The Brookline Monument, better known as "The Cannon" has been a mainstay on Brookline Boulevard for many years, dating back to the 1930s. It is the showpiece of Brookline's Veteran's Memorial Park, or Triangle Park as it is officially known. The memorial sits on the small piece of land situated between Brookline Boulevard, Queensboro and Chelton Avenues. The cannon, a World War I artillery piece, stands a quiet watch over Brookline's busy business district and the legacy of Brookline's fighting men and women in arms.

At the entrance to the park is a fine marble and bronze memorial commemorating local soldiers that have fought in the various conflicts from World War I through the present-day War on Terror in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Around the park are a few benches and a flower garden. Each year, the local Memorial Day Parade begins at the Veteran's Memorial. The Cannon, a favorite amongst the youngsters who like to climb aboard and turn the wheels, is one of the most recognizable features on Brookline Boulevard.

The present-day Cannon is actually the second rendition of the monument. The War Memorial itself is also a replacement. The first cannon, a World War I field artillery piece, and the initial white marble War Memorial were placed in the 1930s, commemorating the Great War. After the United States entry into World War II, the original howitzer was hauled away during a scrap metal drive in October 1942.

After World War II, a new cannon was obtained and re-dedicated in 1946. The present Veteran's Memorial was dedicated in the 1990s after the Persian Gulf War. The old white marble Veteran's Memorial can be seen in the photo at the top of the page.

Veteran's Memorial Park

Brookline Military Casualty Lists

<World War I>      <World War II>      <Korean War>      <Vietnam War>

<The War on Terror>

This section is a work in progress. We are still gathering information.

Listed below are many of the sons of Brookline who gave their
lives to preserve freedom and contain aggression during
World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

World War I (1917-1919)

 History of Pittsburgh and Western PA Soldiers in World War I 

For a listing of World War I fatalities from Pennsylvania:
The Carnegie Library - Soldiers of the Great War

For a listing of World War I fatalities from Pittsburgh:
Soldiers of the Great War - Volume III

The World War I Memorial - Washington D.C.

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World War II (1941-1945)

The World War II Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Korean War (1950-1953)

Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Vietnam War (1965-1973)

Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.

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The War on Terror (2001-present)

There have been no fallen Brookline soldiers in the Persian Gulf War (1991),
the War in Afghanistan (2001-present), or the War in Iraq (2003-present).

 Pittsburgh Casualties in The War on Terror 

United States Army soldiers resupplying in the mountains of Afghanistan.

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Editor's Note: These casualty lists were compiled from archived issues of the Pittsburgh Press and Post-Gazette (March, 1917 - March, 1919), the Mount Washington Times (December 1941 - July 1946), the Pittsburgh Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (December 1941 - July 1946), the Brookline Journal (1950-1954) and the Carnegie Library and Ancestry.com online resources. All names listed have been verified as casualties through the National Archives or the Defense POW/Missing Persons Office online resource. The home of record is listed as the address of the soldier's next-of-kin.

As for our World War I and World War II research, we've made every attempt to be as accurate and thorough as possible. There were many missing newspaper editions and not all daily casualty lists were available. These daily published lists were the only consistant resource available for the Army and Navy's World War I and World War II records containing street addresses. Hence, it is likely that we have omitted names that should be present on this record. It is also inevitable that Brookline natives who moved to another city or state may not be identified as being from Pennsylvania. These names would be impossible to locate using the resources available at the present time.

A Work In Progress

This page is an ongoing work in progress. If anyone has any information to add to this page, or notes any errors, please email us at memorial@brooklineconnection.com. With your help we can continue the evolution of this casualty list. Our goal is to present this record of Brookline's fallen servicemen with the admiration, respect and honor befitting their sacrifice.

Special thanks to John Rudiak, Carol Anthony, David Wonn and Doug Brendel for their assistance with the research.

Additional World War II Information

Our research into World War II casualty lists also uncovered several postings regarding local soldiers that were wounded, missing or held as prisoners. The following is a recap of information regarding Brookline veterans wounded in action, missing in action, or held as prisoner of war. This is not to be considered a complete account. These names were culled from the Pittsburgh Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, subject to the limitation of missing editions. Our research is ongoing ...

