The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 10

Stories of Brooklyn Men and Women in U. S. War Service Missing Boro Flier Hero of Many Battles Lt. Wehman Bagged 2 Junkers Over Sicilian Straits Limped Home 4 Times on 1 Engine Four times Lt. George E.

Wehman Jr 26, was able to .1 jr Jap Camp Disease Takes Eight More Boro and I. Men Washington, July 2 (UK Additional messages through the International Red Cross from Japan have notified the War Department of more names of American soldiers who have died of diseases in JaDanese orison camps since the L. bo bring his battle-scarred pursuit ship limping home on one Sicily, however, even that last 4 f--v3 yJI ILJI Pfc. Joseph Hammer Jr. MORE COMBAT NAVIGATORS Now qualified to navi-gate giant Allied bombers to Axis targets anywhere in the world, having graduated from the Gulf Coast training center at Hondo, Texas, are, left to right, Lts.

Bernard Berman of 148 Sfuyvesant Conrad Silverman of 1060 52d James J. Matouk of 559 49th St. and Abraham Lach-terman of 900 Quentin Road. i i I i ii i 111 1 A Pfc. John Nelement Sure Her Hero Son, Brother Died Happy enemy fire.

Lt. George E. Wehman Jr. instruct rookie pilots at a training station In Northwest Africa. Got More Rest at Front Wehman's comment on his "vacation" was, "I got more rest at the front." A native of Brooklyn and a graduate of James Madison High School, he went to work for the U.

S. Rubber Company and to qualify himself for advancement in the credit department attended evening courses for two years at Brooklyn College and for two more years at New York University, Lieutenant Wehman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George E. Wehman who live at 171 Van Sicklen are an old, well known Brooklyn family.

Lt. Boyd's Plane Downed In France on July 4 The second local man listed was Lt. Melville Guy Boyd, 20, who was reported mi-ssing after only one month in Europe. Pilot, of a Flying Fortress, Lieutenant Boyd had made only a few flights over France when his plane was forced down on July 4. A graduate of Southside High School, Rockville Centre.

Guy was a member of the honor society and also played in the school band. Ma triculating at New York Univer sity in 1939 at the at2e of 16, he majored in math, intending to become a chemical engineer. On the tide he also studied music. Leaving N. Y.

U. 14 months ago, he enlisted in the air corps, receiving his wings at Moody Field. Valdos-ta, in February, 1943. Lt. Burke Came to U.

S. From Ireland in 1930 The remaining local flying officer listed was Lt. James G. Burke. 23, of 240 E.

32d St. Pilot of a Flying Fortress, he has been reported as missing since June 30th, in the southwest Pacific area. Born In County Clare. Ireland, Lieutenant Burke came to the United States in October, 1930. Graduating from St.

Francis Preparatory High School in 19:18, he worked for the Spcrry Gyroscope Company until his in the army air corps as an aviation cadet in March. 1942. Lieutenant Burke received his wlnys when he graduated at Big Spring, Texas. (w Citadel Military College, South Carolina. Howtrd Weill D.

P. Mclntrner Sgt. Howard Weill of 683 Grand St. Is stationed in Greensboro, N. C.

Pvt. Daniel P. Mclnerney of 250 E. 5th St. has returned to his post at Camp Bowie, after a 15-day furlough.

P. Boulton Domlnfck Seeir Pfc. Francis Victor Boulton of 712 8th Ave. has finished basic training in Texas and is now stationed in San Francisco. Cal.

Pfc. Dom-inick Scelfo of 7520 1 7th one of the first to serve with General MacArthur's forces in wiping out Japs on Guadalcanal, is home for a brief, but well-earned rest. While on leave, Warren Bodine of 393 Pulaski seaman second class, was married to Dorothy Zof-fenger of 643 Central at St. John's R. C.

Church, 75 Willoughby Ave. Your Wartime In Brrnatein RUnlrr Glan Pvt. Leo Bernstein of 1124 Avenue celebrated his birthday it the army air forces technical training command at Miami, Fla. Pfe. Stanley Glass of 1333 Coney Island Ave.

has been admitted to Hamilton College, Clinton, N. J. L. J. Ckrrao L.

A. Carroa Pvt. Louis J. Carrao of 2033 W. 10th St.

is stationed at the naval air station at Pensacola, Fla. His cousin, Pvt. Louis A. Carroa of 2438 W. 3d is with the army In Los Angeles.

