In The Service Now-This Day In Norwood History-February 14, 1944

Edward J. Smith Injured in Action In Pacific Area

Mother Advised Son Was Wounded On January 24

Seriously injured in the Pacific theatre of war. Sergt. Edward J. Smith, 27, son of Mrs Annie Smith of 26 St George Avenue, South Norwood, is recuperating in a base hospital according to a telegram received by his mother from the war department.

Sergt. Smith was injured somewhere in the Pacific area on Jan. 21 according to the telegram but, is making satisfactory progress. The telegram was the second one received by Mrs Smith from the, war department, the first, received a little over a year ago, informed Mrs. Smith that her son, Peter, had been lost in action.

Sergt. Edward Smith is a real veteran of the present war, having been in the service for over three years and on active overseas duty for the past 26 months He is a veteran of the campaign at Guadalcanal, New Guinea. New Caledonia, Munda, and has been to Australia.

He graduated from Norwood High School in 1936 and has another brother, Sergt. Anthony Smith, who is now stationed somewhere in Texas, and a second brother, Private Paul Smith of the Marine Corps, stationed at, Parris Island A sister, Miss Stacia Smith, is about to enter the Army as a nurse.

Under separate cover, Mrs. Smith was the recipient of a printed form from the government on which she may send to her hospitalized son a five-word, radio message of cheer and com-, fort. When the Free Press reporter called on Mrs Smith last f night the family had decided to send the following. “We are thinking of you ”

Now a Captain

Lt. Duncan Cushing, Rosemary Street, Norwood, has been promoted to Captain at Freeman Army Air Field, Seymour, Indiana. He is an operations officer at the Field.

Off To Graduate

The members of the Chemical Warfare School 9th Advanced Course will complete their four-week training tomorrow at Edge-wood Arsenal, Md
Some of the subjects studied by the officers attending the course were protective clothing, decontamination, treatment of gas casualties, and Chemical Warfare materiel and tactics.

Upon returning to their stations these officers will serve as unit gas officers and chemical warfare instructors for their organizations.

Among the officers graduating was 1st Lt. Maxmillan Rabinovitch who lives at 923 Washington Street, Norwood.

Before entering the Service he was employed in a Laboratory at Winslow Bros. & Smith Co., Norwood.

From Danny Hayes

A letter from Sgt. Daniel Hayes written “somewhere at sea” has been received by Mr. Ernest Lab-don, Bigelow Block.

Danny writes, “Feeling fine and everything going o. k. Have left North Africa Am now on the high seas again heading for my destination. I am sure seeing a lot of this world.

As you know, always liked to travel and still do. I enjoyed North Africa very much. Due to rigid censorship, I have said all that is permissable.”

Is Chief Yeoman

Henry M Weiss, formerly advertising manager of the Norwood Free Press, has been prompted to Chief Yeoman at his station in the Pacific, Overseas for twenty months, Weiss is a member of the Seabees

Is Transferred

A-C John Donahue of Neponset street has been transferred from his station at Maxwell Field, Alabama, to Albany, Georgia

Old Home Week

Lt.r Francis B. Morrison writes about, a regular home town week at his station in England recently. He says:

“Wednesday night I had just finished dinner at mess and was putting on my hat and coat when I heard a voice behind me to the effect that I was familiar to the speaker. Sure enough, John Chu-het, now a lieutenant and stationed here with another staff section We had an old home week—then and there.

“Then this morning I picked up my copy of Yank, the Army weekly, and upon page 17 of the January 30th issue I spotted down in the lower left corner an item which read as follows ‘In Norwood, Massachusetts, John F. Reynolds, the school janitor, beat several other candidates for election to the School Board.’

“This item is in the section of Yank entitled News from Home and contains news from Home and contains news from the entire 48 states.”

Lt. Charles Diggs Is Visitor Here

Lt. Charles W. Diggs, son of the late Charles T. Diggs, paid a visit to his Norwood relatives last Friday while on leave. He is a graduate of Norwood High School, class of 1937, and has just received his wings from the Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama.

After a short visit with his mother in Roxbury, Lt. Diggs will leave to begin new pilot duties with a medium bombardment squadron.

Returns To Florida

Cpl. William Johnson of Second Street has returned to his station at Miami Beach, Florida, after spending a short furlough at his home.

Sgt. Carl Donovan, Day Street, was at home early this week from his Army station off the coast of Maine.

Home From Pacific

Sgt. Philip McKeown, Fulton Street, is spending a furlough at his home after being away for two years. He has been with the Marines in the Pacific area.

Lt. Robert Griflin, U.S.A.A.F , is spending a leave at his home on Church Street from Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

P. A. C. Martin Lydon is on furlough at his home on Railroad Avenue from his training field in Chicago.

From South Dakota

John N. R Malacaria was home for the wedding of his brother, being here for a two-week furlough from his Army Air Force station in South Dakota His home is at 1360 Washington Street.

Pvt. Robert W. Griffin of Charles Street has returned to his station in Iowa after spending a few days at his home.

James Garner of the U. S. Coast Guard spent the weekend at his home on Bellevue Avenue from his station in Maine.

Pvt. Robert Griffin is spending a furlough here from his specialized training program, at Grinnell College.

Has Week’s Leave

Pfc. Jane Billingham, USMC (WR), has been spending a week’s leave at her home on Walpole Street, coming from her station in New River, North Carolina.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)