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”
Author Archives: jeffd1121
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS VIRGINIA ALICE BLAKE
DOB/DOD: June 27, 1899 (Salisbury, CT) – August 23, 1964 (New York City); 65 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Clarence M. Blake (1897-1926) on March 30, 1923, in Waterbury. After Clarence’s death, Virginia married Clarence’s brother, Walter Blake (1889-1948), on May 3, 1928, in New York. CHILDREN: NoneLOCAL ADDRESS: Goshen Road, LitchfieldENLISTMENT: August 2, 1943, inContinue reading “PRIVATE FIRST CLASS VIRGINIA ALICE BLAKE”
PRIVATE PEARL ETHLEEN COOKS
DOB/DOD: March 8, 1921 (New Britain, CT) – June 9, 2003 (Santa Barbara, CA); 82 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Jake H. Rhine (1919-?). Divorced in 1961. Married Joseph C. Cooks, Sr. (1927-1986) on June 7, 1968, in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Divorced on August 7, 1979, in Alameda, California. CHILDREN: One son, William R. Rhine (1941-2008). LOCALContinue reading “PRIVATE PEARL ETHLEEN COOKS”
Honoring Connecticut’s Military Heroes
Welcome to Connecticut Military Heroes. The website went live on February 10, 2025. I sent an email with an announcement to a limited number of people from my contact list. I wanted to gather some initial feedback in order to enhance the site BEFORE I make a more public announcement. A huge thank you toContinue reading “Honoring Connecticut’s Military Heroes”
MASTER CHAUNCEY HOMER WILLIAMS
DOB/DOD: August 7, 1906 (New Brunswick, Canada) – February 24, 1942; 36 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Gertrude E. Harrison (1911-1995) on September 23, 1933, in BridgeportCHILDREN: One son, Roy A. (1937-2014).LOCAL ADDRESS: BridgeportSERVICE NUMBER: Z-003095 FAMILY: Born to Alfred E. (1879-1930) and Henrietta Baker Williams (1880-?). Two brothers, Gerald B. (1913-1999) and Lloyd B. (1918-2006).Continue reading “MASTER CHAUNCEY HOMER WILLIAMS”
FIREMAN WATERTENDER STANLEY JOSEPH WETART
DOB/DOD: 1921 (Connecticut) – June 10, 1943; 22 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: ManchesterSERVICE NUMBER: Z-358589 FAMILY: Born to Adam [born Vitartas] (1875-1934) and Johanna “Jennie” Bajoaris Wetart (1886-1962) [both born in Lithuania]. Two brothers, Joseph J. (1906-2002) and Anthony [Army veteran] (1915-2006). One sister, Mary “May” A. Wetart Frazzino (1917-2006). CIRCUMSTANCES: At 2000 hoursContinue reading “FIREMAN WATERTENDER STANLEY JOSEPH WETART”
MESSMAN CLIFFORD BOERUM TWISS
DOB/DOD: May 24, 1904 (Bridgeport, CT) – September 24, 1942; 38 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Anna V. Booth (1899-1995) on October 24, 1927, in SheltonCHILDREN: One son, John H. Twiss (1928-2019).LOCAL ADDRESS: DevonSERVICE NUMBER: Z-234204 FAMILY: Born to Clifford G. (1877-1946) and Florence J. Hiltz Twiss (then Geary, then Lee) (1883-1973). No siblings. CIRCUMSTANCES: AtContinue reading “MESSMAN CLIFFORD BOERUM TWISS”
ABLE SEAMAN JOSEPH PAUL TIRIOLO
DOB/DOD: January 9, 1919 (Greenwich, CT) – January 27, 1942; 23 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: 90 Pemberwich Road, GreenwichSERVICE NUMBER: Z-206440 FAMILY: Born to Bruno (1881-1984) and Carmela Morabito Tiriolo (1893-1971). One brother, Patrick (1916-1970). Three sisters, Mary Tiriolo Provost-Slocum [died at 111 years old] (1912-2023), Grace Tiriolo LaRusso (1921-), and Mildred “Millie” TirioloContinue reading “ABLE SEAMAN JOSEPH PAUL TIRIOLO”
PURSER JOHN LYNN THURMOND
DOB/DOD: May 6, 1906 (Mt. Lebanon, LA) – December 2, 1943; 37 years oldMARITAL STATUS: Married Stanton Patience Sharpe (1909-1995) on August 25, 1928CHILDREN: Two daughters, Patricia “Patsy” A. Thurmond Bergman (1932-) and Jane L. Thurmond Turner Eisele (1937-). LOCAL ADDRESS: New LondonSERVICE NUMBER: Z-338722 FAMILY: Born to John H. (1858-1930) and Lula I. LynnContinue reading “PURSER JOHN LYNN THURMOND”
COOK LEON HENRY THOMAS
DOB/DOD: February 1, 1921 (Providence, RI) – March 29, 1943; 22 years oldMARITAL STATUS: UnmarriedLOCAL ADDRESS: New HavenSERVICE NUMBER: Z-286859FAMILY: Born to Milton H. (1897-1958) and Marion K. Edmondson Thomas (1901-1940). Five sisters, Constance M. Thomas Copeland (1918-1985), Marion N. (1926-1992), Jean (1929-1992), Carolyn A. Thomas-Greene (1932-2017), and Martha B. Thomas-Dublin (1933-1994). Three brothers, MiltonContinue reading “COOK LEON HENRY THOMAS”