Veterans Day Salute 2009

Advertising supplement to the Sun Journal Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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Veterans Day Salute

Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, November 11, 2009

Richard McGuinness of Auburn

By Linda Galway Freelance Writer

O

nly three months into his senior year at Weymouth High School in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Richard McGuinness enlisted on Nov. 14, 1961, choosing the Marines for the adventure it promised.

“My mother was crushed, my father was angry, but he signed off anyway,” McGuinness recalled. “I felt I needed a dramatic change in my life, and I got it!”

Following boot camp at Parris Island, training in technical schools and Advanced Infantry Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, McGuinness entered the Marine Corps Air Wing. More training ensued at Aviation Ordinance School in Jacksonville, where he learned to handle weapons systems on fighter jets.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, McGuinness was assigned to the 2nd Marines Aircraft Wing out of Beaufort, SC. “That was my primary base, but I got deployed to Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spain — I really liked Spain — and that got me thinking about embassy duty.

With less than two years remaining, McGuinness applied for and was accepted into foreign service, requiring an additional nine months of active duty.

“You needed to have at least two years left in order to be part of that,”

he explained. He never did get back to Spain, but he was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, West Africa. “It was a very good assignment,” he recalled. “I have no regrets and would have stayed there after the year was over, but that assignment is considered ‘hardship’ service, so I got to choose my second assignment, and I picked Athens, Greece.”

By the time he had completed his second year of foreign duty, McGuinness had less than four months remaining on his commitment.

“After the first two years, I had considered a career in the Marines, but I changed my mind once I had been on Embassy duty,” he said. “I had met a lot of people, and I decided I wanted to finish my education.”

Before that could happen, however, the Gulf of Tonkin incident during the Vietnam War took place in 1966. “President Johnson froze all retirements discharges,” McGuinness recalled. Having been accepted to Los Angeles City College, he had to procure proof of acceptance, and in the days of snail mail and no FAX machines, McGuinness ended up serving an extra 24 days. By the time he arrived in California, classes had commenced, and McGuinness was too far behind to catch up. He returned to Massachusetts, eventually enrolled in Northeastern University and completed a degree in civil engineering.

“Serving in the Marines molded my life — as a student, a worker, a husband, a father,” he said. “It gave me confidence, the desire for self-improvement, hard work and a ‘never give up’ positive attitude.

Having the concept that things will get better is inherent to the teachings. There have never been any regrets, and I’ve never really left the Marine Corps.”

McGuinness says he could easily have returned to Embassy Duty as an officer in charge, and even though he chose not to pursue a career with the Marines, he encourages the parents of teens considering enlisting in the military to learn more about foreign service. “It’s a great opportunity,” he added.

Today, McGuinness is a life member of the Marine Embassy Guard Association, which holds a reunion each year, as well as serving as the Commandant of the Central Maine Detachment of the Marine Corps League. He’s also a member of the Navy Corpsmen and is Chaplain of the Department of Maine Marine Corps League. In addition, McGuinness is a member of a unique organization called the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, described by the MODD as “the fun and honor society of the Marine Corps League... promoting good fellowship among members of different Marine Corps League Detachments.”

Cpl. Richard McGuinness with Katrina at the 1965 Marine Corps Ball in Athens, Greece (above) and today (below).

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Veterans Day Salute 3

Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, November 11, 2009

Philip Roy of Lisbon Falls

By Dan M arois Freelance Writer

A

ll it takes is one step into Philip Roy’s house in Lisbon Falls to realize that you’re in the home of a United States veteran.

The hat rack by the door has a few baseball caps on it, but the most notable is the one in the middle with “World War II Veteran” printed on the front of it. Behind an inviting rocking chair on the right, there is a section of wall decorated with a glass frame holding war medals of various sizes and colors. Above the frame, there is a row of certificates noting military achievements. There is even a photo of Roy wearing his American Legion hat while standing next to Maine Senator Olympia Snowe.

It is hard to believe that Roy is 85 years of age especially when he so vividly remembers details of his time as a private first class in the Army over 65 years ago.

