3.31.2010

PACIFIC: Benjamin Lucas

Benjamin Lucas

(October 25, 1945) – Corporal Benjamin Lucas, 23, was killed in a plane crash in China on Sept. 28. Lucas, son of Mrs. Louise Lucas of Newark Place, was on his way home when the plane was destroyed in a crash.

Cpl. Lucas had completed two years in the Far East, most recently stationed at the headquarters of Chinese Combat Command. He enlisted in the Army in March 1942. Cpl. Lucas was first stationed in India. He went through the reopening of the Burma Road and was with the Mars Task Force.

The young man had three battle stars, and had been shot by Jap snipers in the past.
Among his survivors are his brother Pfc. Andrew Lucas who was in Europe. The two brothers exchanged 500 letters while separated.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.30.2010

PACIFIC: Emil Liloia KIA at Iwo Jima

Emil M. Liloia
PFC. EMIL LILOIA KILLED IN ACTION

Born in Belleville, Death Came To Marine At Iwo Jima
While Serving With The 3rd Division

(April 13, 1945) - Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Vito Frank Liloia of Passaic avenue that their 21-year-old son, Pfc. Emil M. Liloia, USMC, was killed in action March 1 on Iwo Jima while serving with the 3rd Marine division.

Pfc. Liloia entered service Feb. 6, 1942, taking his basic training at Parris Island. He later was stationed at Philadelphia, guarding prisoners. When sent overseas a year ago, he first went to Hawaii and then to Iwo Jima.

Born in Belleville, Pfc. Liloia came to Nutley when he was three. He went through Nutley schools and while in high school starred on the football team. As a result of his activities on this team an as a basketball player he was voted the best athlete of the year.

Upon high school graduation, he received a scholarship to Temple university in Philadelphia and had played there only one year when he went into service.

Pfc. Liloia has four sisters, Ann, Ruth, Marie and Dorothy. A brother, SK 3/c Pat Liloia, has been in the Navy two and one half years and is at present on an oil tanker in the South Pacific.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.29.2010

PACIFIC: Thomas E. Lamb

Thomas E. Lamb

(March 29, 1945) – Seaman 2/c Thomas Edward Lamb died of his wounds in the Pacific. He is survived by his wife Danetta Lamb of Union Avenue.

Lamb grew up in Montclair where his parents still live.

Seaman Lamb entered the U.S. Naval Reserve in May 1944, and trained at Sampson, N.Y., and Newport, R.I. He had been assigned to a cargo attack ship last November. Seaman Lamb returned from his first tour a month later, then sailed out again after temporarily being assigned in California.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.28.2010

PACIFIC: John Kirwin

John Kirwin Killed In Pacific Plane Crash
Aviation Ordnanceman Dies In Navy Bomber Fall

(Sept. 28, 1944) -- Ordnanceman 3/c John F. Kirwin of Forest Street was killed in the South Pacific when his patrol plane (PBM) crashed at sea on Sept. 5.

"Jack" Kirwin was 19 when he enlisted in the Navy in February 1943. He didn't finish high school, he went as a senior to boot training at Sampson.

Kirwin received his specialized training in Tennessee, Florida and California before going overseas in July 1944.

His twin brother, James E., is believed to be serving overseas.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.27.2010

PACIFIC: Warren C. Jordan, KIA

Warren C. Jordan

Marine Corporal Warren C. Jordan, son of Arthur J. Jordon (sic) of Belleville Avenue, was killed in action on March 7, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart with Gold Star. He is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.26.2010

PACIFIC: John Johnson

Seaman John Johnson Dies After Shipboard Accident
Red Cross Helps Mother Reach Son's Side

(Aug. 16, 1945) -- Seaman 2/c John Johnson, 18, died from a fractured skull sustained in an accident aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific on August 4.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson of Greylock Parkway, he left Belleville High School last March to enlist in the Navy. He was awarded his diploma in June.

Johnson trained in Sampson, N.Y.

He was on the carrier about a month when he slipped and fractured his skull. He was rushed to the Navy hospital in Oakland, Calif. He died five days later, three days after his mother arrived.

The Red Cross was praised for its efforts and assistance in the mother and child reunion.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.25.2010

PACIFIC: William A. Hourigan, KIA

(Dec. 7, 1944) -- Seaman 2/c William A. Hourigan, 18, formerly of Tiona Avenue, was killed in action in the invasion of the Philippines about Nov. 5.

