A soldier paying respects to fellow servicemen who gave their lives in the Pacific campaign.

Visits Graves Of Local Boys On Iwo Jima

Sgt. William Costello of Hill Street, who is with the 5th Marine Division in Iwo Jima, recently visited the graves of three local boys who were killed there — Platoon Sergeant Raymond F. O’Brien, Cpl. William Cuff and Pfc. George Deeb.

Sgt O ’Brien son of Mr and Mrs. James L.. O’Brien of 824 Washington Street, Dedham, was with the 4th Marine Division and was killed at Iwo Jima on February 14.

Another Dedham boy, Cpl William Cuff son of Mr and Mrs. Stephen Cuff, was also with the 4th Marine Division and was killed at Iwo on February 23.

Pfc. George Deeb, a Norwood boy, son of Mr and Mrs. Michael Deeb of Walpole Street, with the 4th Marine Division, was killed February 14.

The boys were buried with military honors and on March 17. Father McGoldrjck held services over their graves.

3rd McDonough Sister Enters Nurse Corps

Miss Frances McDonough, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McDonough of 43 Lyden Street, is the third member of her family to enter the Army Nurse Corps, Frances left last week for Fort Devens.

Lt. Margaret McDonough, the first to go, is now serving as an Army nurse in France. Lt. Katherine McDonough is stationed at an England hospital and had for one of her patients. Pvt. Otis Cooper, a Norwood man, who was wounded in Luxembourg.

The three sisters are graduates of Norwood High School and Cambridge City Hospital France, who graduated last year, was supervisor of the operating room at the Cambridge hospital before she left to enter the service.

Good Conduct Medal Awarded Pfc. U. W. Sandell

WITH THE FIFTH ARMY, Italy —Private First Class U. W. Sandell 23 Savin Avenue, Norwood, has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal for fidelity, efficiency, and exemplary behavior .in the Italian campaign.

He is a member of the 88th “Blue Devil” Infantry Division, now fighting with the Fifth Army in the Apennine Mountains of Northern Italy.

CpI. Nordblom Is Awarded Bronze Star

CpI. Harry Nordblom of the 1st Infantry Division in Germany, has received the Bronze Star Medal and a citation for meritorious achievement in connection with military operation against the enemy in the North African Theater of Operations from November, 1942, to August, 1943.

His citation reads in part:

“The skill, aggressiveness, and courage with which Cpl. Nord-blom performed his duties as scout contributed materially to the success of innumerable reconnaissance missions and to the combat effectiveness of his organization throughout the North African and Sicilian campaigns.”

Cpl. Nordblom is also the holder of the Purple Heart for wounds received in France in August of last year. After convalescing in a hospital in England, he returned to his outfit two months ago and is now in Germany.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. John Nordblom of 395 Winter Street, he entered the service in February. 1942. After five months of training at Camp Croft, South Carolina and Indian Gap, Penn., he went overseas in July, 1942.

He has one brother In the service, Cpl Harold Nordblom, stationed in Hawaii.

Lt Col. Charles F. Dexter

HEADQUARTERS, 12TH AAF, ITALY — Lt Col. Charles F. Dexter, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C Dexter, 93 Lincoln Street, Norwood, who has been appointed assistant chief of the administrative staff of the 22nd Tactical Air Command, fighterbomber arm of the 12th Air Force giving air support to the 5th Army on the Italian front.

Colonel Dexter was graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1936 and was a mechanical engineer before entering active duty in March, 1941. Overseas since November, 1942, he sailed in the assault convoy which participated in the invasion of North Africa.

Col. D’Espmosa Is Awarded The Croix de Guerre

WITH V CORPS I.V GERMANY — Colonel William J. D’Espinosa of 41 Howard Street, Norwood, a member of Hq. V Corps, recently was cited by the president of the provisional government of the Republic of France In orders or the arm on January 29, 1945, and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for exceptional services of war rendered in the course of operations in the liberation of France.

He is the husband of Mrs. Katherine H. D’Espinosa of 41 Howard Street, Norwood.

Norwood Man In Interview From France

Notified two days before the program, the family of S/Sgt. Howard Cedarfieid of 54 Elliot Street was able to hear his voice over station WMEX on the March to Victory program last Tuesday night.

Sgt. Cedarfield was interviewed in France, where he was last stationed with the 6th Traffic Regulation Group, and the recording of the interview was broadcast on the program Sgt. Cedarfield. questioned by the interviewer, told what he could about his work, and upon further inquiry of a more personal nature, said he lived in Norwood where his wife now lives at 54 Elliot Street. His parents, Mr and Mrs. Victor Cedarfieid, reside at 151 Winslow Avenue.

Sgt. Cedarfield has been overseas for 14 months and has been in the service a year and a half.

