Red Sox Win World Series at Fenway Park

Yes, they won last night but this story is about 1918. On September 11, 1918 the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in the sixth game of the World Series. The world was at war. Baseball was not a big deal.

 Mrs. Walter Marr finally learned that her husband had died July 22nd in France. He was killed in action near Tugny Woods. She hadn't heard from him in months and had been contacting the army in vain to learn what had happened to him. She feared the worst.

Walter Marr was born in 1884 in Lowell to Lawrence and Mary (Brennan) Marr. He married Mary Quinn and had three children; Leonard, Virginia and Marion. The family lived at 24 Smith Street. Walter reported for duty April 1, 1917 and went overseas September 16, 1917. He was a member of Company I, 102nd CT Infantry Regiment. He was killed in action July 23, 1918 near Trugny Wood in France.

Walter was a great amateur baseball player in Lowell. In the army he became a grenade thrower. His baseball experience helped him but this was dangerous duty. He came from a family of service. Three uncles served in the Civil War and two of them lost their lives during the war.

Walter's body was returned to the United States in 1921 for burial at St. Patrick's Cemetery. We remember the sacrifice that Walter Marr's family has made for us.

Col. Mary A. Hallaren - First Commander of Women's Auxiliary Army Corps

Mary Agnes Hallaren was born in Lowell on May 4, 1907 to John and Mary (Kenney) Hallaren and she had two sisters and three brothers. The family lived on Second Street in the Pawtucketville section of the city. She went to Lowell Teacher's College (now known as UMass Lowell) graduating class of 1927. She taught junior high school in Lexington for fifteen years. Every summer she went on grand adventures all over the world. She did a lot of her traveling by hitchhiking alone as a single woman with no lipstick and lots of walking.

She was one of the first women to enlist in the Woman's Auxiliary Army Corps, the precursor to the Woman's Army Corps (WACs) during World War Two on July 10, 1942.  She was the first officer not in the medical branch. During her recruitment she stood on her tiptoes to make the five foot minimum height requirement. She was actually 4' 10" tall. When the recruiter questioned her size she told him "you don't have to be six feet tall to have a brain that works."

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, NYWT&S Collection.

She was known for her excellent organization skills and command. She was affectionately called "The Little Colonel". She commanded 9,000 women in the European theater. She became the third Director of the WAC in 1947. She served in that capacity through the Korean War and until 1953. She remained in the service until her military retirement in 1960. In 1965 she became the first Executive Director of Women in Community Service in Virginia.

She has received numerous awards, citations, and honors throughout her lifetime. She received the Bronze Star, The Legion of Merit, Croix De Guerre, Legion of Honor, UMass Lowell Distinguished Alumni Award, National Women's Hall of Fame in 1996 and more. She is highlighted in Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation".

She died February 13, 2005 in McLean, Virginia at the age of 97 and is buried in the family plot at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Lowell, MA. Thank you for your service!

Remembering Bartholomew B. O'Sullivan and the Shenandoah Air Disaster

The United States Navy's first American made Dirigible was the Shenandoah ZR-1. The Shenandoah was 680 feet long and had six 300 HP engines capable of going 60 MPH. It flew on the east coast and was based in Lakehurst, New Jersey. 

Photo Courtesy of Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection

On September 2, 1925 she crashed in three pieces after breaking up in heavy winds over Ada, Ohio. Fourteen men of the crew of 42 were killed.  Chief Petty Officer, Bartholomew B. O'Sullivan a nineteen year resident of Lowell, Massachusetts was killed. He was thirty five years old. 

Photo Courtesy of Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection

He was born in New York and moved to Andover, Massachusetts as a small child. He graduated from Lawrence High School and Lowell Textile school. He was married to the former Elizabeth Rawley. He left four children; Edward who became Rev. O'Sullivan, OMI of the Immaculate Conception parish, Francis, Bart Jr. and Elizabeth who later married James Dunn. 

His funeral was widely attended at Sacred Heart Church on Moore Street. His flag draped casket was carried on the Battery B caisson. The funeral cortege proceeded for burial at St. Patrick's cemetery on Gorham Street. Planes flew overhead to honor the valiant hero. Thank you.

Lowell's Highest Ranking General - Hoyt S. Vandenberg

The highest ranking General with Lowell roots is Hoyt S. Vandenberg.  He was born Jan 24, 1899 in Milwaukee, WI but spent his childhood years in Lowell.  He attended the Moody Grammar School and graduated from Lowell High School Class of 1917. The Vandenberg Esplinade by the Merrimack River in Lowell was dedicated to him in 1977 by Gov. Dukakis.

After he left Lowell he went to West Point where he graduated 240th in his class of 261. Fortunately, he became an excellent airman. During a time when flying was very dangerous he was a great leader. The men really liked him. He became a 4 star General, Commander of the US Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the second director of the C.I.A. One of his legacies is that he picked out the blue color of the Air Force uniform with the silver buttons.

In 1948 his wife started "The Arlington Ladies" to honor veterans during the burials at Arlington National Cemetery.  A lady will always be present at each burial so that no soldier dies alone.  It continues to this day.

