The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-05

Cpl. Gelhardt was attending high school when he enlisted in the Army Air Forces on December 13, 1943. He received his aerial gunnery training at Ft. Myers, Fla.
 18th AAF in Italy-S/Sgt. Mario A. Briganti, son of MT. and Mrs. Joseph Briganti of 19 Division stret, Waterbury, Conn, is now serving with 8 B-24 Liberator bomber which is bombing enemy bases in southern Europe.
 Before being transferred to the present base, Sgt. Briganti was sta- toned in England with the eight AAF and had completed eleven mis- sions. He was also awarded the Air Medal.
 Sgt. Briganti was attending high school when he entered the Army Air Forces on September 8, 1943. He is a member of the Mt. Vernon Boys club and the Paramonts.
 18th AAF in Italy-Staff Sgt Domenic Spadola, son of MT. and Mrs. R. A. Spadola of 77 East Farm street, Waterbury, Conn, is an op- erations clerk on the group head quarters staff of B-24 Liberator bomber group which recently cele- brated completion of one year in Italy.
 His veteran group, one of the old- est in the. Mediterranean area, came into Italy from Africa a year ago, shortly after the fall of Foggia and Naples to Allied Armies. The groups advance into Italy was part of the Allied overall strategy in Europe to launch vigorous, sustained attacks on the heart of Hitler's European fortress from the south, as well as from the west.
 Thus this bomber group became a component part of the 18th AAF which a year ago emerged in Italy as powerful striking force against the Nazi war machine. During the past 12 months, this particular Liberator group flew 168 combat missions from its base in southern Italy, dropping 9,064 tons of explo- sives on targets in southern and central Europe The group now has well over 300 missions to its credit, having previously operated from bases in Asia-Minor and North Africa.
 Sgt Spodola is . 1883 graduate oi the Wilby high school where he lettered three years in basketball. He entered the service in January, 1922, and came overseas the follow ing July with his present bomber group.
 He holds the European African Middle East theater ribbon with six campaign stars.
 18th AAF in Ttaly-2nd It. Will liam A. Kaynor, 21, of 168 Buck ingham street, Waterbury, Conn, Is co-pilot in the Italian based 454th Liberator bombardment group which has been awarded the War Depart. ment unit citation flor outstand- ing performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy" He is au- thoriZed to wear the War Depart ment unit citation badge.
 Carl P. Epstein of 129 Fulton Park avenue has been commissioned a second lieutenant at the Transport ation Corps school at New Orleans, La. He entered the Army Oct. IS, 1941 and served for two years with an Army medical unit in the Pan ana Canal Zone.
 New Orleans, La, Dec. 4-Andrew G. Paukstis, seaman first class, USNR, of Waterbury, has returned to the Armed Guard Center here after five months at sea as a mem Der of the Navy gun crew of a mer- chant ship. Paukstis, who entered the Navy in June, 1943, now has a total of nine months of sea duty to his credit. His ships have deliv- cred vital war cargo to ports in England, Australia, Ceylon, India, Egypt, and Arabia.
 In civilian life, Kaukstis was em- ployed by the Chase Rolling Mill in Waterbury. His mother, Mrs. Agatha Paukstis, resides at 198 Clover street.
 Corporal John J. Lynch, son of MT. and Mrs. Eugene P. Lynch of 1108 East Main street, has arrived in this country after 9 months of service in the Aleutian area, and has been assigned to Fort Benning, Ga. Word of his arrival here was received yesterday by his parents.
 Corporal Lynch, who served with Signal Corps unit, has been re- classified as paratrooper, and is now enrolled in a training course at Fort Benning.
 His brother, Edward Lynch. has just completed furlough here and has returned to Camp Bowie, Texas. His sister. Marine Corporal Julia is stationed at Henderson Hall, Arlington, Vt. Corporal Lynch will be given a furlough on completion of his training at Fort Benning.
 Captain William P. Byrne has made e claim for the prize set up for the first Fifth Divisions to reach Germany, according to word re- ceived here. Two companies of his unit are reported to have sent pa- trols across the border south of Kreuzwald. He is the son of Mir. and Mrs. William P. Byrne of i2 Hopkins street and the husband of the former Rose Stango of IA Adams street extension
 Bristol. Dec. 5.--The death of Corporal Dennis A. Rich, Jr, killed in Italy November i3, was an ace cident, according to Q War Depart ment letter received Monday by his parents, MT. and Mrs. Dennis A. Rich of 2B 0ridley street. Tho let- ter explained that the Bristol sole dier met his death when Q mine