In The Service Now-This Day In Norwood History-October 19, 1945

McDonough Boys Win Discharges

Two Norwood brothers recently discharged from the service are Sgt. Patrick McDonough and Pfc Joseph McDonough, sons of Mr and Mrs. William A McDonough of 333 Railroad Avenue.

Sgt. Patrick McDonough entered the service in March. 1942. He received his training at Fort Meade, Maryland, and Camp Blanding, Fla. He served overseas in the European Theatre for 35 months, attached to the 29th Infantry Division of the 9th Army, and was among the first group of American soldiers to storm the Normandy Beachhead On July 6, 1944, he was wounded in action in France.

Sgt. McDonough is the holder of the Purple Heart, three battle stars, and the Silver Star. He received his discharge with 102 points at Fort Devens on September 29th.

Pfc. Joseph McDonough entered the service September 4, 1941 He received his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and left for overseas J duty in the South Pacific in February 1942, attached to a signal outfit with the 6th Army Following 39 months overseas duty, he returned to the States on May 18 of this year and was stationed at Dover. Delaware. With a credit of 93 points, he received his discharge at Fort Devens on September 25th. Pfc. McDonough is the holder of three battle stars.

Steve Flaherty Is Discharged On 120 Points

Sgt. Stephen P. Flaherty, son o( Mr and Mrs. Michael J. Flaherty of 47 Silver Street, received his discharge from the Army Air Forces with a total of 120 points last Wednesday at Fort Devens.

Sgt. Flaherty enlisted in the Air Corps in December. 1940. He received his training in Georgia and Louisiana and went overseas in January, 1942 Sgt. Flaherty served as a chief parachute rigger with the “Grim Reapers,” the 3rd Bombardment Group of the 90th Bombardment Squadron, attached to 5th Air Force In New Guinea.

Following 35 months of overseas duty, Sgt. Flaherty returned to this country in December of last year He holds the silver battle star for participation in five campaigns, the Presidential Citation, the Good Conduct Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon.

Before returning to Fort Devens for his discharge, Sgt Flaherty was stationed at an Army Air Base in Florida.

Pfc. Cappuccino Recently Released With 97 Points

Pfc. Anthony Cappuccino, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Cappuccino, of 34 Sixth Street, was discharged from the U. S. Army on October 3, at Fort Devens with 97 points to his credit.

He has an ETO ribbon with five battle stars and a silver star. Has seen action in France. Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany as a linesman in the Sixth Armored Division. The Silver Star was awarded for gallantry In action in Lorient, France when he volunteered to put up communications under fire. He also has a Unit Citation, a good conduct ribbon, and a Certificate of Merit for devotion to duty.

He entered the service August 6, ‘1941, and served 19 months overseas, under Gen. Patton.

He is married to the former Miss Gertrude Rogers of Jamaica Plain. His brother, Ernest, Sl/c, is now In the Pacific.

Lauds Horwood For Navy Record

Lieut. Commander H. E. Milliken. Officer in Charge of Navy Recruiting and Induction for the Eastern Massachusetts Area, stated today that Norwood should take pride in the remarkable record made in recruiting men for the Navy during the war, and also in the great number of men between the ages of 17 to 30 inclusive who are now enlisting in the Regular Navy.

Lieut. Commander Milliken further stated that the term of enlistment In the Regular Navy is now reduced from six to four years and that men may enlist in the Navy regardless of their draft status.

Men wishing to make the Navy their career should visit the Brockton Navy Recruiting Station, Room 210, Post Office Building. The station Is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Army Releases J. McDonagh

T Sgt. John T McDonagh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael McDonagh of 504 Nahantan Street, was recently discharged from the Army with 110 points.

Sgt McDonagh entered the service four years ago. He received his training at Aberdeen, Maryland, and Fort Devens, and served in the European Theatre for three years attached to the 29th Ordnance of the Sth Army He holds five battle stars and the Good Conduct Medal. On July 9th he returned to this country from Europe and received his discharge two weeks ago at Aberdeen.

Sgt McDonagh Is married to the former Ruth Olson of Dedham.

Walter Gotovich Released Recently From Navy Service

Walter J. Gotovich, son of Mr and Mrs. Anthony Gotovich of 592 Pleasant Street, was discharged September 29th from the U. S. Navy at Lido Beach, Long Island, N Y.

Following his boot training at Newport, R. I., Gotovich served for two years and ten months on the transport carrier, U.S.S. Lejeune, during which time he made 15 trips to Europe. Previous to entering the service. Gotovich practiced law in Norwood for five years. A graduate of Norwood High and Northeastern University, he is married to the former Anna Smolski of Norwood and has a daughter, Bernadette. a year and a half old.

Three other brothers in the service are Captain Jerry Gotovich of the Merchant Marine, who recently docked in New Orleans from the South Pacific, Henry, AMM 2/c, back from Brazil and now stationed at Quonset; and Francis, Mo. MM 2c. South Pacific veteran, who is now at Charleston, S. C.

Lt. John O’Day On Duty At Honshu

Lt. John J. O’Day, USNR. is serving with the Medical Corps aboard the U.S.S. Rushmore at Wakayama, Honshu, Japan.

He is the son of Mrs. Margaret E. O’Day, 278 Railroad Avenue, Norwood, and husband of Mrs. Margaret Patricia O’Day, 15 Nixon Avenue, Worcester.

Three Breen Brothers Released From Service

Two of the seven Breen brothers, Sgt. Joseph and Sgt. George Breen, recently received their discharge from the Army, while a third brother, Robert, S.K. 1/c, has received his discharge from the Navy.

S/Sgt. Joseph Breen, an ex-prisoner of war, entered the Army four and a half years ago and received his basic training at Camp Edwards, he served 12 months overseas with the 101st YD Division in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, and Austria Czech. In November of last year, he was taken prisoner by the Germans and was held for three weeks until freed by counterattacking Allied Forces. On January 3rd of this year, he was wounded In action in Luxembourg. Sgt. Breen holds the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the European-American Defense Ribbon, and the Infantryman’s Combat Badge.j He returned to this country September 21st and received his discharge from Fort Devens on October 8th with a total of 96 points.

On the same day Sgt. Breen was discharged, his .brother. Storekeeper First Class Robert of the Navy See-bees received his release at the Fargo Building in Boston. Robert entered the Seebces in January, 1943, and received his training at Quansett and Virginia. He served 33 months in the Pacific, including Guam and Okinawa. He had 43 points.

A third brother,, S/Sgt. George George Breen, entered the Army three years and four months ago. He received his basic training at Camp Eustis. Va., and served in Panama for 35 months. He returned to this country in the latter part of July on a 45-day furlough, his first In 39 months. On the fifth of this month/he received his discharge from Fori Devens with a total of 75 points. Sgt. Breen was married on August 22 to the former Mary Donahue of Norwood.

Three other brothers still in the service are: Sgt. Louis, stationed in France; Sgt. Howard, husband of the former Irene Lynch of Dedham, who is stationed in Germany and is expected home by Christmas; and Alfred. R.M. 1/c, stationed on the Hornet. Alfred just arrived in California from Pearl Harbor.

The Breen brothers are the sons of Mr and Mrs. Joseph Breen of .1417 Nahatan Street, Norwood.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)