In The Service Now-This Day In Norwood History-February 27, 1943

Many friends and admirers of Tony Vallie, a popular young accordionist formerly featured with Wits Phalen’s orchestra will be glad to know he is now stationed in Miami, Florida. Although a former resident of Milford, he is very well known in Norwood and the vicinity where he often performed.

He was a member of Wits Phalen’s orchestra for four and a half years before enlisting last September.

He was sent to Camp Luna, New Mexico, after his induction at Fort Devens. After five weeks in New Mexico, he was transferred to Hamilton Field, California At the end of ten weeks when he was attached to the Air Transport Command, he was transferred to Miami, Florida, to attend the Embry Riddle School for a three months course in the maintenance of airplane engines.

Recently, Vallie met two local girls, the Okulovitch sisters from Morse Hill at the Sky Club in Miami They had a good time reminiscing about the old Friday night dances in Walpole at Blackbum Hall where he played. He writes that he plays accordion solos occasionally at several well-known clubs in Miami.

WILLIAM W CHENEY

CpI. William W Cheney, son of J Mr and Mrs Herbert L. Cheney of 1095 Washington Street, Norwood, is stationed with the Mannes at Cherry Point, North Carolina, in the 3rd Marine Air Wing Nineteen years old, he enlisted February 18, 1942.

In eight months, Cheney was promoted to Private First Class and was made a Corporal before his first anniversary in the service. He is now studying toward becoming a Lt.

Leonard E. Curran, H A. 2/c, of Lincoln Street is now training at ihe National Naval Medical Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, preparing to be a pharmacists mate, received basic training at Newport, Rhode Island, and was given is present rating at the Norfolk Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia.

One of Norwood’s first volunteers, Pvt. Frank Fanning, son of Mr. Charles Fanning of 103 Winslow Avenue, is now stationed with the medical corps in North Africa.

A graduate of Norwood High, he was a Bird & Son employee before the time he enlisted He was first sent to Fort Devens and from there was transferred to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He went on maneuvers to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the summer of 1941 and was then sent back to Portsmouth. ‘”He left this country in December, 1942.

Private First Class Frederick E. Glaser, Jr, spent the weekend with his parents, Mr and Mrs. Frederick Glaser, 7 Grant Avenue. Fred is in the Signal Corps attached to the Air Corps.

He received his basic training at Miami Bench, Florida, and after passing some special tests was assigned to an advanced Signal Corps radio operator school in Pittsburgh where he is now stationed.

Pvt. John Kalishauskas sends a card from Camp Howze, Texas, where he has been transferred from Florida. He says from the looks of things he prefers Florida to Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Arthur Hauck of 66 Winslow Avenue, who enlisted with the U S. Coast Guard in December, is now stationed at Moorehead City, North Carolina, where he is playing the trumpet with the Coast Guard Band.

A graduate of Norwood High School, New England Conservatory of Music at Ithaca College, New York, Mr. Hauck was a supervisor of music in Braintree before the time of his enlistment.

Arthur’s brother, Russell Hauck, enlisted in the ground crew of the Army Air Force in September and is now stationed at Lowry Field, Denver, Colorado.

He is a graduate of Norwood High School and Massachusetts State College and prior to the time of his enlistment, was employed in an insurance firm in Brockton.

John F Thornell, Jr., 21-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John F Thornell of 221 Pleasant Street, East Walpole, received his Silver Wings of a Pilot and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant at the graduation exercises held st Craig Field, Alabama, February 16th.

He was one of the first boys to enlist in the U. S. Army from Walpole, being sworn in July 1, 1940. He served as a Corporal in the 7th Field Artillery, 1st Division, until March 1942 when he transferred to the Air Force as a cadet.

He received his pre-flight training at Airwell Field, Alabama, basic flying at Blytheville, Arkansas, gunnery at Elgin Field, Florida, advanced flying at Craig Field, Alabama.

He has been squadron leader and captain of cadets of his class.

Born in Stoughton, Lt. Thornell received his early education in that town. He is a graduate of Bird School and Norfolk County Agricultural School of Walpole class of 1989.

Ensign Howard Blasenak, 22 Endicott Street, is writing his family from a base in the South Pacific where he is head of a construction crew building a recreation center.

He says he has run into a number of Norwood boys there, as well as at other overseas spots he has visited.

Ensign Blasenak has been in the Navy a year this March, entering as a chief specialist. He attended officer’s gunnery school at Norfolk, Virginia, and that is where he got his officer’s training which led to his commission as Ensign.

Ensign Blasenak entered the service upon his graduation from Boston University.

Raymond Kenneth Morrow, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Morrow of 14 Berwick St., Norwood, was among the group of New England youths accepted this week as Apprentice Seamen by the Naval Aviation Cadet Selection Board, 150 Causeway St. under a recent regulation admitting qualified 17 year-old youths who have graduated or who will be graduated before June 30 from accredited high schools.

He will remain at this rating until he reaches his 18th birthday and graduates, at which time he will become a Naval Aviation Cadet and will enter active training.

Seaman Morrow is a student at Norwood High School, where he was awarded letters in track and rifle. He is a member of the school traffic squad and has an outstanding scholastic record.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)