Wounded: Aaron Paul S Jr - Starkamp Street, Bauer Richard A - Berkshire Avenue, Bishop William R - Rossmore Avenue, Bogart Frank I - Breining Street, Bower Richard A - Creedmoor Avenue, Brown James R - Jacob Street, Brunk Carl A - Pioneer Avenue, Carrigan Joseph W - Brookline Boulevard, Copeland William M - Creedmoor Avenue, Cunningham Edward J - Brookline Boulevard, Czech George B - Bellaire Place, Dudics George Jr - Fernhill Avenue, Dunbar Frank - Woodward Avenue, Dunn Robert K - Woodbourne Avenue, Dye Charles L - Fordham Avenue, Elstner Francis L - Rossmore Avenue, Frediani Lawrence F - Merrick Avenue, Frew Jack R - Wedgemere Avenue, Gorski John F - Pioneer Avenue, Green Elmer D - Lynnbrooke Avenue, Gregg Paul - Saw Mill Run Boulevard, Hagel Robert L - Gallion Avenue, Haggerty Francis L - Chelton Avenue, Heck Richard N - Bayridge Avenue, Henry Robert P - Plainview Avenue, Herrle Harold J - Kenilworth Street, Hogan James T - Bellaire Place, Hogel Joseph A. - Milan Avenue, Kuntz William J - Brookline Boulevard, Land, William - Berkshire Avenue, Lang Charles H - Whited Street, Lutton James L - Brookline Boulevard, Mahoney David R - Berkshire Avenue, McKelvey Gene B - Bellaire Avenue, Moses William A - Fordham Avenue, Orth William J - Bayridge Avenue, Oswant John E - LaMarido Street, Quallich Robert P - Fortuna Street, Schilling Thomas M - Rossmore Avenue, Smith Harry A - Berkshire Avenue, Stull John R - Sageman Avenue, Sturm Jesse J - Edgebrook Avenue, Thom Albert - Timberland Avenue, Trimble Arthur P - Bayridge Avenue, Troppman Daniel A - Chelton Avenue, Whetsell John W - Castlegate Avenue, Ziegler Maurice S - Woodbourne Avenue.

Missing: Benninger Robert J - Woodbourne Avenue, Brickley Edward G - Woodward Avenue, Burkley Joseph A - Whited Street, Kost William C - Linial Avenue, Linke Walter A - Ferncliff Avenue.

Prisoner of War (Germany): Butterworth Norman - Norwich Avenue, Courtney Samuel E - Greencrest Drive, Drexler Daniel T - Bellaire Avenue, Dudics Edward - Fernhill Avenue, Fluke Richard C - Woodbourne Avenue, Flynn William J - Woodbourne Avenue, Jordano Frank A - Fernhill Avenue, Kosinski Raymond J - Woodward Avenue, Kost Peter - Linial Avenue, Manners Christ D - Brookline Boulevard, Streicher Frederick E - Bellaire Place, Theis Richard C - Fordham Avenue, Trunzo Anthony F - Plainview Avenue, Walker Raymond L - Plainview Avenue, Watkins David A - Fordham Avenue, Welsh Richard J - Merrick Avenue.

Prisoner of War (Japan): Arcuri Louis - Bellaire Place.

NOTE: None of the soldiers listed above as Missing-In-Action have been found on military death rolls. All of the Prisoners-Of-War listed above were repatriated. Source - www.ancestry.com.

Additional World War I Information

Wounded: Hamilton A W - Plainview Avenue, Knowlson Roscoe T - Berkshire Avenue.

Missing: Sheridan James L - Fordham Street.

Remembrances

Joseph P. Caldwell - Grand Army of the Republic
Dedication of Honor Roll - September, 1943

Echoes of Three Wars punctuated the ceremony yesterday when an honor roll was dedicated in Brookline. The tablet bearing the names of 1500 men and women in military service, sponsored by Post #540 of the American Legion, was unveiled on ground adjoining the Post home on Brookline Boulevard. Joseph P. Caldwell, 96-year old Civil War veteran, watched the ceremony with Colonel John H. Shenkel, post commander, beside him. Reprinted from the Pittsburgh Press - September 27, 1943.

