ROBERT JOHN SILVA May 9, 1951 – November 27, 1969 Killed in Action in Vietnam Bobby was born in Cambridge, MA to father Alfred Silva (1911 – 1971) and mother Barbara Cashman Silva. The family ncluded brothers Alfred Silva, Daniel Silva, John Silva, and his sister Barbara Jane Silva. At the time of Bobby’s death, his brother Alfred was just…
KENNETH JAMES SMOLAREK August 23, 1950 – November 27, 1969 Killed in Action in Vietnam Ken’s parents Alexander Smolarek (1914 – 2010) and Janina Prazuch Smolarek (1919 – 2012) were married on September 28, 1940. They were to live their entire lives in the Warrendale section of Detroit, MI and raise their children understanding and enjoying their rich Polish heritage. …
DOLORES FRANCISCO BARRETO-RODRIGUEZ April 2, 1946 – January 11, 2017 Arecibo is a town in northern Puerto Rico. It lies on a small inlet near the mouth of the Arecibo River. In 1946, still celebrating the end of WWII, the bright sun of Arecibo first shone on the face of Dolores Francisco “Frank” Barreto-Rodriguez. His birth was the pride of his father…
JOSEPH ANTHONY “HERK” NAPERKOWSKI JR October 3, 1950 – August 17, 2019 Joe’s parents, Joseph Anthony Naperkowski (1917-1986) and Marie Francis Gutkowski Naperkowski (1928-1984) were both born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania the children of Polish immigrants. They were married on June 12, 1947 in preparation for the arrival of their son Joseph Anthony Naperkowski Jr. to become known in the…
MERRILL JAMES SHOVER JR. December 17, 1945 – December 17, 2018 Merrill James “Jim” Shover Jr., aka “Shorty Shover” was born in New London, Connecticut to Merrill J. Shover (1919-1991) and Evelyn Isabelle Emory Shover (1921). Who could predict this coastal community, home of the US Navy Submarine fleet, would produce one of the finest Army Rangers this country had…
WALTER J “LADDIE” CHOJNACKI JR December 4, 1946 – February 7, 2006 The war was over, Christmas was approaching and his father, Walter J. Chojnacki Sr. (1917-1999) was home from the Merchant Marine having honorably served in the war effort. Year 1946 found his mother Jean Niedzinski Chojnacki (1916-2000) waiting patiently for both her husband to safely return and for…
L. Ray Bailey, 69, of Old Hickory passed away Sunday, July 07, 2019, at home with hospice following an extended illness. REMEMBERING L. Ray Bailey He was a 2000 Belmont University graduate and a member of Tulip Grove Baptist Church. Ray enjoyed making chili, landscaping, reading, woodworking, attending reunions of his U.S. Army Kilo Company, 75th Ranger group, local Vietnam…
CLINTON DALE NEUMAN July 24, 1948 – March 2, 1972 Clinton Dale Neuman was born in the birthplace of his father and grandfather, rural Pipestone County, Minnesota on July 24, 1948. The area, on the Minnesota side of the South Dakota border was a wonderful place to raise a family, but a terrible place to find enough employment to properly…
RAYMOND WILFRED YOVINO March 19, 1948 – December 29, 1971 Raymond’s father was born in Chile but came to a small fishing village, Ilwaca, on the Peninsula in Washington to pursue a dream. Father Miguel Cristobal Yovino (1919-2000) fell in love and married Grace Martell Yovino (1928-1949) a local girl. Together they had two boys, Ray and his older brother…
HARRY W. SCHREINER December 28, 1945 – September 5, 1973 Harry spent his early years in a terribly broken home, being removed at the age of 9 to live with foster parents Howard J. Pett (1918-1992) and his wife Marjorie M. Pett (1919-2010) in Lower Genesee Lake, Wisconsin. While childless of their own, the Petts raised Harry and his foster…