He enlisted in the service in February 1943. Hourigan last resided in Newport Beach, Calif., after living in Belleville until 1936.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.24.2010

PACIFIC: Lt. jg Richard T. Hayes

Lieutenant Junior Grade Richard T. Hayes, U.S. Navy, served in the United States Naval Reserve. He entered the Service from Ohio, and died on April 27, 1945.

He is listed on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.

He was awarded the Air Medal with Gold Star.

Lt. Hayes is survived by his wife Mrs. Margaret Flewellyn Hayes, Washington Avenue, Belleville.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.23.2010

PACIFIC: Stanley Guzik KIA in the Philippines

Stanley Guzik

(May 31, 1945) – Corporal Stanley Guzik was killed in action in the Philippines. He had been overseas 14 months, and had received a Purple Heart at Guam. Guzik had lived with his sister Mrs. Albert Miskiewicz of Cortlandt Street. His other family members live in Wilkes Barre, Pa.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.22.2010

PACIFIC: Edward DiCarlo KIA in Guam

Edward DiCarlo

(Nov. 15, 1945) – A new pipe organ will be dedicated on Sunday in honor of 53 members of the Silver Lake Baptist Church who are serving in the Armed Forces and in memory of Sgt. Edward DiCarlo who was killed in action in Guam. DiCarlo, who entered the service in 1942, saw action in the South Pacific and died June 26.

His mother died in 1937. His father died this past January, when the Sergeant was home on emergency furlough. He is survived by his brothers Guy, Joseph and William.
Sgt. DiCarlo in a letter from Guam asked Rev. Benedetto Pascale about a stained glass in memory of his parents.

The First Italian Baptist Church of Silver Lake was originally dedicated Nov. 21, 1914 with Rev. Pascale who was its pastor for 75 years.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.21.2010

PACIFIC: Clatie Cunningham

Clatie Ray Cunningham Jr

S. Sgt. Clatie R. Cunningham, Jr. was killed on a mission over the Mekong River in Vietnam, on July 23, 1945, when the B-24 in which he was the flight engineer crashed after a bombing run scored a direct hit on an enemy barge.

The explosion of the barge was so bad that the B-24 was damaged. The pilot then headed to a point assigned to a life-guard submarine.

Cunningham and nine other crew members bailed out, however, only three crew members survived. One was picked up on July 26 by a Catalina sea plane and two other crewmen were picked up by separate submarines.

According to the 868th Bombardment Squadron Unit History, supplied by Clatie Cunningham III, son of S/Sgt. Clatie R., the B-24 was based at Morotai in the South Pacific.

That day's mission sent three B-24s on a ''snooper mission'' staged through Palawan in the Philippines. Their primary target was to search out the Bassac and Mekong rivers in French Indo-China (now Vietnam).

Aircraft No. 808, Cunningham's B-24 bomber, was piloted by Lt. Walter Low.

Three bombs were dropped on a 200 foot coastal steamer from an altitude of 100 feet, scoring direct hits which immediately sank the vessel.

Three bombs were dropped on Sugar Charlie Sugar, 130-feet in length, scoring near misses with no visible damage resulting. The vessel was later sunk by aircraft No. 780.

Two oil barges, 120 feet in length, being towed by a tug, were attacked, a total of 3 bombs being dropped from 100-200 feet. Direct hits were scored, exploding both barges, with orange flames and smoke to 1500 feet.

Although 4-to-5-second delay fuses were used, the force of the explosions blew out the waist windows of the attacking B-24, and the pilot was thrown from his seat.

Soon thereafter, the No. 2 engine was afire and had to be feathered (shut down), necessitating a bail-out of the entire crew at sea.

Pilot Low radioed to aircraft No. 780 nearby that they had insufficient gas supply to get back to Palawan.

A/C No. 780 made submarine contact and received instructions to have the crew of the distressed aircraft bail out at a certain location.

Three men bailed out on the first pass over the given position. Five men bailed out on the second pass over the same position. Two men bailed out on the third and last pass over the same position.

Bail-out was made and all ten chutes were seen to open. Witnesses said that all ten chutes landed with 3 miles.

Edward Gingerich was picked up by a Catalina (sea plane) on July 26.

Walter Low was rescued by submarine Hammerhead on July 27.

Lt. Stanley Reed was picked up by submarine Sidonet on July 28.

No trace of the rest of the crew was ever found.

Lost were: 2nd Lt. Donald C. McDermott; S. Sgt. Clatie R. Cunningham; Sgt. Charles E. Carroll; S. Sgt. Roy E. Hayes; S. Sgt. John W. Knigga; S. Sgt. Nicholas Meriage; and Sgt. E. Clifton Leach.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.20.2010

PACIFIC: Joseph J. Cifrodella, KIA

Missing In Pacific

(Nov. 30, 1944) -- Torpedoman's Mate 2c , 22, of Magnolia Street was presumed killed in action November 14, when his ship, the Escolar, one of 52 submarines lost during the war, failed to return from a patrol on the Yellow Sea.

