USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cochituate > Cochituate Jeep, 1945-1946 (World War II servicement) 1945-1946 > Part 11
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
Wins War Bond
WILLIAM HARDY, USN
a war veteran, if there ever was one over 40 years of active serv- ice.
lias been promoted to Chief Petty Officer.
Maurice Robinson is home on a furlough from Dartmouth for ten days. He leaves May 17th for three months' schooling in Virgin- ia, after which he expects to join his brothers in the Pacific.
Last week in the JEEP mail box a very official paper from Camp Blanding, Florida, waited to be read. It was a mimeographed form filled out by a lucky fellow re- ceiving a promotion. This one was headed: "Public Relations Questionnaire. Fill in Blanks- Print Carefully- Give name of Home Town Newspaper Read by Parent or Wife you mention Be- low." And there was- "the Jeep," Cochituate, Mass. This was to inform us that Cpl. Russell T. Bowles, who is a member at the Center at Infantry Replacement Camp Blanding, has been pro- moted to Sergeant. Congratula - tions, Russ and thanks for remem- bering "the JEEP." Russ was em- ployed by the Rockwood Sprinkler Company in Worcester before he entered the service in 1943. He is married to the former Catherine Reimer of Lake Shore Drive.
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The Cochituate Jeep
Wins War Bond
Sgt. RUSSELL BOWLES
A veteran of the Italian cam- paign, but now at Camp Blanding, Fla.
Servicemen's Column
In a letter received by Mrs. Mel- ville Loker, Bobby Loker wrote -- "During the bombardment of Iwo Jima we spent about four days pouring salvos into the island. It was really something to watch but kind of jolting if you know what I mean. I had cotton jammed into my ears until I couldn't get any more into them and also had a helmet on due to some return fire. Upon firing the main battery you could fo low the salvos right over to the island with your naked eye and with a pair of binoculars you could see just where they landed. The first day was really something to gaze upon and that night you could see the battle go-
ing on over on the island. You could see plainly with the naked eye fiame throwers and tanks op- erating within the island. Watch- ing our dive bombers pound the island was quite a sight to see also. The next couple of mornings when we had G.Q. you could see all sorts of ships firing star shells to help the troops over on the is- land to see. The whole four days we spent bombarding the island Bob
was quite an experience."
sent a very interesting booklet about his ship, the U. S. S. North
Carolina, commissioned April 9, 1941, and celebrating its fourth anniversary. The "Showboat," as it's called, has five bombardments to its credit and it has participat- ed in twenty-one campaigns.
S1/c Donald E. Stultz, USN, sta- tioned in Hueneme, California, has completed his course at machine gun school.
On May 7, at a, Nuptial Mass, Miss Jeannette Langevin of New Hampshire became the bride of Cpl. William Tobin of Maiden Lane. Rita Arsenault was the maid of honor and James Tobin, brother of the groom, was best man. Af- ter a short wedding trip, Cpl. and Mrs. Tobin are visiting with Mr. and Mrs. James Tobin of Maiden Lane.
S. 1/c Ralph Snell Maiden Lane has been transferred from Virginia to a receiving station in New York. He expects to be as- signed to a destroyer.
Miss Geraldine Selvitella of Maid- en Lane was sworn into the Waves this week, and expects to report for duty next month. Good luck, Jerry!
R. M. 1/c Martin P. Flynn, USN, of Dudley road, is one of eight men stationed on a small island some- where near Alaska.
A letter was received from Pvt. Robert Merritt by
his folks on April 30. Bob is in the Philippines. He says it is very hot but that he prefers heat to cold weather. He told his mother that he is sending her a table cloth which was hand- made by the islanders. Bob said he and his buddies have a pet monkey which they all get a big kick out of. He hasn't received any Jeep as yet, but he sure is looking for- ward to it.
Wins War Bond
FREDERICK H. PERRY, Jr. "Buster" is a Corporal in the In- fantry somewhere in Germany. A great Pleasant street rooter.