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Joseph Caldwell was born November 13, 1847, in Allegheny City (presently the North Side). When he passed away in 1946, at age 98, Caldwell was the final surviving member of the last Pittsburgh-area post, McPherson Post 117, of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Caldwell was sixteen when he enlisted as a private in the third version of Captain Joseph M. Knap's Independent Pennsylvania Light Artillery Battery, organized in Pittsburgh. Members of the battery were on a 100-day emergency enlistment. The battery was ordered to Washington, D.C. and attached to 3rd Brigade, Hardin's Division, 22nd Corps, Dept. of Washington, then 1st Brigade, Hardin's Division, 22nd Corps for garrison duty in the defenses of Washington north of the Potomac. Private Caldwell served from May 19, 1864 until September 15, 1864.

Joseph M. Knap's Independent Pennsylvania Light Artillery

The Pennsylvania Artillery of Hardin's Division was involved in the Battle of Fort Stevens on July 11-12, 1864. The skirmishes were part of the Confederacy's final invasion of the north, led by General Jubal Early of the Army of Northern Virginia. President Abraham Lincoln rode out from Washington to observe the artillery duels between the opposing forces. The President stood on the parapets at Fort Stevens, in the line of fire of the Confederate guns.

The Grand Army of the Republic was a Union veteran's society, with membership limited to Civil War veterans only. Posts continued until the last surviving member died. McPherson Post 117 became a bygone part of the city's military tradition on August 30, 1946.

After the war ended in 1865, Caldwell worked as a contractor in Butler County, where he owned a farm. He retired in 1928 and moved to Pittsburgh, settling in the community of Brookline. Joseph Caldwell spent the next seventeen years in Brookline. His final year was spent at the home of his son in Overbrook.

For eighty years, Civil War veteran Joseph Caldwell never missed a Memorial Day Parade. He was in attendance at every South Hills Memorial Association parade in Brookline until failing health kept him at home in 1946. That year, Major General Manton S. Eddy came to visit Caldwell and made a short speech at his bedside.

Joseph P. Caldwell was the last man surviving out of a total of 25,930 residents of Allegheny County who served with the Union Army during the Civil War. Of those soldiers, approximately 3,000 were killed or wounded during the conflict.

Petty Officer Louis Arcuri - United States Navy
Prisoner of War in Japan - 1942/1945

Petty Officer Louis Arcuri was a six-year Navy veteran who returned to active duty in 1939. When the Japanese attack on Luzon began, on December 8, 1941, P.O. Arcuri was stationed at a Communications Center in Manila. He retreated along with the rest of the Allied forces to the Bataan Peninsula, then to Corregidor, where the Battle for the Phillipines came to an end with the American and Phillipino surrender.

On May, 6, 1942, P.O. Louis Arcuri became a prisoner of the Japanese Empire. He survived the Bataan Death March, and in December of 1942, Arcuri wrote a letter home to his brother, Michael Arcuri of 1431 Bellaire Place. The letter arrived in July, 1943. The following article is reprinted from the Pittsburgh Press dated July 21, 1943.

Brookline Man Held In Japan Writes Parents

One of the first communications received in the district directly from a prisoner of war in Japan was received yesterday by a Brookline family.

The postcard, handled through the International Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland, was from Petty Officer Louis Arcuri to his brother, Michael Arcuri, 1431 Bellaire Place.

"I am well and safe in Japan," the card read. "My health is usual. I have had no news of the family since November 1941. How are you and the family, especially father. Remember me to father. Love. Louis."

The printed card was dated December 22, 1942. It bore a Japanese censor stamp and was forwarded from Prisoners Information Bureau, of the Office of the Provost General in Washington.

Petty Officer Arcuri, 33, was reported missing after the fall of Corregidor. He was reported a prisoner last January 4. A veteran of six years previous service, he returned to active duty in 1939, and served as a radio man. He was stationed in Manila.

Allied Command Center located in the Malinta Tunnel - Corregidor - May 1942

After the war, Petty Officer Louis Arcuri was repatriated and returned to the United States after nearly 3 1/2 years in captivity. He had spent time in POW camps in the Phillipines, Formosa, and Japan. The last camp where he was held was Tokyo POW Camp Branch #2 (Kawasaki) Tokyo Bay Area 35-139.

