Sicily Sketch Book 7

This book contains the signatures of 98 soldiers, all from the 180th Infantry regiment. There are soldiers from 18 states in this book, with the vast majority coming from New York (35) and Oklahoma (24). There is also one soldier from Mexico who fought in the regiment. These men must have had some of the worst battles ahead of them, as 13 of the soldiers were killed in action. It was a sobering experience, researching the soldiers and discovering just how many of them made the ultimate sacrifice for their county.

There were also tragedies that took place after the war. In 1946, S/Sgt. Loyd Weemes (page 20) was killed in a car accident at home. The driver of that car was T/Sgt. Calvin Forehand (page 18), who plead guilty to drunk driving, even though there were mitigating circumstances.

I believe this book belonged to TEC 5 Frank Puglisi, who put his name and address on the inside front cover.

Back Cover

• 1st Sgt. Robert N. Herald, Pittsburgh, PA (33106650). Herald signed indistinctly under the lower tape stain. 2nd Battalion HQ.

Inside Front Cover

• Tec 5 Frank G. Puglisi, 107 Trenton Ave., Buffalo, NY (32233372). 2nd Battalion HQ.

Title Page

• Pfc. Alfred J. Archer, 40 Chappell St, Staten Island, NY (32342922). Killed in action on October 18, 1943.
• Pfc. Kalman August, 160 Brighton Ave, Perth Amboy, NJ (32071225). “Ex. Cpl.”
• Sgt. Albert J. Bull, Warwick, NY (32213392). Headquarters.
• Cpl. Clitus D. Burrow, Elmer, OK (38017256). 2nd Battalion Anti-Tank Platoon.
• Sgt. Louis P. Cairo, 22 Perry Ave, Port Chester, NY (32215706). Wounded in action in Sicily.
• Dominic A. Celano, 360 N. Div. St, Buffalo, NY (32212417). No information found.
• Ralph H. Coddington, PO Box 112, Howells, NY (32334315). No information found.
• Pfc. J.W. (James Wesley) Freeman III, Box 534, Joinerville, TX (32334315).
• T/Sgt. Merle W. Henry, Route #4, Indiana, PA (20305684). 2nd Battalion Communication Platoon.
• Capt. Sherman F. Jones, 881 West 1st, Ada, OK (20828587).
• Pfc. Patrick W. Maher, 30-26 14th St, Astoria, LI, NY (32217259)
• W.M. McDaniel, 629 N. Market, Shawnee, OK. No information found.
• Charles S. Nixon, 28 Front St, Waterford, NY (32213432). No information found.
• T/Sgt. John P. Sessions, Idabel, OK (20829105). “Johnnie”.
• TEC 4 Dal (Dallas) F. Slessler, 46 Ash St, Danville, PA (33100244). 2nd Battalion Communication Platoon.
• Pfc. Charles H. Treece, Route #1, Trenton, TN (34366986). Killed in action on September 23, 1944.
• 1st Lt. Winford N. Wilson, Andarko, OK (no ID number). Killed in action on February 18, 1944.
• Cpl. Anthony S. Zurick, Box 25, Wilpen, PA (32204716). Wounded in action on October 18, 1943.

