Donald Murray killed in training mission

Chief Warrant Officer Donald S. Murray, 37, was killed in a mid-air helicopter crash April 14, 1996, during live Hellfire Missile drill on McGregor Range at Ft. Bliss, New Mexico.

A 14-year veteran, paratrooper Murray grew up on Moore Place in Belleville and attended Holy Family School.

CWO Donald S. Murray, photo courtesy of Neal Murray.

Albuquerque Journal (NM) - April 16, 1996

FT. BLISS CRASHES KILL THREE2 COPTERS WENT DOWN DURING NIGHT TRAINING
LAS CRUCES -- A team of Army investigators from Alabama arrived at Fort Bliss on Monday to examine wreckage strewn in the crash of two Army helicopters that killed three paratroopers. A fourth soldier who rode in one of the helicopters was treated at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss after the crash Sunday night. The soldier then was released back to his unit. Two OH-58 Delta Kiowa Warrior helicopters, each carrying two...

Albuquerque Journal (NM) - April 16, 1996

ARMY TEAM SEEKS CAUSE OF COPTERS' CRASH
LAS CRUCES -- A team of Army investigators from Alabama arrived at Fort Bliss on Monday to examine wreckage strewn in the crash of two Army helicopters that killed three paratroopers.A fourth soldier who rode in one of the helicopters was treated at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss after the crash Sunday night. The soldier then was released back to his unit. Two OH-58 Delta Kiowa Warrior helicopters, each carrying two soldiers, crashed about 9:50 p.m. Sunday ...

Albuquerque Journal (NM) - April 19, 1996

ARMY IDENTIFIES TWO DEAD PARATROOPERS
AROUND NEW MEXICO LAS CRUCES -- The Army on Thursday released the names of two paratroopers killed in the April 14 crash of two helicopters on the Fort Bliss Military Reservation. Two of the victims of the nighttime crash, which occurred during aerial gunnery maneuvers, were identified as Capt. Joseph O. Reed III, 30, of Windermere, Fla., commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Brigade; and Chief Warrant Officer Donald S. Murray, 37, of Belleville, N.J. ...

Albuquerque Journal

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Belleville Sons Honor Roll

Frank Canceliere, March 15, 1969

Corporal Frank A. Cancelliere of Sanford Avenue, was killed March 15, 1969, near Quang Tri Province in Vietnam.

According to the official report, he died as a result of fragmentation wounds to the head and body from a friendly grenade that was accidentally detonated in the chow line at the mess hall.

Born on June 27, 1948, he enlisted in the Marines, he began active duty on Sept. 13, 1967.

He served with the CO B 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, FMF RPO San Francisco.

He is buried in the Belleville Avenue Cemetery, Bloomfield, N.J.

For more information.

Donald Saunders, March 4, 1968

Another Belleville Son

Dies in Vietnam Battle

(March 14, 1968) -- "Since he had to leave this world, I'm glad he left it the way he did, with courage and fighting for his country."

There was little else for William D. Saunders of High Street, Belleville, to say. He is the father of Pfc. Donald Saunders who was killed in action in Vietnam March 4, 1968.

The young Saunders, only 20, died of wounds on his head and body from an enemy mortar fire in Quang Tri last week.

Saunders enlisted in the Marines two years ago on Sept. 28. It was a day that William Saunders will never forget as it was the elder Saunders' birthday.

Donald completed his basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and advanced infantry training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam.

When asked why, Mrs. Maisie Saunders, his mother, said, "Donald was never too talkative. He made his own decisions. I think he felt the boys were doing a good job and he should back them up."

"It was just a job that had to be done, for him," added Saunders, and he never complained. In all his letters there was never a word of complaint. He tried to reassure us, in fact."

The Belleville Times, March 14, 1968

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John Hoar, KIA, February 13, 1966

Pfc. John M. Hoar, a slender 20-year-old soldier who marched off to the  Vietnam war on Christmas Day 1965, returned home Sunday evening. He became the first (known) Belleville serviceman to give his life in that far-away conflict which no one understands.

His gray, flag-draped coffin arrived at 9:30 p.m. Sunday aboard a sleek military transport plane which landed at Newark Airport accompanied by Sp. 5 Bob White, a military escort provided by the army for its fallen warriors.

Pfc. Hoar died of a head wound inflicted by soldiers of the Viet Cong during a savage firefight at Bongson, 265 miles northeast of Saigon on the South China Sea.