Mr. and Mrs. George Lewis re- ceived a phone call from their son, Bob Lewis, So. M. 2/c, last night. Bob is going to be home for the next 5 days. His mother said it's the best mother's day gift she ever received.
Mary MacClellan, Cadet Nurse, has returned to her duties at New- ton Hospital, after spending three weeks with her family on West Plain street.
SURRENDER CUSTOMS
.
An American, surrendering says, "Gee, but this is a disgrace."
An Englishman, surrendering says, "Deucedly humiliating!" A Frenchman says, "Terrible!" A Russian says, "This can't be me!"
A German says, "When do we eat?"
The Cochituate
Jeep
Conveyor Of News From The Folks At Home To Their Service Men And Women Everywhere
No. 9
June 1, 1945
MAIL ADDRESS P. O. Box 70, Cochituate, Mass.
Pvt. Robert Scotland Writes
"I believe that our outfit has moved more and traveled further in the last month and a half than in all previous time since we hit the shores of France.
"I have been near Lubeck and the Baltic Sea which is about all I can tell you about the country that I have visited recently. The nights were quite cold up there and the days not too warm, so I appreciate the much more Springlike weather of our present location.
"The flowers are very beautiful in Germany. Right now the lilacs are in blossom and they are very plenti- ful here. I am now sitting on a stone wall at the rear of the rather nice and modern suburban home in which we are living and there are many varieties of tulips and other flowers in full bloom. The fleur-de- lis are not out as yet but look as if the buds would break soon.
'You are probably wondering about the extent of destruction in Germany. Well, the large cities have all been badly destroyed varying perhaps from 60% to 100% or total destruction. In many cities the empty shells of apartment houses and public buildings remain, so that the appearance of a city remains also, but these buildings will all have to be rebuilt from the ground up. Most of German industry will also have to be rebuilt because the pre- ponderance of German factories and steel mills are in the Ruhr Valley and in Silesia and both regions were ruined greatly by the advances of the American and the Russian armies respectively. Our air forces have done a splendid job and I saw one huge synthetic oil plant, sprawl- ing over acres of land, which was completely demolished by precision bombing.
"Of late, I have seen a whole German army laying down its arms and marching to the rear of our lines. Hordes of Wehrmacht sol- (Continued on Page 6)
Pvt. Stuart Morrell was able to be at home only one day having made the trip from Oklahoma. "Toot" expects shortly to see a little more of the world, but before doing that little thing, he stopped long enough to pull the names out of the fish bowl for the winners of the bonds.
We are grateful to announce that eight more bonds have been donated to our deserving men of the armed forces. The donors of these bonds are : Cochituate Package Store, Mrs. Ethel J. Dudley, American Legion Auxiliary-this being its second gift. Cochituate Garden Club, Dudley Pond Imp. Association, Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Baker. A group of friends of Shawmut Avenue Extension got together and solicited funds for a bond. The spirit among the friends and neighbors along W. Common- wealth Rd., Corman Lane and vicin- ity runs high, for now they have presented their third bond. Those sponsoring this cause are: Mes- dames Mary Patnode, Margaret Perry, Katherine Damon, Christine Garvey, Angeline Corman, Orise Peck, Effie Scott, Ruth Starrett. Edna Taunton, Annie McGee, Helen
Kelton, Emma Hersey, Isadore Wil- liams, Isabel McCabe, Maidie Bond, the Mascia Family, Homer Whitney, Miss Ida Hersey, and Mrs. Turner.
On The Side of a Hill
I look around and wonder why all this has to be, It all comes back so brutally clear, A scene of which I see. Upon a hill near the side of a road, Not far from where I stand, A form lies quiet and deathly still, I see his clutching hand.
From under the blanket his pipe has rolled, And by his side it lays, Together they lie in death, pals of a better day. I can only think as I walk past, How happy he used to be,
How healthy and strong he was in life, My friend that used to be.
