U.S. Marine Corps
Sergeant
World War II 1937-1945
Second Battalion, 5th Marine Division Stationed: Shanghai, China, Kansas City, MO. Iwo Jima Killed In Action 2/21/45
Navy Cross
Sergeant
World War II 1937-1945
Second Battalion, 5th Marine Division Stationed: Shanghai, China, Kansas City, MO. Iwo Jima Killed In Action 2/21/45
Navy Cross
Paul Balducci '37 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
Clarence Ceres '38 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army Air Force
Captain
World War II
B-29 Gunnery Officer
Stationed: Saipan
Purple Heart & Distinguished Flying Cross
Captain
World War II
B-29 Gunnery Officer
Stationed: Saipan
Purple Heart & Distinguished Flying Cross
Stanley Chmielewski '39 (D)
Phoenix, IL
Phoenix, IL
U.S. Army Air Force
First Lieutenant
World War II
74th Frighter Squad, 23rd Fighter Group
Hong Kong, China
Killed In Action 3/28/45
First Lieutenant
World War II
74th Frighter Squad, 23rd Fighter Group
Hong Kong, China
Killed In Action 3/28/45
Frank N. Floege (D) '39
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Navy
MUSC2c
World War II 1941
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
U.S.S. Arizona
Missing In Action
12/7/41
MUSC2c
World War II 1941
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
U.S.S. Arizona
Missing In Action
12/7/41
Harold L. Matz '39 (D)
Riverdale, IL
Riverdale, IL
U.S. Army
Sergeant
World War II 1943 - 1945
Machine Gun Squad Leader, 100th Inf., Co. E, 398th Div.,
(Century Division) also called "The Sons of Bitche",
an honorary title given after liberating the Bitche, France.
Also supported the Battle of the Bulge.
Bronze Star for Bravery
Sergeant
World War II 1943 - 1945
Machine Gun Squad Leader, 100th Inf., Co. E, 398th Div.,
(Century Division) also called "The Sons of Bitche",
an honorary title given after liberating the Bitche, France.
Also supported the Battle of the Bulge.
Bronze Star for Bravery
U.S. Army Air Force
First Lieutenant
World War II - 3 Years
B-25 Pilot Instructor
Stationed: Texas
First Lieutenant
World War II - 3 Years
B-25 Pilot Instructor
Stationed: Texas
John R. McConnell, Sr. '39 (D)Harvey, IL
Edward Ceres '40
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Navy
World War II 1944 - 1946
Stationed: Philippine Islands
World War II 1944 - 1946
Stationed: Philippine Islands
NO PHOTO AVAILABLE
Donald A. Morrison '40
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army
Corporal
World War II 1942 - 1946
Medic
Battle of the Bulge with Gen. Patton up to the Rhine
Stationed: Augsburg, Germany
Corporal
World War II 1942 - 1946
Medic
Battle of the Bulge with Gen. Patton up to the Rhine
Stationed: Augsburg, Germany
U.S. Army Air Force
Private
World War II 1941
Hickam Field, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Killed In Action
12/7/41
Silver Star
Private
World War II 1941
Hickam Field, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Killed In Action
12/7/41
Silver Star
Harry E. Smith '40 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
Howard J. "Bud" Ursettie '40 (D) Harvey, IL
U.S. Navy 1945 - 1974
World War II, Korea & Vietnam
Captain (Ret.)
Stationed: U.S.S. Philadelphia &
U.S. Pacific Fleet, Japan.
First Captain of the U.S.S. Dubuque
World War II, Korea & Vietnam
Captain (Ret.)
Stationed: U.S.S. Philadelphia &
U.S. Pacific Fleet, Japan.
First Captain of the U.S.S. Dubuque
Virland Harris '41 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Navy
Ensigne
World War II
Mine Sweep
Stationed: South Pacific
Ensigne
World War II
Mine Sweep
Stationed: South Pacific
U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant
World War II 1942 - 1946
Company C, 387th Inf. Div.
Rhineland, Central Euope & Japan.
Combat Inf. Badge, Carbine SS Rifle EX,
American Theater Service Medal, European-Africa,
Mid Eastern Service Medal & Good Conduct Medal.
Staff Sergeant
World War II 1942 - 1946
Company C, 387th Inf. Div.
Rhineland, Central Euope & Japan.
Combat Inf. Badge, Carbine SS Rifle EX,
American Theater Service Medal, European-Africa,
Mid Eastern Service Medal & Good Conduct Medal.
Walter Ross '41
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army
Corporal
World War II 1943 - 1945
Stationed: Germany
Battle of the Bulge
Purple Heart
2 Bronze Stars
Corporal
World War II 1943 - 1945
Stationed: Germany
Battle of the Bulge
Purple Heart
2 Bronze Stars
Donald Willing '41 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army
Corporal (T5 Corp)
World War II 1942 - 1945
Technician
China Burma India (C.B.I. Theater)
4 Overseas Service Bars, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon
with 1 Bronze Battle Star, Good Conduct Medal,
Distinguished Unit Badge & Meritorious Unit Award.
