USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > Wenham in World War II : war service of Wenham men and women and civilian services of Wenham people > Part 1
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WENHAM
IN
WORLD WAR II
257- 272
THIS MAP MAY BE USED TO RECORD THE ROUTE YOU FOLLOWED WHILE IN SERVICE.
WENHAM in WORLD WAR II
WAR SERVICE of WENHAM MEN AND WOMEN and CIVILIAN SERVICES of WENHAM PEOPLE
COMPILED AND EDITED BY THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION WENHAM VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY, INC. 1947
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PRINTED BY NEWCOMB & GAUSS CO. SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 1948
DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF WENHAM WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Foreword
. . 7
In Memoriam
.9-17
Personal Records of Those in the Armed Forces. 19-233
Introduction .20
Personal Military Records. 21-201
Blank Pages for Personal Accounts and Photographs 202-208
Unsigned Accounts of Wenham Men in Action. 209-233
Personal Records of Civilians in War Areas. 235-242
Air Transport Command. .2377
Civilian Air Patrol. 239
Cadet Program, CAP. 240
U. S. Coast Guard Temporary Reserve 240
Maritime Service . 241
Personal Records of Those in Civilian Services
243-302
Introduction
244
Selective Service.
245
U. S. Army Observation Posts 247
250
Fire Department. 250
251
Air Raid Wardens. 252
Medical Division 256
Report Center.
257
War Finance Committee .259
The State Guard.
.261
Massachusetts Women's Division of Public Safety.
.263
Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps. 264
The American Red Cross 265-272
Production Committee 265
Surgical Dressings 267
Home Service.
268
Camp and Hospital
.269
Gray Ladies Service
270
Nurses' Aides.
270
Blood Donor Service. 270
Drives for Diverse Interests. 22-273
USO and United War Relief 272
Russian Relief. .272
United Nations' Clothing Drive. 273
Scattered Activities. 273-274
Bundles for Blue Jackets. 273
Bundles for America . 273
Relief Work. 274
Rationing 275
Salvage
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Civilian Defense. .
Police Department
6
Wenham in World War II
PAGE
Food Production.
280
Wenham Boys and Girls in World War II. 282-286
Courier Service. .282 Center School. .283
Boy Scout Fire Fighting Unit. 285
Girl's Activities. 286
Civilian Contributions to the War Effort by Wenham People
Outside of Wenham. .287-291
Civilian Service in Local Hospitals. 291
Civilian Service in Hospitals Outside of Wenham 292
Blood Donor Service. 293
Wenham Men in Research and Development. 293
Wenham Men in Industry 294
Social Life. . .294
Wenham Tercentenary 1943 294
Civic and Public Service. 295
Civic and Public Service Groups. 296
Telephone Service. .296
New Activities Occasioned by the War .297-301
"Wenham Wanderings" 297
The Movies. . 299 Sunshine Fund. 300
Post-war Developments 301
Index to Names of Those in Civilian Services 303
FOREWORD
The story of the part that any small New England village has taken in a national war, is quite generally absorbed in the story of the larger communities surrounding it.
Source material in a small town is too often limited to meagre town records, personal memories-inaccurate and unreliable-and casual records of organizations, formed to meet the needs of the moment. Even at this time, the mechanics of the war as carried on in Wenham, have been difficult to collect.
For this reason it has seemed desirable to the Historical Associa- tion, without further delay, to compile and check available records of this World War II, to give some future historian of Wenham the background of what this war has meant to our small town of approxi- mately 1400 inhabitants.
To accomplish this we are dividing these records in three classi- fications. In the first are listed the records of the Wenham men and women in the armed forces-the Army of the United States, the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, inclusive of the Air Force in each division of the armed forces. These records comprise a short account of the service of the participants, supplied by themselves, and edited with their approval, for uniformity.
The second classification includes those civilians who volunteered for service in war areas-the Civil Air Transport, the Civil Air Patrol, the U. S. Coast Guard Temporary Reserve and the Mer- chant Marine. The third division records the civilian service of those not exposed to active warfare-those who remained in Wen- ham-many unwillingly on account of age or other deferment. The contribution of these civilians to research, production, and protec- tive work, was most fundamental, though lacking the stimulus of mass effort.
