Paul Nelson Dies in Vietnam

(June 17, 1969) -- Pfc. Paul V. Nelson, 20, of Williams Street, was killed in action on May 31, in the northern part of South Vietnam, according to the Department of the Army.

Nelson was awarded the Silver Star “for gallantry in action against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam.”

PFC. Nelson “distinguished himself by intrepid actions” on May 31, while serving as a radio telephone operator with Company B, 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry.

"On that date, the company was on a search and clear mission near Landing Zone Stinson when the point element came under intense enemy fire.

"Observing one of his comrades fall seriously wounded, Private Nelson, disregarding the danger involved, braved the enemy fire to assist in evacuating the wounded soldier.

"Returning to the area of contact, Private Nelson remained exposed to locate the enemy position. Despite the hostile barrage impacting all around him, Private Nelson located the insurgents’ position and then directed gunship fire on the enemy targets.

"At this point, Private Nelson was mortally wounded from the hostile fire. His timely and courageous actions were responsible for saving the life of his comrade and the defeat of the enemy force.

"Private Nelson’s personal heroism, professional competence, and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, and reflected great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army. "

Pfc. Nelson joined the Army last June and had been in Vietnam for the last six months.

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Memorial Day in Second River ... 1942

Belleville author/blogger Norman Price has recounted life in Belleville six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

"... It is June 6, 1942. It has been barely 6 months since Pearl Harbor. The nation is at war, New Jersey is at war, Belleville is at war. The war has just become more personal here. The first war casualty from Belleville in an enemy attack had occurred two weeks earlier and was announced in this week’s paper. ..."

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John R. Gorman

(April 25, 1952) John R. Gorman, 24, was killed in action in Korea a year ago, the Defense Department declared recently.

His parents Mr. and Mrs. Francis H. Gorman, who moved to Nutley only a month ago from Belleville, were informed of the casualty by a telegram from Washington.

Pfc. Gorman had been listed as missing in action since May 18, 1951.

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Catalano Killed In Action At Anzio

(June 29, 1944) -- Pvt. Morris C. Catalano of Belleville Avenue, was killed in action at Anzio, Italy, on May 14.

The battle of Anzio, Italy, a beachhead invasion began in May 1944. Allied troops were held on the beachhead for five months before the breakthrough after Monte Cassino allowed the US 5th Army to dislodge the Germans from the Alban Hills and allow the Anzio force to begin its advance on Rome.

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Alfred Barnes, KIA, in Vietnam

(May 22, 1969) -- Lt. Col. Alfred Barnes of Ralph Street, Belleville, a 20-year career Army office, was killed during an enemy rocket and mortar attack in Vietnam on May 12.

Mrs. Sadie R. Barnes, his wife, was notified by telegram of the overseas tragedy.

Lt. Col. Barnes had a personal dream fulfilled when he assumed command of a battalion two months ago.

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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.

2nd Lt. Anthony Noto

2nd Lt. Anthony Noto, of Frederick Street, was killed April 28, 1945, in a plane crash in Nettuno, Italy.

Born on July 21, 1918, he enlisted in the Air Force in July 1943. He served with the 459th Bombardment Group, 756th Bomber Squadron.

He was awarded the Air Medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters.

His service number is 02039301.

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Lt. j.g. Richard T. Hayes

Lieutenant Junior Grade Richard T. Hayes, U.S. Navy serial No. 0-176597, 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.

1st Lt. Wilfred Potis

(May 17, 1945) -- 1st Lt. Wilfred Potis, 28, son of Mrs. Charlotte H. Potis of Hornblower Avenue, was killed in England in an aircraft accident on April 26.

His wife, Dorothy, received the telegram the day after V-E day, when victory was declared in Europe.

Lt. Potis was the pilot of a B-24 Liberator, stationed with the 8th Air Force in England.

His last letter was written April 25 after he completed his 34th mission, the finale for the Eighth Air Force.

