USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cochituate > Cochituate Jeep, 1945-1946 (World War II servicement) 1945-1946 > Part 4
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From somewhere in the South Pacific comes this item from S 2 c Anthony Romano: It has been a month since I received any mail. Someone sent me the Cochituate Jeep News and 1 enjoyed that more than anything I got since I've been in the Navy. I saw a lot of boys' names that I had lost track of since the war started. The boys are spread out all over the map. By now some of them must have seen quite a bit of action. He al- so wants Dar Bleasdale to answer his letters. He has lost Dar's ad- dress.
"Smoky," 03 German
shepherd dog owned by the Starret family of Commonwealth road is among our heroes. He has been a member of the K-9 Corps for almost three years. He is now stationed some- where overseas.
Honorable Discharge Emblem Design
A new honorable discharge em- blem, a cloth device to be worn on service uniforms above the right breast pocket, has been adopted by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard.
Servicemen's Column
Pfc. Russell H. Hooker is now in a hospital in Germany. He was wounded in the leg.
Joe McEnroy, M.A.M. 2/c, who is now in India has sent home to his sister Nancy some very interesting dolls, one from each country he has been in.
Pvt. Robert Merritt returned to Fort Ord, Calif., last week after enjoying a sixteen day leave with his family on Castle Gate Ext. He expects to be sent overseas short- lv. Bob said if any of his old friends would like to write to him he'd be more than n'eased to an- swer the'r letters. (His address is; Pvt. Robert Merritt, 31435335-Co- B. 5th Regeiment-A.G.F.R.D. No. 2, Fort Ord, Calif.
6
The Cochituate Jeep
High School News
To all our young people every- where, I send my best wishes.
MILDRED A. HENDERSON.
Hello, boys and girls! Cochituate School is still going strong but we miss you very much. Grade 8 is just now struggling over promis- sory notes and interest. They enjoy (?) these subjects as much as you did in the old happy days. Take care of yourselves and come to see us when you get back.
Your 8th Grade Teacher,
MARY KERR
Many thanks to The Jeep for this opportunity to say "Hello" to all the Cochituate people in the service. The best of good luck to each and every one and may it be only a short time before you are all home again.
JANIE C. FOSTER
March 1, the boys of the Senior Class heard a talk by Chief Specialist Officer W. Niles, U. S. Navy Recruiting Service, who dis- cussed Eddy tests and Naval Com- bat Aircrewman training.
The French classes have greatly enjoyed the French newspapers which Thomas Garney sent home from his trip to Marseille.
The Seniors are in a quandry trying to decide who shall have the honor of furnishing caps and gowns. A representative from Burns Company of Boston came last week to display their stock. Edward Maley and Barbara
Cipo- letta modeled the "stunning crea- tions."
Bob Proctor has visited the school several times recently. He is a student at Worcester Tech. and has talked to some of the boys about the advantages of attending his present Alma Mater.
LETTER
(Continued from Page 1)
On my part what I wish with all my heart is the end of this tragedy, so that the least possible of your dear comrades pay of their life the sacrifice they made, when coming to our relief.
We have been very unhappy during the four years we had to live under the German occupation, but the few days we lived since your arrival made us forget the bad days past.
As all the men, and as all people, french people has its falts and qualities, but amongst its qualities there is one above all, it is its heart.
Four comrades who were amongst the troops entering in Paris the 25th of August will cer- tainly never forget this day.
Dear sir, it is with all my heart that I will express you how grate- ful, we French are to the American people to whom we ought to have recovered our freedom. To you I address my most kind and sincere remembrance.
I should be very pleased when everything is over, to have the pleasure to meet you again, so I should like to remain in contact with you. I hope this letter will find you in good health and I re- main, Dear sir,
Very sincerely yours, CH. GROUSSON.
Servicemen's Column (Continued from Page 4)
Bob Wright, who has been con- valescing in a naval hospital somewhere in the Pacific, reports that he is about ready to join his former unit again.