A third cousin, Anthony J. Camarada of 1884 W. 6th i overseas with the navy. Pfc. Roy E.

Barlow of 444 E. 17th St. is home on furlough from the Key Field, air base. Receiving basic training with tht Coast Guard at Manhattan Beach, N. is William E.

Nelson of Francis Place. Problems By RICHARD HART 171 engine. On his l.ast sortie over engine was knocked out by In a previous aerial battle, which was fought over the Sicilian Straits last April 5, Lieutenant Wehman had to dive through a protecting umbrella of escorting enemy fighter planes and knock them off before he could reach the big; Junkers 52 s. After reaching them Lieutenant Wehman shot down two. He was also credited with two more "probables" and damage to a fifth Junkers.

2 Other Local Men Missing Besides Lieutenant Wehman the other two local lighting men included in the list of 145 announced yesterday by the War Department as missing in the various theaters of war as 2d Lt. Melville Guy Boyd of 117 Pine Rockville Centre, missing in the European area, and 2d Lt. James G. Burke, 240 E. 32d missing in the southwest Pacific area.

Lieutenant Wehman, who was one of the first American pilots to land in North Africa, has been in a great deal of action there. Earlier in the year, when vicious battles were raging for the possession of North Africa, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the erstwhile Desert Fox, slyly built an airfield over night so that the next morning Lieutenant Wehman and his squadron ran into a virtual hornets' nest. Saved From 'Jerry' By Comrade While young Wehman was dodging across the enemy airfield an ack-ack shell hit his wing, exploded and blew his right aileron of. Outnumbered by Messerschmitt, 109 by four to one, with a Jerry right on his tail, with little if any maneuverability due to the lass of the aileron and with an M. E.

109 peppering away at him. Lieutenant Wehman was in a bad way until a comrade in his outfit chased the Jerry off his tail. Just then an explosive shell blew off the top of his right engine. About this young Wehman wrote his parents, "I had to go on one engine then but I managed to get out O. K.

Thank God for two engines." Lieutenant Wehman continued. "The fight lasted an hour and 20 minutes and during that time I lost about five pounds of sweat. I had 22 bullet holes in my ship and burned out two machine guns. The ship never flew in combat again. The day after I got back we escorted bombers to the new German field and blew it off the map." Squadron Cited for Best Average Lieutenant Wehman's squadron, of which he was the leader, was cited as the squadron with the best average of any in the entire Amer ican airforce.

Working with Gen eral Doolittle's group of the 12th airforce. Lieutenant Wehman was awarded the Air Medal with four oait leaf clusters for heroism in ac tion. While in North Africa. Lieutenant Wehman engaged in a wild boar hunt along with 11 other American officers as the guest of an Arab chieftain. Stationed 100 yards apart, armed with Springfield rifles and aided by 300 native jungle beaters, the parly brought down a boar, two panthers and a baboon.

Although he had been in the army for more than two yeais. George Wehman Is one soldier who never received a furlough. Last March he understood he was to get a brief "vacation." When It came it proved to be an assignment to Bard College to Start Army Training Program Bard College, residential undergraduate college of Columbia University at Annadale-on-Hudson, will bc2in training 150 foreign-area and language students and 144 pre-engineering students under the army specialized training program i Am. 9. it was announced yesterday by Dran G.

H. Gray. The curriculum for the foreign area will consist of a study of the geoaraphy. history and cultural aspects of Europe with special emphasis on France and Germany. The pre-engineering studies will include mathematics, physics, chemistry, drafting, geography, history and English.

fall of Bataan and Corregidor. Included in the list are eight from Brooklyn. Queens and Long Island. The list, with next of kin, includes: CORNELL. 2d Lt.

Arthur R. Mrs. Arthur R. Cornell, wife, of 79 Ixmgview Road, Port Washington, Long Island. HAMMER, Pfc.

Joseph A. Jr. Joseph Hammer father, of 1054 70th St. LIDEN, Staff Sgt. Anhur V.

Mrs. Maude Liden, mother, of 9031 Port Hamilton Parkway. NELEMENT, Pfc. John Sam Nelement, father, of 147-59 Hoover Jamaica. O'HARA, Pvt.

Thomas W. Michael OHara, father, of 7-26 130th College Point, L. I. Rl'SCIL 1st Sgt. Henry Mrs.