Pro-Burial Mass For Sergt, O’Brien

A pro-burial Mass for Platoon Sergeant Raymond F O’Brien, who was killed at Iwo Jima on February 14. will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Dedham next Wednesday morning at 7 o’clock.

Pfc. Tracy Awarded Combat Badge With Rainbow Division

WITH THE 42ND (RAINBOW) DIVISION, Seventh Army, France — Pfc. Thomas Tracy, brother of Mrs. Mary Porazzo of 16 First Street, Norwood, and a member of the famed Rainbow Division, has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for exemplary performance of duty in ground combat against the enemy.

The Rainbow Division, which made a gallant name during World War I, was reactivated in July, 1943. and is now fighting under the command of Maj. Gen, Harry J. Collins on the Seventh Army front.
Entering combat just a short time ago in the same sector in which the Rainbow Division of World War I first met the enemy, the organization has already displayed its prowess and ability to live up to the reputation of its famous name.

Pfc. Tracy entered the service In February, 1940.

Miss Paquette, Cpl. Flaherty Wed Saturday At Watertown

At a double-ring ceremony at 3 o’clock Saturday in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Watertown. Miss Annolle Paquette of Watertown became the bride of Cpl. Roger P Flaherty of Norwood. Rev. Albert Jacabbie officiated at the ceremony.

The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a gown of white faille with a train and a fingertip veil with a juliet cap. For (lowers, she carried white roses with baby’s breath. Attending her as bridesmaids were her cousin, Miss Ceceile Paquette, and Miss Elizabeth Stone of Watertown Miss Paquette wore a gown of yellow net and carried a mixed bouquet of spring flowers. Miss Stone’s gown was of lime green net and she carried bouquet of spring flowers.

Mr. Thomas Foley of Brighton was best man and Sgt. Charles Harris of Norwood was usher.

After the ceremony, a reception was held at the home of the brides aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs Harvey Paquette of 24 Whites Avenue, Watertown.

Mrs. Flaherty is the daughter of Mr Joseph Paquette of Kennebunk. Maine. She attended schools in Watertown and is a graduate of Watertown High School. She was employed at the Union Market Bank in Watertown.

Cpl Flaherty is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Flaherty, of 20 Lyden Street. Norwood, He is a graduate of Norwood High Class of ’37 and was on the staff of the Norwood Free Press before entering the service.

After a short wedding trip to Maine, Mr and Mrs. Flaherty will reside in Webster. Mass., until Cpl Flaherty reports back to his base,

Lt. Mogan Ends Specialized AAF Course At Brooks

BROOKS FIELD, Texas—Having completed a tour of combat duty at war zones throughout the world and with thousands of battle missions against the enemy to their credit, a group of AAF pilots on Saturday rounded out a course at Brooks Field, Texas, preparing them for a new role in America’s air war.

Among them is 1st Lt. John P Mogan, son of Mrs. Nora Mogan of Casey Street, Norwood. Veteran of eighteen months. service in the South and Southwest Pacific, Lt Megan holds the Air Medal with one Silver Cluster and two Bronze Cluster.

In four weeks of study, members of the class at the AAF Training Command’s twin-engine Central Instructors School formulated plans for instructing aviation cadets in advanced flying techniques. This specialized course falls within the current highly successful system of utilizing combat returnees as tutors in the pilot training program.

Of Saturday’s graduates at Brooks, eight flew in two or more theatres of operation, several are repatriated prisoners ot war, many hold the Purple Heart as a mark of wounds received in line ot duty. Records of the entire group present a vivid picture of U S aerial warfare against both the German and the Jap(anese).

Pvt. P. F. Daly Is Released From Hospital

THE 303rd STATION HOSPITAL. England—Private Peter F Daly.,30, 53 Savin Avenue, Norwood, has now recovered at this United States Army hospital, from wounds received at Aachen, on November 30, 1944. While at this hospital, he received expert medical care, followed by a period of convalescence. He has now been released for a return to duty.

He is a member of an Infantry Unit. He entered the Army on the April 22, 1944. His wife, Lillian, is residing at the above address.

CpI. Joseph Destito Awarded Good Conduct Medal

Corporal Joseph Destito of Norwood has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity, it was announced Monday by Headquarters. Portland Army Air Base.
The Good Conduct Medal is awarded exclusively to enlisted men who achieve an efficiency and character rating of ‘’excellent” for a period of not less than one year while on active duly in the United States Army.

Ten Norwood Men Inducted

The Local Selective Service Board recently released the names of ten Norwood men who were inducted into the armed forces on March 23rd. They are:

Army—Henry D. Flaminio, Spencer E, Peckham, Thomas E. Phalen, John F. Baldwin. Jr., John N. Kalliel, Michael Delgrosso, Robert L. Peterson.

Navy — Philip M. King, Thomas J. Cassidy, Thomas F. Freeman,

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)

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