In the last issue of the Jeep, it was reported that Frank T. Smith was injured in England. This should be corrected: He was wounded in Germany and sent to a hospital in England, where he received treatment. His mother is happy to announce that he is able to be out again.
Sgt. Thos. F. Heslin, husband of the former Rachel Damon, is in England at the airbase of the 8th Air Force, attached to the chemical warfare branch of a fighter squad-
ron. He has been stationed in Eng- land for seventeen months.
Mrs. C. O. Baker has received word from her son Donald that he has received his rating as a Sound- man 3/c, USCG. His destination is unknown, though it is known he sailed several weeks ago.
Bobby Al1en of the Merchant Marines was home for a few days this week.
Cpl. Dick Bishop has returned to Fort McClellan, Alabama, after a brief furlough and he reports that it's 84 degrees in the shade down there.
Gerald Baker, Cox, is on his ship getting ready for action. He writes he received his first Cochituate "Jeep." He enjoyed it very much, and wants to be remembered to all his friends in the service, and to all at home.
Chaplain John McDonough, a former curate of St. Zepherin's Church was home on leave from Fort McClellan, Alabama, and was visiting his old friends in town.
Douglas Leonard of "Gold Mine in the Sky" and Minstrel fame, formerly of Wayland, was in town the other evening visiting his old friends. Doug has been in Miami, Florida, for the last six months but expects to be assigned to new duties.
Johnny O'Connell, of Cochituate Road, spent a few hours at home on Sunday before he left for fur- ther training in Missouri.
Pfc. Joseph C. Starret received a
big surprise when he walked into a canteen somewhere in Northern France and met Fred Perry. They spent the evening to- gether talking about Cochituate and made plans to meet Bernard Gallagher, who was doing M. P. duty in that town the next day.
Pfc. L. Reed Gerald and Cpl. Lyle Shufelt met somewhere in China recently. They are stationed near each other. Lyle expects to be home in June.
Thomas Garvey S 1/c wired his folks that he was leaving Charles- ton, S. C., and would not be home for a long time.
Our four Marines, Johnnie Pel- letier, Georgie Fullick, Charlie Smith, and Arthur Selvitella are all engaged in the battle of Iwo Jima.
7
The Cochituate Jeep
Town News
(Continued from Page 2)
Old Lizzie promptly obliged with backfire and as a result set the stuff on the ground ablaze. From the steps, Mrs. Keefe observed the fire and waved frantically. Smil- ing, Joe reached for the switch
key to shut off
the engine
SO that he could hear what were
all the distress signals
about. At that moment the fun began. The heat was on in earnest as the stuff ignited under the hood of the car and burst out in a beautiful blue blaze, like Christmas pudding covered with burning brandy. Joe hopped out yelling. "Fireman save my child!" Excitedly he grabbed a robe, and made a few lusty swipes at the blaze, which created such a breeze that the fire went out. Of course, by this time the alcohol had also burned out. Mrs. Keefe called the firemen not to come as Joe had blown the fire out. Lots of excite- ment-no damage done. Thus ends the story.
Jackie Blomgren and his father, both of whom are ardent sports en- thusiasts, worked diligently all win- ter building an ice boat. Last Sun- day they launched their new crea- tion out on the Dudley. And lo. today the boat was brought back home because there is no ice. Oh, those Fates!
When the boys get home, they will find a brand new orchestra ready to entertain them. A group of high school boys have got to- gether and rehearsals are being held in Bob Hardy's attic.
Mrs. Aubrey Meuse, Lake Path, has been entertaining her two sis- ters, Mrs. Mary Messinger and Mrs. Evelyn Thirault from Nova Scotia. Upon their return home they sent Mrs. Meuse a telegram with the only words "No Snow." They had remarked while here they had never seen so much snow in their lives.
