In our inaugural half-hour program we interview Joseph White, a shipyard laborer, who installed, repaired, and otherwise worked on equipment for such lauded vessels as the Queen Mary (luxury ocean liner, wartime troop transport, and now floating hotel and museum) and the Battleship USS Massachusetts (located in Fall River's Battleship Cove as a museum piece).

In our second installment of the half-hour program we interview James Garrison, a thirty-year navy veteran, who served on two destroyers during the years of World War II, surviving the sinking of both vessels the USS DeHaven (see also) and the USS Meredith (see also) before continuing his career services in our nations armed forces.

Mr. Eugene Tonnelli served in the national guard before joining the military towards the end of World War II.  He served most of his time in training and experimental units including a stint in "Task Force Frost" to test experimental clothing and equipment under extreme cold weather conditions at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin where temperatures went as low as minus 35-40 degrees.

A modest veteran of the "Battle of the Bulge" Frank Pagliuca was drafted into the military and was first assigned to a communications battalion.  Quickly he was reassigned as a tank driver and served with the 75th Division during the Ardennes Offensive of 1944-1945.  In addition Mr. Pagliuca served as a member of the Military Police in France after the end of hostilities, finally returning to the United States in 1947.

Raised in Northampton, Katharine (Barrett) Tamule enlisted into the US Army Nurse Corps in March of 1942.  The tour of service took her from Massachusetts to Florida, from Casablanca in Northern Africa to Rome and Bologna in Europe.  By the end of her career Katharine Tamule would rise to the rank of Captain.

In October 1942 a young Robert Bowker left his home in Bridgewater Massachusetts to enlist into the US Navy.  For the next several years until January of 1946 Mr. Bowker served as a coxswain about the USS El Dorado, which participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations of World War II.

William Bradley served in the United States Secret Service prior to World War 2 and volunteered for active duty in the US Coast Guard when the the United States officially entered the war.  Serving approximately three years he was motivated to volunteer following in his brother's footsteps who had been in active service with the Coast Guard prior to the outbreak of war.

Norman Wayne was drafted into military service serving as a machinist in the US Army Air Corps, the precursor to today's US Air Force.  Mr. Wayne was part of an air crew specializing in repairs for the 5th Air Force stationed in southeast pacific theatre in Australia, the Philippines, and New Guinea.

Although not originally from Brockton, Vincent Holland married a native daughter of the City of Champions and has called Brockton home for over fifty years.  After the declaration of War he volunteered for the US Marine Corps  participating in an officers training program on both the East and West Coast for several years before being shipped out to the Pacific Theatre of Operations to participate in the securing of Okinawa.

Ernest Wilbur joined the United States Navy in the late spring of 1942 and was selected to be trained as a navy corpsman, the field medical personnel for the US Navy.  He split his time between ship and shore duty, including detachments of the US Marine Corps, and active duty in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations.  Mr. Wilbur was part of the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach as well as at Corregidor in the Philippines. 

Volunteering for the United States Marine Corps at the age of sixteen, John Messia, Jr. would later go on to service with the Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict serving with the 2nd Marine Division.  After the conflict and discharge from service Mr. Messia went on to serve as a member of the Boston Police Department for thirty-in years.

Her husband serving in the army and her brother in the Army Air Corps, Mildred Greene was a mother taking care of her children at the home front.  Reminiscing about food and metal rationing, black outs, and the other affects war has on civilian population Mrs. Greene also shares with us the events of her brother, a Tuskegee Airman, being shot down over Czechoslovakia and eventually through aid of partisans reuniting with his unit.

A native of North Carolina George Hursey joined the US Army  in 1939.  Eventually stationed in Hawaii dangerously close to Pearl Harbor, his artillery (anti-aircraft) unit participated in the defense on that infamous Sunday morning.    Discharged in early 1945 Mr. Hursey eventually settled in Brockton and is a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

A Brockton resident and Brockton High School graduate, Bill Burrill enlisted into the armed services in June 1941 and began his active duty in February 1943.  A Member of the 104th Timberwolf Infantry Division and suffered multiple injuries before being transferred back to the United States eventually being discharged in December 1945.

Born in Dorchester raised in South Boston, Rudy Wieners joined the US Marine Corps in March of 1942 and served over 25 years of active service.  Receiving Purple Hearts during World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam In addition, Mr. Wieners is a a recipient of the Silver Star.

His father served in the US Marine Corps during World War 2 and his brother was already in active service in Vietnam when Brockton native Mark O'Reilly entered the Marines in October of 1966.  After eight weeks of "boot camp" Mr. O'Reilly took a chartered flight to Vietnam where he served from Easter 1967 to Easter 1968 receiving the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Originally from Roxbury, Morton Harpel decided he wanted to enlist in the US Navy at the age of seventeen and to accomplish this task had his brother sign his papers of consent.  Mr. Harple served in the navy aboard the USS Belle Isle an electronic repair ship that served in support of the battle fleets.

Born and raised south of Boston, William Bowie hails from Braintree, Massachusetts.  His military service began in US Army 1943 almost four years after the first events of World War 2 and served until 1946.  Assigned to Battery C, 741st Field Artillery Battalion, Mr. Bowie saw combat in France & Germany including his participation on "D-Day" at Utah Beach.  Recipient of several battle ribbons he sustained life long ear damage from proximity to the artillery.

Hailing from the City of Brockton John Bibbo entered military service in the US Navy shortly after his high school graduation in August of 1942 and serving four years until August of 1946.  Mr. Bibbo participated in naval combat in the Pacific theatre seeing action at Leyte Gulf and Guadalcanal.  A crew member of the destroyer USS DeHaven (see also)and the  carrier USS Princeton, he is the recipient of  9 battle stars.

Although he was born in Sagamore, Massachusetts Yober (Bert) Guaraldi is now a resident of Easton.  Mr. Guaraldi was a member of the US Army from October 1943 to July 1946.  Designated as 1st Scout, Company E, 179th Infantry, 45th Division; he saw combat in North Africa, Anzio (Italy), Southern France, Belgium & Germany.  A recipient of a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Badge, and 3 Campaign Ribbons; his field service ended when his left eye shot out by a German soldier.

A life long resident of Brockton, Massachusetts and graduate of the Brockton Public School system, Albert Doyle participated in the actions of World War 2 as a member of the US Navy.  During his active duty time of October 1943  to May 1946 he sailed as a crewmember of the USS Wilkes Barre, a light cruiser assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations.  As part of the crew he received five battle stars and injured left knee in a fall through the deck during hostilities.

Although he was rejected for service after his original physical, Richard Bath persisted and arranged a second physical to join the United States Air Force.  Selected during basic training for specialized training in the USAF Security Service, Mr. Bath participated in cryptology  and communications amongst other activities that took him from Europe, to Northern Africa, & Southeast Asia.