VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH: Lieutenant Colonel Don Sheehan, USAF

By on    Community, Helen Mooradkanian, Hero of the Month, Heroes, Lead Stories, Local, National, Op-Ed, Seniors, Tewksbury  

By: Helen Morradkanian – February 2013 TEWKSBURY – When 6,000 Marines were trapped at their base during the 77-day siege of Khe Sanh—a surprise attack by 40,000 heavily armored North Vietnamese and Viet Cong during the infamous 1968 Tet Offensive —it was “the longest and deadliest battle” of the Vietnam War. West Point graduate Lieutenant […]

Hero in Our Midst – Joe Messina of Methuen – Hero in our Midst

By on    Community, Hero of the Month, Heroes, Local, Methuen, National, Seniors, State  

By Ted Trip – July 05, 2006  METHUEN – Joe Messina was taking a shower below decks on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock after his Curtis SB2C Hell-diver returned from another grueling mission attacking Japanese shipping in Manila Bay.  Shortly after the ship’s General Quarters sounded, there was a tremendous explosion just over his head and […]