John P. Reitmeyer - Shipfitter 2nd Class - USS Juneau
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - November 13, 1942

Shipfitter John P. Reitmeyer ... (more information coming soon)

John P. Reitmeyer was a Shipfitter 2nd Class assigned to the USS Juneau. A naval Shipfitter's duties include fabricating, assembling and erecting all structural parts of a ship. They were the skilled mechanics who kept a ship at sea structurally sound. In battle, they were called upon to perform whatever tasks necessary to keep their ship seaworthy.

The USS Juneau was a light cruiser commissioned in February 1942. After blocakade duty near Martinique, the ship was sent to the South Pacific to support United States operations at Guadalcanal. The Juneau saw action in two of the major naval engagements that contributed to the American victory at Guadalcanal, which halted Japanese expansion towards Australia and turned the tide of battle in favor of the Allies.

In October 1942 the USS Juneau was engaged in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and, in November, the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

On November 13, 1942, a Japanese task force, including several warships escorting a troop convoy, approached Guadalcanal. This was a major attempt by the Japanese to reinforce their island garrison and launch an offensive operation to clear the island of the Americans. As the Japanese ships neared Guadalcanal, they were met by Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan's relatively small Landing Support Group, which included the USS Juneau. At 01:48 the two forces met and began to exchange fire. A fierce battle ensued.

The USS Juneau was hit by a torpedo and began to list. The ship was forced to withdraw. By morning, the Japanese force had been beaten back, the their reinforcment effort halted. This was a major turning point in the battle of Guadalcanal.

Listing severely, the USS Juneau, along with two other damaged cruisers, began the journey to Australia for repairs. At 11:00 on the morning of November 13, the USS Juneau was hit by two torpedoes from the Japanese submarine, I-26. The ship broke in two and sunk in a mere twenty seconds. Shipfitter Reitmeyer was below decks and did not survive the sinking.

Over 100 sailors survived, only to languish for days in the water. News of the sinking was not reported due to the tenuous situation at that time during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The admiralty did not want to risk allowing the Japanese to know the extent of the damages to the fleet. When rescue aircraft arrived, eight days later, only ten survivors remained.

A memorial to the USS Juneau was erected near the docks in Juneau, Alaska. Among the sailors lost as a result of the USS Juneau's sinking were the five Sullivan Brothers.

Lt. Frederick E. Streicher - Army Air Corps
Prisoner of War in Germany - 1944/1945

Lieutenant Frederick E. Streicher was a pilot in the Army Air Corps that was shot down over Austria on April 2, 1944 and listed as missing in action on the May 16, 1944 casualty lists. He became a prisoner of war in Germany. While a prisoner he lost a leg due to wounds suffered during his capture. Lt. Streicher was freed in February 1945. He returned home to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Streicher of 2637 Pioneer Avenue, in March 1945. Below is an article reprinted from the Pittsburgh Press, dated March 4, 1945.

Freed Prisoner Home Minus Leg
Brookline Pilot Keeps Promise Pals Made

He didn't think he'd ever get back after his capture by the Nazis, but Lt. Fred Streicher was at home with his parents in Brookline today.

His right leg missing, Lt. Streicher was one of nine repatriated Pittsburgh prisoners of was who returned last week aboard the Swedish Exchange Liner Gripsholm. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Streicher of 2637 Pioneer Avenue.

Shot down when he was on a mission over Steyr, Austria, last April 2, Lt. Streicher was hidden by the Austrian underground until April 18 when he was captured as the Germans raided the town where he and ten fellow airmen were hiding.

He had sprained both ankles when he baled out. They were still painful when the Germans took the town and caught him when he made an effort to escape. He was shot through the thigh. Nazi bullets snuffed out the life of his co-pilot who was with him.

He related yesterday how a German soldier had beaten him with the butt of his rifle, although he was bleeding excessively from the leg wound. "Three of my ribs were broken," he said.

Carried back behind the lines by the Germans, Lt. Streicher was placed on a pile of straw in a stable where his right leg was amputated without benefit of an anesthetic, he said.

Later after he had been moved to a German prisoner camp, Lt. Streicher underwent two more operations. He described, too, how he and fellow prisoners had to live on potato soup for two months and were dying of starvation when the first precious Red Cross boxes of food began to arrive.