To obtain this over-all picture of the war activities as they affected Wenham people, we acknowledge with deep appreciation, the coop- eration of those who had the records needed, and their patient en- durance of our repeated requests for data. This data, amounting to thousands of sheets, scattered in various places, has been collected, sorted and filed in some sort of sequence, and may be consulted at
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8
Wenham in World War II
the Claflin-Richards House. The Publication Committee solicit further cooperation in supplying any additional information or correction.
Our thanks are due to Mr. Rupert Lillie for the gift of his hand-drawn illustrated map; and to Mrs. Robert C. Jones who added to her professional services an interest which was invaluable.
We regret that there must be omissions for lack of information but feel that the publication of this book should not be further de- layed.
ADELINE P. COLE, Chairman
MINNIE E. ASHWORTH KATHARINE H. CAMPBELL ALENE S. HARRINGTON Publication Committee.
IN MEMORIAM
The war cost Wenham eight of her sons. Death overtook them in widely scattered places; in the United States and in six foreign countries. Each made the largest contribution to his country that his span of life allowed.
It is their contribution that we here remember.
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CARL DUNCAN CAMPBELL, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Mal- colm Campbell, entered on active duty as a Private in the Army of the United States on April 14, 1943 at the age of eighteen. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 263rd Infantry, 66th (Black Panther) Division and sent to Camp Blanding, Fla. and Camp Robinson, Ark. for training. In December 1943 he was advanced to Private First Class, and sent to Camp Rucker, Ala. and Camp Meade, Md. for further training.
In 1944 Carl Campbell sailed for England and landed in Norm- andy on D-Day with Co. I, 359th Infantry, 90th Division. His out- fit landed among the first and assembled near Turqueville. From there they moved to attack and to deepen the VII Corps bridgehead established by the 82nd Airborne Division. The first day of fight- ing netted one and one-half miles through hedgerows, against artil- lery and mortar barrages and the enemy in prepared positions.
After ten weeks of fighting in Western France, the division rested near Nonant-le-Pin and on August 26 began a long drive eastward, arriving outside Reims on August 30. It occupied the Reims bridge- head and in late October moved on to the siege of Metz.
Carl Campbell lost his life at Koenigsnacker in France on November 9, 1944 by a gunshot wound. He was buried in the U. S. Military Cemetery at Limey, December 2, 1944.
Purple Heart
Combat Infantryman's Badge
Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European Campaign Medal with stars for Normandy and North- ern France
World War II Victory Medal
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CARL, DUNCAN CAMPBELL
BENJAMIN EDWARDS COLE III
BENJAMIN EDWARDS COLE III, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben- jamin E. Cole II, entered on active duty as a Private in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in December 1942.
After completing boot training at Parris Island, S. C., he was attached to a Marine Air Group in California and based successively at Camp Miramar, El Centro and San Diego Naval Air Stations.
He was recommended for aviation training and in February 1943 he was appointed Naval Aviation Cadet. After receiving his wings in March 1945 he was given the choice of remaining in the Navy or rejoining the Marines. He rejoined the Marines with the rank of Second Lieutenant and was sent to Florida for further training.
Immediately after V-J Day all Marine Corps pilots of his status were given a choice of resigning from the service or of signing up for two more years. He signed up, at the same time applying for a commission in the regular Marine Corps.
He received orders for duty in China and was to have sailed on July 19, 1946.
On July 18, 1946 he was killed by accident, while on duty in San Diego. His commission in the United States Marine Corps came through on July 19.
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
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PIERRE BOBET ERHARD, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Erhard, entered on active duty as a Private in the Army of the United States in January 1942. He was assigned to the 87th Moun- tain Infantry "Ski Troops" and sent to Fort Lewis, Wash. where the regiment had been formed the day after Pearl Harbor. The unit had been organized with famous skiers and mountaineers and accepted only men who were extremely proficient.
In January 1943, intensive training began at the new ski site, Camp Hale, Colo. where, on the Continental Divide, up to elevations of 12,000 feet, with the temperature at 38° below zero, men, equipment and sled dogs were put through severe tests. The casualty and reclassification rate was high.
In June 1943 the 87th after amphibious training at Fort Ord, Calif. embarked for Adak in the Aleutians, the staging area for the proposed landing on Kiska. In August the landing was made and the 87th scaled the high cliffs on the north shore only to find that the Japanese had evacuated the island and that opposition consisted of fog, high winds and land mines. In February they returned to the States and became the 3rd Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division. After further training at Camp Hale and in Texas, they were ordered overseas.
