🇺🇸 Wartime Service & Sacrifice: Norwood’s Heroes of September 1944
In September 1944, as Allied forces pressed forward across Europe and the Pacific, the town of Norwood stood quietly proud — its sons and daughters serving with distinction, its families enduring with grace. The Norwood Free Press of September 15 captured a vivid cross-section of this wartime moment: stories of valor, loss, resilience, and reunion. This article pays tribute to those individuals and the community that supported them.
🪖 Pfc. Norman D. Smith: A Quiet Farewell
Pfc. Norman D. Smith of Lenox Street died from wounds sustained in the Pacific, likely during the brutal campaign at Saipan. His death was reported with solemn dignity — no fanfare, just the quiet heartbreak of a family and town that had given one more life to the cause of freedom.
- Smith was 22 years old.
- He had attended Norwood High School and worked locally before enlisting.
- His name was added to the town’s growing Roll of Honor.
🎖️ Sgt. Andrew Costello: Precision and Protection
As a parachute rigger stationed in England, Sgt. Andrew Costello helped maintain a flawless safety record for Allied pilots.
- His work ensured that every parachute packed was ready to save a life.
- Costello’s unit had zero parachute failures across hundreds of missions.
- He was praised for his meticulous attention to detail and dedication to pilot safety.
🛫 Wings Earned, Bonds Forged
Several Norwood men earned their wings and advanced in rank:
- Flight Officer Albert Billingham and John Donahue completed flight training and joined active duty.
- Lt. Raymond Pendergast received his third Oak Leaf Cluster for aerial valor.
- Sgt. Raymond Vitaitis Jr. earned the Combat Infantry Badge for action in Italy.
- Sgt. Arthur Pyne, previously reported missing, was confirmed safe after being freed from a Romanian prison camp.
🤝 Brotherhood in Uniform
One of the most touching stories was the reunion of Warrant Officer D.F. Hart and Pfc. Richard MacCormack, childhood friends from Norwood who met unexpectedly while serving overseas.
- Their reunion was brief but joyful, a reminder of the human connections that endure through war.
- Both men had grown up on the same street and attended Norwood schools together.
🕯️ Community Memory and Legacy
These stories reflect not only individual heroism but the collective spirit of Norwood during wartime. Families endured long separations, businesses supported war bond drives, and local organizations like the Garden Club and Red Cross mobilized to care for the wounded and honor the fallen.
The Norwood Free Press served as a living ledger of service and sacrifice — a weekly reminder that history was being written not just abroad, but in the homes, churches, and streets of Norwood.
Compiled by the Norwood Historical Society, with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini.