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3.29.2010

Nutley Sons Honor Roll - print edition

NUTLEY SONS HONOR ROLL - Remembering The Men Who Paid For Our Freedom
4th Edition


Biographies of the men of Nutley, N.J., who died while in service. They were our sons, brothers, fathers, friends and uncles who walked, played, worked and died for our little township. In the last century, 138 Nutley sons died while in service to their country. Here are their stories.

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Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.

Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

3.27.2010

PACIFIC: Corp. Latham Wounded

(March 16, 1945) – Cpl. Robert H. Latham of the 4th Division, U.S. Marine Corps. has written his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arch A. Latham of 511 Centre street under the date of Feb. 27, that he was wounded at Iwo Jima and is now in an Army hospital out of the combat area. He told his parents that he could not tell them of the extent of his wounds but he did say that he and his fellow Marines were getting the best of care.

Cpl. Latham had previously taken part in the invasions of Roi and Namur in the Marshall Islands, also Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas and had come through without a scratch, although in the thick of battle throughout.

He was graduated from Nutley High school in February 1941 and enlisted in the Marines in September 1942.
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(April 11, 1945) – A Japanese mortar shell which landed in his foxhole on Iwo Jima terminated 15 months of fighting in the Pacific for Marine Corp. Robert Latham, 23, now on his way with 180 other casualties from a U.S. Naval hospital in California to a hospital in Philadelphia for convalescence.

Latham was in charge of an ammunition detail with a machine gun platoon and had been on Iwo two days when he was so seriously wounded that it necessitated his foot being amputated while in a shell hole by a medical corpsman.

During his ordeal, his parents learned, Cpl. Latham lighted and passed out cigarettes to other Marines who had also been wounded. Later at a hospital on Saipan where his left leg was amputated, he met the same medical corpsman, wounded at a later date, who said that it was Cpl. Latham’s composure which had enabled him to perform the operation without cracking up himself.

Source: The Nutley Sun

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.26.2010

PACIFIC: Vincent Fields

(April 6, 1945) - Pvt. Vincent Fields, 23, was reported killed in action at Iwo Jima.

Mrs. Fields, the former June Parr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Parr of Carteret place, was advised that her husband was reported killed March 6. He was a member of the 4th Marine Division.

Pvt. Fields is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Mervin Fields of Long Valley.
The couple was married May 29, 1942, in Vincent Methodist Church here.

He had been in service since last August and went overseas the middle of last November. Before he left this country, Mrs. Fields and their 19-month-old daughter spent three weeks with him in North Carolina.

Since her husband has been overseas, Mrs. Fields has been spending part of the time with his parents at Long Valley, but she was at her parents' for Easter when she received the report of his death.

Pvt. Fields attended Long Valley schools and was graduated from Hackettstown High school. He was employed by Wright Aeronautical company in Paterson before entering service.

The couple was married May 29, 1942, in Vincent Methodist Church here.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.25.2010

PACIFIC: Arthur T. Abbott

(April 6, 1945) - Mr. and Mrs. Arthur T. Abbott of 32 Chestnut Street, the parents of Pfc. Arthur T. Abbott Jr., 24, were informed last week the Marine had been reported killed in action at Iwo Jima on March 4.

He attended Nutley High school and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md.

His wife is the former Shirley Slater of Montclair, and their two-year-old son Arthur 3rd. He has one brother, Robert, a student at Nutley High school, and a sister Mrs. Frederick Heany of Nutley.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.24.2010

PACIFIC: Foti Survives Sinking of USS Luce, Sharks

USS Luce Survivor Relates Experiences

(July 13, 1945) – Aboard the destroyer USS Luce, which was sunk on the morning of May 4 when 27 Jap suicide planes attacked during the battle of Okinawa, Machinist’s Mate 3/c John Foti of 15 Duncan Place, who has just completed survivor leave lived a lifetime of nightmares in the one minute and ten seconds it took to sink the ship.
Foti was in the engine room when General Quarters sounded.

