The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-03

a graduate or CrOSDy nlgn ScnOOi,
 class of 1941, and was a student
 at the University of Connecticut
 when he enlisted i'm the aviation
 cadet program in November, 1942.
 George J. Byron, Jr., of All Syl- van avenue, weS commissioned a second lieutenant at recent exercises at Napier Field, Ala. He also re- ceived the silver wings of pilot.
 Private First Class Clifford Stew art, son of MT. and Mrs. Harry C.. Stewart of 27 Peach street, recently participated in 24-hour hike taken by an infantry unit which was de- livering Il German soldiers to a prisoner of war cage. A Fifth Army headquarters announcement states the unit hiked 20 miles through Italian mountains to complete the task. The local soldier, who served as a messenger during the artillery barrage at the start of the Italian drive, was employed by the Plume and Atwood Manufacturing Con- pany before entering the service.
 Corporal Joseph l.. Minervini of PA Oak street is an assistant crew chief on MT. Period,' a P-5l Mus tang fighter plane, which is based in England. The son of Mir and Mrs Ortenzio Minervini, he attend ed Leavenworth High school and served as an inspector at a local plant before entering Army service.
 Sergeant George Gagne of 19 West Liberty street, who was report ed missing in action over Germany since May 30, is Nazi prisoner of war, according to telegram re- ceived by his parents. MT. and Mrs. Prudent Gagne. The message was sent through the International Red Cross.
 Lieutenant Charles w. Sanford, husband of the former Bernice An derSon of Thomaston, has been as- signed to the staff of General Ber- nard Montgomery, leader of the land invasion forces, according to an announcement received here. He has been overseas since November.
 Harold V. Marmaduke, son of MT. and Mrs. William H. Jones of 63 Randolph avenue, has been given the rating of seaman, first class, at Bainbridge, Md, where he recently completed a phase of Naval train- ing
 Two Waterbury men who are Serv- ing with B-26 Marauder group in the Mediterranean theater have been awarded the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement" in aerial flight, according to an announce ment made at the 18th Army Air Force headquarters.
 They are Technical Sergeant Leonard I. Gaunt of 49 Granger street, a radio operator-gunner, and Staff Sergeant James R. Cronin of 1901 South Main streetfi, who also is a radio operator-gunner. They were vited for their work in the first mission against Florence. Italy.
 Sergeant Gaunt recently partici- pated in action on Becky. a Ma rauder bomber. which returned from Italy with 250 flax holes covering it.
 With The Fifth Army. Italy Private Michael D. Lombardi, 45 French street, Waterbury, Connec- ticut. rifleman, is a member of an Infantry Company. Co. "G" 339th Infantry. which helped to crack the tough Gustave line, winter-long de- fensive position of the Germans in Italy. This organization is part of the hard fighting American force. The 85th Custer" Division, which advanced in the coastal sector of the main Fifth Army front in the drive to join forces with the Anzio Beach, head.
 Fifty minutes after the offensive began, at 2300 hours May II, Pri- Yate Lombardi and the other men of his company had seized an im- portapt height, possession of which was vital to the success of the reg iment's mission. This success was achieved by closely following an ar' tillery barrage and sweeping past the German Hill positions before the enemy could recover. They then turned and attacked the Nazis from the rear, using their own weapons to confuse them.
 Private Lombardi's company held the hill during the night and from that position on the following day they were able to aid the advance of other companies of the regiment. Private Lombardi entered the front lines. as a replacement, four days before the Allied offensive began, Before entering the service in Au- gust i943, he was a truck driver and also was a milkmap for several years, He Is 2e years old,
 Eugene 4, Legge, JF., son Of Fire Captain Eugene 4, Legge, 3t HuD- geFford avenue, has been promoted to motor machinlst's mate by the Navy. Mate Legge is . member ot an LsT boat and has already paT' tieIpated in the inyasioDs at Sicily and North Africa. His brother corp- OFal William IAgge is with the