Page 4

• Cpl. Charles B. Albert, 419 Virginia Ave, Butler, PA (20313088).
• Pop Blake, 34-36 30th St, Astoria, NY. No information found.
• S/Sgt. Florent G. Briere, 89 Farm St, Woonsocket, RI (31023785). 2nd Battalion HQ.
• Pfc. Larry Brink, PO Box 73, Glasco, NY (32213294).
• Pfc. Arthur W. Caretto, 2176 Michigan Blvd, Lincoln Park, MI. No ID number found. Wounded in action, 1944.
• Robert W. Childs, Sand Creek, MI. No rank or ID number found. Wounded in action in Italy, 1943.
• T/Sgt. Dan (Diego) J. Danzi, 8219 Atlantic Ave, Woodhaven, NY (32216119). Danzi was arrested for robbery at 18 in 1928 and spent time in prison.
• Anthony J. Dimino, 34-02 Broadway, LI City, NY (32216481). No information found.
• Herbert J. Dimpel, 421 Jefferson Ave, Mamaroneck, NY (32215404). No information found.
• Sgt. Richard T. Dubuque, 25 Main Mill St, Plattsburg, NY (32213917). “Benny”. Killed in action on December 6, 1944, in France.
• S/Sgt. Otis Eaves, Route #1, Lane, OK (20828588). Killed in action on May 26, 1944, in Rome, Italy.
• Pfc. Richard A. Fairman, RFD #3, Geneva, NY (32734789). Killed in action on February 17, 1944, in Anzio, Italy.
• S/Sgt. George T. Himberg, 19-39 Grand Ave, Elmhurst, NY (32216860).
• Pfc. Carl A. McCoy, RFD 2, Portsmouth, VA (33526025).
• S/Sgt. Henry W. Mrozek, 18 Clifford St, Buffalo, NY (20227002).
• Pvt. Bennie Nelson, Front Royal, VA (33537241). Killed in action on September 8, 1944.
• Ralph J. Orsino, 21-20 23 Terrace, Astoria, LI, NY (32217289). No information found.
• Pfc. Chester R. Reinhart, Pequca Rd. #1, Lane, PA (33494161). Killed in action on February 16, 1944, in Italy.
• Sgt. Dominic A. Rosino, 370 Bayview Ave, Inwood, LI, NY (32213268). Killed in action on September 12, 1944.
• Cpl. Arthur F. Selzer, Rt. #1, Box 24, Lindsay, OK (38017078). 2nd Battalion Pioneer Platoon.
• Pfc. Walter E. Wade, Jr., Willsboro, NY (32745538). 2nd Battalion Communication Platoon.

Page 6

• S/Sgt. Harvey Bradley, 520 North Hudson, OKC, OK (38018557).
• Pvt. George C. Burrough, 5021 Penn St, Philadelphia, PA (33327508). Killed in action on May 26, 1944.
• Frank E. Mathy, Mahaska, KS (35175817). No information found.
• Earl L. Williams, RR 1, Boone, IA. No information found.

Page 7

• Pfc. George C. Brontmire, 623 3rd St, Niagara Falls, NY (32212456). Wounded in action, December 1943

Page 8

• John J. Tomasulo, 1425 68th St, Brooklyn, NY (32205009).

Page 9

• M/Sgt. Howard C. Biggers, 718 N. Main, Hobart, OK (38017290). fought in WWII and the Korean War.
• Pfc. Florian Biron, 31 Pond St, Waltham, MA. No ID number found. A native French speaker, Biron acted as a translator with French troops.  He destroyed bridges and road blocks, laid booby traps connected to grenades, and located and planted mines.
• S/Sgt. Olin E. Morgan, General Delivery, Durant, OK (20828630).
• Pfc. William C. Sullivan, 402 Oceanside Rd, Rockville Centre, SI, NY (12057091). Killed in action on February 20, 1944, in Italy.
• T/Sgt. Walter Thomas, Jr., Route 5, Muskogee, OK (20827346).

Page 11

• Pfc. Jesus H. Barraza, Allende #3 Inde. DGO, Mexico. No ID number found. MPC (Multi-Purpose Company).
• Cpl. William McDaniel, 429 N. Market, Shawnee, OK (38188447). “Mac”.

Page 13

• Steve Dodson, Richmond, VA. No information found.

Page 14

• Pfc. Eugene G. Black, 3503 So. Common St, Lake Charles, LA (34152088). 2nd Battalion HQ.
• Sgt. James H. Jones, Hollis, OK (38017242)
• Pvt. Lawrence W. Putney, Guilford, CT (31022336)

Page 15

• Pfc. Robert C. Burroughs, Lilburn, GA (34353952). Awarded the Bronze Star in 1944.
• Berman L. Carter, McCurtain, OK. No information found.
• Pfc. Samuel D. Cohen, Revere, MA (31063049). Awarded the Bronze Star in 1945. 2nd Battalion HQ.
• Pfc. Walter E. Jordan, Jr., Greenwood, RI (11063271).
• Pfc. Wilson W. Williams, Cambridge, NE (38005723). A civilian truck driver who drove supply trucks during the war.

