Sewickley Herald

              The Sewickley Valley’s Home News Weekly
i
Vol. 42 No. 34
SEWICKLEY, PA., THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1945
The Community Bulletin Board built by the American Legion, Post 4, on the site of the former Ritchey building at 418 Beaver Street. Notices of community interest may be posted on the blue board in the center of the sign. The church steeple in the background is St. James’ Church.	Photo by Toia
Wins Air Medal
WITH THE COLORS
Legion of Merit Awarded
The- Commandor-in.JOh'ief of the IT. S. Atlantic Meet, in the name of the President of the United States under date of 21 July, 1845, ¡has awarded the Legion of Merit to Lt.-tCom-mander Manors J. Torrance Baker, U.S.N.R., with the following citation:
“Hot exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services while engaged in action against an enemy submarine as Commanding Officer of ¡the U.S.'S. Carter on 22 April, 1945.
“Upon gaining sound contact on an enemy submarine under very adverse wind and sea conditions, Lieutenant Commander Baker tracked the target with great ¡skill, holding contact until liis ship was in an advanageous position, then directed his ship and .attacked.
“Several hits resulted, followed by violent underwater explosions and the subsequent appearanefe of a large- slick of oil ion the surface of the water,
“T-he high type of seamanship and ship-handling displayed by Lieut. ¡Commander Baker, his ability to evaluate the situation quickly, and his splendid indoctrination of Ms criKv, which resulted in the extremely accurate .attack and probable destruction of the enemy, reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval- Service.”
Returns Prom Pacific
Anny Headquarters, PDA, Ft. Shatter, T. H.—IS/tSgt, Lloyd M. ‘Scott, Jr., aged 20, of 874 Thorn Street, Sewiek-ley, has been returned to the -Continental United States from the: Pacific Ocean Areas under thei Army’s readjustment program.. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Scott, live at 874 Thorn Street.
He was processed for return at a personnel center in Paeiifie Ocean Areas, where Army forces are under the command of Lt. General Robert C. Richardson, Jr.
S/Sgt. Lloyd M. Scott, Jr., came into the Army on September 25, 1-940, and has- been overseas 55 months. He was with the Air Corps, and ' had been through the Dee. 7, 19U and Two Jima campaigns; he -has been stationed m Iwo Jima.
He has- been awarded the Good Conduct, American Defense, and Asiatic-Pacific theatre ribbon with three battle stars. Under the readjustment point system, his score was i'17 points.
In civilian life, he was- a clerk and was' employed by Dravo Corporation. He was a graduate of Ooraopolis High School, 1034..
Participating in operations from the Normandy bench head to Munich was Sgt. Stephen 0, Boiwncr of 306 Pearce Lane, Edgeworth, formerly a machine operator in the National Electric Products Company plant, Ambri-dge. He entered the Army in March, 1042, and had' been six months overseas; -had won tlio Good Conduct ribbon, ETO ribbon with one battle star, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge and was attached to Company.©, 65th Armored Inf antry Battalion in the Battle of Germany.
Completes ‘Boot’ Training Richard W. Beall, S 2/-c, of 622 Ghar-etto Place, has Completed his recruit training at tho Naval Training Comter, Sampson, Now York, and has boon granbedj Ica-ve. Upon his- return to Sampson, ho will be eligible, for further assignment which may qualify him for a petty officer rating.
Plight Officer William 0. Irwin of ¡Saranac Lake, veteran Royal Canadian Air Force- flier and now of the U. S. Air Force, has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievements in action. He is a grandson of Mrs. Jean Mueggo of Sewickley and was employed at the Bethlehem Steel plant, Leetsdiale, before his enlistment.
Flight Officer Irwin’s citation stated in -part: “For meritorious achievements while on bombing missions over the Reich.” He also participated in bombing missions- over Austria and Czechoslovakia..
The flier, who has been serving overseas for a number of months on his second tour of' duty in the European Theater of Operations:, is serving as pilot of a B-26 Marauder with the Ninth Air Force, occupation forces»- •
Formerly -a sergeant pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Irwin on-listed in the service in 1941 and- in September of that year began his training at 'St. Euge-ne, -Canada.
In. September, 1942, he was graduated as a pilot at the Upland's and tho following month left -Canada for overseas service. On his arrival in England lie was assigned to the Coastal Command service of the British Air Force.
For one year and throe months ho flew patrols over the North. Atlantic ocean and -the English channel in a twin-engine bomber with a crew of five. Ho was stationed at fields in England, Scotland, Yorkshire and tlio Midlands.
His duty was to spot enemy submarines and the flier and his crow have ntorc than one sub sunk to their credit. Before returning to the States: and Canada he completed all of liis assigned missions.
In February, 1944, Flight Officer Irwin returned to tho United States and was transferred to the U> S. Air Forces. Ho Was given an intensive courso of
flying instruction as pilot of a Marauder plane and then sent ‘back to the European theater for further combat duty.
On completion of his instruction in this country he was -made a flight officer. The flier was raised and1 attended school in- Saranac Lake. His father resides in Lake- Placid.
Port Company Now Loading Pacific-Bound Troops
With U. S. Forces in Pranee: The 270th Port Company, commanded toy Captain M. P. Martino, Foilansibee, W. Va., which hag been active in Franco since D plus 1, is now outloading men and equipment bound for thq U. 'S. and the Pacific at the port of Lo Havre. ¡Sgt. Harry Lee Vaughter of Grimes Street, -.Sewickley, is a member of that company. On June 7, 1044, the- 270th began to and on .Omaha Beaeh following up the assault troops, to unload vitally needed supplies. During operations on Omaha, Sgt. Seott Olay, Brooklyn, and a 14 men crew, completely unloaded an English coaster of 980 tons in 24 hours. .Subsequently Sgt. Walter Oox, New Rochelle, N.. Y., and his section unloaded 279 tons- in twelve hours. On November 15, 1944, the company loft Omaha Beach for its new assignment at Le. Havre.