Preida Coulter, sister, of 1689 Gates Ave. SCALERA, Pvt. Salvatore L. Mrs. Antoinette Scalera, mother, of 2064 58th St.

TIERNAN, Pvt. John V. Patrick Tiernan, father, of 519 Lincoln Place. Graduation exercises for 42 Red Cross Nurses' aides will be held at the Queens Red Cross headquarters, 92-32 Union Hall Jamaica, tomorrow night at 8 o'clock. Students were Instructed by Mrs.

Helen Pierce, registered nurse of Elm-hurst, and Pearl Kemp, registered nurse of St. Albans. They completed their ward training at Queens General and City Hospitals, and will now begin to serve the 150 hour minimum in Queeas hospitals required by the Red Cross. Mrs. Walter Van Campen.

chairman of nurses' aides, announced that a new day group of 13 housewives started training at chapter headquarters in a course given by Pearl Kemp. Queenie, the black and white Boston bull terrier belonging to Lt. Francis Joseph Schiller, 900 Greene has been missing since June 26. The dog was lost, near 71 Hempstead Midland Beach, Staten Island. The lieutenant, who came home recently from Harvard University where he is ith the signal corps, hopes that any information about Queenie will be reported to his mother, Mrs.

Vera Schiller. The army is co-operating with the Queens County Liquor and Restaurant Association in its drive to lect and send cigarettes to the men overseas, according to a letter ceived by Rudy Marwede, association president, from Lt. Col. Harold G. Hoffman, former Governor of New Jersey.

Praising the association's drive for cigarettes, the letter stated that the Special Service Branch will participate in shipping and distributing them to the men stationed in foreign countries. The campaign in Queens has met with remarkable success. President Marwede announced. Young McCormack, Machine-Gunner, Died 'Pitching' 'Pop. I'll keep pitching." wrote 1st Class Seaman Nicholas J.

McCormack in his last letter from the Philippines, in November, 1941. "And I guess he died pitching." declared his father, Edmond P. McCormack of 263 71st St. "He was assigned to a machine-gun aboard a submarine mother-ship and he went down fighting for Corregidor." Reported missing for 14 months, following the surrender of the Philippine fortress, Nicholas, 24. was declared dead by the Red Cross July 12.

He enlisted In March, 1940. and first saw action when his ship was struck by a torpedo in the Philippines. The crew beached the vessel at Bataan and swarmed ashore to Join the land forces in their defense of the peninsula. When Bataan surrendered Nicholas joined the retreat to fight at Corresidor. He was killed aboard a ship on the day the city surrendered.

Two brothers are in the service. John, electrician's mate, 3d class, and Edmund, 18. who has Just reported for induction. DRAFTIE In "leatherneck lingo" this show Is a "ding howl" means that it's okay. Here are other pet exprea sions used by the men in the marine corps: Armored heifer canned milk.

Twist-a-dlzzy roll a cigarette. Housewife sewing kit Chin music talking Pancakes collision mats. Joe and Joe-pot coffee and coffee pot Ear banger man Knock it off Quit whatever you're doing. Right now I Pvt. Walter B.

Phillips of 2130 E. 19th St. is training as an engineer at Camp Clayborne, La. He is a graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School. Sgt.

G. W. Neangier of 85 Lefferts Ave. has returned to Gulfport Field after a recent furlough. His brothers, Pfc.

A. Arthur and Corp. Hiram G. Neangier, are stationed in Los Angeles, and his brother, Harry Neangier, is In the navy. Pvt.

Kenneth Hurewitz, who is stationed at Fort Eustis, lives at 12 Newklrk Plaza. He is a grad uate of Erasmus Hall High School and was attending New York University before he entered the service. Home on a 10-day furlough from Camp Gordon, Ga is Afc. Mildred Anderson of 575 VaJiderbilt Ave. Her brother, Pvt.

Carl Anderson, was home over last weekend from rrovidence College, R. I. Their friend, Corp. William Gilchrist of 554 Vanderbilt stationed with the marines at New River, N. is also home for a brief visit.

Now a second lieutenant on as signment in the Hawaiian Islands James F. Flaherty of 330 85th Bay Ridge, after graduating from the finance officer candidate school at Duke University, N. C. Edmund A. Whiting of 8220 Fort Hamilton Parkway has been pro moted to sergeant.

He is in desert training at Banning, Cal. Air Cadet Joseph P. Freyland of 114 Linden Boulevard has received his silver wings on graduating from the Las Vegas, gunnery school. He has been sent to the Mather Field, navigation school. J.