Page 16

• T/Sgt. Edward F. Nossan, 1720 Harmon St, Brooklyn, NY (32193443). 2nd Battalion HQ.

Page 17

• Pfc. Nicholas J. Todaro, 155 West Ave, Buffalo, NY (32233376). Wounded in action on the Marshall Islands in 1944.

Page 18

• T/Sgt. Calvin Forehand, Allen, OK (20828589).
• Ted Judge, 17 Saint Mary St, Medford, MA. “Civilian”. No information found.
• Pfc. Joseph Kamelhar, 1615 Townsend Ave, NYC (32193821). “Jose”. No rank found.
• ?.R. McElroy, 717 SW 31st St, Oklahoma City, OK. No information found.
• Cpl. Walter M. Obrenski, 197 Catherine St, Port Richmond, Staten Island, NY. “Passing out the candy” caption.
• Tec 5 Jim O. Smith, Box 423, Hollis, OK (38017309).
• S/Sgt. Charles D. Vaughan, 928 North “L” St, Muskogee, OK (20827348).

Page 19

• Arnold C. Burckhardt, Centereach, LI, NY (32213443). No rank found.
• S/Sgt. Stanley P. Dojka, Thompsonville, CT (31062731). 2nd Battalion HQ.
• Pfc. John L. Kunzler, Toledo, OH (35280482). “Johnny”.
• Sgt. Angel Lamiquiz, 149 Van Name Ave, Staten Island, NY (32194652).
• Tec 4 William Leventhal, Bayonne, NJ (32213162).
• Cpl. Wesley F. Musko, 63 Irving St, Newark, NJ (32201118). “Waas”.
• Sgt. Edward J. Palmer, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY (32193998). Qualified as a sharpshooter. Awarded a Bronze Star. 2nd Battalion Communication Platoon.

Page 20

• Pfc. Paul M. Ciccone, 9 Johnson St, Delawanna, NJ (32188234). “Gear Grinder”. HQ.
• Pfc. Sinibaldo J. Cimino, 411 McClean Ave, South Beach, Staten Island, NY (32358027). “Sid”. “The Cook”. 2nd Battalion HQ.
• Sidney Cohen, 935 Kelly St, Bronx, NY. No information found.
• 1st Lt. William D. Fillman, Muskogee, OK (20827641). 180th medical detachment. Awarded silver star, bronze star and Purple Heart.
• Leonard Gombos, 7619 21st Ave, Brooklyn, NY. No information found.
• Cpl. Horatio Migliore, Box 987, Perry, NY (13085556). “Ray”. Killed in action on October 12, 1943, Battle of Salerno, Italy.
• Cpl. Finace W. Snider, Vinson, OK (38017288). Injured on October 17, 1943, when his Jeep ran over a mine.
• S/Sgt. Loyd F. Weemes, Box 84, Allen, OK (20828596). Killed in a car crash after the war, on May 15, 1946.

Page 25

• Pfc. John B. Bengston, 22 Church St, Manchester, CT (11064942). 2nd Battalion HQ.

Page 26

• Cpl. Burlyne R. Boler, Wayne, OK (38017102).
• Pfc. Earl E. Hinkle, Langley, OK (35206960).
• Baldy King, Torresdale, Philadelphia, PA. No information found.

Inside Back Cover

• Albert D. Fields, 29 Tremont St, Provincetown, MA (31068217). No rank found.
• M/Sgt. John J. Klais, 25076 8th St, Tulsa, OK (20828469). Klais was an actor as a civilian.
• Tec 5 John J. Kohm, Mallard Blvd, Staten Island, NY (32194527). Killed in action on October 12, 1943, likely in the Battle of Salerno, Italy.
• Pfc. Henry J. Lera, 73 West St, Thompsonville, CT (31062743). 2nd Battalion Pioneer Platoon.
• Sgt. Merlin M. Mitchell, Mitchell’s Cabins, Riverside Drive, Sault Ste. Marie, MI (36116681). “Any mules today”. 2nd Battalion HQ.
• Tec 5 Edward J. Perry, Rt 1, Box 123-T, Hanford, CA (39082421).
• Sgt. Walter E. Richards, 711 Calverley Ave, Houghton, MI (16071673). 2nd Battalion Communication Platoon.