USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cochituate > Cochituate Jeep, 1945-1946 (World War II servicement) 1945-1946 > Part 16
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The Misses Eunice Peck, Eloise Parrish, Betty Still and Virginia Becherer have been spending a few days at the Apex Cottage in East- ham, Mass.
Miss Lorraine Murphy of Nor- wood is visiting her grandmother, Mrs. M. A. Loker, of East Plain St.
Mrs. Leland Robinson, Leland "Skippy" Jr., and Miss Helen Hawks of Washington, D. C., Mrs. Robin- son's niece, are leaving Sunday for a week's vacation at Milo, Maine.
Mrs. Richard Bishop left on Mon- day to attend the graduation exer- cises of her husband, Dick, from the Judge Advocate School in Michigan.
Congratulations, Dick, and best of luck !
Jackie Tivnan is being kept busy these vacation days. He is a bus boy at Abner Wheeler's, and during his spare time he plays ball with the Junior Legion baseball team.
The Anzivino's Walnut Hill Dairy welcomed a new Holstein heifer calf on July 7, 1945.
Tommy Bowles is one of the busi- est men in town. Between painting the trimmings and shingling his house, he has everyone wondering which he'll finish first. In his leisure hours after dark, he chases skunks away so he can keep his chickens.
Benny Johnson, Jr., caught a 7-1b. bass up at Lake Boone last week. The big catch is being mounted so all you fellows will see it when you get back.
Mrs. David K. Tomer from Pitts- burg, Penn., is visiting her sister, Mrs. Grace Crimmin. Mrs. Tomer's husband, who is a Lt. in the Navy, is somewhere in the Pacific.
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The Cochituate Jeep
Chit-Chat Column
Anthony Romano, S 1/c, wrote in a letter to his mother: "On the tenth of June around six. P. M. we were attacked by a Jap plane. The first one to fire was a gun from another L.S.T. in back of us. Then everyone joined in. The chance the Jap had of coming thru that lead was very slim but he managed to circle the stern of our ship and was headed for the bow when our gun crew let loose and made a few holes in the plane. The plane made a short right turn and just missed a cargo ship. The excitement was over then but many of the fellows still had shaky knees and empty stomachs. Well, that's one less Jap we have to worry about. It certain- ly was a big surprise to hear I won a bond. I never was that lucky be- fore. Thank the folks for me."
We have received your thank-you letter for the bond, Tony! Good luck to you !
From Ralph Snell, S 2/c, the JEEP received a letter thanking us for all his JEEPS. He wrote, "I've saved all of the copies of the JEEP so that I can look up the places where the fellows are stationed When I do hit different ports I can look thru the JEEP and see if there are any of the fellows stationed there." Ralph spent a leave at home recently and was assigned to a new ship, the U.S.S. Quick, when he re- ported back.
Thanks for your letter, Ralphie, we'll be looking for that "scuttle- butt" you wrote about.
We had a letter from Richard Dew, MoMM 1/c, this week saying how much he enjoys the JEEP. He said, "The picture and the writing of my son made me very happy, also a little homesick."
Your son is a real "JEEPER" and we hope you'll be home with him soon. We certainly appreciated your letter, thanks a lot.
Another letter that everyone will be glad to read in the Library is from Russ Thomas. After two years out in the So. Pacific on submarine duty, he hopes to be home soon.
We hope so too, Russ! Don't forget to come to Cochituate-just as if you would! Many thanks for your nice letter and best of luck.
Here is a letter written to his Mom by Dayton Nelson. In part it goes : "I haven't received any mail since I left Meade except for the JEEP. That swell little paper has followed me all the way from Camp Rucker. Please give the editors my new address so that it won't lose any time getting here. I am in accord- ance with the rest of the fellows in the service when I say it is the best paper I have read for news and gos- sip, and wouldn't want to have any more delay in getting it than neces- sary. * * It may interest you to * know that I have gained back eight lbs. I hope that I lose it again when I start training again."
Thanks for the complimentary words of the JEEP. Watch that waist line, Dayton !