Sounding much like a narrator from television’s History Channel, Roy can spin even the most intricate of details about his war experiences.

“You know, someone could write a book about what I’ve done,” said Roy. “And, believe me, it would sell.”

Roy was drafted in 1943, trained at Fort Devens in Massachusetts and joined the 106th Infantry “on KP duty” as a cook. He went to Europe by way of England and then on to France. He was a “scout,” someone who would venture off ahead of his battalion to seek out the enemy location. His ability to get the job done was well recognized

by his superiors, so much so, that other battalions would have gladly welcomed him in their ranks.

In awe of Roy’s ability, an officer once asked his commander where he got his training. “He’s a lumberjack and a Frenchman,” said the commander.

“That’s all the training I needed,” added Roy. Roy forever has a place in history as part of the historic D-Day invasion of Normandy.

“We lost a lot of men,” said Roy with a brief pause in his storytelling. “But, there was a job to be done.”

The Maine native tells of many other battles where his fellow soldiers perished. One mission that started with 17 men, ended with only six survivors who were taken as prisoners of war by the Germans.

“I spent some time there,” said Roy, who spent six months in the POW camp, forced to work in a coal mine.

It was there, as well, that Roy suffered injuries from his captors that would earn him the Purple Heart. In a twist of fate, he wouldn’t receive the medal until 53 years later, in 1997, when Senator Olympia Snowe pushed forward the paperwork to secure Roy his long overdue honor.

“That’s when she gave me the medal,” said

Roy, pointing to the framed photo of the two of them on the wall.

Roy is extremely proud to be a veteran and to have served his country. He boasts of being the first Mainer to receive the Prisoner of War license plate. He’s quick to note that all four of his sons have served in the military; two in the Army, one in the Navy and another in the Coast Guard. He also has fond memories of volunteering at American Legion Post 66 in Lisbon Falls where he’s met many other veterans and has taken part in many events and ceremonies there.

“I’m a veteran and I’ve worked with veterans,” said Roy. “Veterans Day is a time to remember all of them.”

Philip Roy is extremely proud to be a veteran and to have served his country. He boasts of being the first Mainer to receive the Prisoner of War license plate.

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Veterans Day Salute

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Veterans Day Salute

Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, November 11, 2009

Bert Dutil of Lewiston

By Linda Galway

pects of warfare.

“One thing I was glad of,” he continued, “I had only 32 days on the front line. After that, my company commander called me in and had me prove I could speak and hen Lewiston resident Bert Dutil was just 18 write French. Then he said, ‘Pack up, you’re leaving.’ I years-old, he and four of his buddies decided had no idea why, but I was glad.” they would all enlist in the Army. “This was Dutil traveled to Munsan-Ni, Korea where the armijust before Korea, and only one of us got in,” he recalled. stice was scheduled to be signed on July 27, 1953. “They “I guess they just didn’t need that many recruits. They needed interpreters,” he explained. While on that misnever said why.” However, a few years later, after a war sion, he had an opportunity to visit Panmunjom where in Korea had been officially declared, the remaining the actual prisoner exchange took place. Dutil said he four were drafted. enjoyed seeing “the repatriation of our people, the exDutil normally would have spent 16 weeks in basic change of prisoners. Although we had nothing to do with training, but because of the war, that was shortened to it, we could see it. More than half of the North Koreans eight. “Someone came in and said they heard I played didn’t want to go back. the ‘bell lyra,’ (a portable glockenspiel) and they got me “They also sent us to escort the Neutral Nation Inspecto join the Army band.” tion Team under the United Nations,” he added, noting Dutil did receive orders for Korea. “I could shoot a Sweden represented the U.N., and Czechoslovakia and rifle very well,” he said, but because of his limited time Poland represented the Communists. in basic training, he didn’t have experience in other as“Mostly, we got to know different people from different countries. I enjoyed my time the most when I was with the neutral nations. We had Indian guards; they were hard to understand, but we made friends with them. I really enjoyed that,” he continued. “I wanted to see the world, but at least I did get to see Japan and Korea.”

