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.

********************************************
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.
4th Edition ordering information

Carnival

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.

********************************************
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.
4th Edition ordering information

Carnival

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.

********************************************
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.
4th Edition ordering information

Carnival

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.

********************************************
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.
4th Edition ordering information

Carnival

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.



********************************************
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.
4th Edition ordering information

Carnival

Robert Clendenning Jr.

(Oct. 20, 1944) - 1st Lt. Robert Clendinning of the Army Air Force, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clendinning of 126 High Street has been reported killed in action Sept. 27 over England.

A telegram from the War Department provided no details to his wife Mrs. Bertha Schundler Clendinning. Their daughter Beth is now a year old.

Lt. Robert J. Clendinning, U.S. Air Force, 846th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group Large, received the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart. He is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Plot E, Row 6, Grave 2.

C. Lowell Liebau

(Oct. 6, 1944) - Anna Liebau of Franklin avenue was informed by telegram Monday that her son Lt. C. Lowell Liebau, 22, had been killed in action in France on Sept. 16.

Born in Nutley, Oct. 4, 1921, Lowell attended the local schools and was graduated from the high school as president of his class in February 1939.

Besides his mother, he leaves a sister Mrs. Jack Thelin, and his fiancée Miss Joan Pennington, of Carteret place.

Robert Dickert

(Oct. 6, 1944) - Mrs. Margaret Dickert of 331 Park Avenue was informed by telegram Monday that her husband Pfc. Robert Dickert had been killed in action in France on Sept. 15.

Robert Di Petta

(Nov. 10, 1944) - Mr. and Mrs. Sisto Di Petta of 9 Columbia Avenue, who were informed that their son, Aviation Ordnanceman 1/c Anthony Di Petta, was missing in action, have received a letter from his commanding officer, Lt. Commander S. L. Prickett, USN, telling that he was lost in an airplane crash at sea.

Young 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.

Sgt. J. Eckson Pierce

(Aug. 25, 1944) - 1st Sgt. J. Eckson Pierce, formerly of Park Avenue, was reported killed in action in Northern France on July 30, 1944.

Pierce is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France, Plot E, Row 23, Grave 24.

Sgt. Wilbur Westfall

Sgt. Wilbur E. Westfall, U.S. Army serial No. 32064875, served in the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division.

He entered the service from New Jersey, and died on July 20, 1944.

Westfall is buried at Plot B, Row 7, Grave 25, Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent-sur_Mer, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.

1st Lt. John Gervan

(July 13, 1945) - Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. John Gervan of Myrtle avenue, that their son, 1st Lt. John Gervan, 27, reported missing last July 4, has been officially declared dead.

Lt. Gervan was piloting a P-51 Mustang with the 381st Fighter Squadron, 363rd Fighter group over St. Lo (France) when he was lost.