Norwich University - War Whoop Yearbook (Northfield, VT)

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ff xxx f fra' ff 3:11, - -C xxx't ' f'- X Xxx -.i7 .1 - CHARLES STANLEY MURCH Class of 1938 Lieutenant, Squadron VR-7, Naval Air Transport Service Charles Murch left his position as assistant to the president of the Leon J. Barrett Company to enter the Naval Air Service as a Lieutenant He was assigned to the Pilot's Instructor's School at the Naval Base at Corpus Christi, Texas. After serving as an instructor of student pilots, he was ordered to the Naval Training School at the American Air Lines Training School at Fort Worth, Texas, for instrument flying training. Lieutenant Murch joined Squadron VR-7, an air transport squadron flying between Miami and Rio de Janeiro, at Miami, Florida, on January 8, 1944. He was killed when his airplane crashed shortly after take-off from Zandery Field, Dutch Guiana, on October 12, 1943. The cause of the crash was never fully determined. Ruth E. Murch, his wife, whom he married on April 4, 1942, resides in East Hampton, Connecticut. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Murch, reside in Worcester, Massachusetts, where Lieu- tenant Murch was born on June 6, 1915. NORMAN PORTER STURTEVANT Class of 1939 Captain, 4th Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command The Northern Atlantic Ferrying Route was being flown by Captain Sturtevant in the capacity of navigator on October 16, 1944, when the airplane in which he was flying crashed on take-off at Gander, Newfoundland. All members of the crew were killed. The Captain was born and lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts, prior to entering the service as a Second Lieutenant on October 21, 1940. His wife, Miriam Carew Sturtevant, and his mother, Mrs. Harold T. Sturtevant, reside in New Bedford, Massachusetts. EDWARD FRANCIS JOHNSON Class Of 1941 Sergeant, Gunner, 8th Air Force Sergeant Johnson, the son of Mrs. Marion L. Johnson and of the late Harold P. Johnson, a former mayor of Woburn, Massa- chusetts, was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters for missions over Europe prior to November, 1943. He was on detached service with the Royal Air Force when he took part in the bombing of Pernemiinde, which was described by some strate- gists as Twenty minutes that saved the war. His last mission was flown over Berlin as a gunner with the Royal Air Force on November 26-27, 1943. His plane failed to return. His wife, Mrs. Virginia Johnson, and daughter, Jacquelyne E. Johnson, reside in Woburn as does his mother. FOURTEEN

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C-I KX Xgxxxxx fffff 'JE ,rffffff .- HOWARD W1-IIPPLE GARDNER Class of 1936 Major, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division After graduating from Norwich, Major Gardner entered the employ of the General American Transportation Corporation of Chicago. When called to active duty in February of 1941 he was engaged in research work on heater and refrigerator cars. Major Gardner reported for duty with the Armored Force at Fort Benning, Georgia. I-Ie became the executive officer of the 3rd Battalion of the 32nd Armored Regiment prior to their ship- ment overseas in September, 1943. After landing in France he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal and the Silver Star Medal for outstanding action against the enemy. It was while serving as executive officer that Major Gardner was killed 11 miles east of Avranches, France, on August 2, 1944, when he left his command tank to aid in the rescue of some trapped tank crewmen. Before returning to his tank he attempted to recon- noitcr the area and was hit in the forehead with a mortar shell f- xxg fragment. His wife, Evelyn N. Gardner, and son, John Howard Gardner, reside in Red Wing, Minnesota. adam, RIFORD STEELE WILLIAMS Class of 1936 Captain, 112th Cavalry Regiment Captain Williams was awarded the Silver Star Medal and the Bronze Star Medal for his outstanding action against the enemy on the islands in the Pacific. He participated in the action at Woodlark, Arawa, Aitape, and Luzon. On March 27, 1945, three months after being given command of his squadron, he, with one enlisted man, was reconnoitering on Luzon in advance of his troop when they were fired upon by the enemy. In the action which followed, Captain Williams exposed himself to the enemy force in order to drag his wounded companion to safety. Both men were killed in the intense fire. Captain Williams' mother, Judge Wilma Steele Williams, whom he saw in October, 1944, while on leave after twenty-nine months overseas, makes her home in Highgate, Vermont. GORTON J. FULLER Class of 1938 Captain, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division Captain Fuller of Huntington, Vermont, was called to active duty in February, 1941. He was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division, which was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. He de- parted for overseas with the 2nd Armored and participated in the invasion of North Africa, fought through the North African Cam- paign, and took part in the invasion of Sicily. Captain Fuller lost his life when the LST in which he was crossing the English Channel for the invasion of France on June 11, 1944, struck a mine. Mrs. Shirley H. Fuller, his wife, resides in South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts. TQHIRTEEN

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Lf --XXgxxNNxxf ff-1 f fffgff XX- .,., .-,ff,, xxx ff.- .- THURBER c. RAYMOND Class of 1941 First Lieutenant, 1st Reconnaissance Troop, 1st Infantry Division Doc was with the Hrst group that landed at Oran. He fought through the North African Campaign, took part in the Tunisian Campaign, and in the invasion of Sicily. His unit was movgd to France and later advanced through Belgium. On September 10, 1944, Lieutenant Raymond was engaged in deploying his platoon when he passed a man who had uncovered a land mine. As he came abreast of the soldier, the mine, which had been booby-trapped, exploded, killing him and the soldier that had uncovered the mine. Doc', was born in Deland, Florida. He attended Wrentham High School of Wrentham, Massachusetts, and the Taft School in Watertown, New York, before coming to Norwich. His ability on the baseball diamond and his sportsmanship in life will be remembered by all who knew him. His parents, Doctors C. Stanley and Mabel C. Raymond, reside in Wrentham, Massachusetts. RICHARD B. AYERS Class of 1942 Flight Sergeant, Royal Canadian Air Force Dick', left Norwich before our country had become involved in World War II to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. We lost not only a fine football player by his departure but a Hner per- sonality in our daily life. Dick,' had completed several missions prior to July 28, 1942, when he was assigned a bombing mission over Hamburg, Germany. His was one of the thirty-four planes that failed to return. He was reported as missing in action on July 28, 1942, but as no trace of the crew or plane was found, he was reported as killed in action six months later. The Royal Canadian Air Force posthumously awarded Opertaional Wings to Flight Sergeant Ayers. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ayers, make their home in Fredonia, New York. LAWRENCE LEON ELMAN Claw Of 1942 Second Lieutenant, 4th Cavalry Group Larry,', one of the hottest drummers that Norwich has ever seen, was a native of West Hartford, Connecticut, where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard H. Elman, now reside. On April 11, 1944, Larry arrived in England after having trained with the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Shortly after the invasion of the Continent, his unit was engaged in combat near Marigney, France. On July 27, 1944, while reconnoitering roads running east from Marigney, the enemy was contacted. Larry's', platoon completed their mission, but while he was reporting to his com- manding officer, an enemy shell fragment hit Lieutenant Elrnan, killing him instantly. FIFTEEN