"Ten of us made a promise," said Lt. Streicher, "that if we ever got out alive we'd make a contribution to the Red Cross."

And that was one of the first things on his itinerary when he arrived in Pittsburgh yesterday. He went to the Dravo Corp., where he worked as an electrical wireman before the war, and there presented $100 in cash to Mrs. W. J. Neuenschwander, a member of the Red Cross Board of Speakers' Bureau.

After a thirty-day leave Lt. Streicher will enter convalescence at the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Corporal Joseph Conway - United States Marine Corps
USS Bunker Hill - May 1945

The USS Bunker Hill (CV/CVA/CVS-17, AVT-9) was one of twenty-four Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was commissioned in May 1943, and served in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning eleven battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.

On May 11, 1945, off the coast of Okinawa, the ship was crippled by Japanese kamikaze attacks, suffering the loss of 346 men killed, 43 missing, and 264 wounded. The USS Bunker Hill was one of the most heavily damaged carriers of the war.

Marine Corporal Joseph Conway, of 1504 Chelton Avenue, a member of the original crew since the date of the ship's commissioning, manned an anti-aircraft gun. Corporal Conway was at his station when the ship was attacked. The following article is reprinted from the Pittsburgh Press, dated June 28, 1945.

Brookline Marine On Carrier Only Survivor Of Gun Crew

Marine Corporal Joseph Conway, "plank-owner" on the Bunker Hill, was the only man in his gun crew to escape death when two Jap suicide planes smashed into the giant carrier.

Corporal Conway, 23, a "plank-owner" because he has been with the Bunker Hill since her commissioning, was one of at least eleven district men aboard the carrier, flagship for the famed Task Force 58. Presently, two of the eleven are listed as missing.

The Marine, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Conway, of 1504 Chelton Avenue, Brookline, is now in San Diego, California, waiting for the furlough which will permit him to go to Tennessee to marry the girl he met when he was a prep student there.

Knocked Down

"I was the only man in my gun crew, maybe even on my side of the ship, that wasn't killed or badly hurt when they hit us," the Corporal wrote his brother Jim.

He said he was knocked down, and when he scrambled to his feet he found himself in a welter of death and destruction.

"I ran to my locker and that steel locker was melted right down. We had to use blow torches to cut the lockers open."

In Marines Three Years

Corporal Conway enlisted in the Marines three years ago.

Another Brookline man on the Bunker Hill, Seaman Paul Kestler, 18, of 1700 Creedmoor Avenue, is reported missing in action. He has two brothers in service, Corporal Edward and Private Albert Kestler.

USS Bunker Hill after Japanese attacks - May 11, 1945.

Corporal Joseph Conway, of Chelton Avenue, survived the Bunker Hill tragedy uninjured and made it home to marry his sweetheart from Tennessee. Seaman Paul Kestler, whose family lived a mere two blocks away on Creedmoor Avenue, was not so fortunate. Seaman Kestler was reported as Killed In Action a week after the above article was published, on July 5, 1945.

Other district natives aboard the Bunker Hill on May 11, 1945 included: Seaman Harvey Toms (KIA) of Mount Washington, Commander Joseph Frauenheim (Wounded) and Petty Officer Peter Chergotis of East Liberty, Seaman John Stevenson of Greenfield, Seaman James Seifert (Wounded) of Castle Shannon, Lieutenant Andrew Miklausen and Petty Officer Jacob Guzelle of Imperial, Seaman G. F. Weisner of Coraopolis, Petty Officer Charles Costello of Jeanette and Petty Officer Joseph Corea of Butler.

Staff Sgt. Richard J. Welsh - Army Air Corps
Prisoner of War in Germany - 1943/1945

Staff Sgt. Richard J. Welsh was a radio operator in the Army Air Corps serving in a medium bomber group in the North African Theatre of Operations. During the opening stages of the Italian Campaign, on September 29, 1943, Sgt. Welsh, a veteran of nearly ten missions, was on a bombing run near Benvenuto, Italy, when his plane was hit and seen plunging downward. A lone parachute was reported to emerge from the stricken bomber before it crashed.

No one could have known at the time, but it was the radio man, Sgt. Richard J. Welsh, of 1133 Merrick Avenue, that had escaped the doomed aircraft. The following article is reprinted from the Pittsburgh Press, dated November 8, 1943.

