Norwich University - War Whoop Yearbook (Northfield, VT)

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xx ,zzz-ff, 11- xxxgg ff f,,g- xxx RICHARD C. AUSTIN Class of 1944 Private, 501st Regiment, 101st Parachute Division Dick left Norwich in the middle of his junior year in Decem- ber, 1942, to enlist in the ski troops. In September, 1943, he volunteered for service with the paratroops. After completing his training, he was sent to England in 1944. For his first combat jump, Dick landed in Normandy at mid- night prior to D-Day. He remained in combat for thirty days when his unit was returned to England. Taking off from England on September 17, 1944, he jumped over Holland with a Pathfinder Group of Company B. In the attack which followed, south from Schuydel towards St. Odenrode, Dick, who was a member of the leading platoon, was killed by a mortar shell fragment on September 22, 1944. His unit had been cited by the President of the United States prior to Dick,s death. His parents, Mrs. Thelma J. and Mr. Irving C. Austin, make their home in Reading, Massachusetts. SALTER STORRS CLARK, 3RD Class of 1944 First Lieutenant, 385th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force After enlisting in the Air Corps in 1942, and successfully finishing the pilotls training course, Lieutenant Clark was assigned as the first pilot of a Flying Fortress. He was awarded the Air Medal for raids against Brunswick, Tutow, Diepholz, Rostock, Germany, and against V-1 installations in the Pas de Calais, France. On February 28, 1944, his group was bombing the Robot Bomb installations near Boulogne, when Salter's ship suffered hits, which caused the airplane to go into a steep dive. Lieutenant Clark leveled the plane out long enough for two men to parachute to safety. He and seven other crew members lost their lives when the ship crashed. Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Clark, his parents, reside in Wfestfield, New Jersey. SHERMAN NEIL CROCKER Class of 1944 Captain, 40th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force Captain Crocker received his wings, after transferring from the Infantry as a Second Lieutenant, at Napier Field, Dotham, Alabama, in 1943. The 507th Fighter Group, of which Sherman became the Commanding Officer in December, 1944, was cited by the President for its service from D-.Day to February 25. He was awarded the Air Medal with 17 oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, in addition to being rated an Ace for his victories over enemy aircraft. Captain Crocker lost his life on February 13, 1945, near Arh- weiler, Germany, when the Thunderbolt he was flying on a low level mission sustained a direct hit from an 88. The German Government reported his death and burial at Ramerbach, but his grave has never been located. His parents, Sheriff and Mrs. Lauchlan M. Crocker, live in Barnstable, Massachusetts. TWENTY

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4 -lx-xxxxxxx ,,,,- J., ,f,1f1,i XX, ,f SAMUEL VICTOR CONSTANT, JR. cfm of 1943 Captain, Corps of Engineers Sam was an instructor in the Department of Military Art and Engineering at the United States Military Academy at the time of his death. The ski slope at West Point will bear his name as a result of the excellent work he accomplished in the development of skiing facilities at the Point Sam lost his life on Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire, February 24, 1946, while preparing for the National Ski Race which was to be held the following week. In the run down the mountain he left the trail and crashed into a tree. I-Ie spoke excellent Chinese, of which he gained a knowledge in China, where his father, Colonel Samuel Victor Constant, was stationed for several years. Mrs. Alida Browne Constant, his wife, resides in Winchester, Virginia. 1 Q,5- HOWARD GEORGE GEBBIE Class of 1943 Second Lieutenant, 71st Infantry Division Geb'l was on a reconnaissance mission out in front locating a probable place to cross the Rhine River near Mechtershiem, Ger- many, on Palm Sunday, March 25, 1945, when his platoon was pinned down by enemy fire. In the ensuing action, Geb's platoon established the bridgehead. He lost his life when he took over the' position of a gunner who had been killed in the initial burst of fire. After entering the service in March, 1943, Geb was married on July 7, 1944, to Miss Betty J. Branigin. His brother, Foster T. Gebbie of the class of 1941, also served in the Army during the war. His parents and sister make their home in Greensboro, Vermont. ' FRANK SEVERNE MILLEN Class of 1945 Pilot Otflicer, Royal Canadian Air Force Frank left Norwich to enter the European struggle before we became involved in World War II. He went to Canada and enlisted in the Air Force to train as a bomber. pilot. Frank's determination to enter the fray could not be shaken. After completing his training in Canada, he was assigned as the pilot of a Sterling Bomber at Cambridge, England. He had com- pleted missions over Germany, Holland, and Italy prior to December 16, 1942, when he volunteered for a special mission over Holland. On this mission he was shot down and lost his life. He was buried near Appledorn, Holland. Frank was posthumously awarded Gold Operational Wings, which were presented to his mother, Mrs. Robert L. Blanding, of North Providence, Rhode Island. NINETEE,N

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ff ,sxxxxxxxxx f f,4 , J, ..f1f1.,- .f JOHN ARTHUR GURWIN Cz... gf 1944 Private, 32nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop The Silver Star Medal was posthumously awarded to John For gallantry in action near Silad Bay, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 31 December 1944. Private Curwin was on guard duty when a large enemy force attacked his patrol's bivouac area. He sighted the enemy and was fired on, but instead of withdrawing to secure aid, he remained at his position and placed fire on the enemy. He was killed at his post, but only after he had held off the enemy long enough for the patrol to organize and form a defense perimeter. Private Curwin gallantly gave his life in order to protect his comrades. John had participated in the Saidor and Aitape battles before losing his life on Leyte. His commanding officer, Captain Herman Bottcher, was killed the same night that John lost his life. They were members of the Red Arrow Division. Mrs. Edna Curwin, john's mother, resides in East Lynn, Massa- chusetts. EDWYN ARTHUR FLORCYK Class of 1944 First Lieutenant, 489th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force Q'Ed took part in the Atlantic anti-submarine patrols after being rated a pilot in August, 1942. His crew was credited with one submarine before being sent to England. Ed supported the landing in France on D-Day. He was awarded the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters for his skill, cool- ness and valor in the completion of his missions. On July 24, 1944, his unit was covering the advance of the ground forces near St. Lo, when his ship suffered a hit which blew the left wing off. One man was blown free and parachuted to safety. Ed and the rest of the crew were killed when the airplane crashed. He is survived by his wife, Gladys, of Jackson, Mississippi, and his father and mother, Colonel and Mrs. E. M. Florcyk, of Santa Ana, California. GILBERT H. HIGGINS, JR. Class of 1944 Second Lieutenant, 8th Armored Division Gilbert was leading his platoon in an attack in the vicinity of Zweckel, Germany, when his tank was disabled by enemy fire. He was severely wounded, and was being evacuated to the rear by .medi- cal personnel on March 28, 1945, when the ambulance in which he was riding struck a rnine. Gilbert was killed instantly. U He had been awarded the Silver Star Medal for heroic action, and the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster. I Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert H. Higgins, his parents, make their home in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. TWENTY-ONE '