First Sergeant Brian Adam
   U.S. Army - Retired - Attended 2010

My named is First Sergeant Brian Adams from Conneaut. In was at last years event which honored a Family member Joseph Mucci. It was a great event and very Authentic. I had not been back to Conneaut in years. It was quite an awesome display. Being a U.S. Army Retired First Sergeant, I want to compliment the staff and the super job that you do each year. I know it must be quite an endeavor to put this together.

Thank you,
First Sergeant Brian Adams

 

  

Private Joseph E. Dore Jr. of Austintown OH
    Rifleman - Company H - 502nd Parachute Infantry - 101st Airborne
       Purple Heart Recipient - Attended 2009, 2010

A message from the family of Joe Dore: "We can not thank you enough for D Day! It was an experience we will never forget. It touched our hearts to watch Uncle Joe Dore's reaction to all the attention the men gave him. Even with having a brain syndrome, he remembered every detail of his military service." Click here for more pictures.

  

Corporal Merle Swanger T-5 of Mamont PA
    1st Infantry Div. 2nd Battalion, 26th Regiment
        Attended 2009, 2010

  

PFC Ferdinand Lowry
    USMC

In his own words PFC Lowey says: Oct. 10th 1941 I joined the USMC and left for Parris Island S.C. with 5 other recruits arriving late in the evening and had a supper of chicken etc.

On Dec 7th, while at the rifle range, we found out about Pearl Harbor. A week or so later I was assigned to Z MQ1 and we left for Norfolk, Va. On arrival there we boarded the S.S. Exeter, a cruise ship of the American Export Lines. We left there and stopped at Guantanamo Cuba then sailed on to Panama. We stayed at Ft. Randolph 'til we got organized then put our balloons in the area of the Gatun Locks.

In Sept of 1942 we left the Canal Zone for the States. We settled in at Camp Lejune, N.C. March of '43 as part of the 13th replacement Bn we went to San Diego, California then left for the South Pacific, stopped at Hawaii, American Samoa then on to British Samoa. We trained for several months then boarded ship to New Caledonia where we stayed for a while.

We then boarded ship and went to Australia, around Tasmania to New Zealand. Went to camp at Masterson N.Z. where I was assigned to the the 3rd Defense Bn. 90MM AAA. Next we went to Guadalcanal to make ready for invasion of Bougainville. After that campaign we went back to Guadalcanal where our outfit was broken up and the 6th Div. formed. I was assigned to the 15th marines 105 mm field artillery. On Easter Sunday we made the invasion of Okinawa. When the battle was over my enlistment was up so I was sent to Guam. There I was put aboard the destroyer escort #11 and sent back to the states.

Went to San Diego where I received my discharge. Several of us hitched hiked home.

  

Staff Sergeant Dale Martz
    401 St Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, based in Den Thorpe England
        Attended 2010

He proudly served from 1941 to 1945 as an Armament Gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress, flying 35 missions over Europe some of which over the Normandy coastline in support of D-Day. Staff Sergeant Martz will be attending D-Day Conneaut for his first time in 2010. Staff Sergeant Martz is pictured front row far right.
Click here for more pictures.

  

Francis (Frank) V. Hilley of Pittsburgh, PA
    65th Division, 261st Regiment, A Co.
        Purple Heart Recipient - Attended 2010

Born in Pittsburgh in 1921, Mr. Hilley entered the army in May of 1944. He went through basic training at Camp Wheeler Georgia and then was assigned to the 261st Regiment of the 65th Division, 1st Battalion, Company A. After basic he trained at Biloxi MS for about a month then on to the Bronx NY to head to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre France. After arriving in the ETO he served in the Central Europe - Rhineland campaign where he was wounded by enemy fire. Later he received a Purple Heart for that action. Mr. Hilley also served in the Battle of the Bulge. During his time in service, he received the following decorations and citations: European African / Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal and was honorably discharged in March of 1946.

  

Lt. Chuck Marcy of Conneaut, OH
    B-17 bomber pilot
        Has attend every D-Day Conneaut since 1999

Lt. Marcy began his military career as an instructor pilot then became the pilot of a B-17 bomber. He and his crew flew 27 missions. On April 29th, 1944, during a raid on Berlin, he was forced to abandon the airplane in flight. He parachuted to German soil wounded and dazed and was quickly captured. Click here for more pictures.