I turn my head with a silent prayer And walk on up the hill, It's my first sight of a fallen friend ; Of war, I've had my fill. Days have passed it seems like years, The memory lingers still.
Of my first sight of a fallen friend Who died on the side of a hill.
T/5 John F. Gallagher, Belgium-19 '4.
Honor Roll
Wendell S. Steele Raymond J. Branagan Geraldine Selvitella
Alexander G. Hardy has recently opened his office for the general practice of Law at his home, 42 Main Street. He received his hon- orable discharge from the United Best of wishes, States Navy.
"Sandy."
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The Cochituate Jeep
NOTIFY
The Jeep of any change in your mail address.
Write for special news that you may wish; The Jeep is at your service.
Please send something of interest
for the Service Chit-Chat Column regularly-Keep in touch around the Globe- through this column.
Town News
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Renard of Woodland Road are rejoicing over the birth of triplet boys, Paul David, Walter Leo, and Stephen Martin, born May 14th at Newton Hospital. They reside in the John Johnson house.
The American Legion Auxiliary presented corsages to all Gold Star Mothers in Cochituate and Wayland on Mother's Day.
Mrs. Margaret Morrell will hold a Whist Party on June 6th, at 1:30 p. m., at her home on Main Street. This is a benefit whist for the JEEP.
Mr. and Mrs. William Brooks of Ridgefield Road are enjoying a few days in New York.
Gilbert Stevens, who was visiting with his parents on W. Plain Street, has returned to New York where he is employed. He is certainly doing his part by giving blood to the Red Cross as often as he can. Thus far he has donated 11 pints of blood. There is a record to be proud of.
Kathleen Tivnan, a student at Framingham State College, partici- pated in the exercises held on the campus in crowning the May Queen.
"Albie" Smith spent the weekend in town with his wife and parents. He is now waiting for a new assign- ment.
On June 2nd, at St. Anne's Church, Wayland, Lt. Ruth E. Decatur, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Decatur, will be married to Capt. Carl A. DeFranco of Cleveland, Ohio. Lt. Decatur is serving at Ft. Leonard Wood Hospital, as is Capt. DeFranco, who is on the hospital staff.
Wins War Bond
WM. F. HENRY
A nice, new, clean-looking flagpole has been erected on the Pemberton Road-W. Plain Street corner of the ball field.
The new honor rolls, one in Co- chituate and the other in Wayland, will be unveiled on Memorial Day. The exercises in Cochituate will take place after the return from the Lakeview Cemetery exercises. The honor roll stands on the corner lot which Cochituate Garden Club has taken care of for the past six years, opposite the Legion Hall.
Miss Rita Ploss has returned to her home much improved in health after an appendectomy at Leonard Morse Hospital, Natick.
Miss Barbara Ann Dudley was among the graduates of Walnut Hill School, Natick, on Thursday, the 24th of May, the exercises being held at the Congregational Church in Natick. She is an enrolled stu- dent at B. U. this fall.
Mrs. Arthur Marston of Shawmut Avenue was one of many mothers made happy by receiving talisman roses for Mother's Day from her son, Lt. Bill Marston, now in Ger- many.
The townspeople extend to Joseph Perodeau and his family their sym-
pathy in the loss of his wife and his children's mother.
. Harry Cayo's dog, Tramp, has opened the summer season back at the old stand, begging ice cream cones at the news' depot.
Hutch and the Turkey King are back to work after a week at the Gansett Follies of 1945, it is report- ed by A. P.
The Texaco Gas King has had a two weeks' vacation and has been teaching Junior how to drive the car.
Trade is so good at the Commo- dore's Navy Yard that there is no time to eat dinner on Sunday.
Mrs. Claribel Lucier fell down- stairs and she was badly bruised and shaken up. Fortunately her injury was not serious, altho it gave her husband Ed. quite a scare.