One Of Two Crash Survivors
Is Deserted By Lady Luck

Two 20-year old Pittsburgh district Army fliers who survived a crash landing in Sicily recently have been parted by the fortunes of war.

One of them is still flying, but the other is now reported missing in action after another crash landing.

The Army told of the crash landing which ended safely for Lt. Ivor P. Evans of Aliquippa and Staff Sgt. Richard J. Welsh, of 1133 Merrick Avenue, Brookline, but it remained for their mothers to tell the sequel.

Missing - All Right

"My boy is now missing in action," said Mrs. James W. Welsh.

"My son is still all right", reported Mrs. Samuel Evans. "We had a letter from him last week."

Lt. Evans, a navigator, and Sgt. Welsh, a radio operator were members of the crew of "Old Shadrach," a Mitchell bomber assigned to raid a target near Rome, the Army reported.

While almost directly over the target, flak "conked out" one engine, and the planed dropped out of formation.

"We threw everything we could overboard," the Army quoted crew members. "We even joked about throwing our bombardier over because he weighed 200 pounds."

Steadily the plane lost altitude until it was a bare 5000 feet over the fog shrouded mountains of Italy.

"Dick Welsh kept in touch with the American Air Sea Rescue Service at Palermo," the Army dispatch continued. "The told us they were sending two Spitfire fighters to guide us in. Then Dick threw the radio out the hatch to relieve the bomber of the weight."

B25 Mitchell Bomber

Make Crash Landing

"As we prayed, the Spitfires appeared and led the crippled bomber to an airfield at Palermo. The pilot was compelled to crash land the ship, but all crew members got out safely," the Army story said.

"Dick wrote us of that escape." his mother said. "We were very happy."

But last week a letter came from the Adjutant General's office to confirm a telegram which reported Dick missing in action near Benvenuto, Italy, September 29.

" ... your son's plane was seen to crash to the earth," the letter said. " ... a lone parachute was seen to leave the plane as it plunged downward ... you will be notified immediately when further information is received ..."

For Mrs. Evans, wife of a Jones & Laughlin Corp. steel worker, word of Sgt. Welsh's fate magnified still further her own son's "charmed life."

"This is the fourth time he's escaped," she said. "A plane he was in crash landed last January in South Carolina and he escaped."

"Shortly after he reached Tunisia last summer he escaped death again when he was the only soldier to come out uninjured after their army truck was sideswiped by a big civilian truck."

Brothers in Army

Sgt. Welsh, son of a general contractor, is one of two brothers in the Army. His older brother, Lt. William Welsh, 30, is a flight instructor in Oklahoma. A 17-year old brother, James, is now trying to persuade his parents to permit him to enlist in the Navy, Mrs. Welsh said.

Sgt. Welsh graduated from South Hills High School several years ago and worked as a surveyor for the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Co. prior to enlisting October 13, 1942. He went overseas last July 21.

Lt. Evans graduated from Aliquippa High School in 1941, and worked in the mill before enlisting in January, 1942. He went overseas last June, and has two brothers in the Army, Pvt. William P. Evans, a paratrooper in England, and Corp. Gomer Evans, in Ordnance at Philadelphia.

Sgt. Richard J. Welsh, the lone survivor of the B25 Mitchell bomber that crashed near Benvenuto, was taken prisoner by the Germans. At the time he was liberated in 1945, Sgt. Welsh was being held at German POW Camp #091. Two other Brookline natives of the Army Air Corps, also held as prisoners-of-war by the Germans, were liberated from the same camp; Staff Sgt. Peter Kost of 424 Linial Avenue and Staff Sgt. David A. Watkins of 500 Fordham Avenue.

It seems that Sgt. Richard J. Welsh of Brookline wasn't deserted by "Lady Luck" after all.

Lt. Ivor P. Evans of Aliquippa, Sgt. Welsh's crew mate from "Old Shadrach", also survived the war.

Lieutenant Thomas J. Cullison - US Army Infantry
A Story of Tau and Tommy

The following story was sent in by Don Sayenga. It is the story of a dog named Tau and his best friend, Tommy Cullison.