He started top side and was just coming out of the engine room hatch when the first suicide plane hit the ship. The explosion knocked him down the ladder but he escaped with only minor bruises.

Getting up, Foti tried to run to side again to man the gun, but he never made it.
“Everything happened so fast,” exclaimed Foti, “the planes were pealing off one after another at about 400 or 450 miles per hour.”

As Foti was running up the port side of the ship where the planes were attacking, the Luce received another hit back aft and was listing to the starboard.

Foti made his way to the starboard to get under cover from shrapnel as well as from the explosions of the ship’s ammunition.

But he no sooner arrived at his supposed haven of safety when the starboard took a direct hit.

Foti was blown down on the deck, face flat. Fourteen other men who were taking cover with him were killed instantly.

“Yes,” said Foti, I saw my buddies blown to bits and it certainly was a horrible mess.”

There wasn’t any time to stop and think then because the ship was listing so badly it was getting impossible to lie on the deck. To avoid falling over, Foti grabbed the rail and made his way toward the bridge. Many men who had gone over starboard were killed when the ship rolled on them.

Starboard and aft were now sinking fast. When Foti arrived at the bridge, another plane came in causing a terrible explosion. This was the third suicide plane to crash the ship in addition to one torpedo.

Badly bruised but with no serious injuries, Foti got up and with no helmet or life jacket climbed hand over hand to the port side where he could abandon ship. The “Skipper” was on the bridge and doing what he could to direct the men to the safest part of the ship.

From where Foti stood waiting to jump form the sinking destroyer, he could see the men already in the water being attacked by sharks and strafed by enemy planes. About this time, friendly aircraft came to the aid of the stricken vessel.

The ship was now at such an angle that Fote was standing on her side. Another explosion occurred and blew a torn life jacket within ten feet of him. Realizing that he had to act against time, he grabbed the jacket and jumped.

“Making a ten foot leap into the air, Foti hit the keel of the ship as she rolled over. Landing on his back, he slid from the slipper keel into the water. The destroyer was still underway and continued going on.

Unable to swim and with only a battered life jacket for security, Foti was now faced with a triple threat: drowning, enemy planes, and sharks.

Our planes were intercepting the Japs, and as a precaution against the sharks Foti rolled over and over in fuel oil til he was completely covered. “It burned my eyes so, I thought they’d pop out,” he remarked.

“A wounded ship-mate of mine held me up and I tried to hold on to him. We stayed in the water over an hour just hanging on to each other like that.”

A small American patrol ship came to the rescue and picked the survivors up. Foti and the men were then taken aboard a hospital ship where they received immediate care.

Foti said, “The Luce was an accurate ship, and until the day of the sinking she never received an enemy scratch even though we saw action in every engagement of the Philippines, the first two raids on the Nip homeland and in numerous attacks on Jap shipping.

Speaking of his experiences the day the destroyer was sunk, Foti said, “It was the most disastrous thing I ever went through. I never want to go through it again. The good Lord was with me but our losses were heavy.

“On a ship that small it’s tough because the men were very close. We knew all about each other’s families and girl friends – it was almost like seeing your own brother die.”

Source: The Nutley Sun
Adapted from the book.


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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.23.2010

PACIFIC: Thurston Woodford

(Jan. 19, 1945) -- Seaman First-Class Thurston Fuller Woodford, son of C. Thurston Woodford of Verona, formerly of Nutley, was reported missing Nov. 10, 1944, after the explosion of the munitions ship, USS Mount Hood at its base in the South Pacific, on which he served.

Seaman Woodford is included in the Navy’s official casualty list released today.

His family received word from the Navy department on last Nov. 30 and it was confirmed after Christmas.

The 19-year-old member of the U.S. naval reserve last sent a letter written on Nov. 4 saying that the ship was waiting to discharge its cargo.

Woodford trained at Newport, R.I., and Norfolk, Va., going on active duty last Aug. 20.

His family last saw him in August when he was home on a five-day leave.