J. Mintoll Georte Klidonai Joseph John Minutoll of 309 President St. will be assigned to a radio station as third class petty of- licer. having graduated from the naval training school at Miami) University, George Klldonas of 453 Lafayette Ave. is attending the cook and baker school at Fort Jackson, S.

C. Also promotrd to sergeant is Joseph D. Minoatie of 1474 56th who is stationed at Gulfport Field. Miss. Stephen Bert Freedman of 1579 E.

26th St. has been appointed cadet corporal of Company A at the By Paul Fogarty YAA'OCNWB mid no wemis Ufj PITZ WATBK fS It 3 Pvt. Salvotore Scalera Thomas O'Haro drafted In 1941. After he was shipped overseas the family found itself mourning him twice on the basis of false or uncertain reports. "So perhaps now," says his mother, "The next news we get of him, he'll be alive and then we won have to mourn anymore." Quotes Bible on Hearing Of Soldier Son's Death With the silver arch of White-stone Bridge glittering before his eyes, Michael O'Hara, 66, of 7-26 130th College Point, sat on his front porch overlooking the East River yesterday twirling a globe of the world until he reached the patch named Philippine Islands where his only child, Pvt.

Thomas O'Hara, 28, has been reported dead in a Japanese prison camp. "The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away," he said. The cottage where father and son kept house together after the death of Mrs. O'Hara in 1924 stands on the brink of Powell's Cove where Thomas used to anchor the boat he sailed on the East River and Long Island Sound. A good swimmer ho spent most of his time in the water.

Thomas once gave his father a bad scare by running up a sail on his boat and spending two days and a night on the Sound before returning home. He was reported missing Dec. 22. 1941. On Palm Sunday of this year, April 18.

he was reported a Japanese prisoner, and two weeks ago the War Department informed his father that he died. Wants Body "I feel the poor boy's troubles Is over in thus world." his father con tinued. "But I hope thpy will send his body home. I cion't want his bones lvum in the Philippines He added. "When I got the first report my hopes were shaken that I'd ever see him again.

A former Brooklyn resident. Mr. Hara lived at 16th St. and Coney-Island Ave. "Prospect Park was my son's he declared, pointing out a large picture of a boy in old-fashioned dress standing in a grassy field, "That was taken when he was four In' Botanic Gardens." He also mentioned that his uncle, James O'Hara, was shepherd of the flock which once grazed In Prospect Park.

Michael OHara worked for 17 years on the old Manhattan Bridge three cent street car line which closed down In 1929. At the age of 52 during the depression, he found it impassible tn get another job. However, he had "put aside a little." and Thomas used to help out by caddying at Clearview Golf Links across the river. "He was a good boy and all I htul," said his father remembering those difficult dajrs when the two helped each other make the best of hard times. "I never had any trouble with him," he concluded.

Pvt. OHara attended St. Aghes Academy. Brooklyn, and Flushing High School. He was six feet tall.

The family moved to College Point when he was a child. Pfc. John Nelement Was Repair Expert A former refrigerator repair man Pre. John Nelement, 24. of 147-59 Hoover Jamaica, has been reported dead by the War Department.

Three weeks ago his family received word from the Interna-j tional Red Cross that he was a Continued on Following Page SUNDAY, JULY 25, 1943 Pvt Somemes Difficult to Check Facts Of Those 'Missing in Action' ''Would you please explain why the families of men reported a 'missiiiL' in action' are keDt in susoense for a long time." writes Mrs. "They died happy, I'm sure of it," said Mrs. Frieda Coulter of 1689 Gates Ave. Information that her brother had died in a Japanese prison camp arrived July 14, five weeks after the news that her son had gone down in the Coral Sea Battle. "They were doing the work they liked and had always wanted to do," she said.

"And I know they wete content." A volunteer, her son, Seaman 1st Class Earl John Williams, 20, had enlisted in the navy October 1940 and was stationed aboard the USS Sims when that vessel was sunk in the Pacific battle. He was reported missing a year and one day before definite news of his death arrived June 11. "He didn't even finish school because he wanted to join the navy so badly," said Mrs. Coulter. 'Til never forget how thrilled he was i when I gave my coasent and he re- reived a telegram of acceptance on his 18th birthday.