His death, said an Army telegram from the Defense Department, ''... was incurred by small arms fire while on a combat operation.''

"When we came up here," he wrote before the fight, "we had 15 guys in the squad. Now we have nine. One was taken sick, another broke his leg, and three others were wounded."

Now Pfc. Hoar himself joins the list of America's honored dead who were killed in action.

He is survived by his grieving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hoar, 80 Cleveland Street, who sit quietly in their second-floor apartment and remember the days when their son was a laughing young man who had the world before him.

The Belleville Times Feb. 24, 1966

For more information. 

Helder Da Silva, KIA Feb. 7, 1966

Army Spec. 4 Helder Arthur C. Da Silva, 24, was killed in action on Feb. 7, 1966, in South Vietnam. 

Da Silva began his tour of duty on Sept. 12, 1965. His service number is 036285328. Da Silva was married.

The Wall: Panel 05E - Row 016

Sources: The Vietnam War Memorial Wall, The Wall-USA.com

NJ Vietnam War Memorial, Holmdel, N.J.

For more information

Roger Crowell, KIA, January 31, 1968

(Feb. 15, 1968) -- A military guard snapped to a salute as pallbearers removed the body of 20-year-old Roger Bryan Crowell from Holy Family Church in the bitter cold last Sunday morning following funeral services there.

Young Crowell is another Belleville victim of the Vietnam conflict. He was a product of the Belleville school system and his parents have been long-time residents of 100 Tiona Avenue.

The telegram of regret from the Army states that he died of gunshot wounds suffered during an engagement with the enemy Vietcong forces on Jan. 31. The body was flown back home to Belleville.

Crowell was known to his family by his nickname "Rog." He was an outstanding Little Leaguer and winner of many trophies for athletics.

He attended Grammar School 5 on Greylock Parkway, Belleville and went on to Belleville High School where he was especially active in football, baseball and basketball. He graduated from BHS in 1965.

Crowell was engaged to be married for several years to Gail Corino, his high school sweetheart. A draft notice precipitated the marriage but because their marriage was kept secret, the ceremony was held at three different times in as many different churches - in June, September, and December 1966.

The young couple had only four days plus Roger's leave time, to be together in all their married life. Their son, Roger Jr. is now 10-months old; he was born in Clara Maass Memorial Hospital. Roger Sr. was able to obtain leave and arrive to be with his wife and new baby the day after the birth.

Continue reading

The Belleville Times

Remembering Roger Crowell: 45 years after his final mission in Vietnam by Mike Lamberti

December Casualties

Pfc. Joseph Klimchock was killed in Italy on Dec. 2, 1943.

Sgt. Harry Ward Jr. was MIA in the Philippines on Dec. 12, 1944.

Sgt. Patrick J. Hoey was killed in Germany on Dec. 14, 1944.

Sgt. John J. Miller, Jr. was KIA on Saipan in 1944.

Sgt. William H. Deighan was KIA over the English Channel Dec. 30, 1944.

Edgar H. Mc Ginty was KIA in Manila on Dec. 15, 1945

Thomas Lamb was KIA in the Pacific in 1945.

Copyright © 2008,2012 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll

November Casualties

Private George S. Smith was killed in action in France on Nov. 1, 1918.

Sgt. John Del Grosso died in San Diego, Calif. on Nov. 8, 1943.

Pvt. Arthur Leithauser was KIA in France on Nov. 2, 1944.

Joseph J. Cifrodella, 22, was lost at sea on Nov. 4, 1944.

William Hourigan was killed in the Philippines about Nov. 5, 1944.

Lt. Ernest H. Alden was declared KIA in Europe on November 1945.

Lance Cpl. Jerry Richard Donatiello, Nov. 20, 1967.

Copyright © 2008, 2012 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll

Glendale veterans memorial section refurbished

Slide show video of improved section along with archive photos.

 

Essex County dedicates Glendale Cemetery's Veterans Memorial

OCT. 11, 2012, BLOOMFIELD LIFE

A Special Space for Veterans at Glendale Cemetery

New spacious memorial honors veterans from all seven branches of U.S. military

Belleville/Nutley Patch

New veterans memorial unveiled at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield

NJ.com

Essex County plans veterans monument in Glendale Cemetery

JUNE 14, 2012, BLOOMFIELD LIFE

October Casualties

Private George Eyre was killed in action in France on Oct. 19, 1918.

