Pearl Harbor

Since I started this website, I have always tracked the traffic to it, and beyond. Who clicked on what, who found the site through a search engine such as Google, what country were they in? WordPress provides that through their analytics. It’s always been a really fascinating piece of being able to bring this informationContinue reading “PEARL HARBOR”

USS Arizona and WWII

Yesterday I updated the pages for the 10 Connecticut residents who died on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Each of them has a place on the USS Arizona Memorial, and “The Punchbowl”, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. I had the images but didn’t see the needContinue reading “USS Arizona and WWII”

ENSIGN ULMONT IRVING “MONTY” WHITEHEAD JR.; U.S. NAVY

DOB/DOD: April 13, 1915 (Hartford, CT) – December 7, 1941; 26 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: 208 New Britain Avenue, HartfordENLISTMENT: April 27, 1933COMMISSIONED: June 6, 1940SHIP ASSIGNED TO: USS Arizona (BB-39) FAMILY: Born to Ulmont Sr. (1890-1959) and Helen Robertson Whitehead (1891-1980). One sister, Beverly Whitehead Adams (1917-1977). DECORATIONS: Received the Purple Heart Medal.Continue reading “ENSIGN ULMONT IRVING “MONTY” WHITEHEAD JR.; U.S. NAVY”

PRIVATE FELIX STANLEY WEGRZYN; U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS

DOB/DOD: November 20, 1921 (Connecticut) – December 14, 1941; 20 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: 392 Arctic Street, Bridgeport (1940 census)ENLISTMENT: September 12, 1940SERVICE NUMBER: 11019658UNIT: 31st Test & Evaluation Squadron, 31st Bombardment Squadron; Hickam Field, Hawaii FAMILY: Born to Francis “Frank” (1906-1978) and Anna Wegrzyn (1909-1953). One sister, Geraldine Wegrzyn Grucce (1933-). Two brothers,Continue reading “PRIVATE FELIX STANLEY WEGRZYN; U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS”

2ND LIEUTENANT GORDON HERBERT STERLING JR.; U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS

DOB/DOD: June 30, 1919 (Ilion, New York) – December 7, 1941; 22 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Engaged to 2nd Lt Ada Margaret “Peggy” Olsson (1916-1999), U.S. Army nurse. NOTE: In 1945, then Lieutenant Peggy Olsson was the supervising nurse for the amputation ward at McCloskey General Hospital in Temple, Texas. She never married and died atContinue reading “2ND LIEUTENANT GORDON HERBERT STERLING JR.; U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS”

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS GEORGE J. SMITH; U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE

DOB/DOD: December 5, 1919 (New York) – December 7, 1941; 22 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: 52 Tilton Street, New HavenENLISTMENT: April 10, 1940SERVICE NUMBER: 6150664UNIT: 18th Air Base Squadron, 17th Air Base Group; Schofield Barracks, HI FAMILY: Born to George M. Smith [Navy veteran; WWI] (1898-1974) and Helen Elizabeth Sanders Smith (1900-1977). PFC SmithContinue reading “PRIVATE FIRST CLASS GEORGE J. SMITH; U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE”

SEAMAN FIRST CLASS WILLIAM EUGENE SEELY; U.S. NAVY

DOB/DOD: October 8, 1922 (New London, CT) – December 7, 1941; 19 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: Fairview Avenue, GrotonENLISTMENT: October 15, 1940SERVICE NUMBER: 2072956SHIP ASSIGNED TO: USS Arizona (BB-39) FAMILY: Born to Paul Seely/Seeley (1895-1936) and Francis D. Bailey Seeley (1894-1977). One sister, Jeannette Seeley Goslin (1925-2014). One brother, Paul (1929-1996). William’s father, Paul,Continue reading “SEAMAN FIRST CLASS WILLIAM EUGENE SEELY; U.S. NAVY”

CHIEF RADIOMAN THOMAS JAMES REEVES; U.S. NAVY

DOB/DOD: December 9, 1895 (Thomaston, CT) – December 7, 1941; 45 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: 31 Goodwin Court, ThomastonENLISTMENT: July 20, 1917SHIP ASSIGNED TO: USS California (BB-44) FAMILY: Born to William Reeves (1850-1938) and Mary O’Riley Reeves (1858-1939), both born in Ireland. One sister, Rosetta Reeves (1882-1905). Four brothers, Joseph (1885-1972), Leo (1889-1967), WilliamContinue reading “CHIEF RADIOMAN THOMAS JAMES REEVES; U.S. NAVY”

SEAMAN FIRST CLASS MIKE JOSEPH QUARTO; U.S. NAVY

DOB/DOD: May 3, 1919 (Norwich, CT) – December 7, 1941; 22 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: 72 Boswell Avenue, NorwichENLISTMENT: October 15, 1940SERVICE NUMBER: 2072955SHIP ASSIGNED TO: USS Arizona (BB-39) FAMILY: Born to Giuseppe “Joseph” (1884-1952) and Rosie Greicha Quarto (1894-1971). One brother, James (1924-1993). Two sisters Louise L. Quarto Bargenquast Valenti (1917-2004) and AngeloneContinue reading “SEAMAN FIRST CLASS MIKE JOSEPH QUARTO; U.S. NAVY”

SEAMAN FIRST CLASS GEORGE POVESKO; U.S. NAVY

DOB/DOD: January 27, 1922 (Connecticut) – December 7, 1941; 19 years old; unmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: 117 Grant Street, BridgeportENLISTMENT: October 15, 1940SERVICE NUMBER: 2072963SHIP ASSIGNED TO: USS Arizona (BB-39) FAMILY: Born to George Povesko [also Paveizko, Pavesko, Pavuisko] (1878-1938) and Elizabeth Zippy Povesko (1885-1958), both born in Czechoslovakia. Four sisters, Anna Povesko Tomchik (1903-1999), Helen PoveskoContinue reading “SEAMAN FIRST CLASS GEORGE POVESKO; U.S. NAVY”