The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-25
BOYS IN THE SERVICE
JOHN '. o'DoNNELL

With The D. s. Forces, France-- American sailors in olive drab. mlngling with those in the tradi- tional Navy blue, are causing con- sternation among civilians and mili- tary police In French port towns. Regulations clearly define the uni forms to be worn by the Army's soldiers, and the Navy's sailors, but are vague on the subject of the 'half-and.half," the men of the Army's Navy,
 Any day in towns along the French coast can be seen Amert- cans wearing olive drab shirts and trousers with Navy jackets and sneakers, and, perched at the pre- else angle, the white sailors cap. They are the Armys soldiers of the seq, members of harborcraft com- panies.
 "Our job is sailing the Army's ships" explained Lieutenant Ralph 0. Williams, 605 East 10th Street, Newport, Kentucky. We handle the harhorcraft, tugs, launches, 0.boats, that tow the Liberty ships and barves into position for unload- Ing supplies"
 Men of harhorcraft companies are authorized both sailors and soldiers uniforms, said It. WN- Hams.
 Men of the harhorcraft compan- les pride themselves on doing both soldiers and sailors jobs well, They have lowed torpedo damaged Li- berty ships through nlinefields in English Channel storms, Some of these men landed on the Normally beaches on D-day, and when their craft were damaged, fought with infantry as soldiers.
 Among the Connecticut men are:
 Staff Sergeant Malcolm P, Mack enxie, 2i2 Collins street, Hartford.
 Private First Glass August Des- ena, 76 Fairfax street, Waterbury.
 Somewhere In the Southwest Pa- cific - TY4 Daniel ]. Sharkey, son of Mir. and Mrs. Emin Sharkey of io3 scovill street, Waterbury, Copn., Is now on duty with an anti-aircraft unit in the Southwest Pacific,
 Sergeant Sharkey entered the Army in March, i942, and was sta- toned at Camp Stewart, Ca, and later at Vallejo. Calf, on the west coast, He left the United States with his organization in September, is42, and has been based at Quad. alcanal, New Caledonia, New Zeal- and and in New Guinea. He saw considerable action on 0uadalcanal, taking part in the first American offensive against the Japanese in that area. Sgt. sharkey is e radio operator and repairman In com munications section, and demon- strated unusual ability in that field under combat conditions. His or- ganiEation was responsible for the anti.aircrAft defense of the famed Henderson Field at duadalcanal for 0 period of eleven months and es- tablished Q very cornmendable rec ord, being ofiacially credited with shooting down Q number of Jap planes.
 Before entering the service Sgt. Sharkey was employed as Q burn lsher by the Scovill Mfg. Co.,, of Waterbury. He attended Leaven. worth High school, and was promi- nent in athletics, such as basketball, baseball, and hockey. He was Q member of the local YMCA, and the Waterbury Boys club, and attended St. Anns Catholic church.
 After leaving the Solomons area he spent lengthy rest period in New Zealand and has recently been assigned to the New Guinea area.
 Donald W. Harvey, 10, 10 Carroll street, Naugatuck, nose turret gun- neE In Q R.M LlbcFat0r group, Com- Snanded by Lt. Col. Philip R. Hawes, Pearl River, N. Y., has recently been promoted to Sergeant.
 Harvey arrived overseas during ! August of this year. Prior to his