Mrs. Linwood Payson of E. Plain Street is at the Framingham Union Hospital in Framingham.
The Main Street Cribbage Club accuses Alvin Neale of putting more five spots in his crib than anybody. In this way he takes Frank Beach, the old time painter, to camp four out of five games. Frank is going to strip the deck of five spots one of these days.
O. G. reports that he had dinner Sunday at a restaurant that got 110 dinners out of an eight-pound roast of beef and E. L. swears it is the truth.
There was a surprise birthday party for Ann Wasky, Friday, May 18th, at Sally Potvin's house.
Last week Mrs. Arthur Bradshaw and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Marston spent the week at Eastham, on the Cape, opening up and repairing the Bradshaw cottage, getting it ready to rent for the summer, and while they were there, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Peck arrived to stay at the Apex, their cottage, for a few days. During the week Mrs. Hattie Wil- liams, Mrs. Rose Robertson and Miss Alice Atwood went down to their cottage, The Pioneer, to spend two weeks.
In the last issue of the JEEP, several of the ladies, who donated to
(Continued on Page 6)
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The Cochituate Jeep
Chit-Chat Column
Your Editor-in-Chief received a letter from Pvt. Ervin Schleicher this week saying: "I want to thank you and the rest of the members of the staff of the JEEP for making it possible for me to win the bond drawing several weeks ago and also to express my appreciation to those in the town who donated the bonds themselves.
"I look forward to the JEEP's coming as much as I do to my breakfast and it certainly is a great little paper. You can certainly add me to your long list of hearty sup- porters and I most sincerely appre- ciate the time, thought and hard work of the staff which makes it possible for me to get this swell little 'home town (some might call it a hamlet) happenings' every two weeks." Thanks, Erv ; all our efforts are more than repaid when we get letters such as yours.
In a letter from Mrs. Dorothy Harrington of Wayland, she states : "I thought you might be interested to know that my brother, Clifford Wedlock, (known as Wick) enjoys receiving the 'JEEP' which my mother sends him. He wrote and said he was sorry he had not re- ceived it while en route from the Persian gulf to China as he had spent a week at the same camp where Wendy and Lester Gerald were, but, at that time, he didn't know they were there. * * * If you know of any Cochituate boys in China, would you be kind enough to mail their addresses to me or to my brother, Cpl. Clifford Wedlock, No. 31187319, 3946 Q. M. Truck Co., APO 627, c/o PM, New York, N. Y."
"Georgie, Georgie, where have you been?"
"I've been to London to see the Queen."
T/5 George C. Snow was in Lon- . don V-E Day and saw the Queen, King and the Princesses.
Don't be stuck up because you were hobknobbing with royalty!
He said when he got back to camp he felt like a dish rag after pushing through the crowds. K.P. would be pretty good just then, Georgie. How about it ?
Wins War Bond
DAYTON NELSON
Dear "JEEP"-
Many, many thanks for sending me this grand little paper. It means so much to me and to all the boys in the Service. Each time it is due I can hardly wait to read what my friends and buddies are doing back home. It seems the one link that erases the many miles and brings me right back to the old town itself and all I left behind. I would not want to be without it. Thank you again.
Sincerely, Malcom Tenney.
Leland Robinson wrote to the JEEP from Okinawa and said that he had received the JEEP a few days before and he told how much he appreciated it. He says, "It gives me a little dope on what is going on outside my family. I sure hope that I keep reeciving them. Many of the | boys that I thought were still in grammar school are now in service. It can't be that I've been away too long, or perhaps I am a little older than I realize? No, it must be some- thing else." He also said, "We have our collection of Jap flags well under way. We captured one flier, a lone survivor of a bomber that we downed, and had him aboard our little ship for awhile. He was sure He received the best of
| scared.
care, as should be expected."
Things are pretty lonesome, Lee, in dear old Cochituate but every- thing is under control.
