Military Funeral Honors Rendered for Decorated Norwood Navy Veteran

A solemn military funeral was conducted for Harold F. Stewart, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Stewart of 106 Central Street, at the United Church yesterday afternoon.

Representatives of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars were present to honor the late Navy veteran, who died Saturday at the Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. His mother and his sister, Shirley, were at his bedside when he passed away.

Stewart, who had been ill for some time, was on his way home for a furlough from the Pacific in April when he suffered a brain hemorrhage and was subsequently hospitalized in Chicago. His mother, Mrs. Stewart, who has been by her son’s side during his hospitalization, was en route home today.

A graduate of Norwood High School, he enlisted in the Navy in February 1941, at the age of 17, and received his boot training at Norfolk, Virginia.

Stewart served in the Navy for five years, having enlisted at the age of 17. He was seriously injured in a plane crash at San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, in December 1942.

His awards and decorations included the European-African Theatre Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, Commendation Ribbon, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Victory Medal, and American Theatre Ribbon.

The sacrifice of residents like Harold F. Stewart remains a foundational part of the community’s heritage, honored annually through the town’s active Veterans Services department and localized Memorial Day observances.

(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)

More Norwood Veteran Stories

  • Five Elias Brothers Now In Service Rivals To Breens-This Day In Norwood History-March 12, 1943

    The recent induction of Charles Elias, 26, of 1151 Washington Street, marked the fifth brother to enter the armed forces, and put the well-known Elias family of the South Norwood section in close chase of the Breens for having the most sons in the service. Longest in the service of the five brothers has been…

  • Sgt. Edward J. O’Leary’s First Book Coming Out This Month; Cpl. Sansone Is Illustrator-This Day In Norwood History-March 5, 1943

    Sergeant Edward J O’Leary of 9 Maple Street is to have his first book published in March by G P Putnam’s and Sons of New York Entitled SEMI PRIVATE, the book is illustrated by Corporal Leonard Sansone of 83 Cedar Street. A humorous book with some 315 gags, Sergeant O’Leary wrote it in 1941 while…

  • Four Norwood Men With Army Air Force in Pecos, Texas-This Day In Norwood History-March 4, 1943

    This clipping from the March 3, 1943 edition of the Norwood Messenger shows four Norwood men all serving with the Army Air Force at Pecos Army Air Field, Pecos, Texas.   Pictured above with the BT 1 3A Training ships on the flying line – from left to right: Lt. John G. Rizzo, former manager…

  • 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…

  • Sixth Breen Boy From Nahatan St Joins the Service-This Day In Norwood History-February 26, 1943

    Norwood Group Recently Inducted To Armed Forces The sixth of the seven Breen, boys was inducted into the Army with the last group from the Norwood District. Howard F. Breen joins five brothers in the armed forces. Sons of Mr and Mrs. Joseph Breen of Nahatan Street, they have a sister, Miss Catherine Breen who…

  • In The Service Now-This Day In Norwood History-February 19, 1943

    Graduated with hundreds of fighter and bomber pilots in Class 43-B, the largest class ever turned out by the Army Air Forces Gulf Coast Training Center, with headquarters at Randolph Field, Texas, was Lieut. John P. Mogan, 85 Casey Street, Norwood. Graduation was on Tuesday, February 16th.Graduates were divided among nine advanced flying training schools…

  • Norwood Trust Company Encourages V-Mail Use-This Day In Norwood History – December 22, 1942

    For the convenience of fathers, mothers and other members of local Norwood families who have relatives in the service, the Norwood Trust Company has a limited number of V—Mail service envelopes which provide the most expeditious method of handling letters. By using the V-Mail service, the weight of mail is not only reduced, but this…

  • In The Service Now-This Day In Norwood History-December 7, 1942

    Two Norwood Men Are “Boots” At Great Lakes GREAT LAKES, Ill. — Getting into fighting shape to man the warships of Uncle Sam’s formidable Navy are Iwo former Norwood men, who reported to the U. S. Naval Training Station here last week. The new Bluejackets, known as “boots” during their recruit training, are becoming physically…

  • George Bailey Starts Basic Naval Training-This Day In Norwood History-December 4, 1942

    George Bailey Starts Basic Naval Training George A. Bailey, Jr. of Walnut Avenue was called to the Newport Naval Training Station In Newport, ILL. on Tuesday last. He is the son of George and Kathleen Bailey and left at 8 o’clock from the Post Office Building with some 50 or 75 other recruits from Boston…

  • First Norwood WAVES Group To Leave Soon For Boot Camp-This Day In Norwood History-December 4, 1942

    Two Headed For Wisconsin; Other Two To Go To Iowa The first Norwood women to join the WAVES, Navy auxiliary will leave soon for boot camp where they will don smart Navy uniforms and start their training. The girls and Miss Kathleen Robertson, 22, of 66 Hoyle street; Miss Priscilla Holman, 21, of 10 Belmont…

Discover more from Norwood Historical Society

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.