Corporal (T5 Corp)
World War II 1942 - 1945
Technician
China Burma India (C.B.I. Theater)
4 Overseas Service Bars, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon
with 1 Bronze Battle Star, Good Conduct Medal,
Distinguished Unit Badge & Meritorious Unit Award.
William J. Baker '42 (D)
Markham, IL
Markham, IL
U.S. Army
World War II
Luxumbourg, Germany
Killed In Action
World War II
Luxumbourg, Germany
Killed In Action
Frank Bauman '42 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Marine Corps
2nd Lieutenant
World War II 1943 - 1946
Marine Trainee - Purdue
Camp Lejiune, NC & Quanticao
2nd Lieutenant
World War II 1943 - 1946
Marine Trainee - Purdue
Camp Lejiune, NC & Quanticao
U.S. Army Air Force
Sergeant
World War II
551 Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force
Stationed: Germany
Battle of the Bulge & others
Killed In Action
Purple Heart
Sergeant
World War II
551 Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force
Stationed: Germany
Battle of the Bulge & others
Killed In Action
Purple Heart
Albert Beenes '42 (D)
Thornton, IL
Thornton, IL
Russell W. Koenig '41 (D)
Thornton, IL
Thornton, IL
William F. Hayes III '42
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Navy Air Corps
World War II 1943 - 1945
Pilot
Stationed: Greencastle, IN; Wooster, OH;
Iowa City, IA; Ottumwa, IA & Pensacola, FL.
No Combat
Mustered out at Great Lakes, IL
World War II 1943 - 1945
Pilot
Stationed: Greencastle, IN; Wooster, OH;
Iowa City, IA; Ottumwa, IA & Pensacola, FL.
No Combat
Mustered out at Great Lakes, IL
Edgar G. Ireland '42 (D)
Hazel Crest, IL
Hazel Crest, IL
U.S. Army
Tank Commander
World War II 1942 - 1945
745th Tank Battalion
Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes & Rhineland
Campaigns. 3 Silver Stars, 3 Purple Hearts, WWII Victory
Medal, Presidential Citation and other medals & ribbons.
Tank Commander
World War II 1942 - 1945
745th Tank Battalion
Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes & Rhineland
Campaigns. 3 Silver Stars, 3 Purple Hearts, WWII Victory
Medal, Presidential Citation and other medals & ribbons.
Clyde C. LeBlanc '42 (D)
Hazel Crest, IL
Hazel Crest, IL
U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant
World War II 1942 - 1945
54th Battalion - 18th Corp (Airbourne)
Stationed: Iceland, England, Belgium & France.
Battle of the Bulge
Staff Sergeant
World War II 1942 - 1945
54th Battalion - 18th Corp (Airbourne)
Stationed: Iceland, England, Belgium & France.
Battle of the Bulge
John McConnell '42
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Marine Corps
2nd Lieutenant
World War II 1943 - 1946
Stationed: Marine Trainee, Oberland College,
Parris Island, SC, Camp Lejiune, NC & Quanicao, VA.
2nd Lieutenant
World War II 1943 - 1946
Stationed: Marine Trainee, Oberland College,
Parris Island, SC, Camp Lejiune, NC & Quanicao, VA.
William J. Seidel '42 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
Odean Rosenberg '42 (D)
Thornton, IL
Thornton, IL
U.S. Navy
Lieutenant
World War II
Stationed: U.S.S. Boxer
Lieutenant
World War II
Stationed: U.S.S. Boxer
U.S. Navy
World War II 1943 - 1946
Navy Signalman/Quartermaster
South Pacific - Troop Transport
World War II 1943 - 1946
Navy Signalman/Quartermaster
South Pacific - Troop Transport
Tillie (Swier) Hasemann '42 (D)
Phoenix, IL
Phoenix, IL
U.S. Army (WAC)
World War II 1942 - 1945
T5 - Medical Technician 409
65th WAC
Winter General Hospital, Topeka, KS.
American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal & Meritorious Medal.
World War II 1942 - 1945
T5 - Medical Technician 409
65th WAC
Winter General Hospital, Topeka, KS.
American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal & Meritorious Medal.
William J. Fryer '43
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army Air Force
World War II 1943 - 1946
Corporal
9th Air Force
Europe
World War II 1943 - 1946
Corporal
9th Air Force
Europe
John Kuykendall '43 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
John E. Woodrich '43 (D)
Flossmoor, IL
Flossmoor, IL
Eugene Harris '44 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
Arthur Madden '44 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
John Ross '44 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
Charles Porter '45 (D)
Flossmoor, IL
Flossmoor, IL
Lindy Willis '45 (D)
Markham, IL
Markham, IL
Nelson Tromp '44 (D)
South Holland, IL
South Holland, IL
BACK TO
TOP OF PAGE
TOP OF PAGE
Thornton Township High School Alumni Newsletter & Website
NEXT PAGE
1946 -1955
1946 -1955
"Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause."
