Iwo Jima’s DeFusco and Hyder; Two Men Serving on Sacred Ground ~ VALLEY PATRIOTS OF THE MONTH, HEROES IN OUR MIDST

Iwo Jima’s DeFusco and Hyder; Two Men Serving on Sacred Ground  ~ VALLEY PATRIOTS OF THE MONTH, HEROES IN OUR MIDST

LAWRENCE , METHUEN – Lawrence’s Anthony De Fusco 97, and Methuen’s Henry Hyder 92, did not know each other until they both recently moved into the same assisted living facility, Methuen Village. However, they share a common bond, both men served on Iwo Jima during World War II. Henry with the Naval Construction Battalions, also […]

MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL: Honoring 6 American military Heroes Killed in Action ~ VALLEY PATRIOTS OF THE MONTH

MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL: Honoring 6 American military Heroes Killed in Action ~ VALLEY PATRIOTS OF THE MONTH

By: John Cuddy – May, 2019 Memorial Day does not belong to the Republicans, the Democrats, or any elected official. It is not intended for honoring the men and women currently serving in the military or our Veterans. Memorial Day belongs to the six American Heroes written about in this article, and all who gave […]

Chelmsford’s Mike Miskell, Another Local Member of Patton’s 3rd Army – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

Chelmsford’s Mike Miskell, Another Local Member of Patton’s 3rd Army – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

By: John Cuddy – April, 2019 Chelmsford’s Mike Miskell, like many of the men and women who served during World War II, formed a lifelong friendship with another soldier they served with during the war. Mike was with York, Pennsylvania’s George Meanor, a Technical Sargent in his unit, the US Army’s 217th Artillery. The two […]

HERO IN OUR MIDST – Commander Marilisa G. Elrod, Medical Corps, U.S. NAVY

HERO IN OUR MIDST – Commander Marilisa G. Elrod, Medical Corps, U.S. NAVY

  By: John Cuddy – November, 2018 In honor of Veteran’s day, November 11th, I sought out a Veteran that is still serving our nation; she is Commander Marilisa G. Elrod, Medical Corps (Undersea Medical Officer) United States Navy, the Associate Director for Professional Education at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Portsmouth, Virginia. In doing […]

Middleton’s Douglas Bryant – 5 Combat Patrols vs. the Japanese, Before He Turned 20 ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

Middleton’s Douglas Bryant – 5 Combat Patrols vs. the Japanese, Before He Turned 20 ~ HEROES IN OUR MIDST

VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH By: John Cuddy – September 2018 The Silent Service Middleton’s Douglas Bryant originally hailed from Amesbury, Massachusetts where his father worked in the automotive industry. Prior to World War II, Amesbury had a bustling automobile industry, but manufacturers such as the Walker Body Company did not survive the Great Depression. […]

John Gallant ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

John Gallant ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

The Battle of the Atlantic – Defeating the Nazis on the High Seas! By: John Cuddy – Aug. 2018 Haverhill’s John Gallant served in the Atlantic Theater of Operation during World War II on the U.S.S Hammann, DE-131. The story of John Gallant’s World War II naval service and that of his ship’s, are very […]

Robert Crowley and “Saving Japan from the Red Menace” ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

Robert Crowley and “Saving Japan from the Red Menace” ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: John Cuddy – July, 2018 Lawrence’s Robert Crowley, a graduate of Central Catholic’s Class of 1944, had a unique role during and after World War II. Upon joining the U.S. Army, he was trained in Military Intelligence, with additional training in the Japanese language at Fort Holabird, outside of Baltimore, Maryland. He was then […]

VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ U.S. Army – Dracut’s Frank Polewarczyk, 79th Infantry World War II

VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ U.S. Army – Dracut’s Frank Polewarczyk, 79th Infantry World War II

HERO IN OUR MIDST! By: John Cuddy This month’s “Hero in our Midst” is one of 4,916 men in the 79th Infantry Division who received the Bronze Star, and one of 15,203 Purple Hearts awarded to the 79th Infantry (count is inflated due to some men receiving more than one Purple Heart). The 79th served […]

HERO IN OUR MIDST ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ Infantry Soldier – Major Rick Kelley U.S. Army-Retired

HERO IN OUR MIDST ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH ~ Infantry Soldier – Major Rick Kelley U.S. Army-Retired

By: John Cuddy – February 2018 Truly a “hero in our midst”, it was an honor to interview Major Kelley. We are from the same home town, Lawrence, Massachusetts, and he went to grade school with my father at St Patrick’s Grammar School, but I never had the chance to really talk to Major Rick […]

HERO IN OUR MIDST – Joseph Salvatore LaGrasse ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

HERO IN OUR MIDST – Joseph Salvatore LaGrasse ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

  By: Beth D’Amato – July, 2017 NORTH ANDOVER – As far back as the American Revolution, the bravest of men would run onto the battlefields under enemy fire to provide aid and comfort to the wounded and dying. By the time the Civil War broke out, the realization that medical treatment and the evacuation […]

James Edward Bradley ~ U.S. Navy, WWII ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HEROES IN OUR MIDST

James Edward Bradley ~ U.S. Navy, WWII ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HEROES IN OUR MIDST

By: Beth D’Amato – June, 2017 On June 6th 1944, the allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. It’s been documented that this battle was responsible for nearly 210,000 casualties. This includes US and Allied forces both in air and on the ground. After the initial battle on D-Day, the reinforcement troops continued to […]

Iraqi War Hero Julian Jaramillo, USMC – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

Iraqi War Hero Julian Jaramillo, USMC – VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH, HERO IN OUR MIDST

By: Beth D’Amato – April, 2017 Julian Jaramillo was born in Brownsville, Texas on January 31,1972. He comes from a strong military family which is why he says he entered the service right out of high school in 1991. Julian served from 1991 to 2006. As a United States Marine, Julian was deployed to Iraq […]

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