On January 4, 1945 the 87th Mountain Infantry embarked on the SS West Point. They landed in Naples, entrained in box-cars and headed north. Beyond Rome they were taken by truck to the staging area north of Pisa. On January 21 the 87th moved into bivouac east of Camaiore as IV Corps Reserve, going into action on January 27. Patrol work was the order of the day. The drive on Mt. Belvedere started on February 19. On the 20th after all objectives had been reached and all positions consolidated, Pierre Erhard was killed by a direct hit from mortar fire. He is buried in the United States Military Cemetery at Castelfiorentine, Italy.
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with star for Kiska
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with star for Northern Appenines.
World War II Victory Medal
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PIERRE BOBET ERHARD
1
JAMES BARTHOLOMEW GINTY
JAMES BARTHOLOMEW GINTY, son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ginty, and husband of the former Catherine Bates of Salem, was graduated from Holy Cross College in June 1938. Following grad- uation, he held a position as accountant for the State of Massa- chusetts
In November 1940, after a month's training as Apprentice Sea- man on the USS Quincy, he was appointed Midshipman and sent to Northwestern University for instruction. He was commissioned Ensign in June 1941 and assigned to the USS Vincennes (CA 44).
The Vincennes was ordered to the Pacific in 1942. She was part of the task force screening the carrier Hornet which carried Doolittle and his flyers into position for the first raid on Tokyo.
In August 1942, the Vincennes bombarded Guadalcanal and gave close supporting fire to the Marines as they landed. She was lost on August 9, attempting to prevent Japanese forces from endanger- ing our positions. She led a task force patrolling the area which the Japanese would have to enter in order to strike at transports un- loading men and supplies on the beaches.
Enemy fire was heavy and accurate. The Vincennes was hit re- peatedly. With fire power cut off, fires raging internally and con- trol lost, she was lost in the Battle of Savo Island with the USS Quincy, USS Astoria and HMAS Canberra.
The immediate result of this cruiser battle was the retirement of the enemy forces.
James Ginty's battle station was the 5-in. Battery He was killed in action August 9, 1942.
Purple Heart
American Defense Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with stars for Tokyo, Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal
World War II Victory Medal
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PAUL LEWIS SAWYER, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Sawyer, was born in Swampscott on April 23, 1923. At the time of the war, he was living in Wenham with his guardian, Lewis W. Sawyer.
Paul Sawyer enlisted as a Private in the Army of the United States on January 26, 1942. He was sent for basic training to Fort Belvoir, Va. in the 4th Engineer Battalion. He joined the 132nd Combat Engineers at Fort Hancock, N. J. By this time he was specializing in radio and went to Saco, Me. and Camp Framingham, Mass. where he was promoted to Technician Fifth Grade. He was then sent to Army Gunnery School at Tyndall Field, Fla. and from there to Columbia, S. C. for assignment.
Sawyer, now a Staff Sergeant, was assigned to the 498th Bombard- ment Squadron, 345th Bombardment Group, and with his unit flew to Pearl Harbor and from there westward until they reached Biak Island, New Guinea June 4, 1944. The Biak operation was started May 27 and the Island was secured June 21, 1944. Its airfields were then used as bases for U. S. bomber squadrons which operated over the Dutch possessions and the Moluccas in the South Pacific.
Flying in a B-25, Paul Sawyer completed eight missions over enemy territory serving both as Radio Operator and Machine Gun- ner. His plane encountered anti-aircraft fire while bombing Jap- anese airfields in an attempt to keep the Japanese planes out of the air. It was lost with all its crew in action over Namlea Township, Boeroe Island, West of Ceram in the Netherlands Indies on Sep- tember 10, 1944.
Purple Heart American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars
World War II Victory Medal
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PAUL, LEWIS SAWYER
WALTER ALLEN SEARS
WALTER ALLEN SEARS, son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett W. Sears, entered on active duty as a Private in the Army of the United States on April 7, 1943. He was sent to Camp Blanding, Fla. for basic training and to South Carolina for a course under the Army Specialist Training Program. Passing this, he was entitled to a four-year college course under the Army. He was sent to Clarke University but after four months, the Army discontinued this, and Sears was assigned to the 1268th Engineers stationed at Camp Maxey, Tex. He took a course in radio at Fort Belvoir, Va., rejoined his outfit and proceeded with them to Camp Kil- mer, N. J. for overseas training.