There was a well attended Swed- ish "Smorgasbord" supper on Thursday evening at the Cochituate M. E. Church under the auspices of the Men's Club. After the sup- per there were moving pictures of "The World at War."
Edward Gorgette is employed at the Socony Station on Main street.
Charles Dusseault, who served forty years as a constable, has de- cided not to run for office again.
Mr. and Mrs. John Ferguson have welcomed into their family circle a third daughter, born at Leonard Morse Hospital, Natick., on February 27.
We on the home front give not three, but many rousing cheers to our popular postman, Victor Quirk, for the fine work he has been do- ing.
Mrs. Helen Lamarine, Pemberton road, is hoping to get her arm out of cast pretty soon. It was broken Thanksgiving time, but has had many complications since then.
Miss Irene Perry is enjoying herself at Palm Beach, Florida.
Mrs. Harold Taylor, accompanied by her daughter, Barbara, and grand-daughter, has arrived home from Lakeland, Fla., where she enjoyed a six weeks' stay in the sunny Southland.
The village blacksmith and checker player has been up to his old tricks. In the recent New Eng- land Checker Tournaments held in Poston, he won first prize in the Class B competition.
Miss Ursula McEnroy, Main street, is keeping busy these days with her studies while attending the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston.
Our well known police officer, Ernest H. Damon, is at present employed as a guard at the Ray- theon plant in Waltham.
Mrs. Sadie Cheltra of Sadie's Restaurant has returned from a two weeks' vacation.
At the Morrell home on Main street we note the four genera- tions: Mrs. Annie Bent who is en- joying her great-grandson, ""Teddy", Mrs. Margaret Morrell, Mr. Ken- neth E. Morrell, Jr. "Teddy" who was three years old in February is much interested in helping to care for the newest member in the house, John Bent Morrell, his
uncle.
4-H WEEK
This is 4-H Week back in the old home town. I suppose some of you (should I say it) boys and girls remember your days in 4-H. We are the 4-H Happy Knitters and we are having fun. Some of
us are nine years old and some of us are 13 years old. We are knitting an afghan to go to Cush- ing Hospital; that is the way we learn our stitches. Some squares are large, some square are small, some are knitted and some are
purled. Won't the boys have fun looking it
over and finding our
mistakes? Never mind, its all wool and good and warm. On Sat- urday we arranged our exhibit in Mrs. Gerald's window. We feel very proud. We have our afghan and then another afghan, one of us girls is making for her brother. We have a pair of Army sox one of the girls knitted for the Red Cross, a pair of ankle sox and one strip of a knitted rug. (Sorry,
Navy, we didn't get any navy yarn for sox). We also are very proud of one of our nine-year-olds, who has knitted a toe sock that will find its way to Cushing. We are carrying on and helping in our 4-H way.
The Happy Knitters: Frances Shufelt, president; Barbara Mun- sey, vice-president; Joan Cummin, secretary; Louise Taylor, treasurer; Beverly Shakliks, reporter; Lois Lumley, son leader; Frances Kane, game leader: Barbara Weeks, Clara Pettigrew, Helen Powers, Louise M. Beaton, leader; Mrs. C. O. Baker, assistant leader.
Servicemen's Column
Continued from Page Six
Mr. William Hardy, Sr., has been promoted from Commander to Chief Commander.
Joseph Lee Strafuss A.O.M. 3/c, received the 1st copy of the "Jeep" and enjoyed it very much. He wrote it was just like being home to read so much about the boys and the home town news. Joe is leaving Seattle, Washington, on March 7th for one week of electri- cal gun sight training and will then return for duty somewhere in the Pacific.
Douglas Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland, writes home "I get the copy of the "Jeep" and as they would say over here, " It's a wee smasher; in other words it is very good and interesting."
Robert A. Hooker, star clerk at Peck's Market and the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Hooker to enter the service, has enlisted in the Naval Reserves and expects to be called in about two weeks.