In edition No. 11 of the JEEP we did an awful job on Gus Selvitella's name and we inadvertently chris- tened a man George when his cor- rect name is Irving L. Dame, Jr.
Another error was noted in that the name of Mrs. Hazel Taylor was omitted among the five gold star mothers of World War II who were initiated into membership of the Auxiliary to Charles H. Alward Post 133, A. L., at Legion Hall.
Hurry up and get home, fellas ! For you Isaak Waltons we are hap- py to tell you that many of the lakes and ponds of the County have been stocked by the State. Those streams in our neighborhood are: Dudley Pond, None Such and Hurd Ponds. Sudbury River is another fine fish- ing ground.
Attention Corporal McSweeney ! That young lady is still waiting for the wings you promised her.
To Lt. Bob Keith: There are a number of "master-mind associates" with plans of how to dispose of the bond when you come back !
Well, fellows, it actually does hap- pen! Here I am back in the old home town only three weeks after
my outfit received its movement orders in Giessen, Germany. We convoyed to LeHavre, turned in excess equipment during our four day stay in the assembly area there and then took the boat for the good old U.S.A. We received a rousing welcome in the Port of New York- a band, Red Cross ladies with milk and doughnuts and beautiful Amer- ican girls were there to greet us. After a stay of one night in Kilmer where Uncle Sam's Army surprised everyone with profuse cordiality and a sizzling steak dinner the members of my company went their divergent ways and I to Fort Devens. In less than twenty-four hours time that precious piece of paper granting thirty days of freedom was in my hands. Don't give up hope, boys, for it can happen just like that.
The home town hasn't changed very much in appearance. However, its atmosphere is a little more peace- ful than usual for all the energy and enthusiasm of the younger genera- tion is noticeably missing. There are no ball games on Sunday and the crowd down on the Main Street is either older or younger than most of us in the service. My wife and I went swimming up at the town bath- ing beach and I didn't see anyone that I knew. Nevertheless, I have seen Sonny Neale, who comes up from Rhode Island on week-ends, saw Reed Gerald going up Main Street in his car, and have had a chat with Sandy Hardy who has been recently discharged from the Navy. Meeting and seeing these old friends brought back many pleasant memories of our previous associa- tions.
The peaceful security of Cochitu- ate is a great healer of war nerves. The quiet contented air which pre- vails is a gratifying contrast to the upheaval and destruction of Ger- many and the liberated countries.
Here is hoping that the day will soon come when Japan goes the way of all tyrannies and all of us will be home once again.
Bob Scotland
"Wit's end need not mean faith's end."
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The Cochituate Jeep
Wins War Bond
NAVY
ALFRED (Red) PERODEAU MOMM 1/c, serving in the Admiral- ty Isles with the SeaBees. The ex- bass-catching champion of Dudley Pond, who has been succeeded by little Red.
Town News
Miss Betty Wood has started the Red Cross Swimming Classes at Dudley Pond. If anyone wishes to enroll they should do so this week. The schedule is as follows: Junior Life Saving 9:00 to 10:00, Swim- mers 10:00 to 10:30, Intermediates 10:30 - 11:00, Beginners 11:00 - 11:30. Any Adults who are interested in taking lessons please see Miss Wood. If there are enough inter- ested a class will be held.
The funeral of Dr. J. Chester Moncrieff, 69, retired New Bedford optometrist and former Florida real estate operator, who died Tuesday, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Ed- ward F. Dammers of Roycroft lane, took place Friday afternoon at the Gibbs Funeral Home. Rev. Dr. David M. Angell, pastor of the Cochituate Methodist Church, offici-
ated at the services, with Mrs. Ernest W. Schleicher at the organ. Mrs. Wilfred Celorier sang "Lead Kindly Light" and "Face to Face." Interment was in Lakeview Ceme- tery, in charge of the Gibbs Funeral Service.
Mr. and Mrs. L. Frank Perkins and Mr. H. H. Vayo spent a few days visiting friends in Bradford, N. H., and then went on to West Thornton, N. H.