For his full biography see this link:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/39981102/General-Hoyt-Vandenberg-Biography

Time Magazine Cover January 19, 1945

General Vandenberg is named for Eli W. Hoyt of Hoyt German Cologne fame. His mother's aunt, Mary A. (Ingraham)  was married to Eli W. Hoyt and she lived at 286 Andover Street in the matching house of Eli's best friend Freeman Ballard Shedd. The General had one brother and his name is Aaron Shedd Vandenberg but he went by the name of Shedd.  His middle name is in honor of Elis' best friend, business partner and neighbor Freeman Shedd.

Eli W. Hoyt died in Lowell February 9, 1887 of tuberculosis. His wife remarried Henry Felton in 1891. She continued to live at 286 Andover Street right next to her neighbor Freeman Ballard Shedd until her death in 1908. In 1909 to settle the estate an auction was held and the highest bidder was her niece's husband Collin Vandenberg! The family moved from Milwaukee to relocate to Lowell so that his wife could take care of her ailing mother (Nellie Ingraham Kane). Her mother died in 1910 but the family stayed in Lowell until after both boys graduated from Lowell High School. The house was sold again at auction in 1919 to Dr. Adam E. Shaw.  The doctor lived in the house and used  the carriage house as Shaw's Hospital on East Merrimack Street.

General Vandenberg died shortly after retiring from prostate cancer at Walter Reed Hospital on April 2, 1954 at the age of 55.  President Eisenhower attended his funeral. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery with his wife. More information about his funeral can be found here:  http://www.history.army.mil/books/Last_Salute/Ch10.htm

Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompac, California is named in his honor. His parents are buried in Lowell Cemetery. He is survived by a son, 2 star General Hoyt Vandenberg Jr. and Mrs. Gloria Miller.

Callery Park

Before the Vietnam War there was a park in the Highlands section of Lowell called Highland Park. It is surrounded by Stevens, Parker, B and Wilder Streets. There are baseball and softball fields along with tennis courts.

Callery Park via Google Maps

On May 22, 1966 Callery Park was dedicated in the memory of PFC William T. Callery. An impressive dedication ceremony was held and Governor Volpe attended.

William T. Callery lived nearby on Parker Street. I would imagine that he would walk over to the park with his buddies and play baseball. He graduated from Lowell High School Class of 1963. At the age of 20 he was killed in action in Vietnam on February 22, 1966. He was in the U.S. Army attached to Company A 2nd Battalion 18th Infantry Division. He was survived by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Francis Callery, two brothers, two sisters and two grandmothers. He is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

So today when the children play at Callery Park I hope they and their parents remember the great sacrifice William T. Callery made. We must not forget.

The Korean War and Lowell Prisoners of War/Missing in Action

The Korean War is sometimes called the Forgotten War. Before WW2 the Japanese ruled in Korea. After World War 2 the allies divided Korea into North and South around the 38th parallel. Supporting the 2 new Koreas were the U.S.S.R (Communists)  in the North and the United States (Democracy) in the South. In 1949 the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. pulled out. Shortly thereafter the North invaded the South. The United Nations and the United States came to the support of South Korea. China aided North Korea.

Two Lowell, MA Army Corporals, Francis Joseph Krygowski and Thomas Harding, Jr , members of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regimental Combat Team were sent to fight in Korea. They participated in one of the early battles near Hadong, South Korea. It did not end well for the Americans.

They were originally listed as "Captured but Not Accounted For" on July 27, 1950. Later they were listed as Prisoners of War and then Presumed Dead. Their bodies have not been found. Their names are inscribed on the Courts of the Missing in Honolulu.

The Lowell Sun, August, 30, 1950, p1.

Francis J. Krygowski was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Krygowski of 121 Concord Street. He was a graduate of St. Stanislaus School and attended Lowell High School.

Thomas Harding, Jr. was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Harding, 37 Bartlet Street. He enlisted in the Army on his 17th birthday October 5, 1946. He was a graduate of the Immaculate Conception grammar school and attended Lowell High School.

Lieut. Alexander Makarounis of 548 Fletcher Street, Lowell, MA,  was the Company Commander and was  taken a Prisoner of War. He ended up escaping the Death March from Seoul to Pyongyang and returned home to a grateful family. Only 33 men out of 376 men survived.

The Lowell Sun, November 15, 1950, p.1.

He testified before the U.S. Senate after the war about his experience in North Korea. His story was published in several magazines. He died July 30, 1994 in Lowell at the age of 71.

Testimony by Alexander Makarounis

At the end of the Korean War the dividing line of North and South Korea was settled at the 38th Parallel.  The same place it was at the start of the War. The United States has maintained a strong military presence in South Korea and they are one of our strongest allies.

Thank you all for your service. You are not forgotten!

Legendary Locals of Lowell

Dick Howe's book, Legendary Locals of Lowell published by Arcadia Publishing is now out.  You can purchase a copy at the Lowell Gallery on Jackson Street, Barnes & Noble in Nashua or on amazon.  I highly recommend it!

Our family contributed several photos including this one of World War One hero and my husband's grandfather, Irving Loucraft.   I've written previously of his exploits in World War One.  He was a member of Company M of the Yankee Division and was the Past Commander of the Lowell's American Legion Post 87.

Dick will be having several book signings including one hosted by the Lowell Historical Society, Saturday, April 6th at 11:00 AM at the Lowell Telecommunication Corp on Market Street.  Hope to see you there!