Continued on Page Eight
8
The Cochituate Jeep
Servicemen's Column
Continued from Page Seven
After several weeks, Mr. and Mrs. George Lewis received a letter from their son, Robert Lewis SoM. 3/c of the U.S.C.G., saying that he had arrived safely at his des- tination. Of course, he could not say where he is but he did mention that it was a very warm climate.
Richard Biggins, A. S. is now stationed at. Sampson Naval Base, in N. Y. Dick's folks hear from him quite often. He said that he may be home on leave in April.
Dick Kohler of the Merchant Marine is now on convoy duty
somewhere in the Atlantic.
Michael Zicius G.M. 3/c sent his wife, the former Mary Campbell, some real silk stockings from the South Pacific.
George Campbell told his folks in his last letter that he is now somewhere in Belgium.
Daniel MacLellan, a corporal in the U. S. Marine Air Corps, visited his sister Connie and his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Fair of West Plain Street, this week.
Pvt. Fitz Stevens after being sta- tioned at an Air Base Depot in England for a year has been trans- ferred to the infantry. (His new address iş‘
Pvt. Fitz Stevens if
11114224-T.G. 73 D.E.T. 99-A.P.O 551 - c/o Postmaster, N. Y., N. Y.)
Cpl. Albert Lawrence, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Lawrence of Harrison street, is expected home on furlough this week. Cpl. Law rence was in New Caledonia and Guadalcanal for over
While there he contracted malaria and was sent to Camp Wolters, Texas, to recuperate. After he left the hospital there, he re- mained on duty at the camp.
When Tom Garr 'y was home a week ago, he said 3 wished the playground was clear because he was all ready for football practice. Tom returned to Virginia after his short stay at home.
Cpl. Elliott Snow of the 618th Engs. is spending time in the hospital because of an accident while loading tanks in New Guinea.
Pfc. Norman A. Lowther is re- covering in the hospital from wounds received in action in Ger- many. He has been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge.
Lt. (sg) Robert E.
Keith, 59 West
Plain street, just received
this new rating and he is now stationed somewhere in the South Pacific.
Charles H. Alward Post No. 133, American Legion, received a let- ter from comrade George Bogren who is serving his country in
war for the second time with a rating of captain. The letter was written January : 30th and he said that he had just finished a few weeks in the hospital with jungle rot of the feet, and he is at present in New Caledonia awaiting reas- signment. He also said that it is hot, plus plenty of bugs and rain. However, there is a good beach; and in case anyone is in- terested Liquor is plentiful at $1.10 and $1.50 per bottle.
John Anzivino, Mo. M.M. 1/c, formerly of Cochituate, has re- covered from throat ailment and is back on duty at a naval base at Guam.
Phm. 2/c Maurice Robinson
was home on leave this week and has returned to duty at Dartmouth College.
Leland Robinson has been mov- ing around quite a bit and has received no mail for some time. He says he's looking forward to getting his baby's picture which his wife has sent to him. Lee must still be entertaining folks because he wrote home and asked there was any way of getting a harmonica to him.
Lt. Bob Mathews wrote home
for some teabags, not for him- self but for his Australian bride. She had never heard of or seen teabags.
Lt. (sg) Warren Pierce is ex-
a year. pected to come home from
Georgia as his father is ill at from
the Deaconess Hospital in Bos- ton.
Sympathy is extended to Lt. Roland Ashley Sand Pfc. Fannie Ashley, WAC, from their Cochit- uate friends on the death of their father.
Proud as a peacock is Com- pany B of the 211th Battalion at Camp Blanding, Florida. Recent- ly they presented a dayroom and orientation center for their men. It was designed and built by one of the men in the company but enjoyed by all. This room has had commendations and inspec- tions from all over the country. And why are we so proud, too? Because Commanding Officer of Co. B is none jother than Cap- tain Richard M. Francis of Com- monwealth road.
Pvt. Norman Moore has recently become a part of the 9th Army in Germany.