He joined with all his friends and I believe they all went down together. That's how they would have wanted it." i Brother A World War Vet Mrs. Coulter's brother. 1st Sgt. Henry Rusch.

48. had fought in Cologne during the first World War, and afterwards had remained in the army. On the retirement list, he was recalled to the Phillipines October 1941, and was stationed in Corregidor when the Japanese captured the fort. He died in a prison camp, according to the Red Cross, of beri bed and malnutrition. His la.st missive was a postcard December 1941, saying that his company was moving on.

"He loved Corregidor." said Mrs. Coulter, and always said that he'd go back lo it when he retired. Another ton. Pvt. Charles Williams.

22. Is row serving in North Africa. Son She Saw in Newsreel Died as Jap Prisoner "That's my son! That's my Sally," screamed Mrs. Antoinette Scalera when she saw her son last June In captured newsreels of Japanese prisoners, and then she fainted. "I hadn't seen him In 17 months," she told reporters at the time.

"And then there he was on the screen, himself alone, walking down the stairs with his hands up. He was so close to me I could count is five fingers" For a month the news reels sustained the family's hope that Pvt. Salvatore Scalera would return sine from his Japanese captors. ThP trpram that arrived at Mrs. Sralera's home.

306 58th June 10 dashed those hopes. It was a notice from the Red Cross declaring that Salvatore had died In prison of pellagra and malnutrition. "He had a feeling that he would never come back." Mrs, Scalera said. "He just, knew that he was going to die." "Why doesn't Congress send us food and ammunition?" he wrote in one of his letters from the Philippines, just before the war started. "What are they waiting for?" His last letter, dated June 25.

1942. came from the Philippines. Addressed affectionately to his mother, it said: "Mom. I'm always thinking of you. And I hope that this letter finds you in nood health snd the family in good health.

Kiss the kid biother for me and take rai" nf yourself." atre 28 was a clothing stove salesman and had been engaged to a ne.E'.ib": hood girl before he was 1 rJB Tm H. L. "and also how long It will take before the wife gets her rightful money and how does she apply for it?" This status of "missing in action" is applied to any man who doe not report back to his outfit within a reasonable time after an engage ment. When his commanding officer reports him as missing to G. H.

his name is checked against all hospital lists and all lists of men who are known to have died in battle. If he appears in neither, then he reported to Washington as This does not mean that he has been killed. He may be amonr the unidentified wounded or he may have been captured by the enemy. If the latter is true, It may take several months, and even longer, for his name to be forwarded to Washington via the International Committee of the Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland, which 1 Is the great clearing house for all information regarding prisoners of war. PAYMENT AS USUAL During the long period when a man's status still remains "missinf in action," all his usual allowances are paid regularly to his family.

is even po-si'ole for a dependent to apply for an additional sum from the misslns man's pay when it can be proved that the allotment it inadequate. It is suggested that, in such cases, the families enlist tha assistance of the experts at the Red Crass for such applications art intricate performances and require great care. If, finally, the widow receives official notification of the death of the service man, she is entitled to (1) his uncollected pay until time of death, 12) a gratuity of six months' additional pay, (3) a widow's pension, and also the benefits from any life insurance ha has taken out in her behalf. There are so many papers to be filled out in all such cases that we recommend that the widow or the man's other dependents ask for the assistance of the Red Cross. The Director, Dependents' Claim Service, Veterans Administration, Washington, D.

is the proper source of full information on these matters and it is through this offlc that all claims are routed. ASIDES TO READERS: TO EMMA J. Government insurance benefits are never paid In lump, sums, and only to the legal wife of the deceased. If she cannot prove her common law status, the benefits pass to the nxt of kin. after full investigation.

Be sure of all of your facts when you apply, because you open yourself to punishment if anything1 has been misrepresented. To F. D. K. You receive a three-weeks' furlough after being inducted, which will afford ample time for you to settle your affairs.

Don't sell your business until you know for i sure that you have passed all tests at the induction center. It you have a problem, write to Richard Hart, rare of this newspaper A stamped, addressed envelope will bring a persona! reply. "ANNAPOLIS OF AIR" GRADS Having finished training at Pensacola, these naval aviators will go on active duty at one of the navy's training centers before being assigned to a combat zone. They are left to right, 2d Lt. John J.

Kelly Jr. of 2181 Bedford marine corps reserve; Ensigns Nicola A. Serini of 1217 Nostrand Ave. and Burton J. Sayman of 1375 Ocean naval reserve.

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