The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-22
NEWS OF MEN LN THE SERVICE

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 XXI Bomber Command Head quarters Guam-For the part they played in the historic Superfortress low level incendiary attacks on Japan, two men from Waterbury, Connecticut, and hundreds of other enlisted men at B-29 bases in the Marianas, have been commended by Major General Curtis E. LeMay, commanding the XXI Bomber Command.
 They are specialists with the ground echelons who are supporting the almost daily Superfort assaults against the Japanese mainland.
 Your determination, skill and courage have delivered a stunning blow to the empire of the Rising Sum- General Lemay said. Com bat crews and the hard-working maintenance and staff people are to be heavily commended for their accomplishments in these historic operations.
 Throughout the eight days cover | ing the sustained bombing attacks, | these men and other members of the ground staff worked night and day, virtually without rest, to keep | the Army bombers in the air and ! striking at the enemy. The men are:
 Corporal John E. Garrity, whose mother, Mrs. Frank Garrity, lives at 46 Coe street, Waterbury.
 Corporal Jack Margolis, whose father, Samuel L. Margolis, lives at
 462 West Main street, Waterbury. He was employed by Morton's shoe store, Waterbury, before entering the Army.
 A Ninth Air Force Thundert> Base, Germany Overseas lo months, Cpl. John R. Holmes, p, son of Mrs. Katherine Holmes, Il Chester avenue, Waterbury, Conn.,, now wears the coveted Presidential Unit Citation, blue, gold framed ribbon, over his right chest. His organization, the crack 362nd lSllUcl IlOup, hllOWll dNo OlAS "MaulerS" and commanded by Col onel Joseph L. Laughlin, of Omaha, Nebraska, was awarded the citation for extreme heroism in action against the enemy"
 Corporal Hollles is an airplane armorer in a PAY Thunderbolt squadron of The Maulers" and is presently servi4~ at an advanced base in the Reicn. He has seen the sweep of war from the Normandy beaches last July, through France and deep into Germany. He wears three battle participation stars for action in England, France and Ger many. In Normandy he served at forward airstrip near Caen, under shellfire and the Luftwaffe night attacks. He entered the Army Air Forces, October, l941. . A Ninth Air Force Fighter Bomb CT Base ill Beigium-Staff Sergeant Waste Puzak, 24, 394 Colonial road, Oakvil'e, Conn., and Staff Sergeant George A. Bruens, 31, Washington Depot, Conn.,, are members of tne 4J5th Fighter group which has been awarded the Presidential Unit Cita- ton for its part in smashing a German armored counter-attack during the Allied sweep through France last fall.
 Sgt. Puzak, a classification spe- cialist, is the son of MT. and Mrs. Paul Puzak, Oakville, Conn. Prior to his entry into the army in De- cember, 1941, he was employed as a stock clerk. Sgt. Puzak is gradu- ate of Watertown high school, Wa tertown, Conn.,, Class of 1889.
 Sgt. BruenS, son of Robert E. Bruens, Washington Depot, is an armorer flight chief in the PAY Thunderbolt group. His wife, Mary f. BruenS, lives in West Cornwall, Conn. Prior to his entry into the army in June, 1922, Sgt. Bruens was employed as carpenter. He was graduated from Washintgon high school in 1881.
 Both servicemen have served over seas in England, France and Bel gium since March, i944.
 
 Headquarters, Pacific Division, Air Transport Command The Good Conduct Medal for faithful and exact performance of duty was recently awarded to Private First Class Ralph Fortier of Waterbury, Conn.,, who is now assigned to the Pacific Division, Air Transport Command, and stationed in the Ha- Waiian Islands.
 There, with thousands of other war-wise Air Transport Command personnel, Private First Class For tier is playing an important part in the accelerated tempo of the Pacific war which finds the ATC battling space and time to fly American wounded safely back from the bat tlefronts.
 He Is the son of Mrs. Evangeline Kelly of 29l South Leonard street in Waterbury.
 Pvt. Andrew Longo and Joseph L. Longo, nm 2/c, son of MT. and Mrs. Angelo Longo. 67 Barnes street, are cnendino filrl0i1ohS here They