pearl Harbor and was called back into service when war against Japan broke out. Sgt Hayes was sent to England in October of 1943 for several months to undergo rigorous airborne unit training as a paratrooper in preparation for the D-Day invasion. 
The Normandy assault was in two phases, an air assault landing of airborne troops shortly after midnight and an amphibious landing of Allied Infantry and armored divisions along the coast of France commencing at 6:30 am. 
Sgt. Timothy Hayes was in the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, Company D deployment drop and on June 14, 1944 died of wounds received in combat during the D-Day invasion. 
Sgt Timothy J. Hayes was 29 years old at the time of his death and rests eternally in the Normandy American Cemetery in France

FH_Hayes
Fallen Hero: Sgt Timothy Hayes


Thursday, August 15, 2013

Fallen Hero: Private First Class Frank Grzyboski, U.S. Army

Private First Class Frank Grzyboski, U.S. Army, was born March 7, 1924 the son of Eliash and Wictorya Grzyboski and lived with his parents, four sisters and two brothers during his early years in Framingham. Frank came to live here in Franklin with his sister, Mary Vendetti, at 131 East Street, the residence from which he enlisted on March 22, 1943. PFC Frank Grzyboski was a member of the 290th Infantry Division which was stationed in Missouri. 
Frank was a hunter and a family story about him is as follows: “Frank had caught a pheasant which he had stuffed. His sister, Mary, had possession of the stuffed pheasant and kept it on top of a flat corrugated cardboard closet. One night while Mary was lying on her bed, the pheasant fell over. Mary thought nothing of this event until she later got word that her brother, Frank, had died at 7 pm that very same day the bird had fallen over. 
Private First Class Frank Grzyboski, U.S. Army, died on June 5, 1943 during a shooting training accident. 
PFC Frank Grzyboski was 19 years old at the time of his death serving his country during World War II.

FH_Grzyboski
Fallen Hero: PFC Frank Grzyboski


For the full series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html



Fallen Hero: Lieutenant (jg) Howard T. Feeley, U.S. Navy

Lieutenant (jg) Howard T. Feeley of the U.S. Naval Air Corps was born on August 25, 1916, son of Dr. J. Henry and Helen Howard Feeley. Howard lived at 21 School Street with his parents, one sister and one brother. Howard was a graduate of Franklin High School and attended Boston University and the University of Maine before entering the Naval Air Corps. 
Lieutenant (jg) Howard Feeley saw considerable action as a patrol commander aboard the famous Catalina flying boats. The Catalinas hunted U-boat packs and surface raiders in the Carribean and Atlantic. LTJG Feeley was also squadron commander of a flight of heavy planes which saw much action in Africa. He aided in the rescue of survivors of torpedoed ships, and carried cargoes of men, machinery, mail, food and weapons in addition to his regular patrol work. 
Lieutenant (jg) Howard T. Feeley lost his life on July 5, 1943 in a take-off crash at Deland, Florida, ironically after he had seen considerable combat action during the previous year. In the recent months prior to his death, LTJG Feeley had been training a new squadron of the navy’s newest bombers which were to be used as anti-submarine weapons. 
Lieutenant (jg) Howard T. Feeley was 26 years old at the time of his death on July 5, 1943 while serving his country during World War II.

FH_Feeley
Fallen Hero: LTJG Howard Feeley

For the full series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Fallen Hero: Private First Class Lloyd M. Ellis, U.S. Army

Private First Class Lloyd M. Ellis, U.S. Army, born on December 8, 1921, was the son of Charles and Margaret Ellis, of 730 Union Street. For many years, Lloyd made his home here in Franklin with Mr. and Mrs. Warren Thayer of Fales Street. Lloyd attended the Franklin Schools and was graduated from Franklin High School in 1939 where he was a popular and talented member of his class. 
On November 14, 1942 Lloyd married the former Dorothy Brown of Franklin and he was employed as a machinist up until the time he entered the service of his country on September 13, 1943. After training, PFC Lloyd M. Ellis was sent overseas for combat in March of 1944. 
Private First Class Lloyd M. Ellis was killed in action in France on June 12, 1944 during the height of the battle following the American invasion of that country. 
Private First Class Lloyd M. Ellis was 22 years old at the time of his death during the invasion of France against the German forces.