Mr. Charles E. Buswell of Main Street visited his father in Exeter, Maine, who was ninety years old on July 4th. Mr. Buswell's father split seven cords of wood last winter and wheeled it into the shed this spring. He also has a fine vegetable garden.
Mr. and Mrs. Madison Bent re- turned Sunday from a very enjoy- able week's vacation spent at New- found Lake.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Morrell and "Teddy" are at York Beach, Maine, for a week.
Ernest H. Damon, Jr., is now employed at the Kendall Hotel, Framingham. He furnishes the music for the evenings.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hallenbrook and their daughter of East Com- monwealth Road, also Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hallenbrook spent last week at York Beach, Maine.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Townsend and Mrs. Sadie Fiske leave on Mon- day for a two weeks' stay at "Gull Cliff" cottage, York Beach, Maine. Mrs. Ernest Damon of Main Street.
Servicemen's Column
Gen. Courtney Hodges, Comman- der of the First Army, recently com- mended the 994th Treadway Com- pany of Engineers of which Cpl. Elwin Potter of Woodland Road is a member. He praised the Company for its part in the relentless drive to the Rhine, the brilliant bridgehead operation at Remagen and the re- duction of the Ruhr pocket.
During one of the early bridging operations while the conquest of Normandy was still in its indecisive stage, the outfit put in a Treadway pontoon bridge three miles ahead of the Infantry.
In the battle for Aachen, the 994th was thrown into the line as Infan- try. A trio of notable "firsts" stud the 994th brilliant record. It built the first Allied bridge across the Seine, the Meuse (Namur) and the Inde (inside Germany). All of the above operations were continuously under fire.
VICTOR BRIDGE
3378 H INN
254 994
This picture was taken on the bank of the Rhine. One of the soldiers is Elwin Potter who helped build this bridge which is 1370 ft. long and is the longest tactical bridge in the world.
Cpl. Potter has sent his family many souvenirs from Germany which were taken from the homes of some high Nazi officials.
A first anniversary mass was cele- brated at St. Stephen's Church, Framingham, on July 3rd for Cpl. J. Arthur Roust who died in action on Saipan. No doubt many of you remember him when his family lived on Pemberton Road several years ago.
Arthur Dooley, USN, a former resident and popular clerk at Ben- nie's drug store, spent a few days of his leave visiting with friends in town.
Pfc. Norman Moore of the 29th Div., 9th Army, was among the men of the division to receive the award of Presidential Citation. As souven- irs for his mother, he sent a German officer's sword and a rifle.
Malcolm H. Nicholson, whose name appeared in the last issue of the JEEP as a new name for our Honor Roll, was inducted with the Natick contingent, though he has resided in our town.
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The Cochituate Jeep
STORY
(Continued from Page 1)
Aachen, then slashed fiercely into "The Line', we opened. We HAD to, they-our soldiers-who were coming back in growing numbers, needed every bit of aid that an American Hospital could give-so, we opened.
"From the lowest buck private, to the 'Old Man' himself, we worked. Union Hours ? Quitting by the clock ?- YOU know the the answer, 12 hours-18 hours-24 hours-as long as we were needed, we did whatever we could. Reminds us a bit of an old, old story, of a woman who broke an Alabaster Box, and a Man, who said to His Followers, 'She Hath Done What She Could.' We all did what we could. Ours was not nearly so dramatic, or heroic as storming 'The Line', but very necessary. Ask the boys, as they came back-tired, dirty, muddy, cold, bloody-from Hurtgen Forest, or Duren, or Julich or the plains of Cologne, or the rushing, bloody, muddy Roer.
"There were the nights when we listened to a thunder which echoed and re-echoed thru the black vaults of the sky, as Halifax, and Lancas- ter, and Wellington, and Mosquito, roared over-high above our tents. "Target-Germany.'
"There were nights when one, or two, or half a dozen planes circled above us, the roar of their motors different, some way. We had learned this about airplanes, there were two kinds, 'ours' and 'theirs'. These were not ours, and we watched the red fingers of tracers search them out, or we heard the ear-shattering crash of our '90's', as the A.A. got in their licks.