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Dutil spent just two years in the regular Ar1052 Minot Ave, Auburn (207) 783-6885 my, but 12 in the Army Reserve, most of that as a drill instructor. “I enjoyed that. We were www.macsgrill.com . training recruits, but after 12 years, we were losing our commander; he was retiring, and it just wasn’t the same.” He, too, resigned.

For his time on the front line, he received the Combat Infantry Badge. He spent nine years as chairman of the Lewiston & Auburn Veterans Council, is a member of American Legion Post #22, the Franco-American War Veterans of Lewiston/Auburn Post #31, AMVETS Post #6 in New Gloucester and Lewiston VFW Post #9150.

Dutil is very proud of the LA Veterans Freelance Writer

W

Remember Our Heroes

Bert Dutil 1964 Council, which coordinates the 13 local military organizations. At one time, Lewiston-Auburn lost a veterans hospital to South Portland, but now, working together, the newest veterans hospital will be built locally, he noted. The organization has also been instrumental with the establishment and maintenance of Veterans Park on the Lewiston side of the Longley Bridge spanning the two commuities. One of the major accomplishments includes erecting 17 stones, each containing 216 names of veterans and other miliary personnel.

“An 18th stone is being dedicated on November 11th,” he noted. In addition, the groups have been instrumental in moving a monument from Kennedy Park to Veterans Park; cleaning, polishing and placing a “plate” dedicated to World War I veterans — discovered in the old Lewiston High School — in the new Veterans Park.

These are but a few of the projects Dutil and other veterans have spearheaded.

Dutil said he would like to see more of the area’s younger veterans join the local military organizations.

“Many of our members are older,” he said, “and I understand the younger veterans have families and are working, but attending one meeting a month would help us out tremendously.”

With Honor and Respect to Our Veterans

They are our family, friends and neighbors; everyday citizens, yet so much more. They are the brave men and women who have put their lives at risk to protect and serve our country in war. Time and again, our country’s veterans have been on the front lines in defense of our freedom. On Veterans Day, we take this opportunity to say thank you to the brave souls who have served in battle for our Armed Forces.

We Salute Our Veterans

We are grateful for all their sacrifices.

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Veterans Day Salute 7

Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, November 11, 2009

Maurice Dennis

By Dave McL aughlin Freelance Writer

A

a gunner, loader, assistant driver and, When, Dennis of Auburn arrived it was eventually, a tank commander. a natural match for the three men from “It was very easy to learn; it didn’t Maine, who lived so close to each other, take long to learn how to drive,” he said. but met thousands of miles away.

“I started as an assistant tank driver, “We were friends from then on,” Denthen loader and gunner before tank comnis said. “We used to go out on liberty and mander. It was enjoyable, but when you have fun in China and then when we got were an assistant all you did was watch home we kept our friendship going. We the driver.” would go to Old Orchard Beach and New Troops from Japan were being sent Hampshire on the weekends.” to China and one night the squad leader Dennis stayed in China while his two decided to pull the men together by innew friends were discharged. He eventutroducing them to others from the same ally made his way to Guam and served state. When asked if there was anyone in the Marines at the start of the Korean from Maine, one man stood and a friendWar before returning home, where he ship began. renewed his friendships.

Dennis was introduced to Lucien Gagnon, who was amazed to meet someone with the same name as a friend who was soon to be with them in China.

“When Lucien stood up, I went over to introduce myself,” Dennis said. “He just looked at me, then told me about anMaurice Dennis, formerly of Lewiston, above, far right other guy named Dennis, who was coming in soon.”

s youngsters, Maurice Dennis of Lewiston and Maurice Dennis of Auburn did not know the other existed until Lucien Gagnon, of Greene, introduced them in China at the end of World War II. All three become lifelong friends, developing a camaraderie during the War that continued when the trio returned home to Maine.

“I was surprised to find someone else by the same name,” Maurice Dennis, 81, of Lewiston said. “The other Maurice’s family owned a brickyard in Auburn.”

Dennis of Lewiston, now lives at the Maine Veterans Home in South Paris, while both of his friends have passed away. He fondly remembers the good times and their chance meeting during a time of world wide unrest.

