The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-30

1t. Vincent S. Ray, who has
previously been awarded the Air
Medal with three Oak Leaf clus-
ters while serving with an Eight
Air force squadron in England,
was recently named flight lead
er. His plane, the Shirley Wee, was
named in honor of his wife, the
former Shirley Woodward, 153
Willow street.
The fighter pilot was formerly
employed by the Naugatuck Glass
Co.
Pfc. Francis j. Hotchkiss, %, a
veteran of the invaSionS of North
Africa, Italy, France, Belgium, and
Germany, returned to Camp Devens
Mass, after spending a 21-day fur
Tough with his mother, Mrs. Della
Hotchkiss, 62 Ayers street
During his 80 months service
overseas with an airborne division
the Waterbury soldier was awarded
the Glider Medal with the Bronze
Star for participating in glider cam
paign, the Silver Star for gallantry
and the bronze Star for his partici-
patton in six battles.
He is former employe of Water
bury Companies, Inc.
He has three other brothers in
service. They are Pfc. Russell in
the Philippines; Pvt. Arthur and
Pfc. Edward, both of Germany.
Pvt. Frederick Zorn returned to
his station at North Camp Hood yes
terday, after spending furlough
with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. John
Zorn, SO Auburn avenue. Pvt. zorn
entered the service in May, 1913.
Word has been received from Pfc.
Nicholas Mucci, 80, reported miss
ing in Germany April 7, that he Is
resting in England after liberation
from a German prison camp. A let
ter from the soldier to his mother
Mrs. Nunciato Mucci, 78 Savings
street, was the first indication HI
was safe.
Pvt. Mucci, overseas since July
last year, had been serving in Bel
GUM and Germany with an ar
mored division. He entered the
Army in October, 1913, before which
he was employed by the Connecticut
Beverage Co., South Main street,
and the Standard Mfg. Co., Torring-
ton.
His wife, the former Carmela Lor-
vallo, resides in Torrington.
Clarence F.. Fisher, Jr., recently
promoted to seaman first class, is
now spending five-day leave with
his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Clence
R. Fisher, 88 Stafford street. Fisher
Is an anti-aircraft gunner on an as
sault and cargo boat. He will re-
turn after his leave Tuesday to the
naval base at Norfolk, Va.
With the Fifth Army-Pvt. Vim
cent Salvatore, son of Mrs. Mary
Salvatore, 1919 Elm street, Water
bury, Conn, has been cited by the
337th Wolverine" Regiment of the
85th Custer" Infantry Division and
awarded the Combat Infantryman
Badge for actual participation in
combat against the enemy on the
Fifth Army front In Italy.
With The U. s. Armys I Corps
On Luzon: These veterans of New
Guinea as well as the Philippines
can repair anything from a 17-jew-
ell watch to a 70 foot, 10 ton ar
mored tank recovery vehicle as big
as a locomotive. And If the men
of the 243rd Ordnance battalion
haven't the equipment for a spe-
Cpl. George F. Gemino, 95 Oak
street, son of Frank Femino, Wa
terbury musical and radio director,
is an armorer with the 243rd.
T/Sgt. Laurence H. Plourde was
slightly wounded in Germany, April
8, according to a letter received
by his wife. the former Stella
Desrochers, 624 South Main street.
The infantryman, who has been in
the service since 1910, spent three
years in the Panama Zone, later
being assigned to Pearl Harbor. He
has been in the European theater
for the past two months.
Sgt. Plourde holds the Good Con-
dict Medal, Expert Infantryman'S
Badge. and Expert Rif1eman Badge.