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Mason City Paratrooper
Enroute Home From N.Y.
Frank "Speck" Haddy
Wears 12 Decorations
Made 18 Jumps
EDITORS NOTE: The following story concerning Frank
"Speck" Haddy, Mason City paratrooper with the 82nd division just arrived
in the states was received here from the press department of the army
ground forces liaison office at the New York port of embarkation.
New York --- Wearing 12 combat decorations
including the coveted silver star medal for gallantry in action, Pfc
Frank Haddy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Haddy, 525 Carolina s. E., Mason
City, paratrooper with the 82nd division, arrived aboard the Texarkana
Victory, from Marseille, France, along with 1,900 combat infantrymen,
As we interviewed the battle wised veteran we asked how he received
his silver star decoration, and from his wallet he pulled out a copy
of the general order sent to him by Maj. Gen. James M. Gavin, commanding
general, 92nd infantry (All American) division. The general order
reads as follows: "Frank Haddy, Private 1/c, 508th parachute infantry
regiment --- By direction of the president, the silver star is awarded
for gallantry in action against the enemy on Oct 1-2, 1944, near Voxhil,
Holland.
"Pfc Haddy was an artillery gunner, Company "D" 508th parachute infantry.
He knocked out 2 German medium tanks which approached his company position
during a strong German attack upon his battalion MLR. Pfc Haddy
was in position on the left flank of his platoon when 2 enemy tanks
broke through the battalion forward position and approached his company
position from the right. Acting entirely upon his own initiative,
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he and his assistant gunner moved through heavy artillery
and machine gun fire which was sweeping the area, to a position from
which he was able to attack each tank successively within the most effective
range of his artillery. This brave act impeded the enemy attack
upon his company position and contributed much to the security of his
battalion position." In addition to the silver star, the
Mason City hero wears the bronze star decoration for heroic action against
the enemy, the purple heart being wounded in France during an enemy
artillery barrage, the combat infantry badge, the presidential unit
citation, the parachute badge for making 18 jumps, the invasion arrowhead
parch, and the European theatre ribbon with 5 battle campaign stars.
The infantryman entered the service in November 1943 at Camp Dodge,
Ark., Camp Mackall, Georgia, both of the latter being infantry training
centers, then later he volunteered for the infantry parachute jump school
at Fort Benning, Ga. After he was accepted he was in training
for 120 weeks making 15 practice humps. From Fort Benning he was
sent to Europe where he participated in the invasions of France, Holland,
the Bulge of the Ardennes Forest and a few others.
We asked the the hero infantryman how it felt being back. His
reply was, "I can't believe it, and I'm so wonderfully overjoyed."
Also asked what he would like to do when he gets out of the service,
he said, "I'm going to take me a long rest, then try to get my job back
at Armour Packing Company."
Within 48 hours the Mason City doughboy will be enroute to his separation
center, where he will be screened for a discharge from the army.
(Frank had not yet arrived in Mason City, it was learned here Thursday). |
A Hero's Return
Grinning and trim in his uniform,
Leonard A. Funk at Penn Station [New York city] shown here on
return home, August 25, 1945
[a 'remember when' reprint, Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, PA, Monday, May 31, `1965, Page 35]
 Lacey
E. Moore
Pfc Lacey E. Moore, husband of Mrs.. Myrtle Moore,
Route 3, Kingsport, will arrive in the United States, November 1, it
has been announced by the War Department.
Private Moore entered the service October 28, 1942, at Camp
Blanding, Fla. He received basic training at Camp Blanding and
six weeks training at Parachute School at Fort Benning, Ga.
From there he went to Camp Mackall, NC, serving eight months in the
508th Parachute Infantry. He served 34 months overseas in the
82nd Airborne Division in Cassino, Anzio, Holland, Ardennes and
Germany.
He wears five battle stars, the Purple Heart, Presidential Citation
with cluster, Combat Infantry Badge and Good Conduct Medal.
[Kingsport Times, Kingsport, TN, Oct. 28,
1934, Pg 15]'
 WITH THE ARMED FORCES
Awards, Transfers and Promotions For York County Service Men Are Listed
Winner of the Bronze Star medal "for heroic achievement in battle," Staff
Sergeant Robert Richmond, son of Mr. Albert Richmond, 521 East Philadelphia
street, has arrived from Europe aboard the "Sea Pike." The veteran fighter of the 508th Parachute regiment of
the 82n Airborne division will leave Camp Kilmer, N. J. for Indiantown Gap, Pa. where he will be honorably discharged.
[The York Dispatch
York, PA, 09 Nov 1945, Fri, Page 11] |