The USS ESCOLAR was a BALAO class submarine carrying a crew of 6 officers and 60 enlisted men. Cifrodella first served on a heavy cruiser, then volunteered for submarine duty. Born on Feb. 5, 1922, he left school to enlist in the Navy in 1940.

In his honor, the people of Silver Lake founded the Joseph Cifrodella Amvets Post #26.


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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.19.2010

PACIFIC: Lt. Kenneth A. Chewey

Lt. Kenneth A. Chewey

(Aug. 16, 1945) – Lt. Kenneth Andrew Chewey died in Manila, Philippines, after a few days of illness on July 23. Lt. Chewey received two battle stars for action in the Leyte and Luzon campaigns.

He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Chewey of Malone Avenue. Lt. Chewey is a 1940 graduate of Belleville High School. Chewey attended Rutgers University for three years.

He entered the service Oct. 2, 1942, and was commissioned 2nd lieutenant on May 20,1944. He enlisted in the Signal Corps Reserve. Chewey transferred to the Army and then attended basic training at Camp Crowder, and Officer Candidate School at Fort Monmouth. He trained at Camp Crowder, Md., and was deployed overseas in January 1945.

He served with the Signal Corps in New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. He participated in the invasions of Leyte and Luzon. He was stationed at a Signal Service Battalion at Santa Mesa, Philippines when he became ill. He died shortly after in a Manila hospital.

While at Rutgers, Kenneth majored in Electrical Engineering. He was a master concert violinist and served as president of Tau Kappa Epsilon.

A member of the Black Fifty, Kenneth attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Monmouth in 1944.


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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.18.2010

PACIFIC: Charles R. Braun is KIA

Charles R. Braun
Fireman 1st Class Charles R. Braun was killed in action on June 5, 1943.
Braun joined the U.S. Navy from New York. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.


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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.17.2010

PACIFIC: Giavanni Bocchino KIA On Leyte

(Dec. 14, 1944) – Private Giavanni Bocchino, 20, was killed in action on Leyte on Oct. 25, 1944. He had been overseas with the Army 170th Engineer Combat Battalion engineers for three months. Bocchino entered active duty July 17, 1942. The son of Anthony and Michelina Bocchino of Lake Street, he had seven brothers and one sister.
Pvt. Bocchino is survived by his wife, Mary Gammaro, son Anthony, daughter Michelina. A son, John, was born Jan. 3, 1945, three months after his father died.
Bocchino is buried at Plot D, Row 12, Grave 137, in the American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart.


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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.16.2010

PACIFIC: Peter Andrusyn

Marine Private Peter Andrusyn was killed in action on Feb. 26, 1945. Andrusyn was awarded the Purple Heart. He is honored on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.15.2010

PACIFIC: Gilmer Adams is KIA

Gilmer Adams Is KIA

(May 10, 1945) -- Seaman 1/c Gilmer Adams was killed in action in the Pacific where he was serving with amphibious Navy forces.

"Bucky" Adams, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Adams of May Street.

His parents received a telegram from the Navy on April 28, but the notice did not detail his reported date of death.

Born in North Carolina, Adams was 21 when he enlisted in 1942.

He spent 2-1/2 years in the Atlantic. He transferred to the Pacific theatre of operations six months ago.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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3.14.2010

PACIFIC: Lt. William Fredericks KIA in S. Pacific

Lt. William Fredericks
Bomber shot down over Japan

(June 14, 1945) – Lt. William Fredericks, 27, of the Army Air Forces, a B-29 co-pilot was listed as missing in action after a raid on Guam in the South Pacific.

He is the son of Mrs. Ruth Fredericks of Montgomery Place. Lt. Fredericks entered the service in 1940 as a member of the National Guard. He was assigned to the 44th Division Field Artillery, and transferred to the Air Corps in 1941.

His brother Coxswain Harry C. Fredericks was killed in action in the Gulf of Mexico on May 19, 1942. It was the first reported Belleville Gold Star casualty of the war.

(May 23, 1946) – Lt. William Fredericks, who was declared missing in action a year ago May 5, has been declared killed in action. Lt. Fredericks was the co-pilot of a B-29 shot down over Kyushu, Japan. The pilot of the plane was found alive as a prisoner of war held by Japan. Fredericks leaves a wife and 8-month-old son, William Jr.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll
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