Lt. Marcy began his military career as an instructor pilot. Then, much to his satisfaction, became the pilot of a B-17 bomber. He and his crew flew 21 missions over enemy held territory hoping to reach the magic number of 25, the then standard set for crews to be taken off the line, safe and sound. Upon their return from mission 21, a new standard of 30 was set due to the high losses in planes and men. Six missions later and three shy of that new mark, mission 27 would turn out to be his last behind the controls of a flying fortress. It was April 29th, 1944, during a raid on Berlin, that the formation was intercepted by fighter planes of the German Luftwaffe. A round from one of the fighters smashed through the nose of his plane, passed through the control panel, severed two of Lt. Marcy's fingers and ended up impacting his chest. He was knocked unconscious at an altitude of 26,000 feet in skies filled with hundreds of B-17's heading to their target. With a rookie co-pilot in the right seat, fear got the best of the fledgling flyer and the B-17 spiraled down towards the earth. After regaining his senses, Lt. Marcy managed to regain control of the bomber with the help of Sgt. Robert Schrimsher, a crewman of only 18 years of age which now found himself acting as the co-pilot. Marcy's navigator and bombardier were badly hurt during the attack as well. After settling the fortress to an altitude of 8000 feet, not a single sign of the armada of planes on the raid were in sight. Lost and alone, the crew devised a plan to try and make it to the Swedish coast. During their maneuvering, the plane again was hit with anti-aircraft fire knocking out 2 engines and setting a wing a blaze. Time, was running out. After assuring that the crew had bailed out, Lt. Marcy hit the silk himself. Landing on German soil wounded and dazed he was quickly captured. Lt. Marcy was treated for his wounds in a German Air Force (Luftwaffe) hospital. A number of air crews were also receiving treatment there as well. Lt. Marcy described to me his care in the German hospital. "We were being taken care of very well by a very intelligent and well to do nurse who did everything she could to help us recover. She referred to her patients as her boys." As to raise the comfort level of the men, she dismissed the guards taking responsibility of not only treating the men, but also risking her own life within the ward. As appreciation to the nurse, Lt. Marcy sang to her in German a melody called None but the Lonely Heart. 3 weeks into his recovery Lt Marcy was transferred to German POW camp; Stalag Luft 3. As the war began to close in upon Germany, he was later liberated exactly one year to the day from his fateful flight by members of Patton's 3rd Army. After the war, Lt. Marcy became a contractor specializing in the heating and roofing business.

  

US Navy Louis Lazar of Bedford, OH
    US Navy, LST 724
        Attended 2009
Click here for more pictures.








Clarence R. Sexton
    A Proud Veteran of D-Day & the Battle of the Bulge.
        Attended 2009



Motor Machinist Mate John Mark Gannon of Oil City, PA
    U.S. Navy LCT-659 Omaha Beach 06 Jun 1944
    Sword - Juno - Gold from 07 Jun-12 Sep 1944
    Utah 15 Oct 1944
        Attended 2009

  

Dale Spangenberg
    U.S. Army       
        Attended 2009












Private Joseph E. Dore Jr. of Austintown OH
    Rifleman Company H 502nd Parachute Infantry
        Purple Heart Recipient - Attended 2009

  

Sgt. John W. Gabersek Jr.
400th Medical Collecting Company, Luzon Philippines
    (Click John's name for a detailed account of his contributions and life)

Johnnies last trip to Conneaut in 2008 was highlighted by being a part of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion Unit which won 1st Place for Best in Show. From inside the 20,000 pound bunker, Johnnie fielded questions regarding his own service in the Philippines. During the Beach Landing Reenactment it has come to my attention that John was trying to make his way down to the beach level to help the men portraying the battle action. Most likely his instincts as a combat medic wanted to take charge again. Over the past few years, Johnnie was featured in many of our programs and flyers. His kind heart and friendly ways will be sorely missed at future events. Click here for more pictures.
Read more about Johnnie at http://www.soldiersandsailors.us/

  

Paratrooper Kenneth Janish,
82nd Airborne Division, D-Day Veteran

  

Frank Becerra of Peoria Illinois
    3rd Armored Division

At 90 years old, Frank Becerra drove himself from Peoria Illinois to witness the event. He undoubtedly is one of the older WWII Veterans that have come to D-Day Conneaut, of D-Day. Mr. Becerra was a member of the 3rd Armored Division better known as the "Spearhead" Division led by Major General Maurice Rose, one of only two Division Commanders Killed in Action in Europe.  Needless to say, Mr. Becerra surely saw a lot of action himself and nearly lost an arm in a mortar attack. While at the event the sight of a jeep brought tears to his eyes reminding him of his ride on the hood of one after he was severely wounded. Although he told his daughter Sharon that he would not talk to anyone at the event about the war, after seeing all the khaki clad soldiers, the equipment, and the encampment he couldn't hold back. Sadly, Mr. Becerra passed into history November 24, 2008...  May you rest in peace our friend. 
God bless you Frank.
Click here for more pictures.

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