A hero from Connecticut is on Line 1 of Panel 1 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Back in the early 1980s, I was at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, where I had the opportunity to purchase a Missing in Action (MIA) bracelet. So many to honor, so I looked up the first person from Connecticut who was MIA during the Vietnam War. His name is Staff Sergeant Alfons Aloyze Bankowski,Continue reading “A hero from Connecticut is on Line 1 of Panel 1 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial”

An unsung hero at the Battle of Iwo Jima

Once in a while, I’ll find a good subject to write about. Today’s subject is the OTHER combat cameraman who captured the famous flag raising on the island of Iwo Jima. Everyone knows, or should know, the still photograph that Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal took. The unsung hero who filmed it was: SERGEANT WILLIAMContinue reading “An unsung hero at the Battle of Iwo Jima”

PRIVATE JAMES YORK ANTHONY

DOB/DOD: August 9, 1845 (New York) – September 15, 1920 (Queens County, NY); 75 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Elizabeth Mason (1847-?) on February 28, 1878, in the Willett Street Church in New York CityENLISTMENT: December 14, 1863, in Bridgeport, ConnecticutMUSTERED OUT: October 24, 1865UNIT: Company C, 29th Colored Infantry Regiment OTHER: The only other informationContinue reading “PRIVATE JAMES YORK ANTHONY”

SERGEANT PAUL CHRISTOPHER “SKIP” LEROW; U.S. MARINE CORPS

DOB/DOD: November 10, 1946 (Parkersburg, WV) – January 3, 2024 (Norwalk, CT); 77 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Susan Gustafson (1946-) on December 14, 1968, in Norwalk, ConnecticutCHILDREN: Two sons, Christopher P. (1970-1973) and Jonathan P. (1974-).LOCAL ADDRESSES: 15 Cider Lane and 42 Olmstead Place, NorwalkENLISTMENT: November 5, 1965SERVICE NUMBER: 2186409MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 1341 = EngineerContinue reading “SERGEANT PAUL CHRISTOPHER “SKIP” LEROW; U.S. MARINE CORPS”

STAFF SERGEANT HOWARD LESLIE QUICK; U.S. ARMY

DOB/DOD: October 24, 1916 (Norwalk, CT) – January 29, 2011 (Southbury, CT); 94 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Elizabeth Lindblom (1920-1984) on August 6, 1949, in Norwalk, CTCHILDREN: Two daughters, Elaine M. Quick Zarcone (1952-) and Patricia Quick (1956-). LOCAL ADDRESS: 25 St. John Street (house no longer there)ENLISTMENT: January 19, 1942SERVICE NUMBER: 31040633DISCHARGE: December 4,Continue reading “STAFF SERGEANT HOWARD LESLIE QUICK; U.S. ARMY”

PRIVATE GEORGE F. MARVIN

DOB/DOD: 1842 – September 11, 1863 (Norwalk, CT); 21 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedENLISTMENT: September 8, 1862; mustered in November 15, 1862UNIT: Company C, 28th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers FAMILY: Born to Charles (1816-1903) and Louisa Barto Marvin (1825-1869). Three brothers, Charles F. (1841-1931), Edward F. (1846-1921), and William (1855-1917). One sister, Emma (1843-1887). CIRCUMSTANCES: Wounded onContinue reading “PRIVATE GEORGE F. MARVIN”

PRIVATE EDWIN HOLLY

DOB/DOD: Unknown – January 31, 1862 (Washington, DC); unknown ageMARITAL STATUS: UnknownENLISTMENT: November 19, 1861; mustered in the same dayUNIT: Company I, 10th New Jersey Volunteers– Note: Listed as Edwin Hodley in some records FAMILY: No family information could be found CIRCUMSTANCES: Died of Typhoid Fever at Columbian U.S. Army General Hospital in Washington, DC.Continue reading “PRIVATE EDWIN HOLLY”

PRIVATE WILLIAM BOYLE

DOB/DOD: Unknown – August 17, 1864 (Andersonville, GA); unknown ageMARITAL STATUS: UnknownENLISTMENT: December 28, 1863; mustered in on the same dayUNIT: Company B, 7th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers FAMILY: Family information is unknown CIRCUMSTANCES: Captured February 20, 1864, in Olustee, Florida. Died of dysentery while a Prisoner of War in Andersonville Prison. Buried in Andersonville Prison,Continue reading “PRIVATE WILLIAM BOYLE”

CORPORAL THOMAS D. BROWN

DOB/DOD: 1842 (Norwalk, CT) – May 17, 1863 (Brooks Station, VA); 20 or 21 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedENLISTMENT: April 19, 1861; Mustered in April 21, 1861UNIT: Company A, 17th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers FAMILY: Born to James E. (1811-1880) and Jerusha Ferris Brown (1813-1903). Four sisters, Mary M. (1837-?), Esther D. Brown Stevens (1845-1922), Jane (1847-?),Continue reading “CORPORAL THOMAS D. BROWN”

PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS RICHARD WILLIAM AITKEN; U.S. NAVY

DOB/DOD: December 14, 1905 (Stratford, CT) – January 23, 1943; 37 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married to Margaret K. Karcsmoros (1910-2008) on September 25, 1926, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The 1940 census showed Richard living with his mother and “D” for his marital status.CHILDREN: Two sons, Richard W. (1927-2006)  and William J. (1930-1994).LOCAL ADDRESS: 128 East Avenue,Continue reading “PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS RICHARD WILLIAM AITKEN; U.S. NAVY”