He was graduated with honors from Montclair Academy last June, where he was editor of the yearbook, a member of the tennis team, Forum and Red and Black, an honorary society. He has a brother William, M. a student at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

Woodford is listed on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.22.2010

PACIFIC: Herbert Washburne

(August 6, 1943) -- Seaman Second Class Herbert R. Washburne, 31, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Washburne of 23 Orchard street, was killed in action aboard the U.S.S. Juneau, along with the five Sullivan brothers, during the Guadalcanal invasion on Nov. 13, 1942.

He was a radio technician and had been reported missing on Jan. 15.

Besides his parents, he leaves a brother, Pvt. John A. Washburne, who is with the Army Air Forces in North Africa.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.21.2010

PACIFIC: Thomas Smith

(Dec. 7, 1945) -- While en route to the United States aboard the battle cruiser Guam, S 1/c Thomas Edward Smith, 19, son of Mrs. Alice Smith Van Dyne of Freeman place, was killed in a fall Nov. 30, according to a telegram received Tuesday by his mother.

Besides his mother, he leaves his step-father Gene Van Dyne, two brothers S 1/c Richard, and Harry, and a sister, Mrs. Alice Boyd.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.20.2010

PACIFIC: Sgt. Thomas Maxham

(Jan. 12, 1945) – T-Sgt. Thomas J. Maxham was killed in a B-29 plane crash on take-off at Dudhkundi, India, on Dec. 24, 1944, according to a War Department telegram received Dec. 30.

Maxham, nephew of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Rhodes of Chase Street, with whom he lived for a long while, was a radar operator on a B-29.

With the first B-29 raiders on Japan, June 15, Sgt. Maxham participated in other raids on Japan, and held the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster.

He went overseas in April, and before entering service in March 1942, was employed at the General Instrument company, Elizabeth.

He had previously attended Nutley High School and had worked at the Charms Candy Company, Bloomfield.

A High Mass was held for him at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
His father, James J. Maxham resides at Woodhaven, N.Y.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.19.2010

PACIFIC: Ens. William Louden

(Feb. 1, 1946) -- Ensign William Louden, reported missing in action since Nov. 13, 1944, is now officially listed as dead.

Ensign Louden was on a bombing strike when the torpedo bomber he piloted crashed in Cavite Harbor in the Philippines. He was attached to the Carrier Monterez.

Louden went through the local schools, graduating from Nutley High school.

He is survived by his mother Mrs. Flora C. Bornemann of Garden place, and a brother, Sgt. Henry C. Louden.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.18.2010

PACIFIC: Emil Liloia

April 13, 1945) - Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Vito Frank Liloia of Passaic avenue that their son, Pfc. Emil M. Liloia, 21, USMC, was killed in action March 1 on Iwo Jima while serving with the 3rd Marine division.

Born in Belleville, Pfc. Liloia came to Nutley when he was three. He went through Nutley schools and while in high school starred on the football team. He was voted the best athlete of the year.

He received a scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia and had played there only one year when he went into service.

Pfc. Liloia has four sisters, Ann, Ruth, Marie and Dorothy. A brother, SK 3/c Pat Liloia, has been in the Navy two and one half years and is at present on an oil tanker in the South Pacific.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.17.2010

PACIFIC: Lt. James Hare

(Aug.6, 1943) -- 1st Lt. James H. Hare, 27, died of an illness in a Japanese prison camp, his father, Kenneth R. Hare of Hillside Avenue, was notified by the War Department.

A 1st Lt. James H. Hare of the 71st Engineer Battalion, 71st Philippine Division, died Nov. 27, 1942, in the South Pacific.

The last message that Mr. Hare received was a wireless that he was “all right” after the fall of Bataan. A message was received by the father by the American Red Cross that his son was a prisoner of war.

Figures from the War Department are that one out of every 10 American soldiers known to have been captured since the fall of Corrigidor and Bataan has died of disease in Jap prison camps.

Lt. Hare, 27, was a graduate of Wisconsin University, receiving his Chemical Engineering degree in 1940.

