Special Veterans Remembering Newtown’s WWII Veterans

To the Editor:

This week we honored all Veterans, but I would like to honor a few WWII veterans that are special to those of us who live in Newtown. As a field representative for the National WWII Memorial being built in Washington, D.C., I can attest to the wonderful and touching cross-section of men and women who gave their effort to helping our country during those turbulent years.

Mr Richard Gretsch and Dr Barbara Jean Gretsch were both in the Army and met and married during the war. He worked in the motion picture industry before the war and toured with the Army War Show as their lighting director. The Army War Show toured the US to show the American people the might of the US Army. She went on to study medicine at the age of 45.

Joan Dellasella’s father, Joseph Merola, entertained the troops during the war as a trumpeter with the Harry James Band. Part of his job was to wake the barracks with reveille, but he himself was so hard to wake up, the sergeant made a recording of him and just played that instead.

Two men who served in the Navy were Clark Karcher, who enrolled at only 17, and Frank Sullivan’s dad who served on an oil barge.

Two men representing the Air Force are Al Desrosier’s dad, who was a sergeant in the 12th AF Bombardment Group as a waistgunner on a B-25, and Anthony Perone, who lost hearing in one ear due to the explosion of a German bomb.

Barbara Taylor’s father, Donald W. Jackson, was in the Army Medical Corp. He was stationed at the New York City port at Governors Island and was responsible for receiving and coordinating the thousands of sick and wounded servicemen arriving back in the states. He received the Legion of Merit medal for his efforts.

Louise Morgan gave a donation in her husband’s name. Ernest F. Morgan, Sr won the Purple Heart for being wounded in Italy and was given an award by the Italians for liberating their country.

Gwen Guckian’s cousin Edmund O’Shaughnessy was only 19 when he was killed while serving in the Army.

The Navy took over James Barber’s Merchant Marine ship. Mr Barber was too old to serve in the Navy, but he worked in the shipyards of Baltimore, preparing ships for battle.

Tim Stan’s grandfather, James A. Franey, was also too old for active service but worked for Western Electric and secretly helped develop radar.

I felt the most poignant story of those I heard while distributing pamphlets about the Memorial was that of Lloyd Smith, 41 and a father of four, who was killed. He was a WWI vet who re-enlisted in the Navy when his son, Gilbert, entered the Air Force. Lloyd felt that maybe by enlisting he could in some way save his son’s life.

He was killed after he gave his helmet to a young sailor who lost his while landing in the Philippines. Mr Smith died of a head injury during that landing. His son Gilbert returned safely from his tour of duty in India as a gunner on a B-29.

I apologize for any names that are not included in this letter. I honor and am grateful to all who have ever served our country.

If you wish a brochure about the Memorial or would like to donate, please get in touch with me or look for the brochures on the community boards in the supermarkets.

Sincerely,

Lois Barber

33 Zoar Road, Sandy Hook                                 November 10, 1999