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Fallen Hero: PFC Lloyd Ellis

Fallen Hero: Private First Class Elton E. Ekstrom, U.S. Army

Private First Class Elton E. Ekstrom, U.S. Army, was born on November 11, 1918 to August and Hannah Ekstrom. Elton lived with his parents, four sisters and three brothers at 417 Lincoln Street. 
Elton attended the Franklin Public Schools and for a number of years lived on Lincoln Street and maintained his residence there after his marriage to the former Arlene Beals. Elton and Arlene were the parents of two sons, Paul and Elton, Jr. Paul graduated from West Point and served two tours of duty as an army helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. Elton, Jr. also served in the army during the Vietnam War Era. 
PFC Elton E. Ekstrom served in the 87th Infantry Division of General Patton’s Third Army during the Rhine River crossing into Germany. Details of the Rhine River crossing as provided by Barbara Strang, 87th Infantry Division Historian, are as follows: “The assault boats of the 347th Battalion crossed the Rhine after midnight on March 25th. The Germans opened up with everything they had from the steep banks on the opposite side. Numerous boats were hit resulting in many casualties. Further assaults occurred at Rhens, Boppard, and Oberlahanstein.” 
Private First Class Elton E. Ekstrom was killed by machine gun fire on March 18, 1945 at age 26 while in combat crossing the Rhine River.

FH_Ekstrom
Fallen Hero: PFC Elton Ekstrom

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Fallen Hero: Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey, U.S. Army Air Corps

Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of John and Julia Dailey, was born on May 20, 1924. Edward lived with his parents and two sisters at 100 Union Street. Edward attended the Franklin public schools and graduated from Franklin High School in 1942. While at Franklin High, Edward was the captain of the basketball team and was an outstanding athlete in football and baseball as well. 
Edward Dailey entered the army in 1943 and was assigned to the air force where he qualified as an aerial gunner. SSgt Edward Dailey participated in 11 bombing missions before the fatal mission which took his life in 1944. The following details of the mission were sent to Edward’s family, by Maurice J. Beacond, Jr., the pilot of the targeted plane: “Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey lost his life while on a bombing mission over Hungary in an attack of German fighter planes who concentrated their attack on the U.S. bomber. The bomber was fatally hit, caught fire from nose to bomb-bays, went into a vertical dive, and exploded. 
Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey was 20 years old at the time of his death on August 20, 1944 somewhere over Hungary.

FH_Dailey
S/Sgt Edward Dailey

Fallen Hero: Captain Robert L. Cummings, U.S. Army

Captain Robert L. Cummings, U.S. Army, was born on August 10, 1915, the son of Louis and Ruth Cummings. Robert lived with his parents, one brother and two sisters at 65 Union Street. 
Robert graduated from Franklin High School with honors in 1933 and enlisted in the Army as a private in 1936. In 1937, he was appointed to West Point and upon completion, 4 years later, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. In 1942 he received his promotion to First Lieutenant. In November of 1942, Robert married the former Blanche Barwell of North Andover. 
In January of 1943, Robert L. Cummings was promoted to Captain. Captain Cummings served overseas beginning in March of 1944. He took part in the invasion of Guam after having completed special jungle fighting training. Captain Robert L. Cummings, an officer of the famous 77th Infantry Division, lost his life on November 30, 1944 fighting against the Japanese on Leyte. 
Captain Robert L. Cummings was 29 years old at the time of his death on Leyte.
Fallen Hero: Cummings
Fallen Hero: Cummings

Monday, August 12, 2013

Franklin - Fallen Heroes series

From wikipedia:
Although September 2 is the designated V-J Day in the entire United States, the event is recognized as an official holiday only in the U.S. state of Rhode Island, where the holiday's official name is "Victory Day",[20] and it is observed on the second Monday of August. There have been several attempts in the 1980s and 1990s to eliminate or rename the holiday on the grounds that it is discriminatory. While those all failed, the Rhode Island General Assembly did pass a resolution in 1990 "stating that Victory Day is not a day to express satisfaction in the destruction and death caused by nuclear bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki."[21] It is instead commemorative of those who fought, as Rhode Island sent a significantly above-average percentage of its population into the Pacific theater.

To recognize the Franklin Fallen heroes from World War II, I'll be sharing their information this week. Thanks to Rose Turco for putting it together to recognize them and for allowing me to share this with you.