- Abraham Lincoln
- Abraham Lincoln
George H. Hayes '39 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army Air Force
First Lieutenant
World War II
B-29 Pilot - 330th Bomb Group
Guam
Distinguished Flying Cross
Many Air Medals
First Lieutenant
World War II
B-29 Pilot - 330th Bomb Group
Guam
Distinguished Flying Cross
Many Air Medals
Robert L. Issac '26 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army
Captain
World War II 1942 - 1946
Erwin H. Diekelman '36 (D)
Thornton, IL
Thornton, IL
U.S. Army
Private First Class
World War II
22nd Infantry, 4th Division
European Area, Battle of the Bulge & others
Killed In Action
Purple Heart
Private First Class
World War II
22nd Infantry, 4th Division
European Area, Battle of the Bulge & others
Killed In Action
Purple Heart
Cyril D. Schisel '43 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army
Private
World War II 1944
Battle of St. Lo
Killed In Action
Interment: Normandy, France
Private
World War II 1944
Battle of St. Lo
Killed In Action
Interment: Normandy, France
U.S. Army Air Force
Private First Class
World War II 1943-1946
Burtonwood Base Depot #1, England & Glasgow, Scotland
Private First Class
World War II 1943-1946
Burtonwood Base Depot #1, England & Glasgow, Scotland
U.S. Army
Battalion Motor Sergeant
World War II 1944 - 1947
Liberation of Luzon, Philippines / Asiatic Campaign
Ribbon w/ Bronze Star, U.S.A. Unit Citation Philippines,
President Unit Citation, Philippine Independence Citation, Occupation of Japan Ribbon, W.W. II Victory Medal & Good Conduct Medal.
Battalion Motor Sergeant
World War II 1944 - 1947
Liberation of Luzon, Philippines / Asiatic Campaign
Ribbon w/ Bronze Star, U.S.A. Unit Citation Philippines,
President Unit Citation, Philippine Independence Citation, Occupation of Japan Ribbon, W.W. II Victory Medal & Good Conduct Medal.
William A. Thacher '44 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army
Sergeant
World War II
Military Police
Gen. Pattons 3rd Army
Europe
Honor Guard at Gen. Patton's funeral
Sergeant
World War II
Military Police
Gen. Pattons 3rd Army
Europe
Honor Guard at Gen. Patton's funeral
U.S. Navy
World War II 1945 - 1946
Boilerman 2/c
Stationed: NTC Great Lakes, IL
Pacific Fleet, Samar, P.I., U.S.S. Windsor APA-55,
U.S.S. M.P. Stewart AP-140
16th American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Amphibious Invasion Forces
World War II 1945 - 1946
Boilerman 2/c
Stationed: NTC Great Lakes, IL
Pacific Fleet, Samar, P.I., U.S.S. Windsor APA-55,
U.S.S. M.P. Stewart AP-140
16th American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Amphibious Invasion Forces
U.S. Navy
Personnel Department
Camp Peary, Williamsburg, VA
Personnel Department
Camp Peary, Williamsburg, VA
U.S. Army
World War II
World War II
U.S. Army Air Force
Sergeant
World War II 1943 - 1946
Corregidor, Philippines
Purple Heart
Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Independance Medal, Asiatic Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Star.
Sergeant
World War II 1943 - 1946
Corregidor, Philippines
Purple Heart
Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Independance Medal, Asiatic Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Star.
U.S. Army
World War II
Gen. Patton's 3rd Army
Europe
Battle of the Bulge
World War II
Gen. Patton's 3rd Army
Europe
Battle of the Bulge
U.S. Army Air Force
World War II 1943 - 1946
Flight Officer
B-26 Bombardier/Navigator
Stationed: The Netherlands & New Jersey
World War II 1943 - 1946
Flight Officer
B-26 Bombardier/Navigator
Stationed: The Netherlands & New Jersey
U.S. Army Air Force
First Lieutenant
World War II 1943 - 1946
B-29 Squadron Navigator
9th Bomb Group - 99th Squadron
Stationed: Tinian Island
Presidential Citation & Distinguished Flying Cross
First Lieutenant
World War II 1943 - 1946
B-29 Squadron Navigator
9th Bomb Group - 99th Squadron
Stationed: Tinian Island
Presidential Citation & Distinguished Flying Cross
Allen H. Besterfield '42 (D)
Homewood, IL
Homewood, IL
Marvin Lehnig '43 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army Air Force
World War II 1943-1945
South Pacific - Okinawa & Iwo Jima
World War II 1943-1945
South Pacific - Okinawa & Iwo Jima
Gerald Ursettie '31 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Navy
Spec. (I) 1c, USNR
World War II 1942 - 1946
Bureau of Ordinance
Washington, DC
Spec. (I) 1c, USNR
World War II 1942 - 1946
Bureau of Ordinance
Washington, DC
Doyle M. Sweet '43 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Navy
EM 2/c
World War II
USS Iowa
Pacific Theater
EM 2/c
World War II
USS Iowa
Pacific Theater
Chris A. Pochos '39 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Coast Guard
Radio Man 3rd Class
World War II
Radio Man 3rd Class
World War II
Peary A. Pochos '41 (D)
Harvey, IL
Harvey, IL
U.S. Army
Corporal
World War II
Corporal
World War II