He was called into the Army in the same year as a 2nd lieutenant and trained at Fort Belvoir, Va. He chose foreign duty and was sent to the Philippines.

His father is a sales manager for Koppers Company in Kearny and moved to Nutley over a year ago from Chicago, Ill.

A 1st Lt. James H. Hare of the 71st Engineer Battalion, 71st Philippine Division, died Nov.27, 1942, in the South Pacific.

He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.16.2010

PACIFIC: Lt. John Hanley

(Dec. 8, 1944) - Mrs. John M. Hanley of Race street was advised by the War Department last Friday that her husband, 1st Lt. John Hanley was killed Nov. 21, in the Burma Theatre of Operation.

Mrs. John Michael Hanley of Race Street, said the telegram stated that details of his death had not yet been released.

Mrs. Hanley, the former Mary Bandera of this town, had recently learned that her husband, a lawyer by profession, had just received an assignment in the department of the Provost Marshall General as a defense counselor during court martial proceedings.

Lt. Hanley, 37, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hanley of Jersey City, was married in May 1941 and was inducted shortly afterward on June 12, his 34th birthday.

He trained at Ft. Belvoir, Va., and late in 1942, entered Officer Candidate School, from which he was graduated and received his commission as 2nd lieutenant in 1942.

In July 1943, he was commissioned a 1st lieutenant and left for overseas. He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with one Bronze Service Star, an Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII and a World War II Victory pin.

Educated at All Saints Parochial School and Lincoln High School in Jersey City, Lt. Hanley received his law degree from the New Jersey Law School in 1929. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1930 and practiced with Joseph F. S. Fitzpatrick, former secretary of state, and John A. Lombardy, in Jersey City. He was a member of the Hudson County Bar association and Jersey City Council 137, Knights of Columbus.

Services were held in All Saints Church, Jersey City.

He is survived by his wife, an industrial nurse w/National Radio Corp. in Newark, his parents, a sister and three brothers.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.15.2010

PACIFIC: Arthur Garrett

U.S. Marines Sergeant Arthur C. Garrett was killed in action on Oct. 8, 1942, at Guadalcanal in the vicinity of Matanika River.

Garrett joined the service on May 5, 1939. His service number is 00271587.
He is the son of Peter W. Garrett of Cedar Street, Nutley.

He was assigned to the USS Barnett, Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands; USS Wakefield at 1st Base Depot, Norfolk, Va.; Parris Island, S.C.; Co I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines FMF.

Sgt. Garrett was posthumously awarded: Presidential Unit Citation ribbon bar with star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; American Defense Service Medal w/brass clasp; and World War II Victory Medal. He also had earned the Marksman Badge w/rifle bar.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.14.2010

PACIFIC: Anthony Di Petta

(Nov. 10, 1944) – Aviation Ordnanceman 1/c Anthony Di Petta was reported missing in action in a fiery plane crash in the South Pacific on Sept. 10.

His plane, together with other aircraft left the carrier on a pre-invasion strike against enemy installations and shipping in the Palau Islands. The attack was made in the face of persistent and accurate anti-aircraft fire.

Mr. and Mrs. Sisto Di Petta of Columbia Avenue, received a letter from his commanding officer, Lt. Commander S. L. Prickett, USN, telling that he was lost in an airplane crash at sea.

The letter follows:

“It was with considerable regret that I had to wire the Bureau of Naval Personnel that your son, Anthony, was missing as a result of an airplane crash at sea.

“Your son was in a plane piloted by Lt. J.R. Manown and took off or Malakai Island in the Palau group. The plane was in excellent shape. Just short of the target, the plane went into a steep dive, entered the water and burst into flames.

“We have listed your son as missing because no trace has been found of the plane or any of the crew. However, it is only fair to you to let you know what we think so that you will not maintain any heart breaking hopes for his survival. Because of the facts of the crash as we know them, we hold out no hopes for his survival.

“Your son was one of the first of the crew to report to his squadron. Since that time he has conducted himself in a manner to reflect pride on his family and on the Naval Service, whose traditions he maintained to the highest degree. Your son is badly missed by both the officers and the men of this squadron.”