"We may forget many things but one thing we shall always remem- ber. The ghostly streamer of light in the sky, the nerve-shattering, ear- filling, air-shaking vibration of V-1 as it followed its deadly, relentless course above, or stopped short-or dropped on us, or nearby. Who can put into words the fearful eternity of waiting, between the absolute quietness when the horrible roar of the engine ceased, and the tremen- dous concussion, when we breathed -again, and said fervently, 'Thank God, THAT one didn't get us.' Then the long, long months when daily we wondered if the NEXT one would be IT. The strained anxious faces as we carried on will never be for-
Wins War Bond
C. DOUGLAS SCOTLAND, HA 1/c Home from 15 months of duty in the European area. Someone in England is saying, "Where, oh, where has my little dog gone?" Do you know, Douggie ?
gotten. Our fellowship the greater, and the more enduring because of the dangers we shared in those months.
"A few glimpses, now, as we re- member Fayenbois, Thanksgiving morning when we wakened to the tolling of the nearby church bells, as they rang in solemn memory of their innocent dead, victims of V-1. - The fog that clamped down December 16-impenetrable, then the 17th, and uneasy news over radio, Von Runstedt, the Break- Through !- then the 18th, and that grey-wave coming closer, and closer. The rumors that flew-and the con- crete fact, Leige is threatened- Namur - now Dinant ! How we prayed for a clear day, for a chance to use our planes ! December 24th. A long, hard dav, the increasing threat of the breakthrough. Relax- ing a little as night fell. That Christmas Eve thinking of home, of loved ones, of the family circle,
'back there.' Of Christmas trees, and Holly, and Christmas Carols- then the heavens were split apart, and almost before the enemy had disappeared into the cloudless, moonlit sky, A and D, and the O.R. were jammed with our own. A few we took over to Henri Chapelle- where they shall lie till that great Day. A few went back HOME, back to God's Country. The rest healed, and went back to their duties. We carried on. Christmas Day, finally sunshine, and clear, cold skies, and between our duties, we watched countless dog fights. We saw burning planes. We heard 'beaucoup' ack-ack. Spent flack or machine-gun bullets fell around us, but that Christmas Day, the t.de of battle turned, and the Bulge started to recede. Christmas Day, 1944, will never be forgotten by the men- bers of the sixteenth.
"The six weeks of snow, the bitter fighting, the frozen wounded who poured in, the camouflaged tanks that went up. The Bulge becoming smaller and smaller, then bulging the other way, into Germany.
"The coming of spring. The beauty that began to emerge from our mud hole. The apple trees be- ginning to leaf, then to bloom. Apple trees will always remind us of those orchards in Normandy, each tree with its fox hole, and the litter of battle.
"Then, our boys go thru 'The Line.' In swift succession comes Remagen. We're across the river. They race on toward the Elbe. The link up. Rumors from Germany radio stations-the few that were left, that Germany had surrendered, this was the 7th of May. Then- yes THEN, 8th May, it is over. Ever since The Rock, since Devens, since the 'Edmund B. Alexander,' since Oulton Park, since Penley Hall, since Southampton, since the 'Nieu Hollande,' since Utah Beach, since the cow pasture at Lison, since Enghien, Yes, all that time we had waited and now we hear the news, It's over-over here.
"We said, 'What next.'
"One clear Saturday in early June, as we busily went about our work, we had our answer-'ORDERS.' 'Clear out all patients from the hos- pital within 24 hours.'
"Now we leave Fayenbois-but certain memories have become a part of us. Certain experiences have left their mark which time will never erase, no, not so long as we shall live."
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The Cochituate Jeep
Servicemen's Column
Sgt. Timothy Meagher was re- cently transferred from Austria to Germany. He spent one of his fur- loughs in Paris. He says he receives the JEEP regularly and hopes they keep coming.
Capt. Robert C. Tillson was awarded the Purple Heart posthu- mously. The award was sent to Mrs. Robert C. Tillson, the former Wilma Thompson, who has been visiting at the Tillson home.