When we were growing up in the 1940s, there was a wonderful dog named Tau. All the kids regarded Tau as "everybody's dog". Tau wandered everywhere and was welcomed and fed in everyone's home. The only thing we all knew was that Tau was Tommy Cullison's dog and it seemed as if Tau wandered around all the time looking for Tommy.

Tommy Cullison, 1941

Tommy and his brothers, Bill and Dick lived with their parents on 2336 Birtley Avenue. Tommy was a star athlete at Bethany College in West Virginia, where there is a plaque honoring him. While away at college, Tommy and his fraternity brothers adopted Tau. When the war began the fraternity house closed its doors, and Tau came home with Tommy to Brookline.

Tommy entered the Army and received an officer's commission. He sailed for England in 1944. Tommy never returned.

For many years Tommy's fate was a mystery. We were told that he was "missing." While Tau made his way around Brookline in search of his friend, we wondered what had happened to Tommy. Recently I discovered the true fate of Tommy Cullison. His story is one of those nightmares that we were never told about during the war.

Tommy was lost in the Lorraine Campaign, which was General George S. Patton's high-speed maneuver to strike directly across eastern France into Germany in the fall of 1944. Tommy was an officer in the 11th Infantry, 5th Division of General Patton's Third Army. He landed in Normandy on July 10, 1944.

One month after arriving in France, Lieutenant Cullison received the Bronze Star for leading an assault on German bridge defenses in the city of Angers. The Bronze Star Citation read:

"Second Lieutenant THOMAS J. CULLISON, 0318765, 11th Infantry Regiment, United States Army. For meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy from 7 August 1944 to 10 August 1944 in the vicinity of ANGERS, France. Lieutenant CULLISON as a platoon leader during an assault on an enemy held city led the platoon with unusual ability and fearlessness. Due to his aggressive action and excellent execution of command the enemy was forced to abandon prepared anti-tank and bridge positions thereby enabling our forces to enter the city. Lieutenant CULLISON's intrepid leadership and devotion to duty reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces. Entered military service from Pennsylvania."

The 11th Infantry fought their way across France, and at the beginning of September found themselves on the west bank of the Moselle River, south of the city of Metz, near the village of Dornot. On the morning of September 8, four companies of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment were sent across the Moselle. There were several World War I forts at that point and intelligence believed they were lightly defended. They weren't.

Map of the Dornot Bridgehead - September 8-10, 1944.

Lieutenant Thomas Cullison, a platoon leader in Company E, and the soldiers of the 11th Infantry crossed the river from Dornot in boats while the 10th Infantry made a similar crossing further south. The objective of the 2nd Battalion was Fort St Blaise, which was two thousand yards east of the river atop a hill. After securing the fort the battalion would link up with elements of the 10th Infantry advancing from the south. The attack went smoothly and without incident until the infantry reached the outskirts of Fort St. Blaise.

Powerful elements of the 17th SS Gotz von Berlichingen Division counterattacked unexpectedly and with determined ferocity. The grenadiers swept down upon the 11th Infantry, supported by Flak tanks, assault guns and powerful artillery. The Americans were cut off and forced to fight their way back into a wooded patch of land near the river's edge, a bridgehead no larger than two football fields.

The four decimated companies, along with a small contingent of armored infantry, were ordered to hold on at all costs until engineers could build a bridge. The men did as ordered.

The Germans assaulted the bridgehead thirty-six times during the three-day battle, inflicting tremendous losses upon the out-numbered American defenders. Despite the seemingly hopeless situation, the Americans refused to surrender. In fact, the War Diary of the 37th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment notes that the Americans had the superb effrontery to send a demand that the Germans themselves should surrender!

The terrain east of the Moselle River (bottom). The 11th Infantry made their
three-day stand in the wooded patch near the river's edge.

Bridging the river under constant and accurate artillery fire proved impossible, and on the night of September 10, 1944, the remnants of the 11th Infantry Regiment were ordered to abandon the bridgehead and make their way back to the west bank of the river. There were few boats available and no bridge.

Tommy, although wounded, was one of the only officers still in a condition to command. He helped direct the evacuation of the bridgehead, and gave his seat in a boat to a wounded man. He then tried to swim the one hundred yards to safety. The current was swift and the Germans were raking the evacuation area with machine gun and mortar fire. Lieutenant Thomas J. Cullison entered the water was never seen again.