Private George Kalvio, 23, on Oct. 24, 1918

Private William T. Smith was killed in action in France on Oct. 23, 1918.

Sgt. Louis Wagner died after an accident in Georgia, on Oct. 2, 1942.

William Gaydos was killed in the Atlantic on Oct. 9, 1943.

Seaman Vincent F. Nucci was KIA Oct. 21, 1943.

2nd Lt. George Skeen died of wounds on Oct. 19, 1944.

Pvt. Giavanni Bocchino was killed in the South Pacific on Oct. 25, 1944.

Pvt. Joseph A. Masi was KIA in France on Oct. 25, 1944.

Pvt. Joseph Zecca was killed in Italy Oct. 29, 1944.

Capt. Louis Jannarone died in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 31, 1944.

Lt. (jg) Edward Joseph Zuczek was lost-at-sea in October 1958.


Copyright © 2008, 2012 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll

September Casualties

Private Charles Mc Ginty was killed in action on Sept. 29, 1918.

Private First Class Thomas J. Mooney was killed in action on Sept. 27, 1918.

Cpl. Benjamin Lucas, 23, was killed in a plane crash in China on Sept. 28, 1945.

Marine Corp. William J. Salmon, 21, was killed in action Sept. 23, 1944, on Peleleiu on Palau Islands in the South Pacific.

Tuskeegee Airman Flight Officer Leonard R. Willette, 22, was declared killed in action. He had been listed as missing in action since Sept. 22, 1944.

Sgt. John F. Verian, 22, of Washington Avenue, was killed in action in the midst of the Siegried Line in Germany.

Marine Sgt. William J. Mears, of Jefferson Street, was killed in action in Peleliu on Palau Islands in the South Pacific on Sept. 15, 1944.

Glenn C. Nelson, 21, missing since his ship-destroyer Warrington went down off the Virginia coast Sept. 12 in what was to be known as the Great Atlantic Hurricane of Sept. 14, 1944.

Quartermaster 3/c William Russell White, 30, was presumed to be dead by the Navy. White had not been heard from since his destroyer the USS Rowan was blown up off the beaches of Salerno, Italy, on Sept. 11, 1943.

Seaman 2/c Thomas A. Peacock, 20, was killed in action and buried at sea in the area of Malta, in the invasion of Sicily on Sept. 11, 1943.

Sgt. Frank H. Metzler, 21, was presumed dead. Sgt. Metzler, a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress, had been overseas five weeks before being reported missing in Germany since March 8, 1944.

Sgt. Arthur H. Lundgren, of Smith Street, died at Fort Dix, in September 1942.

Ordnanceman 3/c John F. Kirwin was killed in the South Pacific when his patrol plane crashed at sea on Sept. 5, 1944.

Copyright © 2008, 2012 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved.

Belleville Sons Honor Roll

Captain Henry Benson, died of wounds, August 11, 1862

Captain Henry Benson of Belleville, N.J., died in 1862 from wounds received in the Seven Days Battles at Malvern Hill, Va.

July 1, 1862, was the sixth and last of the Seven Days’ Battles. On that day, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of disjointed assaults on the nearly impregnable Union position on Malvern Hill.

Capt. Benson is buried in a family plot at the Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery, Belleville.

Sources: American Civil War.com; Belleville: 150th-Anniversary Historical Highlights 1839-1989 by Robert B. Burnett and the Belleville 150th-Anniversary Committee Belleville, New Jersey. 1991

More information on Belleville in the Civil War

Belleville in the War Between the States

Copyright © 2007-2012 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
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About the author: Anthony Buccino has written several collections about life and growing up in and around Belleville, New Jersey. He also created Old Belleville, a web site of local history. His latest book is Belleville and Nutley in the Civil War – a Brief History, paperback or ebook.
For more information, http://www.anthonybuccino.com/

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Latest edition Belleville Sons Honor Roll now on Kindle ebook

8th Anniversary Edition

Latest edition now on Kindle and in print

Belleville Sons Honor Roll - Remembering the Men Who Paid for Our Freedom By Anthony Buccino

Publication Date: February 24, 2012

This edition includes additional information on Belleville in the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, WWI, WWW II, Korea, Vietnam and peacetime casualties. In the last century, Belleville lost 157 sons while in service to our country. This collection, gathered from newspaper clippings and other sources collects what we know about these young men in an effort that their sacrifice not be forgotten.

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On Kindle 

Copyright © 2012 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.