Sgt. Ralph and Pfc. Billie Wil- bur of the YD, somewhere in Ger- many, saw and talked with Bill Marston a few weeks ago, he also being in the YD. Ralph is in the Ordnance, while Billie is in the Quartermasters of the 26th Divi- sion.
A/C Herbert Schleicher is now stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas, where he is undergoing further training for combat duty.
Henry Revell, Baker 1/c, USNR, who has been in the Mediterran- ean for sometime past, is now in the Pacific area.
Pfc. Wallace E. Decker has re- covered from wounds received in action and has been returned from a hospital somewhere in France to join his former Infantry Division.
Pfc. Robert A. Moore is located in the Hawaiian Islands, having been there going on to a year.
S 2/c Robert Gladu has recently been moved from Norfolk to Camp Perry.
Everett C. Spear, CSF of the Sea Bees, is now enjoying himself learning the art of diving at a school in Camp Porks, Calif.
S/Sgt. George F. Jones is in charge of the mess hall at the Bedford Air Base.
Pfc. Bruce Morrell writes that at last his mail has caught up with him for the first time since Sept- ember and he received well over a hundred letters. He has left the hospital where he has been for nearly three months recovering
pneumonia and some bad trench feet, which he got while fighting in waist deep icy water for six days along a flooded river, in action in Germany with the 84th Division. He wrote he spent Thanksgiving Day holed up with a group 34 mile in front of the allied lines, completely surrounded by Germans, with no food or water and had been in soaking wet clothes for 2 weeks, but had a good Xmas dinner in the hospital, and he sure appreciated the bed and three meals a day.
Curtis M. Howland, husband of the former Helen Tufts, is now somewhere in the Admiralty Is- lands. He is a Sea Bee.
Sgt. Edwin Hillier of the 629th Medical Clearing Co. is now some- where in France.
TAYLAND PUBLIC LIBRATICIO
The Cochituate
Jeep
Conveyor Of News From The Folks At Home To Their Service Men And Women Everywhere
No. 4
March 23, 1945
MAIL ADDRESS P. O. Box 70, Cochituate, Mass.
"SMOKEY" STARRETT, 797
"Smokey" has been serving with the armed forces of the United States since 1942. Perhaps Smokey wouldn't be interested in reading the Jeep, but the Jeep is certainly glad to have a picture of him and to put him on our K-9 Honor Roll.
Frank T. Smith Robert J. Allen
See Page 3 Pot's Boiling Over
To Mother
Pill Scotland says letters from home come in a mixed-up order but however they come he likes to hear all the news from home. In his last letter he ended with the following poem which he said should be de- dicated to his mother.
You don't get any medals, Mom, For the job you have to do, Although you work much harder, You are brave, constant and true. Your fortress is just four brick walls, A ceiling and a floor.
You have to battle with your heart, That's what God made mothers for. You've struggled on all your life, No battle is too big for you,
You had many big decisions to make,
But always came smiling through.
You tried to be brave when I had to go,
Behind your smile was a tear,
In your dear heart you wanted to cry,
And I know it, mother dear. I still see your loving smile,
I feel your tender kiss,
I remember all the little things That I'm beginning to miss.
They should write your name on a scroll of fame,
In letters of purest gold, No honor could be too high for you, And your deeds that are seldom told. I somehow don't think they will ever know,
They don't seem to ever hear,
Of the millions of mothers there are like you
God bless you, mother dear.
For Honor Roll
Mary J. Witzell John B. Vespa Kenneth Wilson
Can You Top This?
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tillson, Commonwealth Road, have three members of their family commis- sioned officers. Two sons, Charles and Robert, are Captains, and a daughter, Chloe, a Lieutenant in the Army Nurses Corps. The family had a pleasant gathering a short time ago when Ena M. Tillson was enjoy- ing a vacation from her school duties in Barrington, R. I. Lt. Chloe E. Tillson was home from Fort Devens, and Capt. Charles B. Till- son and his son, Charles B., 3rd, were visiting from Brooklyn, N. Y.
