The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-04
NEWS OF MEN LN THE SERVICE


 Kieth N. Sargent, 28, USN, has been promoted to lieutenant (Junlor grade). At present, It. G. g. Sar- gent is serving at a naval supply base in England and is in charge of the radio material department.
 It. J. g. Sargent's wife, Mrs. Marion L. Sargent, lives at 1638 Edgemont street, San Diego, Calif. He is the son of MT. and Mrs. J. Arthur Sargent, Il Tower road, Wa terbury, Conn.
 It. G. g) Sargent has been in the Navy since June, 1926. He attended Kenmore High School, Kenmore, N. Y.
 Fort Thomas, Kentucky-T-5 Will liam R. Klein, 20, son of MT. and Mrs. Klein, 63 Lexington avenue, Waterbury, Conn, has arrived at the AAF Convalescent Hospital in Fort Thomas, Ky, for period of rest, recreation and therapy.
 T-5 Klein a truck driver with the 9th Air Force has been overseas in the European theater for Il months. He entered the service March 1943.
 Charleston, S. C., Port of Embar- kation, May First Lieutenant Mary Laing, of Waterbury, Conn.,, nurse aboard the "St. Mihiel," one of the 20 Army hospital ships in the Atlantic mercy fleet based here, has been promoted from second lieuten- ancy, Brigadier General James T. Duke, Port Commander, announced today.
 Graduated from Nassau Hospital School of Nursing, Long Island, N. Y, in 1884, Lieutenant Laing en- listed in the Army Nurse Corps in March, 1943. Prior to being assigned to the hospital ship, she was on duty at the Lowell General HoSpi- tai, Ft. Devens, Mass and Camp Kilmer, N. J., Station Hospital.
 Lieutenant Laing's father, John Laing, lives in Waterbury, at 51 Park Road.
 She is authorized to wear the American Theater service ribbons.
 A Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, Belgium-The promotion of Michael A. Tranci, of New Britain and Wa terbury, Conn, to staff sergeant was announced recently at the head quarters of the Ninth Air Force BPS Marauder group in Belgium to which he is assigned.
 Radio operation-gunner on a Ma rauder with the 322nd Bomb. Group "Annihilators", led by Coolnel John s. Samuel, of Hinsdale, H., Sgt. Tranci has completed 32 missions agatlst the Nazis and has earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. His group has been awarded the Presidential Unit Cita- tion for pioneering in medium bembardment in this theater.
 Sgt. Tranci was employed by the Blake Motors at Torrington, Conn, before he entered the Army in June, 1942 He left for overseas in Aug ust, 1914.
 His parents, MT. and Mrs. P. Tranchida, liv at 42 Pennington avenue, New Britain, and his wife, Mrs. Vivian F. Tranci, at 165 South Main street, Waterbury.
 Among the Waterbury service men now home on furlough are: Sgt. Donald D. Taylor, veteran of 40 months service in Bora Bora New Hebrides, and Hawaii sectors who is spending a leave with his parents, MT. and Mrs. Wldon Fay Tor, 13 Brook street; and Pvt. Joseph Pannone, Is, the son of MT. and Mrs. John Pannone, 196 Francis street. Pvt. Pannone trained at Camp Wheeler, Ga, and will report at Fort Meade, Md, for assignment to overseas duty.
 Pfc. Robert A. Ray, Well-known baseball players, is now hoSpitalized at the station hospital at Camp Kill mer, N. J. Seriously wounded in ac- tion March 19 in southern France while serving with the Seventh Army, Pfc. Ray returned to this country, April Is.
 Besides being injured in the right shoulder and face, the vision in his right eye has been impaired, but he expects full use of the arm and eye to be restored, he has written his parents, MT. and Mrs. George Ray, 9 Dikeman street. He will shortly be transferred to the Northington General hospital. Tuscaloosa, Ala.
 The soldier entered the service in August, 1943. and went overseas last November.
 It. Theodore B. Patchen, Jr.. grandson of William Lasher, A Prospect street, has been missing in action In northern Italy since April 8, according to word received by h:S parents, MT. and Mrs. Theodore B. Patchen, 125 Eastwood road, Tor rington. The officer was born in Waterbury. He was serving in Italy with the 18th AAF as a B-24 navi- gator. His plane was last seen fall ing in the Alps due to engine trou- ble.
 U. s. GIVES GOOD 1