Pfc. George Deeb Killed In Action On Iwo Jima, Pvt. Charles F. Esper, Pvt. William Bader Wounded In Germany-This Day In Norwood History-March 30, 1945

Two Other Norwood Servicemen Reported Wounded In Germany

Pfc. George Deeb, 20-year-old Norwood Marine, was killed in action on Iwo Jima on February 20th, according to a tele­gram received last week from the Navy Department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Deeb of 310 Walpole Street while two other Norwood servicemen — Pvt. Charles F. Esper of 19 Dean Street, and Pvt. William Bader of 34 Sturtevant Avenue — have been wounded in action in Germany.

The second local Marine report­ ed killed in the bloody struggle for that island, Pfc. Deeb served with Sgt. Raymond F. O’Brien, 23-year-old Norwood native who met death there on February 14th.

Pfc. Deeb was wounded at Sai­ pan in the Marianas last summer, spending two months in a hospital at that time. A veteran of the famous 4th Marine Division, he saw action in the Marshall Islands, at Kwajalein, and at Tinian in the Marianas, in addition to Saipan. He held the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Norwood-born, Pfc. Deeb attend­ ed the local schools and was em­ployed at Bird and Son prior to entering the service two years ago. He received his training at Parris Island, S. C., and at Camp Pendle­ ton, Cal., before leaving the coun­try for overseas service 14 months ago.

A brother, Ralph, recently en­tered the Navy and he is due home next Tuesday after completing his boot training at Sampson, N Y. Pfc. Deeb is the third member of his family to pay the supreme sac­rifice in this war His cousin, Cpl Frederick Deeb, who served in the same Marine Division, lost his life a year ago in the Marshall Islands. His brother-in-law, Pfc. Merton E. Haynes was killed in action in France on February 9th of this year.

Among the last letters received from Pfc Deeb by his family was one written while bound for Iwo aboard a combat craft in the Pacific. Ironically, he mentioned that he was headed for a little action,” but that “it was going to be easy,”

FELLED IN GERMANY

Pvt. Charles F. Esper, son of Mr and Mrs. David Esper of 19 Dean Street, was wounded in action in Germany recently and is now recovering at a hospital in Belgium Mr and Mrs. Esper were notified of their son’s injury in a letter from him, which they received on Tuesday. They have not as yet been officially notified by the War Department.

Pvt. Esper is attached to the Signal Corps. He entered the service in November, 1942, and received his basic training at Fort Benning. Georgia, and Camp Crowder in Mississippi. He shipped overseas in December 1944.

Esper is 23 years old and has spent most of his life in Norwood He attended the Norwood schools and was graduated from Norwood High School. Before entering the service he worked for Bird & Sons.

Pvt. William Bader, 22, was slightly wounded in action in Germany on March 7th, according to word received from the War Department by his mother. Mrs. Rose Bader of 34 Sturtevant avenue.

Pvt. Bader is a brother of Staff Sergt. Naime Bader, of the USAAF, who has been missing in action since his Flying Fortress was shot down in action over Germany in May of 1943. Another brother, Sgt, Nicholas Bader, is with the Army in India, while a fourth brother. Staff Sergt. Moses Bader, is serving in Germany.

Pvt. Bader, an infantry soldier, entered the service last March and was shipped overseas more than seven months ago on the completion of his basic training.

He attended the Norwood schools and was graduated from Norwood High in 1941. He was employed at the Tannery prior to entering the service.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)