Di Petta who has served five years in the Navy was attached to a Torpedo Squadron of the Air Force when he was lost in action.

Di Petta entered the Navy in 1939, taking his boot training at Newport, R. I. His first assignment was as a crewman aboard the USS Wasp. When that ship was torpedoed in September 1942, he spent six hours in a lifeboat in the Coral Sea before being picked up.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.13.2010

PACIFIC: Norman Bell

Private Norman R. Bell, USMC, was killed in action on Iwo Jima on Feb. 20, 1945. Pfc. Bell is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bell, Brookline Avenue.

Born in Brooklyn, he entered the Marines from New York. His service number is 00924143.

Bell was a BAR gunner who joined Able Company as a replacement after the Tinian campaign.

He was killed on the second day of the battle of Iwo Jima as his company performed mop-up duties along the beaches

He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation with one service star, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon. Pvt. Bell is listed on the Honolulu Memorial Honolulu, Hawaii.

Sources: ABMC, American Legion Post 70 Memorial; National Archives & Records Administration; The Nutley Sun; Geoff Roecker: Able Company, 24th Marines

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

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3.12.2010

PACIFIC: Edward Ashton

(July 23, 1943) -- Petty Officer Thomas Edward Ashton Jr., electrician’s mate 3/c, on submarine duty was reported missing in action April 22, 1943.

The young sailor was known by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ashton Sr., who formerly lived on Cathedral Avenue, to have been aboard the submarine Triton, which was reported by the Navy on July 22 as having been sunk in the Pacific with 11 Jap ships to its credit.

He attended St. Mary's elementary school. He was an assistant scout master of troop 12 at St. Mary's Church.

Tom has been engaged to Miss Olive Shaefer for the past year. He has three sisters, Alice and Melina who live in Nutley, and Mrs. Eileen Rodowsky.

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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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3.11.2010

PACIFIC: C. Bruce Dunthorn

(March 3, 1944) - In a telegram received Wednesday from Lt. General A. A. Vandergriff of the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus W. Dunthorn of High Street were informed of the death in action of their son, Pfc. Cecil Bruce Dunthorn, 22, of the celebrated Fifth Marines.

Two days before they had received a letter from Pfc. Jon La Barbera, one of Bruce's buddies telling them of their son's death while on a mission early in February during the invasion of Cape Gloucester, New Guinea.

Lt. Gen. Vandergriff's wire stated that Bruce was "killed in action in the performance of duty and service of his country."

Pfc. La Barbera wrote: "Before he passed away, Bruce asked me to write home for him. I have known Bruce for two years and we've been through thick and thin. When we lost Bruce, we lost the squad. He was undoubtedly the best. Two boys attempted to bring him to safety but did not succeed. One of the boys was wounded, the other was not hurt." When he returned he would be able to tell the story in detail.

Mr. and Mrs. Dunthorn last heard from their son in a letter written Jan. 24, in which he had asked that some toothpaste be sent to him. Earlier, in reply to a letter from his parents in which they had asked what he would like to have for Christmas, he had written that he wanted "only a handful of snow."

Pfc. Dunthorn, who was a sniper scout, had also taken part in most of the battle of Guadalcanal. He had been left behind in New Caledonia because of a broken wrist, but a few days later managed to stow away on a bomber and joined his unit at Guadalcanal.

He entered into the Marines the day after Pearl Harbor, and trained at Parris Island, S.C., and New River, N.C. His unit left New River in May 1942 for New Zealand where they went through an earthquake a day or two after arrival.

After Guadalcanal, Pfc. Dunthorn was evacuated to Brisbane, Australia, going from there to a town near Melbourne for a short rest. He later went to New Guinea for several months duty there.

On Feb. 4, Mr. and Mrs. Dunthorn had received word that their son had been recommended for the Navy V-12 training program in this country.

He is a graduate of Nutley high school.



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Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Nutley Sons Honor Roll, Nutley, N.J.
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