The following excerpt is taken from the book "CROSSING OF THE MOSELLE by the Second Battalion of the 11th Infantry Plus K Company":

"The men appreciated such things in leadership as occurred when the 536 radio operator of 2nd Lt. Thomas J. Cullison, E Company, was fatally wounded by close sniper fire. Instead of ordering one of his men to recover the radio, Cullison said, 'Goddamit, now I've got to crawl out and get that radio back.'"

"He did that safely, keeping in communication and maintaining control from company to platoon. He was reported drowned during evacuation."

Lieutenant Thomas J. Cullison, of Birtley Avenue in Brookline, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action against the enemy. The Silver Star Citation read:

"First Lieutenant THOMAS J. CULLISON, 0318765, 11th Infantry Regiment, United States Army. For gallantry in action from 8 to 10 September 1944 near DORNOT, France. Lieutenant CULLISON was a platoon leader with a forward element of our bridgehead forces that successfully repulsed numerous counterattacks upon their position. When it became vitally necessary for Lieutenant CULLISON to withdraw his platoon across the Moselle River for the purpose of reorganization due to numerical superiority of the enemy forces he labored uncessingly with untiring energy to effectuate and organize an orderly evacuation of his forces. Lieutenant CULLISON then directed the evacuation of our personnel to the west bank of the Moselle River with the use of assault boats. Lieutenant CULLISON himself completely fatigued by his efforts and the strenuous ordeal elected to swim across the river in order that more enlisted men could make use of the available assault boats and thereby enable them to cross to the friendly banks of the Moselle River. Lieutenant CULLISON by his courageous act and every thought and deep concern for his men failed to negotiate the opposite bank of the river. Lieutenant CULLISON's intrepid leadership, his bravery and deep devotion to duty, his gallant conduct reflects the greatest of credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered military service from Pennsylvania."

Lieutenant Thomas J. Cullison was listed as missing for five years. On December 12, 1949, his status was changed to FOD (finding of death) and he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds he suffered in the Dornot bridgehead.

Although Tommy's body was never found, he is honored in the Lorraine American Cemetery in Lorraine, France. As for Tommy Cullison's dog Tau, he became the most beloved "Gold Star" dog in Brookline.

   
Tommy Cullison's dog Tau (at right with Walt Selvig in 1945.)

Note: The Academy Award winning film "Patton" opens with an accurate rendition of General George S. Patton giving a rousing and memorable speech to members of his Third Army before sailing for the battlefields of France in 1944. Lieutenant Thomas J. Cullison was in attendance at that gathering.

* Thanks to Bill Selvig, Jim Addis and Don Sayenga for contributing this information. *

Ernest Galko - Gunner's Mate
US Merchant Marine and US Navy

Born in 1922, Brookline resident Ernie Galko was just twenty years old when World War II started. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor he joined the Merchant Marines. His first sea duty was on a Liberty Ship that was sailing back to port in the Gulf of Mexico. It suddenly was torpedoed and sunk by a German Submarine.

"It happened so fast, and without warning, that there was no time to put down the life boats. The guys in the engine room were lost. We managed to get some wooden rafts into the water and we hung on them for three days before we were rescued."

After that experience, Galko concluded that sailing on an unarmed Merchant Marine Vessel wasn’t for him, so he enlisted in the Navy. He went to Boot Camp in Newport, Rhode Island and then to New York for Gunnery School. The Navy, ironically, put him on another Liberty Ship, the USS John Brown. This time, he and ninteen other Gunners Mates manned three inch, four inch and 20mm anti-aircraft guns. All Liberty ships were Merchant Marine so Ernie was technically back where he started.

Ernest Galko

His home port was Baltimore and each time he returned, he was assigned to a new Liberty Ship. He went on to serve on the USS Joshua Chamberlain, the USS B. F. Shaw, and the USS Sublette. His service took him through the Panama Canal several times, down the coast of South America to Cape Town, to ports in England, Russia, and the Middle East, dropping off war materials and supplies along the way. He delivered tanks and ammunition to Normandy several days after the D-Day Europe invasion and recalls going ashore, standing atop the cliffs and looking out at the amazing display of ships and equipment on the beach.

US Merchant Marine Liberty Ship in 1945.