The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-27

NEWS OF MEN IN THE SERVICE

Pvt. Harold J. Beecher, Jr. who
with the Third Marine Division
served at IWO Jimo has written his
wife, the former Millicent McCar-
lex. IS Niagara street, that he Is
well and has been assigned to
Guam. The Marine went overseas
last November. A graduate OF
Crosby High school. he attended
WaShingt- College, CheStertown.
Nd and was litter employed at the
Scovill Mfg Co. Pvt. Beecher is
the father OF 22-months-old
daughter.
Okinawa-Led by Marine Major
Leona A. Dance, OF Fairfield, Conn.
Marine Corp. Vincent G. Urban, "a,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Vincent j. DR.
ban, 81 Green street, with five other
Connecticut men were among the
first Marine Aviation men partici-
pating in the initial phases of the
battle here.
Attached to a Marine Air Unit,
the assault echelon of the air unit
landed on the western Okinawa
coast, close on the heels of the in
fantry and moved 1900 yards inland
where they established operations
on the site of the former Jap bomb
er strip at Yontan Airport.
he airfield operated by the Mar
ines is strategically situated $50
miles northeast of Formosa and 800
milss southwest of the Jap city of
KagoShima. Shanghai is 300 miles
northwest.
Veteran of four years service with
the Belgian Army in World War I.
Major Dance was formerly vice
president of McKeSson and Robbins,
Inc, Bridgeport, Conn, before en-
tering the Marine Corps in October,
1912 He is now squadron COM
manding officer.
Phil Becker hospital apprentice,
| first class, has completed training
at the U. S. Naval Hospital, Balm
bridge, Md, and has been assigned
to the Naval hospital( Annapolis,
Md. He is the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Philip Becker, 1872 Traverse street.
Among the servicemen who are
spending furlough here are: Corp
oral George Harlamon, son Of Mrs.
Peter Harlamon, 70 Nathan Court,
who has been stationed at Portland,
Ore; and Private Herbert L. Knut-
son, 10, son of Mr.. and Mrs. E. Her
bert Knutson, who recently COM
pleted basic training at Camp
Blanding, Fla.
Lieutenant Robert A. Bonner,
Waterbury physician in the Public
Health Service Reserve, was lauded
in publication issued by Coast
Guard ship on which the physician
is serving.
He is reported to have completed
a successful appendectomy on the
ship in the Pacific despite the roll
ing of the vessel in heavy sea.
Lieutenant Bonner, son of DR..
and Mrs. r. A. Bonner, 90 Euclid
avenue, entered the service in Sep
TENDER, 1913. Mrs. Bonner, resides
at 1877 Willow street with their two
children.
At graduation exercises OF the
Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School
in the Cathedral of st. John the
Divine in New York City yesterday
two Waterbury boys were commits
stoned ensigns in the Navy.
They are Roland F. Largay. son
of Mr.. and Mrs. George H. Largay,
ISL Hillside avenue, and Charles l..
ellis, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Christie
pher ellis, Sc Elmwood avenue.
Ensign Largay. graduate OF
Crosby high, was student at Holy
Cross College, Worcester, Mass, be-
fore entering the service as an APP
prentice seaman in July. 1913. After
completing recruit training at
Sampson, N. Y. he served on des-
troyer which went to Casablanca,
He was appointed to officer candi-
date training at cambridge, Md.
after being selected on competitive
examinations. He will be assigned to
the Navy Communications School at
Harvard University.
Ensign ellis, also a Crosby grad
uate, entered the Navy in the fall
of 1913. He began Viz training at
Tufts College, Boston.