Donald H. Baker, So.M. 3/c, was home for a short time last week. Donald Matthews, Rd.M. 3/c, of Cleveland, Ohio, visited here with him.
Robert Lewis, So.M. 2/c, was home on a short leave this week. He is now stationed in Philadelphia.
Dick Biggins, S 2/c, surprised his mother when he arrived home on her birthday, July 4th. He had a 10-day leave but he had to return sooner than he had planned.
Raymond F. Snell, S 1/c, of Maid- en Lane, left San Francisco for overseas.
Donald Stultz, S 1/c, recently shipped out from California for overseas duty.
1st Lt. Emory Felch, a former resident of No. Natick, who is sta- tioned at El Paso, Texas, as a Search Light Inspector, and on leave of absence for two weeks, was call- ing on friends the past week. His home now is in Brattleboro, Vt.
S/Sgt. George A. Hamilton of Wallace Road is still in Germany with the Army of Occupation. He has been in the service 46 months, overseas 26 months and has six bat- tle stars. His brother, Walter R. Hamilton, S.C. 2/c, is at a P. T. base in the Philippines. He has had 10 months' service on P. T. boats in the Channel Islands of the E.T.O. He wants to know why he hasn't been getting his JEEP. He misses it very much.
Pvt. Gordon Genthner has been spending a furlough with his mother on East Commonwealth Road. He left on Thursday for Wichita Falls, Texas.
Dick Biggins who was home on leave was called back immediately to the receiving station, Norfolk, Va.
Bob Hardy is having his boot training at Sampson, N. Y. He likes it very much and is not sorry he joined the Navy.
Lt. Wm. L. Hardy, U.S.N.R., is now Captain of the U.S.S. Dover which is an armed guard training ship for officers and men. He is in the Pacific waters.
Pvt. Patti Brooks, WMCR, has been assigned permanently to Cher- ry Point, N. C.
T/Cpl. John L. Naphen is under observation at the hospital at Camp Myles Standish, Taunton, being treated for a recurrence of that stomach ailment.
Red Perodeau writes from the Admiralties that baseball has come to the SWP as the boys have made a diamond and they all enjoy play- ing at night.
Cpl. Fred Perry, recently trans- ferred to the infantry, has now re- joined the Harbor Craft outfit.
Fitz Stevens writes from Essen- stein in Germany that he'll be happy when the day comes when he can get home and sit down to a real meal served by the ladies of the Community Methodist Church.
Don't say that those mail clerks in the service don't do everything possible for the mail to get through to our boys. Here's just one example of their efforts: In Sept. '44, Wen- dell Marston wrote to Bill Scotland of the engineers somewhere in Europe. It travelled to no less than five forwarding stations, thence back to India, where Wendy was sta- tioned, and then home to Cochituate. It arrived in Cochituate on July 5th, and was sent to Wendy at his base in Great Falls, Mont., a matter of 10 months on to its destination, and back to the addressor. The envelope was so covered with stamps of the various outfits that the address was fairly obliterated.
Having left Vancouver, Wash., Pvt. Dayton Nelson has now arrived on the island of Oahu, in the Hawaiian group. He remarks about the beautiful scenery there.
Capt. Fran Gallagher was pleas- antly surprised on June 27th by a visit from Richie Groton and Bill Scotland. At the time they arrived Fran was reading a copy of the JEEP, so they all had a peek at it and read it from cover to cover.
Pfc. Sylvester E. Landry of the 1253rd Engr. Bn. says his is one con- tinuous life of packing and unpack- ing. He says it's like many of the circuses, on the move most of the
time, staying about two weeks in the various towns of Germany.
Lt. Fannie L. Ashley, WAC, has been assigned to the training center at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, as an instructor in the clerks' course.
David Allen wrote to us from England to thank everyone for his Bond and his papers. Best of all he said that he was leaving England shortly and expects to sail for the States.
That's the best news we've heard of you for a long time, Dave, hope we see you soon.
