May 29, 2006 We Remember our Clark Fallen Heroes By. William J. "Duff" Duffy Over the past fifteen (15) years, I've reported on "Clark's Fallen Heroes" in various publications. With the addition of two (2) more (Benish and Hartman), I've updated the listing for this year's services. I feel deeply that their sacrifices must be told so that they are not forgotten, especially by our youth. They have given of their lives while our country was at war, so that we may live in freedom. You may not know them, but in gratitude pay tribute to them every Memorial Day. Before we assemble for this year's services, let's take a brief look at each of "Clark's Fallen Heroes". CIVIL WAR * 1 Bullman, James, Cpl., CO.C, 14th. Regiment, N.J. Volunteers. This Clark hero resided on Raritan Rd. where the Windsor Diner/Bank of America is presently located. He was "Killed in Action" at the battle of "Cold Harbor", VA., 1 June 1864, along with 7,000 other Union forces during this battle. WW I * 2 Miller, John B., U.S. Army, former address 2 Valley Rd., Clark. His father Adam received a telegram on 9 December 1918, that his son, previously reported as "Missing in Action", since 16 October 1918, during the allies final winning offensive action, was now reported to have died 12 November 1918, following "Wounds Received in Action". WW II * 3 Bienko, Bennie, S1C, Serial No. 02245585, U.S. Navy, "Killed in Action" 13 November 1942 at the "Naval Battle of Guadalcanal" while aboard the U.S.S. Monssen. (The same day as another fallen hero - John L. Rudy- died during the same battle!) 4 Bitsko, Charles, Pvt., Serial No. 32559648, U.S. Army. "Died in the line of duty" November 1942 while aboard a troop transport ship in the Pacific. On 21 August 1944 a new bridge was named in his honor in the vicinity of his unit's camp in the South Pacific. * 5 Clauss, Paul J., PFC Serial No. 3224035, U.S. Army. 77th Infantry Div. "Killed in Action" by machine gun fire, 15 December 1944 on Leyte Island, the Philippines, while coming to the aid of a wounded soldier. * 6 Graves, Melvyn, Pvt., Serial No. 42100647, U.S. Army. "Killed in Action" 24 January 1945 while serving in France at the end of the Battle of the Bulge. This hero was under heavy mortar and artillery fire and was hit in the neck by a piece of shrapnel. His father, Herman Graves, was Mayor of Clark 1927 - 1932. (In his last letter home to his son, dated Christmas 1944, Melvyn talks about seeing him and mommy soon. He was killed a month later). * 7 Green, Russell W., Pvt., Serial No. 42000833, U.S. Army. "Killed in Action" 26 April 1943 while serving in the Italian theatre of war on Anzio Beach, Italy. (In his last letter home, he thanks his sister Lorraine for the chocolate). 8 Grossman, Alvin R. 2nd Lt. Serial No. 0-803810, U.S. Army Air Corps. "Died in the Line of Duty", 14 June 1943 while conducting training exercised aboard a navigation training plane. The Lieutenant had just earned his wings as an Army Pilot two weeks prior to his death. *9 Hutchinson, Eugene F., Torpedoman's Mate 3C, U.S. Navy "Killed in Action" 7 November 1944 while serving aboard the USS Albacore (SS218). This submarine was sunk on its 11th patrol by mines off North Hokkaido Island, Japan. All hands were lost and is on "Eternal Patrol". 10 Makowski, Edward J., Serial No. 0-751919, U.S. Army Air Corps. "Killed in Action" 3 March 1944 while serving as a bombardier aboard a B-24 Liberator on a combat mission over Italy. This hero was assigned to the 14th Air Force, 450th Bomb Group, 723rd Squadron. *11 Padusniak, Joseph G., Tech 5, Serial No. 32385995, U.S. Army. "Killed in Action" 18 December 1944 while serving with the 99th Infantry Div. at the "Battle of the Bulge". *12 Ruddy John L., Jr., S2C, Serial No. 06464195. "Killed in Action" 13 November 1942 at the "Naval Battle of Guadalcanal" while aboard the U.S.S. Juneau, the same ship that included the five (5) Sullivan brothers, who also were "Killed in Action". *13 Schmitt, Martin, Cpl., Serial No. 32594212, U.S. Army. "Killed in Action" 30 November 1944 while serving with 102nd Infantry Div. near Linnoch, Germany. Buried overseas at the American Military Cemetery in the Netherlands. (His father-in-law, Lesley Carlson, was Post 328's first Commander in August 1945 when our charter was issued). *14 Witkowski, Joseph, PFC., Serial No. 12203849, U.S. Army, "Killed in Action" 9 July 1944, while serving with the 8th Infantry Div. near St. Lo, France, during the Normandy breakout. COLD WAR 15 Wilkes, John, Jr. First Lt. USAF. "Died in Service" 9 October 1958 while piloting an F100-F Super Sabre jet. Lt. Wilkes was on a routine training flight when his jet crashed in the desert near Phoenix, AZ. He was 28 and resided at 465 Madison Hill Rd. VIETNAM *16 Kuspiel, Kenneth, SP4, U.S. Army. "Killed in Acton" 1 February 1968 while serving in the infantry, as a result of multiple wounds from an exploding land mine in the vicinity of Chu Lai, Vietnam. At the beginning of the "TET Offensive".(Ken's last letter home talks about how he misses his family). *17 Winters, John P., LCPL, U.S. Marine Corps. "Killed in Action" 25 May 1969 after being hit by fragments from a mortar shell near Cam Lo, Quang Tri Providence, Vietnam. *18 Sevell, Robert L., Capt., Serial No. 093427, U.S. Marine Corps. "Killed in Action" 28 February 1968 while co-piloting a Sea Knight helicopter enroute to a downed aircraft near the heroic Marine Base at Khe Sanh, Vietnam. *19 Hartman, Richard D., LCDR, Serial No. 613595, U.S. Navy, age 32. On 18 July 1967, Hartman's A-4E jet airplane fell victim to anti-aircraft fire near Phu Ly, Nam Ha Providence, North Vietnam. He ejected safely and an attempt the next day killed four other naval personnel, who were attempting to rescue him. He was eventually captured and "Died in Captivity". His remains were repatriated on 6 March 1974 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM *20 Benish, Stephen C. PFC, age 20, U.S. Army, died 28 November 2004 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when he received enemy fire while on a dismounted patrol. Benish was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Howze, Korea. HEROES -EVERY ONE OF THEM