From somewhere in Germany T/S J. E. Gallagher writes to the JEEP to thank all the unselfish people whose efforts have made the paper possible. He says the paper has meant much more to him than any- one could ever realize. It has fol- lowed him to many strange places. Reading it and seeing pictures of some of his old friends have taken him back to the best place in the whole world.
In return the JEEP says, "Thanks, Jim; your letter was swell."
From Jack Huggard the following letter was received.
Dear Editor,
Today I came into possession of three copies of the great little paper, JEEP, and being a former resident of Wayland wonder if you could send me a copy every issue? The fellow who gave me my paper is a former Coch tuate resident, Kenneth Carter. We find that we have had many mutual acquaintances in the town although we had not known each other on the outside. We had another former resident, George Rivers, who was killed practically beside me during an attack by enemy aircraft while we were at Roi Namen in the Marshalls.
I especially enjoyed your Febru- ary 24th issue, the one with the pic- ture of Cochituate snowed under, and it is so long since I've seen any snow that just looking at these pic- tures made me feel better. I'll sign off now hoping to receive a copy of the JEEP real soon.
Sincerely, Jack Huggard.
Thanks for your letter, Jack, your name is on the mailing list and the JEEP is on the way to you.
Steve McEnroy writes from Ger- many thanking the JEEP for their paper. He tells that the paper makes him feel not so far away after all. He was at the German border during the winter and things were at a stand still until the snow melted, then the "Boys" went to town.
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The Cochituate Jeep
Chit-Chat Column (Continued from Page 3)
We have a letter from James W. N. White, S. F. 2/c, a deep sea diver aboard the S. S. Dakota. He writes, "It is good to see the names of all the gang in the JEEP, where they are and what they are doing, the pictures of the old home town with her coat of snow, something I haven't seen in a long time. I really would like to be back there once again for good. I would like to meet some of the gang out here in the Pacific but I don't have the chance very often as yet. You can see by the papers that we are very busy and I don't have much time to look up any boys. There are many boys from the home states here, the nearest one was Drennan, S. K. 1/c. from Hopkinton but he has been transferred. Tell Johnnie Pelletier and the rest of the boys that I have been right with them all the way, from the Gilberts to the Marshalls to Iwo Jima. They may have seen the ship many times and didn't know I was so close.
^I thought you would be interest- ed in this clipping. Many thanks for the paper. My best wishes to the gang in the service."
"JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED - As was reported in yesterday's Plan of the Day, a cox- swain, while engaged in rigging for fueling, was knocked down by a wave and sustained a fracture of the right thigh. This required setting of the bone by traction : the leg had to be drawn out under tension so that the broken pieces of bone could be fitted together in the right posi- tion. It was difficult to obtain the proper traction using the Sick Bay equipment on hand.
"Dr. Lovett called in CSF DICK for help in making the needed equipment. After getting the pic- ture of what was needed, CSF DICK and his gang went to work, cutting and welding together a traction table attachment for the operating table. It took them only two hours to complete the work, and the thigh was successfully 'set.'
"A 'Well Done' to the Medical Department-Shipfitter team, who incidentally have a lot in common ! The following Shipfitters teamed up in this venture into the 'medical' appliance field : BUCKOVAC, F. V., SFIc; BULVANOSKI, J. S., SFY; FOUNTAIN, A. H., SF1c ; WHITE,
Wins War Bond
TONY P. ROMANO
J. W. N., SF2c; ANTONNUCCI, T. D., SF3c (T) ; and MORT, A. L., SF3c (T). The Executive Officer's Office is looking around for some red cross (hospital apprentice) specialty marks for these Shipfit- ters !"
Dear Friends,
Copies of your most interesting paper have been delivered to me after having followed thru various stations. The news contained in them is always of great interest to one away from home and even tho delayed they are read with attention and pleasure. It is like talking to friends and relatives to have such a publication at hand. You have done a wonderful job of keeping people so far separated in touch with each other and I am sure they are as grateful as I am.