In November 1943, the 1268th Engineers went overseas. They landed in England and were sent to Gloucester. Here he met Iris Day of Wimbledon whom he later married.
On April 10, 1945 the 1268th Engineers, Fifteenth Army, were sent to Europe and passed through Holland and France to Froisdorf near Cologne. In the wake of the advancing armies the terrain was littered with the wreckage of tanks, guns, trucks and clothing and the towns bombed and flattened. The battalion was assigned to support work in clearing out the Ruhr pocket.
When the war was over, the Fifteenth Army was declared Army of Occupation in Germany. Sears was transferred to the 66th (Black Panther) Infantry Division in the south of France and sent to Marseille.
In November 1945 his daughter Susan was born in Wimbledon and he was given a thirty-day furlough. He left Marseille for Paris by plane, crossed to England by troopship and caught a troop train to London. As the train passed through Wimbledon where his wife and baby were, he was accidentally killed in a fall from the train, on December 17, 1945. He is buried in the United States Military Cemetery near Cambridge, England.
European Campaign Medal with star for action in the Ruhr World War II Victory Medal
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WILLIAM ARTHUR TROWT, JR., son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Arthur Trowt, attended the Wenham school and was graduated from Beverly High School in 1933.
He studied civil engineering and was graduated from North- eastern University in 1937. He was an unusually good skater and hockey player and played on the Varsity hockey team, winning his letter in that sport.
After being graduated from Northeastern University, he was em- ployed by the Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission as a civil engineer and worked on the Quabbin Dam Project.
He married Marion E. Prouty of Hardwick in June 1942.
On November 14, 1942 he entered on active duty in the Army of the United States. He was assigned to Company A, 704th Mili- tary Police Battalion, Camp Andover, North Reading, Mass. and from there was sent to Fort Custer, Mich. for special military police training.
On being taken ill he was treated at the hospital at Fort Banks and in October 1943 entered the Lovell General Hospital, Fort Devens, Mass. where he died on December 20, 1943.
He was buried with military honors in Wenham.
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
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WILLIAM ARTHUR TROWT, JR.
STUART EDWARD BARTON
STUART EDWARD BARTON after being refused by the Army owing to an old back injury, volunteered as Civilian Navigator in the American Airlines service of the Air Transport Command* in January 1943. He took his training at the Army Navigation School, Chicago, and in April 1943 took up duties in ATC, flying between Brazil and Africa with passengers, aviation gasoline and war supplies.
In August he volunteered for flying between Assam, India, and advanced bases in China. He successfully completed nineteen round trips "over the hump" carrying aviation gasoline and war supplies into China and returning to India with Chinese soldiers for training.
Returning to the United States in November 1943 he was assigned to the Atlantic route and carried passengers and freight eastward, and passengers or wounded litter cases on the return trip.
He continued transatlantic flying until his death in Newfound- land on November 12, 1944 when his plane, blown off its course in a severe storm, struck the side of a mountain as she tried to find her way onto the Stephenville airfield. He had just completed his 50th trans-Atlantic crossing.
Stuart Barton was buried with military honors at the United States Military Cemetery at Harmon Field, Stephenville, New- foundland. When the United States government discontinued the care of this cemetery at the end of the war, he was reinterred in Beverly, Mass.
*See page 237.
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THE WAR-TIME HONOR ROLL
The war-time honor roll stood beside the Town Hall during the war. It had on it the names of Wenham men and women who served in our armed forces and other war-time services; men who were living in Wenham when the war started and who therefor en- listed or were drafted from here; and the names of many who though living elsewhere were still connected with Wenham through family ties.
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1943
HONOR TOWN of WENHAM ROLL
Photograph by I K Mclaughlin
PERSONAL RECORDS OF THOSE IN THE ARMED FORCES
20
Wenham in World War II
INTRODUCTION
At the end of the war, the editors of the "Wenham Wanderings" wished to print a final copy of the paper which would give an account of the service rendered to our country by each of the men and women who went from Wenham.
This was accomplished by sending out a questionnaire to those whose names appeared on the war-time honor roll. When the ques- tionnaires were returned, the information given in them was put together in paragraph form and sent back to each veteran so that he might add to, delete from or re-write his account. The corrected papers were re-typed and again returned for the veteran's final ap- proval. Many veterans wrote their own papers entirely. All ac- counts were read before publication by Army and Navy men for technical errors.