The- 270th Port Company was- activated on March 25, 1-943, at Camp Myles Standish', Mass., and took its -basic training there. The Unit then moved to the Boston Port of Embarkation to take its technical training.
The 270ith sailed for oversets duty, arrived in Scotland, October 10, and was sent to Glasgow to prepare for the invasion.
All tho men who served on Omaha Beach Were awarded two battlo stars, for the campaigns of Normandy and Northern France, and! a Bronze -Service Arrowhead for participation in the invasion as a part of tho 6th Engineer Special Brigade,
Postmaster Discharged From Army
¡Postmaster J. D. Webster, 100 Dip-pold Street, a veteran- of the First World War, is now also a veteran of the -Second World War, for he was discharged from the Army oa August 14, at Indiantown Gap.. Enlisting in the Army in August, 1942, ho went overseas with the 1-ltli Engineers Section as a Technical Sergeant, after serving several months at Fort Lawton, Washington. While in England, he served in the escort of the Princess Royal and was shipped back, to the States- in March, 1044. After convalescing in the Valley Forgo Hospital, ho was sent to Chicago May first, . 1944, where he served in tho V-niail station for three months.
Promoted to First Sergeant, he was sen-t to Fort 6‘loCum, N. Y., to activate postal battalions who opened an APO in New York on September lltli.
In the Military Railway Service
A local railroad man is mentioned in the August 9 issue of “Tho Yankee ¡Boomer,” a newspaper for the personnel of the Military Railway Service operating seized lines in conquered parts Of Europe. This- issue is labeled “Vol. 2, No. 45.”’ Headed “From the 762nd,” tho item reads:
“Popular now CO of Company 'A’ is Captain Ant-on V. Hilstrom, 718 Blackburn Road, -Sewickley, Pa. Gap-tain Hilstrom was an enlisted man in tho !-3th Cavalry during World1 War I. Ho was commissioned in 1943 and was placed on DlS with tlio 762-nd in Iran. His services proved so invaluable that lie was transferred to tho outfit—having boon a. respected part of it ever since. Captain, Hilstrom is a furloughed cnginehousc- foreman for tlio Pittsburgh and Lako Eric Railroad. His knowledge of electricity and mathematics was augmented by a. course in Applied Science at -Oantc-gio Tech.” -
Price Five Cents
Awaits Reassignment
Second Lieutenant Francis M. Hutchinson of 245 Broad! Street, Sewickley, has arrived at the Army Ground and Service Forces Redistribution. Station, Asheville, N. C., where he will enjoy approximately two weeks of fun- and relaxation while awaiting reassignment to- duty.
He has returned from 12 months in the European Theater of Operations, during which he participated 'in the Battle of Germany.
His -branch of service- is the Field Artillery and he served with the 56-th FA Bn. of the- 8th Division.
During his stay in Asheville, his- wife, Carolyn C,, will visit with him., His mother, Mrs. George 0. HutcMnsony resides at 2:45 Broad Street, Sewickley.
While awaiting reassignment at the Asheville Redistribution Station under the, command of Col. R. E. Willoughby, Lt. Hutchinson will reside in the Battery Park Hotel. After processing, the returnee’s- time will be his own. Numerous recreational programs, trips to nearby mountains and historic picturesque sites; or just plain old-fashioned relaxation, are available to all the Station.
San Antonio, Texas:	Having com-
pleted a tour of duty of eight months in the European Theater of Operations, T/Sgt. Frank Klimek, Seiwiekley, has -arrived at the San Antonio District, AlAF Personnel Distribution Command -for processing and reassignment. His awards for service overseas include t-he Air Medal,-
Processing and reassignment for AAF returnees ordinarily are completed in 1 'from ten- days to two weeks, after -which personnel are generally assigned to stations .in this country.
-Miami, Florida:	Speeded toward
home from overseas as part of the “Green Project,” wliic-h calls for the Air Transport -Command's Caribbean Division to fly 30,000 returnees . from Europe to Miami Army Air Field each month, Corporal George- F. Knemmerle of R. D. No, 2, -Sewickley, arrived in. the- States on Thursday, August 9th.
In less than 24 hours he left Camp Blanding, Florida, toy rail. From there he went to a - reception center nearer home, for separation from the service or furlough, prior to reassignment. Overseas 30 months as a member of a tank battalion, lie has been awarded the good conduct medal, the African- campaign ribbon and five battle stars.
Von Hofen Brothers Meet
Jack von Hofen, RDM 3/e is returning to Pearl Harbor after spending a 25-day furlough at homo with his parents, Mr, and Mrs. W. F. von- Hofen of ICrUmer Street. He had- been in five invasions: two at New Guinea, ono at Cape Gloucester, one at Leyte, and- one at Lingayen Gulf. His ship was brought to Pearl Harbor for repairs'. At Poarl Harbor Jack -met his brother, Billy von Hofen-, S 1/c, stationed at Pearl Ilarbar on a floating dry dock. They spent 13 days together before Jack loft for the States. Their brother, Pile. Bob von Hofen, is expected- to leave Southampton, September 1st, to return to tho States.
In the Army Now!
Charles Cbrnansky of Glonficld was ono Of the three men inducted into the Army by Selectivo Servico Board 15, Ben Avon, on special call this month,