It is with sadness that I read of the loss of the lives of many friends and former schoolmates. Please convey to the families of these, thru your paper, my deepest sympathy. At least they may find comfort in the thought that the sacrifice was not in vain.
I shall always look forward with pleasure to each new edition of the "JEEP."
Cordially yours, Arthur Brannen.
Thank you so much for your let- ter, Arthur, it was mighty fine to hear from you. Your expression of sympathy is sincerely appreciated.
Germany, May 8, 1945.
Dear Editors,
To date I have received three JEEPS. I find that your swell paper has about all that a fellow can ask in the line of home town news. Although I have been receiving the Bugle from the other end of town, I am really interested in Cochituate news. The Bugle has been pretty much of a success as far as I'm con- cerned. It has kept me informed about what some of the other Way- land boys are doing and where they are. But with all the enjoyment it has offered me, the names of the town are slowly becoming strange to me. After all, it has been quite some time since I lived there. Now that you have started a newspaper in our end of town, I am able to keep tabs on the fellows with whom I have become acquainted more recently. Yes, it sure is wonderful to hear, or should I say read, the news of my home town, Cochituate. Thanks a million for giving me the JEEP. (I don't think I'm alone, I imagine that all the rest of the fellows feel the same way.)
There is only one thing that I wish you would do for me. Could you send me Sonny Stewart's ad- dress ? It has been a long time since I heard from him, and I would like to drop him a line.
I am now waiting-for what I don't quite know. Maybe a furlough to the States, I sure hope so. Then again I might wind up in the Pacific or here in the ETO as occupation for a few months-who knows!
Well, that's all for now, I just wanted you folks to know how much I appreciate what you have done for me and all the rest of us fellows over here by giving us a home town newspaper of our own.
Good luck and best wishes, Joseph Starrett.
Mighty glad to hear from you, "Joe." Sonny Stewart is home for a few days and we have asked him to write to you.
Pvt. William Perry and Pfc. Wil- fred Perry of Rice Road are home on furloughs. Bill has been in Camp
(Continued on Page 5)
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The Cochituate Jeep
Chit-Chat Column (Continued from Page 4)
Blanding, Fla. and at different times he has seen Russ Bowles and Day- ton Nelson and he has been with his pal, Ken Wilson. He is home for 21 days and he expects to go to Cali- fornia. Pfc. Will is home for a well earned 30 days. He was in Germany with Hodges' 1st Div. After being wounded in Germany he was flown to Paris where he was treated for several days at the 102nd General Hospital. There were many Ameri- can P.O.W.'s at that hospital and he said he was treated just as well as they were and that was pretty swell. He then flew to England and after several weeks of hospitalization he sailed ,on the Equatinia and had a great trip across with the best of treatment. Two weeks later he caught sight of the bright lights of the. U. S. A. From New York he was sent to Camp Edwards and then home.
At one time in Germany he went for four weeks not being able to take his clothes off. At the first opportunity, his boots and every- thing else came off and were hung out an open window. Another time, while he was in Germany, he was with a group who liberated some American P.O.W.'s. He said it was one of the greatest thrills he has ever had to see those fellows run to you crying, and kiss you. His men gave the prisoners just about every- thing they had, first of all, cigar- ettes.
It has been two years since Bill and Will have seen each other, so they celebrated. Bill honors the JEEP by writing this letter to his brothers.
Hi, Bab, Des, Fran and Norman,
I wish you had been here for our celebration. Will and I had a great get-together after the "long-time- no see." We took off from Devens where I picked up Will and we went to Waltham where we devoured two huge, great big, juicy steaks that are so hard to get. After our meal we started back to Framingham to see my friend Ken Williams. There we had no steak but from there on with all the rest of our friends it was a toast to our home coming. After many toasts we started back in the furlough car, Will was behind the wheel but not for long because sud- denly a post popped right up in the middle of the road. Bang! that was the end of the furlough car and the [ nice, too!
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