The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-02


 MAJ. EDWARD P. FITZGERALD Maj. Edward P. Fitzgerald, re- ported missing in action in France since September 20, 1914, is pre- sumed to be dead, the War De- partment has informed his par ents, MT. and Mrs. William J. Fitzgerald, Il Railroad Hill street. The P-49 pilot had participated in 135 missions in the Mediterranean and European theaters, and had ! been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with at least r Oak Leaf Clusters. Entering the AEF in July, 1941 month after graduating from Fordham University, he was com missioned the following spring. In November. 1942, he was assigned tc fly support to the British Eighth Army at Tobruk, Sicily, Italy, and the Middle East.
 Upon completion of 85 missions 1 he returned to this country in Oc- tober, 1943, and returned to combat duty the following spring.
 Willis I. Leslie, 9, son of MT. and Mrs. Harry E. Leslie, Pierpont Heights, has returned here after serving r months in the Pacific on a PIT boat as a motor machin- ist mate, first class.
 Leslie participated in the cam- paigns of Bismarck Archipelago Bougainville, Leyte, and Lingayer campaigns. He was wounded while on patrol duty in May 1944, near Rabaul, and was hospitalized 40 days before returning to his squad . ron.
 A graduate of Leavenworth high school, Leslie was employed at the Maple Hill Dairy before entering the service.
 Maj. Charles B. Viall g Edgehill avenue, is expected home this week end, after nearly three years serv- ice in Europe and Africa, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Grace CIiffany) Viall, 16O Hinsdale avenue, Winsted.
 Maj. Vlan was an employe of the American Brass Go. in Waterbury before entering service in January 1941, as a second lieutenant. He wa! promoted to major in March, 1945
 It. William Powell. son of Mrs Christiana Powell, 1905 Thomaston avenue, will arrive in Waterbury this week, according to word re- ceived his wife, Mrs. Shirley (Sal- 1sbury) Powell, 169 Yale avenue. Middlebury. It. Powell, an AAF navigator, was a prisoner of war since January, 1914, when his plane was shot down over Germany. A Ninth Engineer Command Bat talion, Germany-M-Sg William L. Tanner of GA Main street, Thomas ton, Conn.,, has completed 24 months | Of overseas service with the 84Oth Engineer Aviation Battalion which has been released from the censor's secret list along with other units of the Ninth Engineer command.
 A construction technician, Tanner is serving with the battalion in Ger many where it has been repairing another forward airfeld for the U. s. Strategic Air Forces in Europe. Sergeant Tanner was irducted into the Army at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and received his basic training at Bradley Field, Connecticut.
 Before entering the service, Ser geant Tanner worked for the Con- necticut Highway Department, as a highway and bridge construction inspector. He is a graduate of the Gilbert High School, Winsted, Con- ! necticut. His mother. Mrs. Jessie K. Balz, lives at 793 Stratford, Connecticut.
 Marine Corps Air Depot, Niramar, Calf. - Marine Corporal Robert R. Reher, 20, of Waterville, an electri- clan with Fourth Marine Air Wing fighter squadron, has return ed here from the Pacific for fur tough and reasSignment.
 The son of MT. and Mrs. A. c. Reher, of Yale street, he was grad uated in l942 from Leavenworth High school. Prior to enlisting in February, l943, he was employed by Waterbury Manufacturing Com pany.
 He was based in Palau, Solomon and New Hebrides Islands. He under went bombings and strafings, but escaped injury. He was promoted to his present rank in August, 1944.
 With the Fifth Army, Italy-Cor- poral Charles E. Starrett, Jr., of Thomaston, Conn, has been award ed the Automotive Mechanic badge in Italy.
 In order to qualify for the badge, the soldier must have served at least three months as an Army mechanic after completing his instruction or having acted as an instructor for a similar period.
 Starrett serves in the 35Oth Bat tie Mountain regiment, 88th Blue Davil' Division of the Fifth Army.
 His wife, Mrs. Mary Starrett, lives at 151 Main street, Thomaston.