“I started at Camp Lejeune and we went to China,” Dennis said. “We were there to keep one highway open all the time with the tanks.

“We did a lot of training in the woods,” he added. “I used to knock down a lot of trees, we had a blade on the front of the tank.”

It was actually peace time duty when Dennis arrived with the Marines in China for a three-year stint.

After serving as a naval officer during the Civil War, Dennis was a tank driver with Jacob Loring Hayes returned to Central Maine the 1st Marine Division, but actuand formed J.L. Hayes & Co. ally had training in every aspect of tank command, learning to be

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“They stayed with us in China for quite a while, the other Dennis and I were even in a tank together,” he said. “They were discharged before me, but we remained friends when we all got home.”

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Veterans Day Salute

Lee McGall

By Dave McL aughlin Freelance Writer

G

rowing up in New Jersey, Leonora L. (Lane) McGall can remember wanting to give her parents the opportunity to hang a blue star flag in their window, signifying a son or daughter was serving in the military.

In 1917, Army Captain Robert L. Queissner, of the 5th Ohio Infantry, designed and patented a simple flag to reflect the World War I service of two sons. The appeal of this flag quickly caught on. The American War Mothers organized shortly after, and the organization quickly grew with one thing in common — a child at risk because of their choice to answer their Nation’s call to military service.

The tradition of displaying a flag with a blue star in their window continued through World War II when McGall, now 84, joined the Marines upon turning 21. In the 1940s, women were not allowed to join the military until they turned 21, so McGall anxiously waited the years following her graduation from high school.

“I wanted to have Mom and Dad hang a star up in their window,” McGall said.

“They were just as proud as punch to do that.

“It was a patriotic time of our lives,”

Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, November 11, 2009 serving at headquarters at Cherry Point, NC some 40 years after her mother.

“My daughter went to boot camp and did very well. Her captain asked her why she had done so well and she responded saying, ‘I’ve been in the Marines most of my life,’” McGall said with pride.

“The captain asked if her father was in the Marines and my daughter said no, my mother was.”

McGall’s connection to service for her counLike mother, like daughter: try runs deep, starting Lee McGall, left, and her daughter Margaret with her grandmother and mother, who were both members of the Red Cross. she added. “Everybody had pride in our “My grandmother and mother rolled country back then.” bandages for the Red Cross,” she said.

McGall was determined to join the “Everyone did what they could to help Marines, beginning her preparation back then.” following high school by joining the It was her intent to rejoin after her 18 Casey Jones School of Aeronautics in months of duty, but she was persuaded Newark, NJ where she learned how to by her parents to stay home. When the repair airplane engines.

Korean War broke out in 1950, the urge “That helped me when I joined the to serve her country a second time reMarines,” McGall said. “I loved my job. kindled, but, once again, McGall held I was putting the engines back together true to her promise to her parents. and sending them out for test runs so “I didn’t get in until 1945 because they they could go back into the war. I also wouldn’t take girls in when they were drove half-ton trucks, motor transport 18,” she said. “My friends kept asking and had plenty of mess duty.” me if I was going to join again when the McGall’s love of country and the Korean War started, but I had promised Marines carried over to her daughter, my parents and they really didn’t want Margaret, who also joined the Marines, me to go.”

veterans day • november 11

THANK YOU To all the men and women who have served our nation and to those who are serving now, we are forever grateful.

Unveiling ceremony today at Lewiston Veterans Memorial Park LEWISTON — Veterans Council Chairman Paul Bernard has announced that the L and A Veterans Council will hold a brief unveiling ceremony of the 18th veterans memorial stone on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

Any honorably discharged veteran who resides in Maine or had ties to Maine can be listed on the stones.

Terry Leavitt of Millinocket, state commander of the Disabled American Veterans, will unveil the stone which bears the DAV logo. A memorial bench in honor of Robert E. Buchanan, WWII veteran, who served in the Army Air Corps as a navigator in the 500th Bomb Squadron known as the Rough Raiders, will also be unveiled.