The papers are of varying interest because opportunity was un- equal. Some men were ordered to interesting duty; others were kept for many months at tedious work far from the battle areas. No man could choose where he would be sent. In theory he could volun- teer for combat duty. In practice he was sometimes prevented from doing so, as he was valuable where he was.
Opportunities for advancement were also unequal. In many as- signments (notably hospitals, training areas and bases) promotions were often "frozen", because there were fewer vacancies caused by combat casualties. It will be noticed that age, training and previous experience influenced the rank or rate given at the time of entering on active duty.
A great deal has been left unsaid in these papers. If a ship and her crew were badly hurt or an outfit had heavy casualties, we are not told. It is difficult for men to talk of these realities to people who have not experienced them.
We are publishing anonymously a few accounts which could not be included in individual papers because of length. They are all from Wenham men and were written in response to our urgent request.
An effort has been made to reach all who are on the honor roll. The whereabouts of some is unknown and a few have not replied. We sincerely regret these omissions.
K. H. C.
21
Personal Records of Those in the Armed Forces
ALTON FEARING ARMINGTON entered on active duty as a Private in the Army of the U. S. on September 27, 1946. He was assigned to the Medical Corps and sent to Camp Polk, La. for initial training.
He was assigned as a Medic to the Artillery of the 88th Infantry Division and sailed on the SS New Bern Victory from New York. They landed at Livorno and were ordered to Gorizia, a city thirty miles north of Trieste in the province of Venezia-Giulia.
On March 9, 1947 he wrote from Gorizia: "Things are pretty quiet here now, although, there are a few outbreaks. The trouble in this city is confined to riots between the Italian and Yugoslav civil- ians. Gorizia is claimed by both countries, although it is now under, and considered part of, Italy. The American soldiers are more or less spectators.
"The civilians are rather cool toward Americans. However, the Italians realize that as soon as American troops move out, they will have no protection against the Yugoslavs."
Armington expects to leave Gorizia soon, as his division is being evacuated. He was promoted to Private First Class on March 13, 1947 and is now (June 23, 1947) assigned to a small hospital in Venice, Italy.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
JEAN MOLLET ARMINGTON (Mrs. John C. Armington) en- tered on active duty as an Apprentice Seaman in the WAVES (Wo- men's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency Service) USNR, on July 13, 1944. She was sent to Hunter College, New York, N. Y. for in- doctrination and to U. S. Naval Hospital, St. Albans, Long Island, N. Y. for training in Navy Laboratory technique. At the end of her course, she was advanced to Hospital Apprentice First Class.
In August 1945, she was assigned to duty at the U. S. Naval Hos- pital, Oakland, Calif. where she served until she was honorably dis- charged March 5, 1946 at San Francisco, Calif.
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
JOHN CALVIN ARMINGTON became a cadet in the NROTC (Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps) at Tufts College, Med-
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Wenham in World War II
ford, Mass. on September 20, 1941. He was commissioned Ensign in February 1944.
His first assignment was to the USS Santee (CVE 29) a con- verted carrier. He left San Francisco in March 1944 picking up the Santee at Manus Island in the Admiralties in time to take part in the capture and occupation of Guam. The Santee was ferrying U. S. Marine Corps planes.
"The ship later picked up its own squadron at Manus and covered the Morotai landings. From there the ship went into the Battle of Leyte Gulf where it was hit by a Kamikaze suicide plane and was torpedoed a few minutes later. Repairs, made in the States, were completed in time for the ship to take part in the Okinawa Cam- paign. During this campaign the Santee was continuously under- way for more than eighty days. The ship then took part in a mine sweeping operation in the East China Sea. This operation was terminated by the end of the war. We then went to Formosa to pick up English and Dutch prisoners of war. The prisoners, mostly captured in China, had been on Formosa for two or three years. Many had been starved until they were unable to walk and had to be carried on board. After having taken the prisoners to Manila, the Santee covered the initial landings at Wakayama, Japan."
Armington's duty was successively that of B Division (Fireroom) Junior Officer, E Division (Electric) Junior Officer, and that of M Division (Main Propulsion) Officer.
In August 1945, Armington was promoted to Lieutenant (j.g.) and in January 1946 he was transferred to the USS Sitkoh Bay, an escort carrier. He served on her as Assistant Engineer.
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