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DAV Building Groundbreaking Ceremony

Congressman William Pascrell, Jr. and Joseph Fornarotto pitch the first shovels at DAV building groundbreaking.

BELLEVILLE, N.J. -- Disabled American Veterans will soon have a new local building where they can learn about benefits and follow up on their special needs.

Members of DAV Chapter 22, serving 312 members in Belleville and Nutley, broke ground for a new building on Mill Street on Saturday morning.

"The township has been very helpful," said DAV spokesman Joseph T. Fornarotto. The project, four years in the making, received full cooperation from Belleville council members, he said.

Joe Fornarotto

The invocation was led by Rev. Mark A. O'Connell of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, Belleville.

Congressman William Pascrell Jr. (D-8th) joined Fornarotto and the pair donned gold-painted hardhats and pitched the first shovelfuls of soil.

World War II Paratrooper William Falduti of Nutley was on hand to support the building project.

Also on hand for the ceremony were Belleville Councilman Steve Rovell, Nutley Commissioners Carmen Orechio and Tom Evans, and former Nutley Mayor and Commissioner John V. Kelly.

Supporters of the DAV

Pointing to the Belleville Senior Citizens building down the hill on Mill Street, Fornarotto reminded the crowd that building was built for $90,000 by veterans who volunteered their skills. He called on veterans again, calling for construction workers, laborers, masons, electricians and carpenters to step forward and make this new building a reality.

Fornarotto said the DAV chapter would soon add in members from Kearny and increase its ranks to more than 500 members.

When the DAV building is not being used for veterans, Fornarotto said it would be available for local civic and service groups.

Fornarotto said construction would begin after the final permits are okayed.

The patch of town property on Mill Street is set between an apartment building and the Second River.

Local permits are set, however the group needs a state okay and soil permits because of its proximity to the river which flows through Belleville Park and Branch Brook Park along Mill Street.

Local architect Robert Cozzarelli drew up the plans for the building.

The former headquarters on Washington Avenue was sold after becoming too cumbersome for the disabled members.

Former Belleville Mayor and Councilman James Messina, now of the Belleville Public Works Dept. worked up the estimates on building materials that need to be ordered for the building.

"We're ready to dig," Messina said, pointing to the back hoe behind the rows of people gathered for the ceremony.

Messina, who grew up a few blocks from the site, recalled as a kid rafting in the Second River from behind the former Red Yeast factory to the concrete dam that had been located alongside new building site.

The dam was removed years ago to relieve flooding upriver in Bloomfield. As it runs through the park, the Second River has steep concrete walls which tend to fill to the brim when the rains and winter runoff run heavy.

The Belleville-Nutley DAV Chapter 22 established the memorial on Union Avenue in Belleville.

Fornarotta, a Navy Machinist Mate 3rd Class, quit Essex County Vocational School to fight in World War II. In November 2000, Governor Christie Whitman awarded high school diplomas through the "Operation Recognition" program to Fornarotto and more than 80 New Jersey World War II veterans at a graduation ceremony at the War Memorial in Trenton.

Copyright © 2007 Anthony Buccino. All rights reserved.

Pfc. William E. Thetford Jr.,

(May 17, 1945) Pfc. William E. Thetford Jr., 27, of Linden Avenue, was killed in action in Germany on April 20.

A member of the 63rd Infantry Division of the 7th Army, Thetford recently wrote home that he liberate Allied soldiers from German prison camps.

Thetford had been overseas since September 1943. He participated in campaigns in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany.

Thetford trained at Camp Croft, S.C.

Crowell and Flynn - Best Friends Killed in France

Belleville Pays Tribute To War Heroes

Private Joseph Crowell Jr. and his boyhood friend Michael A. Flynn Jr. died in 1919 in France following the end of hostilities.

The young men's remains were returned to the United States and they were buried side-by-side at St. Peter's Church in Belleville, N.J.

NEW DAV BUILDING - GROUND BREAKING

Mill Street, west of Franklin Avenue. Ground breaking April 21, 2007

New Belleville/Nutley Disabled American Veteran's Building