Legion News
The American Legion has five new members from World War II. At the last election of officers Guer- ney Nichol was elected senior vice commander and Joseph Keefe as adjutant of the Charles H. Alward Post 133, Cochituate. We are in hopes that when all you fellows get back you wil make this your home and we can all get together and swap yarns.
You sure are.all doing a grand job and we are am proud of you. I know all the Vets of World War I in this Post are going to do all they can to help you fellows when you arrive home.
Five of our World War I members are in the armed forces again. Some of us feel as young as we did in 1917 but Uncle Sam says, "No," so we must stay home and keep the home fires burning and keep the "Jeep" rolling.
When the State Guard was organ- ized in Wayland, 14 members at the Post signed up and are still at it.
GUS
2
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
A dinner was served to the mem- bers of Pequot Council of Boy Scouts on Tuesday evening, March 13th, in the M. E. Church vestry, by a group of Scout mothers.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Merrill of Sunset Road celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary 011 March 14th. They enjoyed a dinner party in Boston.
There are two pigeon fanciers in town, Arthur Peck and Charles Baker. Charles is taking care of Gerald's pigeons while he is in the service, and raised two champions and won three trophies. Arthur has a roomful of trophies. Charles is trying to win as many for Gerald.
Cochituate Grange meetings are now being held in I. O. O. F. Hall, Wayland. Harold Tilton, Master, and John Columbus, Lecturer, hope to make their year a success. They have had "Guest Night" with a big public attendance. Last meeting's were a Valentine Party and "Boos- ter Night."
Mrs. Madison Bent entertained the Cochituate Knitting Club on Friday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Johnson and family spent Sunday at their sum- mer home at Lake Boon.
Arthur Peck has become a beach- comber at heart ever since he ac- quired a new seaside cottage at Eastham. He left for a long week- end on the Cape, returning on Tuesday.
Murray Stahl is planning to try the Navy test in a few weeks. Bet- ter hurry up and grow a little, Murray.
Mr. and Mrs. O. Mott, Main Street, entertained some friends at a birthday dinner party on Sunday evening.
For the first time since Decem- ber 19th the Cochituate fire fight- ers were called out. They responded to a grass fire near Henley's, Stonebridge Road, on March 18.
Our village blacksmith's tin Liz- zie had an unfortunate accident last week at the junction of Cochi- tuate Road and Concord Street in Framingham with a car coming
from Saxonville.
Although the car was plainly marked "Dodge Brothers" neither Jim nor Lizzie believed it and as a result Lizzie landed on her top with four wheels up and Jim landed on his back both feet up.
After a lame week Jim is feeling better and Lizzie still runs but her shape is terrible.
The Boy Scouts were out in force on Saturday, March 17, collecting waste paper. Scout Master George Fullick was in charge and Charlie Mann was on the job driving the truck.
The "Jeep" sales have added so much business at the news depot that Mrs. Gerald has been forced to add a new clerkette, Mrs. Genth- ner, Mrs. Cliff Shay's mother. The three charming widowed clerkettes are known as Gracie, Agnes and Bernice. They are ably assisted by Dicky Dew and "Merry" Hodge- man.
Miss Emma Dufresne is now able to sit up a little each day after being very ill most of this winter.
Thomas Tansey, 45, was found dead of natural causes at his home on Dudley road, March 16. He was buried from his brother's home in Roxbury, Mass.
CORRECTION
On the 4-H Happy Knitters. Mrs. Charles Baker, assistant leader in- stead of Mrs. C. D. Baker.
After being ill all winter, Chief Harry Craig is back on the beat once again.
The ice has disappeared from the pond and many bluebirds and robins have returned to the neighborhood. You can tell by the smell of the burning leaves and grass that spring fever has overtaken a few of the town folks. Before long the young- sters will have braved the still icy waters of the pond for that first swim. Spring is definitely here.
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