Monday, Aug 12 is the second Monday in August and Rhode Island is celebrating this day. I'll post two per day until the World War II listing is complete.

The booklet handed out for the ceremony to unveil the street signs on May 15, 2011 can be viewed and downloaded here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-heroes-booklet.html


World War II

Bullukian
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-warrant-officer-david.html

Christakes

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-seaman-1st-class-charles.html

Cummings
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-captain-robert-l-cummings.html

Dailey

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-staff-sergeant-edward-c.html


Feeley
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-lieutenant-jg-howard-t.html

Grzyboski
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-private-first-class-frank.html

Hayes
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-sergeant-timothy-j-hayes-us.html

Hosford
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-second-lieutenant-william-g.html

Kell
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-corporal-john-j-kell-us-army.html

Kelley
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-first-lieutenant-edward.html

Laughlan
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-corporal-david-laughlan-iii.html

Lazzarini
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-technical-sergeant-baldo-s.html

Martello
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-ensign-william-o-martello.html

Mason
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-private-charles-e-mason-us.html

McCahill
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-private-daniel-e-mccahill.html

Mucciarone
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-staff-sergeant-anthony-j.html

Parmenter
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-first-lieutenant-gerald-m.html

Perret
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-private-jules-e-perret-us.html

Rollins
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-private-first-class.html

Schur
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-second-lieutenant-john.html

Wyllie
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/aviation-radioman-2c-john-w-wyllie-jr.html


Vietnam War

Desper
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/fallen-hero-lance-corporal-richard.html

Garron
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/fallen-hero-lance-corporal-lawrence-e.html

Paulette
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/fallen-hero-sergeant-joseph-ronald.html

Pasquantonio
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/fallen-hero-john-emidio-pasquantonio.html

Shaw
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/fallen-hero-airman-1c-russell-w-shaw.html

Willard
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/fallen-hero-sergeant-alan-wayne-willard.html

Fallen Hero: Warrant Officer David Bullukian, Jr., U.S. Army Air Corps

Warrant Officer David Bullukian, Jr., U.S. Army Air Corps, was born in Franklin on June 11, 1919, the son of David and Lucy Bullukian. David lived at 64 Cottage Street with his parents and sister, Beatrice. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1937 and served in the local Naval Reserve. 
David joined the Army Air Corps where he rose steadily ahead in rank after attending the army air force advanced flying school for twin engine aircraft. He was one of 20 enlisted men to receive the coveted appointment as a warrant officer and served as the assistant post technical inspector at the Greenwood Army Air Field. Warrant Officer David Bullukian, Jr. was killed in a plane crash in the Midwest in 1943. 
In the memorial service for Warrant Officer David Bullukian, Jr. the Rev. Holge N. Schluntz expressed these words, “We recall with gratitude the splendid personal characteristics and patriotism of this young man.” 
Warrant Officer David Bullukian, Jr., age 24, left his young wife Jeanette of Indiana at the time of his death in 1943.
Fallen Hero: Bullukian
Fallen Hero: Bullukian

Fallen Hero: Seaman 1st Class Charles Christakes, U.S. Navy

Seaman 1st Class Charles Christakes, U.S. Navy, was born on October 1, 1920, the son of Theodore and Agnes Christakes. Charles lived at 2 Garfield Street with his parents, three sisters and one brother. 
Charles graduated from Franklin High School in 1938 and then attended Dean Academy. Charles was an outstanding athlete and played semi-pro baseball and football in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. 
Seaman 1st Class Charles Christakes served aboard the U.S.S. Hugh W. Hadley which was involved in a vicious attack of Japanese Kamikaze suicide planes. In a 95 minute attack, the Hadley shot down 23 enemy planes, more than any ship in any one engagement in Navy history, before or since. Thirty-one members of the crew perished and 116 others wounded. On May 11, 1945 in this Battle of Okinawa in the Pacific, Gunner Charles Christakes, when wounded went below for treatment. He then went back up to man the guns when he was killed. For his action, Seaman 1st Class Charles Christakes was awarded the Silver Star. 
Seaman 1st Class Charles Christakes was 24 at the time of his death on May 11, 1945 aboard the U.S.S. Hadley.
Fallen Hero: Christakes
Fallen Hero: Christakes

For the full series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html