United States Navy (As related by his daughter, Ruby Chaney) It was 1946 and the war to end all wars was over. The United States was entering a period of unprecedented prosperity. It was time to celebrate, enjoy the fruits of victory, and begin a new civilian life. However, for Palmer Theron McCormac, as with… Read more »

KIA- South Pacific -World War 2-U.S. Navy Lieutenant William Mann (U.S. Navy) was born in 1918 and raised on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois during the 1920’s. His father, (William Mann,) was a Yale graduate and the chief council for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company. His mother, (the former Julie Manierre,) was a Chicago… Read more »

United States Army Air Corps The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner by Randall Jarrell From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. Six miles from earth, loosed from the dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. When… Read more »

United States Marines, (I Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division) There were good strategic reasons for the decision to invade the island of Iwo Jima. It was central to the overall plan to eventually invade the Japanese homeland and to end the war. However, the degree of difficulty in capturing the island was… Read more »

United States Army 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) (As related by his friend, Dave Paquet) The 101st Airborne Division Association was created almost sixty years ago by Screaming Eagle veterans for Screaming Eagle veterans. It is now approaching 10,000 members. Their website claims their insignia to be “the most recognized… Read more »

United States Marine Corps (Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines) (As related by his Gold Star Mother, Katherine “Kit” Federico) The official name of the Memorial is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is sometimes referred to as VVM or “the Wall”. It is not a war memorial but a memorial to those who served in… Read more »

United States Army Harry Holowach is proud to say that his service in the United States Army should be remembered as “a bit of patriotism.” As it is with the vast majority of those who serve our country, a little bit of patriotism is the amount needed by all young men and women who realize… Read more »

United States Marine Corps 2nd Marine Air Wing, 4th Marine Air Group, 1st Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB-241) (As related by his daughter Sharyn O’Hare and recorded in his personal war-time diary) The official United States Navy account of the Battle of Midway and the events of June 4 – 7, 1942 presented on the Naval… Read more »

United States Air Force (As related by his sister, Patricia Flanagan Arthur) Family bonds and affection are never illustrated more vibrantly or are more heartfelt than when a younger sister remembers the character and personality of her older brother. Such is the case when Patricia Flanagan Arthur talks about her older brother, Sherman E. Flanagan,… Read more »

United States Army Nurse Corps (Retired) “The Army nurse is the symbol to the soldier of help and relief in his hour of direst need. Through mud and mire, through the mark of campaign and battle, wherever the fight leads, she patiently – gallantly – seeks the wounded and distressed. Her comfort knows no parallel…. Read more »

January 17, 2008 Tom Exarhakis was interviewed by LtCol Richard T. Tanner, USMC (Ret.), on January 17, 2008, concerning his duty with the American Armed Forces during World War II. This synopsis is prepared for submission to the Worcester County Veterans’ Memorial Foundation for their historical records. Mr. Exarhakis was apprised of the purpose of… Read more »

(As related by daughter of Marshall and Lillian Davis and niece of Mervin Stein, Jeri Lipov) In his book The Greatest Generation, author Tom Brokaw chronicled the lives of many WWII veterans and the contributions they made to our country both during and after the war. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated in 1990 that… Read more »

(As related to his nephew George Reiswig) One of my visits with my uncle Walter was in the summer of 2002. During that visit we talked about some work I was doing on a veteran’s memorial in Maryland. Walter had never before spoken to me about his military experience other than to say the scar… Read more »

UNITED STATES ARMY 559th Anti-Aircraft Battalion (As related to his daughter, Carol Cummins Salter, and his grandson, Adam Salter, contributor) While on a five-day leave from the United States Army in August 1943, Charles Cummins met Jane Smith who, upon his return from World War II, would become his wife. Although he promised to come… Read more »