Ralph Lumley, S 2/c, having com- pleted boot , training at Sampson, N. Y., is home on leave. You've put on weight, Ralph, and look fit as a fiddle !
Bill Marston seems to have things coming his way of late. In the last issue of the JEEP he was a lucky winner of a War Bond; and this week his wife was pleased to receive word that he has been promoted to first lieutenant.
Lt. Francis Wilson is back in Cairo, having completed an inspec- tion trip in the Middle East. He was in Abadan on the Persian Gulf where the temperature gets up to 180 degrees, known to be the hottest place in the world.
Sgt. Hub Phylis, who has been stationed at Topeka, Kansas, is now on his way to California, thence on to a base in the SWP.
"Buddie" Kneeland, AM 1/c, after having spent several years at vari- ous bases in California, is now on Maui Island in the Hawaiian group. He has received three copies of the JEEP, enjoys the news of the boys whom he knew, and hopes to get the succeeding ones.
The Shufelt family has been very busy and on the move since Lyle arrived home. They spent a few days in Canada visiting relatives. A buddy of his, Sgt. Jimmie Farrell, Jr., of So. Natick, a Marine, is also on leave and he has been visiting with Lyle. He told of his experi- ence and thrill in meeting his father, a SeaBee, in the South West Pacific. He made the contact thru the Red Cross.
Steve McEnroy is now home for good. We're happy to announce that he has received an honorable discharge from the Army, after serving in the European theatre for many months.
Tom Heslin has been spending his leave at his home on Commonwealth Road East.
The Cochituate
Jeep
Conveyor Of News From The Folks At Home To Their Service Men And Women Everywhere
No. 13
July 27, 1945
Air Force Day
The Selectmen of the Town of Wayland have proclaimed
that Wednesday, August 1, 1945, be Air Force Day and have appealed to the citizens to solemnize it in behalf of the victorious power for freedom which is that of the Army Air Forces.
THREE BONDS THIS ISSUE
Since the midsummer weather has been so disagreeable, together with many vacationists away, the JEEP has had the least number of Bonds to offer since the idea was started. However, from the talk around town the folks here at home will soon get on the ball, as most every one is anxious that each one of you from Cochituate has a bond, in apprecia- tion of your sacrifices.
The donors in this issue are :
Mr. and Mrs. James I. Smith of Hawthorne Road.
Two bonds from the Shore Acres neighborhood, donations for which were collected by Messrs. Richard Burchill and George C. Lewis and Mesdames LaFavour and Adamson, who also contributed. Other con- tributors were Mesdames Sullivan, Hampstead, Cahill, Brooks, Cour- chine; Turner, Willets, Rideout, Hanley, Swain, Masse, Kohler, Matthews, O'Brien, Marshall, Le- Drew, Snow, Sparks, the Misses Lillian and Emily Dixon, Clapp, and Messrs. Lynch, O'Leary, Stevens, Dusseault, Pelletier, Howard, Koh- ler and Dr. Coffin.
The JEEP staff appreciates all that is being done to put its idea across to the townspeople; and the winner of the bond feels it's like "pennies from heaven."
ROBERT G. LEWIS, SOM 2/c who, like all other servicefolks, makes every minute count when home, paused long enough to draw the names from the glass bowl. He sends this message to you wherever you may be : "Good luck to every one of you. I'm glad to be home and able to draw the winners of the bonds. Congratulations ! Lew."
Legion News
Three Big Nights-The Annual Carnival will be held July 26, 27, 28. Come one, come all, enjoy an eve- ning of fun and entertainment right here at home on the old Cochituate Ball Grounds.
All net proceeds go to Charles H. Alward Post, A. L., to be used in the many public spirited enterprises of the American Legion right here in town. It merits your attendance at least one of the above nights.
MAIL ADDRESS P. O. Box 70, Cochituate, Mass.
Tuesday evening, July 17th, the regular meeting was very animated, much interest being shown in plan- ning for the coming Carnival. A new committee was appointed to look after the interests of members who are ill and if in need of hos- pitalization to give necessary infor- mation and assistance on veteran's rights and privileges of medical attention.
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